A Merseyside gym has raised over £30,000 after they were fined £1,000 for a breach of lockdown.
The fine would have gone up to £2k if he didn’t shut when asked again.
Tier 3 lockdown has been imposed on Liverpool and some surrounding areas, which means gyms are one of the businesses that have to close.
The owner of this particular gym, however, recognised that if he closes his gym now, it may never reopen again.
Body Tech Fitness in Wirral received the fine after the Tier 3 restrictions came into force in the area on Wednesday.
Owner Nick Whitcombe had said on Instagram that he wouldn’t close, posting: “We are not staying open for financial gain but more for our members mental and physical well-being.
“Gyms should be supported in fighting against COVID obesity, mental health and many other conditions and diseases.”
Nick posted a video showing 5 officers in his gym, warning him that he needed to close down. He defied this, and when they came back later, he revived the fine and was forced to close.
Despite being fined by the police, he described them as if they were respectful and professional, and he understood they were just doing their job.
He has since raised over £30,000 in a very short period of time, which he will likely use to pay the fine, and re open the gym when the time is right.
Merseyside Police Chief Superintendent Claire Richards confirmed the fine had been given out, and relayed that they don’t want to have to give fines out, they just want people to be safe and healthy.
She said: “The focus of us all should now be on preventing the spread of the virus and getting us back to normality as safely and as quickly as possible.
“The new restrictions have been brought in to try to achieve that, and if we don’t act decisively and collaboratively, the impact could be harder and last even longer.”
On top of this, Pure Gym, arguably the biggest gym chain in the country, also had to close doors in Liverpool, and is thinking of taking legal action against authorities making them close.
