NEARLY 600 people have signed a petition calling for future planning applications for a change of use be blocked on the site of a Crewe gym which is set to close.

Total Fitness informed shocked members last month that it will be shutting its doors on August 31 after nearly 20 years in the town.

The national fitness chain said its landlords had served it notice to quit the Macon Way premises.

Gymgoers are concerned the site is set for redevelopment and are calling on Cheshire East Council to intervene to protect leisure facilities in the area.

Although, Total Fitness is a private gym members cite a shortage of swimming pools in the Crewe area and say the fitness complex's pool is used by over 4,000 local residents.

The petition on change.org, entitled 'Save our gym, revoke planning permission (currently Total Fitness in Crewe)', has attracted 590 signatures with many fearing the loss of a valuable community asset as well as an inhouse nursery and swimming club.

It states: "Mental health is a real issue at the moment and the gym/swimming pool offers an all round exercising experience for the whole family which is vital for the health and wellbeing of the community.

"We need more facilities that encourage us to improve our health and wellbeing. Let's stand together to show the local council, this gym, this pool and whole facility is essential for our recovery out of this pandemic. Please do not flatten to build even more houses/flats/garages we don't need."

Gareth Woods is a long-time member of Total Fitness and he told Nub News: "The feelings surrounding its closure comes as a shock. It'll be a loss to the Crewe community and afar, as members also travel from Nantwich, Sandbach and Middlewich.

"With the swimming pool gone, it will likely have a knock-on affect on the capacity of other facilities that have a swimming pool such as Bannantynes and the council's Crewe Lifestyle Centre.

"With a growing population it will be quite a blow for communities to have access to swimming pools that are over crowded."

Mr Woods has contacted Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan to highlight the plight of the gym and says there has been no feedback given to members about whether another fitness operator will repurpose the premises, but maintain their use as a gym.

He added: "There's rumours from members the land is being taken as a car storage lot as well as speculation that HS2 will use the land - there's been much anxiety after the announcement."

In its letter to members Total Fitness said: "Like most businesses we do not own the buildings we operate in and, unfortunately, the owner of the property has asked that Total Fitness vacates.

"We don't know what will happen to the site, or when, but please be assured we explored every option to avoid this outcome."

The petition can be found here.