A SHIPLEY gym has remained open despite the Government ordering that all indoor gyms in Bradford must close. 

New restrictions brought in to try and curb the spread of Covid-19 in the Bradford district mean indoor gyms, indoor fitness and dance studios, indoor sports courts and facilities and indoor swimming pools are not currently able to open their doors to customers. 

But Energy Mill Gym has spoken out against the new, stricter, measures and is still open. 

Outlining the position, the gym said: "Controversially we remain open and here’s why!

"The current government guidance has conflicting messages within it, to the point where we feel it is not clear enough to state that us being open is breaking any laws. Therefore we will remain open until the local council directly tells us that we must close. (If they do)

"Exercise, plays a huge part for so many in keeping a life balance. And it is potentially being taken away from our community with no solid reasoning as to why.

"Pubs, bars and restaurants remain open and there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that they are in anyway safer than the gym.

"It is our opinion that our hygiene standards and COVID-19 protection procedures ensure that our facility is no more risky than going to the local supermarket. In fact we are likely safer!

"Therefore we will controversially remain open. So many people in the local community feel that gym closures are unnecessary and we side with you. The gym is an optional activity, you may come and train if you feel comfortable and believe there to be a benefit of you doing so. This is not a liberty that should be taken away! We urge other local gyms and members of the community to stand with us, on this point."

Owner Chris Gaskin said: "I'm not anti-Government whatsoever, I wear a mask, I wear gloves, I don't want anybody to get sick, I don't want to get sick myself, I don't want the infection rate to go up.

"I don't want to be in this situation any longer.

"What I'm getting from my members is a lot of people can't return to normal life without exercise.

"There's two sides to the story - there's your physical health and your mental health. 

"Without the gym, a lot of people can't maintain the general balance. There's multiple points here, why people should be able to use the gym.

"You've got pubs, bars, other businesses that are open and to be honest with you, they're nowhere near as safe as the gym.

"We've gone over and above in this gym to ensure people's safety. How can they push a health initiative at the same time as closing down gyms. It just doesn't make sense.

"The gym is actually here, underpinning the NHS and people's general wellbeing and health.

"Another really valid point as to why we should remain open - the gym is actually optional, people come to the gym if they want to come to the gym.

"If they're not comfortable with coming to the gym, they don't actually have to come. So anybody saying we're selfish for opening, they should bear that in mind."

Mr Gaskin said the guidance is also confusing and that he was making the decision for the community rather than for financial reasons.