Barton community gym set for approval

Fusion Lifestyles, the trust which has just been awarded a 10-year contract to manage the council’s leisure facilities, plans to install a £90,000 gym above Barton Pool in Waynflete Road.

The council’s executive board is due to meet at Oxford Town Hall in St Aldate’s to consider the recommendation, by the head of city leisure, to approve the plan.

If it is approved, building work will begin in March and families could be using the gym by as early as next July.

A report on leisure facilities, due to be presented to tomorrow night's meeting, said the pool alone is failing to pull in enough visitors.

From 2007 to 2008 it attracted only 46,000 visits, against a target of 91,000.

In a bid to boost numbers, Fusion will build the gym over the flat roof next to the dance studio.

Barton city councillor Patrick Murray said: “We have been trying for this for years, so obviously it’s fantastic news.

“It’s what people have been asking for a long time He added: “It will increase the amount of people using the pool and will be a step forward in terms of provision within Barton.”

Barton Community Association secretary Sue Holden, who has campaigned for better facilities on the estate, said neighbours would be very happy.

She added: “It’s very good news. This is what Barton needs.

“We have been waiting a long time for the gym and hopefully it will encourage more people to use the facility.”

Barton resident Maureen Robertson, from Fettiplace Road, welcomed the news, but said the new gym had been a long time coming.

She said: “It’s going to be great for the area.

“Young people in Barton have been saying for a long time how much they have wanted a gym.

“It has come up again and again.

“Before, they have been forced to use the Oxford Brookes University gym, which obviously costs them quite a bit.

“This should be a real benefit for young and old.”

Tonight’s meeting of the executive board starts at 5pm.

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk