Plans for new community gym move step closer

Proposals to open a new community gym in Rhymney have moved a step closer to completion, after the project was granted planning permission.

A community interest company plans to open the new gym in a building formerly used as a meals on wheels depot, near the St Clare’s sheltered housing complex.

Caerphilly County Borough Council, which owned the site, later used it for storage, but in May this year agreed to a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) to the group.

Planning permission for the building’s change of use has now been granted, subject to several conditions designed to limit the gym’s impact on nearby homes.

These include limiting the gym operations to the applicant, JM Gym Fitness CIC, and restricting opening hours to a maximum of 8am to 10pm on weekdays, and from 8am to 4pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Senior councillors previously welcomed the plans to open the gym in the disused depot, with local authority leader Cllr Sean Morgan telling colleagues it was “great to see a community coming together and wanting to work on behalf of the community”.

The council will also fund around £42,000 worth of site safety works.

Caerphilly Council is expanding its use of Community Asset Transfers in the hope it will encourage more groups to take over surplus or unwanted buildings, helping the local authority to save money by trimming its estate.

The planning application, which has now been approved, can be viewed on the Caerphilly County Borough Council website under reference 25/0185/COU.