Gym owner to be taken to court after breaching lockdown restrictions

London
Wood Green
Sport
Saturday 14 November 2020 at 11:37am

Zone Gym in Wood Green refused to close for the second lockdown Credit: Zone Gym

A north London council is taking a local gym to court after the owner refused to close during the second national lockdown.

Haringey council said it had repeatedly issued fines and warnings to Zone Gym and is now seeking to obtain a closure order which it intends to enforce.

Police appeared outside of the gym earlier this week to stop customers going inside.

Andreas Mishli, the gym's owner, previously said that he would remain open until ordered to shut by a court.

Gyms are included in the list of venues that must close under national lockdown restrictions which came into effect on November 5.

The council said that they had 'tried on numerous occasions' to communicate with the owner of Zone Gym. They continued to say they were left with 'no choice' but to issue fixed penalty notices and obtain a closure notice.

Mr Mishli, 34, said that police had recently tried to stop members attending the gym but that many people had continued to train.

He added that his members had become "like family" and that keeping the gym open was important for the physical and mental health of many.

The gym announced on Facebook that it would be closing with immediate effect.