Plans to open a new 24-hour gym on an Oxfordshire town retail park have split opinion. 

PureGym wants to open a new gym at Kings Park, in Limborough Road, Wantage, in a unit previously occupied by the British Heart Foundation. 

Some residents have raised concerns about the potential for noise if people are using the facilities at all hours of the night. 

A total of seven objections and three supporting comments have been submitted to the Vale of White Horse District Council. 

Andrea Randall, of Grove Street, said: “We are located at the back of the proposed 24/7 opening gym on Grove Street.

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Kings Park in Wantage (Image: Google Street View) “We already suffer noise nuisance at night and early morning from deliveries.

“This will only be made worse by cars driving to and from the gym at night. It is also likely to attract groups of persons outside the gym - we often have to listen to rowdy shouting and noise at night from that area.

"Little notice seems to be taken of the fact that the whole development backs directly onto private houses and gardens.”

Jonathan Greenwood, of Grove Street, added: “I have young children and we already have major problems with noise from Sainsburys late at night and early morning.

"We are regularly woken up and disturbed, this becomes so bad that in the summer months we have to move out as we can't have our windows open.

“Granting approval to for this business to operate 24-7 will not only add to the noise we already have to put up with, but it will set a precedent for all business on the King Park site.”

Supporter Diana Clough, of Allen Close, said: “I am fully in support of the proposed Pure Gym opening in Wantage.

"I work three days from home each week in Grove and don't tend to travel into Wantage during the week. I'm looking to travel into Wantage to use this gym, mostly in the week, which would bring more custom to local businesses.”

A comment from Wantage Town Council's planning committee said: “Wantage Town Council has no objections provided that a condition limiting noise to appropriate levels for the area, especially between the hours of 11pm and 8am, is applied.”

On the scheme's planning statement, it said: “As the council may be aware, there has been a significant growth in affordable, 24-hour health and fitness facilities in recent years.

"Such gyms are significantly less busy during the night-time period but their opening provides access to those who wish to use the gym during these quieter times, including shift and key workers.

"In this case, opening before 0800 is particularly important to also allow members to use the gym before the start of the normal working day.”

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby