Hope for Rhymney gym as current base set to be levelled for housing

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Just two weeks ago, the future of Fit4Living in Rhymney was bleak. Now though, owner Judith Morgan is hopeful the gym can move to a new base in the not so distant future.

In February 2023, Judith and her gym were told their future at Whitbread Centre on Rhymney Walk was at risk, with housing developer Linc Cymru planning to build 27 homes and a children’s home on the site.

After “positive” meetings with Caerphilly County Borough Council however, Judith hopes the gym has found a new home. Speaking to Caerphilly Observer she said: “We had some news a couple of weeks ago and it didn’t look good for us.

“We’ve been here 19 years and provide a service to a community who don’t have access to a gym. We had to keep the gym in the area no matter what.

“I spoke to the council yesterday and they said they’ve found a potential venue about a quarter of a mile away that we could use.”

Judith admitted the building does need a lot of work as it stands, and that Fit4Living would have to turn into a Community Interest Company.

She continued: “The lease ends in September so there will be a time where we have to close, but we’re hoping the gap between that and reopening elsewhere will only be a short one.”

In 2023, Caerphilly Observer reported that 30.2% of people in the Rhymney area report their daily activities are impacted by health issues, compared to 22.7% in Wales overall.