Duncan Bannatyne writes to Bassetlaw MP over Worksop branch reopening
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In a letter to Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith Mr Bannatyne wrote how the club set the ‘gold standard’ on safety - including electronic wristbands which track members’ movements on the premises.
The Government has not set a date for the reopening of indoor gyms - placing them in the ‘close proximity’ category along with nightclubs, soft play areas, swimming pools and spas.
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Though they could open within the month - with the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden writing on Twitter that facilities could open from ‘mid-July.’
However former Dragon’s Den panelist Mr Bannatyne says the Government is ‘taking decisions blind’.
The multi-millionaire wrote how ‘the size of our health clubs and our wristband technology are real differentiators and should be taken into consideration’.
Speaking about Worksop’s Manton Wood site Mr Bannatyne says it is much larger that most gyms - at around 20,000 sq ft and will enable social distancing at two metres.
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He added that member wristbands could support the government’s Track and Trace programme.
The wristbands provide a record of members’ movements around the health clubs - including when they enter and leave, which exercise classes they attend and which areas of the gym and equipment they use.
Responding to Mr Bannatyne’s letter Brendan said as an industry leader he believed Mr Bannatyne had made some excellent suggestions.
He said: “I share his ambition to see the facility in Worksop - which has created many local jobs - to re-open as soon as it is considered safe to do so.
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“The Government has already been in discussions with groups such as UK Active regarding when gyms and leisure facilities can finally re-open - which will hopefully be in mid-July as the Culture Secretary has already suggested.
“I fully appreciate and realise the benefits to both physical and mental health that can be gained through regular exercise and I am sympathetic to the idea of reopening facilities in pursuit of these goals.”