A WIRRAL gym that remained open after new coronavirus restrictions were imposed has been fined and ordered to close.

Police were called to Body Tech Fitness on Pasture Road in Moreton on Wednesday by a member of the public who was concerned that the gym had opened in contravention of the new Tier 3 coronavirus legislation affecting Liverpool City Region - which includes Wirral.

The owner was also ordered to close.

Upon returning, the gym was still to be open. A fixed penalty notice was issued ordering the owner to pay a £1,000 fine and ordered to close immediately.

The new Tier 3 restrictions came into force across Liverpool City Region - including Wirral - on Wednesday, in a bid to try to halt the spread of coronavirus infection.

It means:

  • Pubs and bars have to close. They can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant - which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.
  • Indoor gyms and fitness/dance studios, sports facilities, leisure centres, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos also have to close;
  • Wedding receptions will not be permitted;
  • People should try to avoid travelling outside their local area, or entering another area rated Very High other than for work, education, accessing youth services, or to meet caring responsibilities;
  • People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in the Liverpool City Region and avoid staying overnight in the Liverpool City Region if they are resident elsewhere.

Chief Superintendent Claire Richards said: “We understand that people are frustrated with the current situation and for a number of local businesses, including the fitness and leisure industry, this will be particularly hard.

“It’s not that long ago that gyms reopened their doors after lockdown and they did so after making huge changes to the way they work for the safety and protection of their customers.

“But while this lockdown does present huge challenges, the focus of us all should now be on preventing the spread of the virus and getting us back to normality as safely and as quickly as possible.

“The new restrictions have been brought in to try to achieve that, and if we don’t act decisively and collaboratively, the impact could be harder and last even longer.

“We will therefore continue to encourage members of the public and businesses to adhere to the guidance, explain why they should and – as in this case - use enforcement where there are clear breaches of legislation.”

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