CUTTESLOWE has gained a new outdoor gym thanks to almost £39,000 of grant funding.

The new facility has been built by the south side of the A40 footbridge, near the community centre in Wren Road, and will be maintained by Oxford City Council.

It features 12 machines, which Cutteslowe Community Association said could be used for different types of exercises from aerobics through to muscle development.

Community centre manager Allie Noel said the project had been chosen after residents said it was what they wanted most in the park in a survey.

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She said: “The new gym is looking really good and we hope it will encourage people to get active.

“There has recently been a push for children to get fitter as well so we hope, as some of the equipment is suitable for younger people, that parents and their kids could exercise together. We are hopefully going to run some fitness and health classes in the future as well.”

Cutteslowe Community Association chairman Ann Childs said: “We hope that the gym suite will provide a focus for residents of all ages in the local community to come together and enjoy exercising for years to come.”

The project was paid for using a grant of £35,000 from WREN Landfill Communities Fund, as well as £3,800 from the Friends of Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park.

The Landfill Communities Fund is a voluntary scheme that encourages landfill operators to give some of the tax they raise from disposal of waste in landfill to environmental bodies.

The bodies can then fund community, heritage and environmental projects.

An official opening of the gym is to take place on November 7 and will feature a demonstration of the best ways to use the new fitness equipment.

Peter Cox, managing director of WREN, said: “WREN is committed to funding projects that make a real difference to local communities, children and families.

“The Active Cutteslowe Outdoor Gym will provide a fantastic space for local people to get outdoors and have some fun.

“We were delighted to support Cutteslowe Community Association to make this happen.”

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