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16
Jan
Knaresborough gym granted extension to opening hours
A Knaresborough gym has been granted permission to extend its opening times to 24 hours.
Pure Gym opened in the former Lidl on York Road in May 2023.
It currently opens from 6am to 10pm on weekdays and from 8am to 8pm at weekends.
The company applied to North Yorkshire Council to extend these times to align with its 24-hour approach at most other gyms.
The council has now approved the application, despite objections from Knaresborough Town Council and five residents.
The town council said the extra noise and light would have an adverse affect on the neighbourhood.
The residents expressed similar concerns and as well as fears of increased antisocial behaviour.
But the council approved the request, subject to conditions, including there being no external alterations to the building and the car park lighting being limited and on a timer.
It said the lighting and constant use of the area would discourage antisocial behaviour.
Council case officer Emma Walsh said in her public report:
While letters of representation indicate increased traffic to York Road, this is considered to be a relatively minor increase due to the limited capacity of the car park, and increased hours of operation being outside of peak traffic times.
It is considered that sufficient distance and mitigation can be implemented through condition to ensure adequate amenity is retained.
Asked why it had submitted the application, a spokesperson for Pure Gym said:
Our standard operating model across the Pure Gym estate is 24/7, providing members with even greater accessibility and flexibility.
But the spokesperson declined to reveal when the new hours will be implemented.
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