Evolution Gym is Ryde has been issued with penalty fines after breaking COVID lockdown restrictions.
Environmental Health officers from the Isle of Wight Council, working with Police, have cracked down on the High Street gym, with 2 people being fined £1,000 each.
Councillors were told today (Thursday), in a meeting of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board, other members of the gym who were present at the time have also been issued with the fixed term penalty notices.
They are the first to be handed out on the Island.
Coronavirus restrictions at the moment mean every gym should be closed.
Councillor Gary Peace, the cabinet member for community safety, said:
“It comes back to behaviour — it is people not doing what they are supposed to be doing and the gym not acting in accordance with lockdown procedures.”
Superintendent Sarah Jackson said:
“The guidelines around indoor sports facilities are clear and it is disappointing that this gym continued to operate, potentially putting others at risk.
“The local authority leads on business breaches of the regulations and have taken action against the owners of this premises.
“We hope this sends out a message to other businesses that breaching the regulations will be dealt with robustly to keep everyone safe and prevent the spread of this deadly virus.”
Businesses that breaches covid regulations can be fined, in court, of up to £10,000.
In a statement, Evolution Gym has said:
“There were two males present in the gym at the time, both of which suffer with health issues and have been affected more than most during the pandemic as they are unable to exercise outside.
“They were working, on a voluntary basis, helping to get the gym ready for re-opening, and to thank them, we allowed them train afterwards. Unfortunately, it was at this time that the police let themselves into our premises, via a back entrance and fire escape that was left open to provide ventilation for our workers.
“We are not actively open or allowing the public to use the gym, this was a one off. We wrongly thought that as there were two people who had been working together all day, remaining a little longer to use the facility wouldn’t be an issue.
“Obviously, we were wrong and do not in any way condone breaching lockdown rules. We apologise and can assure you we are closed until such a time as we are told it is safe to re-open and welcome you all back”.
So they should be fined. My businesses are effected along with my staff and their families and a small number of idiots like this gym owner is making it harder for all of us to get back to trading. Well I hope he’s happy and I hope he catches Covid.
A deplorable incident and dealt with appropriately, I understand where you come from with you opinion, however to wish someone Covid is a step to far, which could result in death and not only to the individuals concerned.
Well said Marcus. Total arrogance with regards to the rules and think them self better and more entitled than anyone else. Boycott the gym not the first time that they have come to media attention with staff and social media posts
What a horrible man, nobody should hope someone catches covid, I hope your pleased with yourself you pompous man!
Well if your opening and you should be shut and someone brings it into your gym then chances are you will catch it and then pass it on. Some times in life people don’t listen and they need something to make them listen.
Your a idiot I agree with marcus 100%
He opened up when he should be shut and I’m the bad one? It’s called karma. That gym has probably asked for covid support to so you and me the tax payer has to foot that too. I hope the people who supported that gym now also get fined
That’s a horrible thing to say !!!!! ‘Hope he catches Covid’. Life is hard for everyone and only 2 people in the gym !!!! Come on …..
Too many snowflakes backing up the wrong people. Or are you the gym owner? Stick to the guidelines, remember the virus doesn’t spread by itself.
i understand about what hes done and he need a huge fine but please dont wish covid on anyone. i have covid and i would never wish it on my worst enemy.
How did you catch it?
Rog we dont have a clue
My wife went to morrisons in lake and a few days later we started to get ill
Pathetic little individuals!!!
Yeah there is a mobile hair dresser in godshill that’s still trading. I don’t know her name or I would have reported her as she is braking the law while the rest of us are trying to stay afloat
And claiming full Gov funds no doubt. Report all takers in a crisis.
People need to start wearing proper first response respirator masks aka gas masks with a proper biological virus filters,not these crap disposal or cloth masks.If everyone wore a proper gas mask and sanitize there hands this problem would soon go away.FACT!!!! All the masks I see people wearing do not protect you from getting the virus,you might as well wear a pair of pants on your head for what good they do.please do some research.ps you also need eye protection and disposable gloves…
Just got to live with the virus end of !
You going to supply the whole population with a gas mask lol 😉
Don’t think this was a one off, the police and council obviously had had a tip-off.
Owner also stated they were there to help with reopening??? The gym won’t be able to open for at least another month (more like 2). Porky pies I think.
Sorry gym owner you deserve the fine, countless other people and businesses have shut to slow the virus.
Strong in the arm, thick in the head.
Dont pay it people should be able to do as they want as long as there safe people do have rights just another way to make money
if people should be able to do as they want, Im off to rob a bank. If I get told to go to prison, I wont go because I have “rights” and its just another way to make money out of people.
This cretin of a gym owner has clearly decided the law does not apply to him. He deserves to be fined.
Well done.
Better than any fine everyone should avoid them and join another gym Plenty of them around.
It is a shame that it’s only small businesses like these that get fines when they’re not really harming anyone (arguable and I’m sure some people will moan, but they’re really not if there’s only a couple of people wearing masks), compared to supermarkets, which yes are essential, but can have hundreds of people in them at the same time, as opposed to the two this gym had.
I’m pretty sure the council/police don’t care about covid regulations, they just want to earn money from a quick fine, just like parking tickets, which is easier to do with the smaller businesses that can’t defend themselves. It’s always about quick and easy money with councils, not about safety.
You small business owners seem all too willing to comply with your own downfall.
Supermarkets and schools. A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link, it only takes one person to cause havoc so there has to be a line drawn somewhere, unfair or not.
supermarkets have more people in.
People in supermarkets are not exercising, sweating and breathing heavily.
No business owner is “complying with their own downfall”.
The vast majority are obeying the law to help save lives.
Those that think they are above the law deserve to be fined.
Absolute disgrace our hospital is at breaking point and this sort of selfish behaviour goes on fines should have been more
the two helmets that run that gym deserve to be shut down permanently as a warning to others.
Listen to the comments on here .supporting a business being fined for trying to keep going .bunch of evil self righteous FACISTS.
Hardly makes people self righteous by following law and guidelines. We are all trying to stay afloat. when these half Whits are supposed to be promoting health and well-being! But all it’s doing is spreading the virus 10 fold. Which guess what?!! Means we have to live under restrictions for longer. Maybe if you engaged your brain in stead of your backside you may actually learn something!
They’ve been sneaking people into there gym during all 3 lockdowns, I know people that have been going in there nearly everyday , I’m surprised it took this long to catch them out, they use the fire escape round the back or stand out the front waiting to be let in.