‘Our members are devastated’: Crawley gym reacts to lockdown closure order

On Saturday Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK would be plunged into a second national lockdown, forcing the closure of gyms, hospitality and more.

The country will be in lockdown from Thursday, November 5 until Wednesday, December 2, when the Government said it will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.

But Sean Parkinson, owner of Specialist Performance Personal Training in Manor Royal, has hit out at the ‘heart-breaking’ move.

The 32-year-old said: “It felt like it did come quite suddenly. We expected it would be more of a tier change.

“Now we have reopened we have jumped through hoops to show we’re covid safe.

“We have put so much time, so much effort into making this work.”

Sean added that the statistics show gyms are only responsible for a small number of virus cases.

He called for the Government to take into account the mental and physical health impacts of shutting gyms for weeks on end.

Sean said his heart goes out to anyone who has been affected by coronavirus but called on the Goverment to take a more balanced approach.

He added: “Our members need us more than ever.”

Exercising outdoors is not always practical or realistic, he said.

Sean added that bad weather and dark nights can make it a challenge.

He said: “I really do fear for people over the next couple of months.”