Gym breaking lockdown rules ordered to shut after people found queuing in car park and exercising inside
A gym near Swansea has been court ordered to shut after it was found to be operating during lockdown.
Council officers discovered 25 people working out at the Bomking's gym in Fforest-fach and a queue of people in the car park waiting to go in.
Gyms are not allowed to open under the current coronavirus lockdown regulations in Wales.
The gym has been ordered to close after a short hearing at Swansea Magistrate's Court.
Officers from Swansea Council visited the gym as part of their investigation on three different occasions in late June. The court heard how in all three instances, the gym on Ystrad Road was found to be operating.
Three fixed penalty notices, starting at £60 and doubling each occasion thereafter, were issued. The gym was also given a prohibition notice, ordering it to close.
Swansea Council lawyer, Craig Davies said after it became apparent the gym had reopened, council officers visited the business and "were advised the gym would not be closing and would remain open."When officers returned to enforce the closure of the facility they found "the car park was full and 25 people" were exercising inside.
The gym closed their rollers shutters when officers arrived but people were in the car park waiting for those inside to leave so they could go in.
A representative from the gym was not present for the hearing at Swansea Magistrate's Court. The court ordered the gym to close under health protection coronavirus regulations.
At the Welsh Government press conference on Friday 3 July, Mark Drakeford said he could not see gyms being allowed to open inside in the near future.
The First Minister said gyms are "not likely to be reopened for a while", as they have "emerged globally as a source of coronavirus infection."