It will be a gym with a difference, with a notable emphasis on mental health support too
A new gym and wellbeing centre has gained planning approval in Barton-upon-Humber. The man behind it has been inspired to pursue the enterprise after his own personal journey to regain the ability to walk unaided.
The new facility will be at The Trade Yard, off Falkland Way. It is set to be a gym with a difference – with a strong emphasis for mental health support, particularly for men. There will be quiet reflection areas and peer support zones and a meeting room for mental health charities.
It will also include dedicated studio space for fitness classes like yoga, pilates, and high-intensity interval training, and state-of-the-art equipment for cardiovascular and strength training.
North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee decided on it, but not because of any objections. Due to it being in a designated industrial estate, it represented a departure from the Local Plan.
Jonathan Wilson and his company Rise & Defy Ltd are behind the plans. He had an accident five years ago.
“I had four special surgeries and I was not supposed to walk again, and the way I got through that was my friend’s gym,” he told councillors. He learnt to walk again through his friend’s gym in Grimsby, and defied the odds to be able to walk unaided once more.
He has previously told Hull Live the time in-between surgeries was a dark place for him. “It was only through determination and working on walking again that I came through it.”
It is this personal experience that has inspired the strong mental health emphasis for the gym. “It’s going to have a meeting room for mental health charities to use and they can use the gym for free after meetings,” Mr Wilson told councillors.
The gym and wellbeing centre application submitted detailed a free meeting space for men’s mental health groups, and two hours free gym access each week for members of such groups. Unlike traditional gyms, it is planned to have a lower music volume to create a calmer environment, and a recovery station for people to sit and chat or have a coffee after working out.
Planning permission was applied for, with 24 hour use in mind, which is in line with two existing Barton gyms. Access would work via a fob and code system for members only.
The proposal was warmly greeted by councillors, who also joked about Mr Wilson’s impressively toned appearance intimidating them. Cllr Carol Ross (Broughton and Scawby Ward) said she admired anyone looking to open up a gym, “particularly with the additional use that this gym wants to do”.
Planning permission was granted unanimously. A mid-October opening is the aim.
Do you feel safe on the roads? You can have your say by completing the poll below or by clicking here .