By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 12:37, Thursday, 10 January 2013

Exciting times lie ahead for one Carlisle community, after plans were submitted for its own gym.

Helen Fisher with the plans

Bosses at Botcherby Community Centre, on Victoria Road, want to extend the current building to house a small community gym, complete with showers.

Helen Fisher, centre manager, said the idea was originally suggested about five years ago following a large-scale community consultation in the Botcherby ward – part of the healthy living initiative.

“It highlighted the need for a community gymnasium which is affordable,” Mrs Fisher, 44, explained. “We tried to secure funding, but then we hit the recession and the idea was shelved.”

The gym will offer reasonable membership rates and pay as you go fares, to ensure people without bank accounts or anyone struggling financially is not excluded.

The majority of items in the new extension would be for cardio workouts, but Mrs Fisher said there will probably also be free weights.

“The emphasis is on the word community,” she insisted. “This is a community gym that we want to make accessible to all.”

First published at 11:34, Thursday, 10 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk