THE future of a Wallasey health club has been secured thanks to a newly formed charity and the help of the Wirral Globe.

Richard Birchall decided to put Hearts Ladies Health Club – which has a branch in Wallasey and Crosby – up for sale earlier this year for just £1 a piece.

Planning to retire, Richard wanted to make sure staff were safe, coming to the Globe for help in promoting the sale.

After hundreds of enquiries, newly formed charity Community Leisure Services Partnership (CLSP) has made an offer to buy Hearts and is working through the legal process to conclude the purchase.

CLSP have awarded a contract to 3d Leisure – a health club management company currently operating 65 clubs across the UK and Ireland - to manage the clubs on their behalf.

They have been working with health clubs for more than 25 years and plan to inject money and energy to secure Hearts’ long term future.

Thanking the Globe, Richard said: “I couldn’t have done it without your help. Press reports about the sale of Hearts Health Clubs created hundreds of enquiries.

“Under its new owner, Hearts will remain a ladies only club with a big and varied class timetable.”

The Wallasey Road club currently has 700 members and opened in 1979.

The larger club in Crosby opened in 1994 and has 1,200 gym members.

Hearts have a combined annual turnover of £700,000.

The business is debt free but currently loss making, although Richard believes there is plenty of scope to cut costs and bring in extra income.

Asked why he was selling the health clubs so cheaply, Richard said: “I don’t need the money and I want to attract lots of interest.

"This is a great opportunity for a few people with fresh ideas and energy. It will particularly suit new owners with a strong vision and good communication and marketing skill.”

Fitness manager Debbie Jones said: “We are delighted to have now got the clubs’ future secured and all the team are looking forward to working with 3d in the transition phase and then developing the facilities and service we offer to our members.

“Members have been giving us a lot of feedback recently and we have a load of new ideas for the new owners to consider.”

Paul Ramsay, operations director for 3d said that while the company will be seeking to make a number of improvements, it will very much be business as usual for Hearts.

When asked what he will do in his retirement, Richard said: “I love taking two week driving tours in the USA so it would be nice to be able to take longer trips.

"I’d also like to spend a big chunk of next winter travelling around Australia and enjoying some sunshine.”