Rhinos Gymnasium in Ryhall Road, Westside Health Club in Stamford and the Universal Fitness Centre in Bourne have mixed opinions on lockdown

Gym owners have shared their concerns as the national lockdown forced them to close their doors yesterday.

Nick Swann, owner of Rhinos Gymnasium in Ryhall Road, Stamford, believes that there is ‘no logic’ in closing gyms as they are ‘one of the cleanest places’.

He said: “Universities and schools are open, they are vitally important I understand that, but they are proven to be a hot bed for the virus - gyms are not.

“I don’t think that locally or nationally it works. My personal opinion is that we should just let the virus run it’s course.

“We should protect the elderly and anybody vulnerable then let the rest of us get herd immunity.”

Rhinos Gymnasium lost more than £80,000 after being closed during the first lockdown and Nick believes they may be at risk of losing a further £25,000.

Nick said: “I’m very much one for staying open and resisting [the rules].

“I don’t think there’s any legal right to close us. A lot of gym owners are saying legally they can’t do this.”

He added: “I think we can get through this one but if there’s another one in January we will have to stay open and take the fines and hits. We couldn’t resist it.”

Along with many gym owners across the country Nick is lobbying Stamford MP Gareth Davies (Con), to try gain support to stay open.

The lockdowns have also ‘been pretty hard’ for staff at Westside Health Club in Stamford.

Simon Dale, owner, said: “It’s causing concern. It makes it very difficult as we still have over heads which have to be paid.

“If lockdown solves the problem then it’s a good thing but it didn’t do a lot the last time when we were closed so my feelings were very mixed.”

For many people, gyms are an opportunity to socialise as well as fitness being a benefit to their mental health.

Simon said: “There are quite a few people who obviously use it as a social meeting, like the more elderly ones who may possibly miss their social life here.”

Nick added: “It’s affecting people dreadfully, they are just getting back into training and improving."

Harvey Taylor, owner of the Universal Fitness Centre in Bourne, wasn’t expecting the country to go into lockdown, forcing his gym to close.

He said: “I thought the tier system that had been adopted seemed to be the more logical one.

“I know everyone has different views. It’s four weeks and hopefully it will stay that way then we will be back open.”

Many of Universal Fitness Centre's members have visited the gym in Cherryholt Road to renew their membership in a bid to support the business after lockdown was announced on Saturday last week.

He said: “From a business point of view it’s not great as it does put pressure on, but we are no different to retailers, pubs and restaurants.

“We are all feeling the pressure and hopefully it’s just four weeks and we can get back to it in December.”