REDDITCH PureGym has closed until further notice after tier 4 residents were caught using the gym’s facilities.
Police ordered the Kingfisher Shopping Centre gym to close this weekend when it became apparent it was being used by people outside of the tier 3 town.
It is believed to be the first PureGym in the UK to close for this reason.
Gyms and leisure facilities in tier 4 areas, such as in neighbouring Birmingham, are closed but remain open in lower tiers.
A blanket email sent out to customers yesterday read: “Unfortunately we have had to temporarily close PureGym Redditch.
“Due to a high volume of tier 4 members attending the gym, police have requested we close the club.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused during the closure. Our teams are working hard to reopen to the gym, and we will be in touch as soon as we are back up and running.”
A PureGym spokesperson replied to a concerned resident on Twitter yesterday, before the closure, saying that it ‘should not be happening’ as ‘tier 4 members have had their memberships frozen’.
This should not be happening as members in Tier 4 have their memberships frozen for the duration their area is in Tier 4/duration their gym is closed. #PureHelp
— PureGym (@PureGym) January 2, 2021
But it’s clear that a loophole is being used; most likely people signing up with false home addresses.
And despite being closed, the Standard was still able to sign up to the Redditch gym via its website.
We have contacted the fitness company on when the gym will likely reopen and if it will look to freeze sign-ups and memberships at the gym in the meantime.
@PureGym why are you are issuing day passes to people outside of Worcestershire’s Tier 3? If you didn’t issue them these #Covidiots couldn’t gain access. Equally, why aren’t you enforcing social distancing in the gym? You claim you’re keeping the gym ‘safe’ NOT on this evidence! pic.twitter.com/tNIUYX7Kh1
— David Walker (@djwskyblu) January 2, 2021
Half the tier 4 nation joined pure gym Redditch then😂😂
— jack (@jack_richmond97) December 31, 2020
Absolute jokers @PureGym ! Should have put a bar on new members joining the moment it was announced the tiers changed! This was always going to happen…
You can blame the selfish lot from tier 4 all you like, you also need to look at yourselves, unprepared & profits driven 🤬
— Chris Royston (@MrBrightside_32) January 2, 2021
