The owner of a new gym in Northwood, replacing the LA Fitness which suddenly closed its doors to customers last month, has promised a facility fit for the whole community to use.
Ash Chikhlia says The Northwood Club will cater to people of all ages, whether they are members of the gym and health club or not.
He is one of the two owners of Darwin Wellness, the company building the new gym, after landlords suddenly called time on LA Fitness at the end of last month.
He said: “It’s not going to be about how many members we get through the door.
"It’s also about giving something back and providing opportunities for other people to use it.”
Getwestlondon had reported that LA Fitness members were given just nine days notice before the gym closed its doors on February 28.
Mr Chikhlia says plans for the new gym include getting more kids to use the facilities.
He said: “We’ll approach local schools to see if they want to use the pool - if it’s empty why can’t we have local primary school come in and use it?
“Same with the squash courts, they’re empty during the day.”
Older people will also be included in new centre, in Chestnut Avenue.
He said: “Anyone can come in and have a coffee, you don’t have to be a member. There are a lot of retired people in the area, we want to make it a nice place to sit down and chat and then go home.
“We’re making it a local gym rather than a big corporate one that’s out there to get membership.”
He still hopes to open the gym in early April, but said they may face a delay caused by the state the premises was left in by the previous tenants.
“Initially we were going to give it a fresh lick of paint and put in new equipment, but everything’s been ripped out so it’s going to be a huge revamp," he said. “It’s a shame because people in the local community don’t have anywhere else to go.
"They depend on it and are genuinely upset by what’s happening. They want their gym back.”
He has got in touch with many of the previous gym users who had their LA Fitness membership abruptly terminated and hoped the centre, which will include a salon and nursery crèche, would appeal to younger people and parents of young children.
He added: “Ultimately we want to get it open ASAP so people can get back in there. A lot of people rely on it from a social and health aspect.
“It’s the hub of the community.”
For more information on The Northwood Club go to www.darwinwellness.co.uk.
