A 24-HOUR national gym chain has earmarked the vacant premises of the former MFA Lakeside Bowl at Crewe's Phoenix Leisure Park.

PureGym has drawn up plans to use a mezzanine on the first floor above the former bowling alley, which closed in 2018.

But first it needs to have opening hours at the leisure park on Dunwoody Way amended as they currently prohibit any of its tenants operating between the hours of 1am and 9am.

Permission to convert part of the empty premises into a gym will not be required as the change of use is covered by the planning permission that was granted when the leisure park was established back in 2004.

A new entrance will be sited at the unit to access the gym, which is set to create up to 15 mainly part-time jobs. While the use of the ground floor as a separate bowling alley could be restored under different operators.

Property management firm Custodian Capital Ltd has applied to Cheshire East Council for the variation in hours from those set at the planning phase of the leisure park.

It wants permission for the gym to open 24 hours a day from Mondays to Sundays inclusive.

PureGym's around the clock operations across the week are aimed at providing access to those who have irregular work patterns, including key workers.

As well as a main gym area, facilities would include a free weights area, studio and spin areas as well as changing facilities and showers.

The nearest PureGym is at Etruria in Stoke.

A statement from property consultants Montagu Evans said: "Planning permission is not required for the mezzanine floor itself. Planning is also not required for the gym use. This application simply seeks approval to extend the opening hours for the gym use to enable it to operate 24-hours a day.

"Alterations to the front elevation to create a separate access for the gym, as well as two new signage zones, will be submitted under a separate application."

But the proposed gym is around 35 metres away from railway cottages on elevated land at Tolitt Street, Betley Street and Dorfold Street.

Crewe Town Council believes the 24-hour access will disturb neighbouring residents in these properties and has objected to the hours variation.

Car noise and the vibration of treadmills are sited by the council, including gym music and noise during anti-social hours. The council insists noise mitigation measures should be included if consent is given.

A noise assessment has been carried out already on behalf of the applicant, but it concluded that noise from the gym would be within nationally accepted threshold levels, while a noise limit would be imposed on a mechanical services plant.

The scheme has received support from one resident who said: "The bowling alley unit has been vacant for a number of years and the introduction of a mezzanine for a gym would encourage the use of the building and improve the offering of the leisure park.

"Operating 24-hours a day would increase active and passive surveillance in the area, reducing anti-social behaviour in the local area."

PureGym has been contacted for a comment.