Peaceful protest organised to save Newark gym Sports Direct Fitness

A peaceful protest has been organised in a bid to save a Newark gym from closure.

Sports Direct Fitness on Northern Road is to close on November 11.

Tom Deller, of Newark, has organised the protest, which is set to take place outside the gym on Saturday, at 10am.

Tom often took his six year-old son, Ruben, to the gym and said it had a positive impact in many areas of his life.

He wants all members who don’t want to see the gym closed to join him in protest.

"I taught him (Ruben) to swim in that pool. In the holidays, we go there nearly every day," Tom said.

"The staff who run the gym are absolutely fantastic. They've done everything they can to keep it open throughout covid.

"It's a community. During covid and lockdown, for the time it was open, it was a welcome relief.

"I think the gym is well attended, so I don't understand why it's closing.

"There's a poor young man who's just started working there and now it's closing down. It's just a sad state of affairs."

Tom is now having to consider transferring to the Everlast Fitness Club on Tritton Road, Lincoln.

"If you just go quietly and let the gym shut, then the outside perception may be that you don't really care," said Tom.

"Even if it's just me and my son with two banners, we'll be there. I don't like just sitting down, I want there to be a re-investment in the facility.

"I really benefit from that gym. Now I'm looking at not having that in my life.

"It's just really sad to try and explain to a six-year-old that one of the places he loves the most is closing."