News / Strong future for weight training club as new gym moves step closer
SHETLAND Weight Training Club has moved one step closer to fulfilling its long-held dream of owning its own purpose-built gym after plans for a new facility in Tingwall were given the thumbs up.
Planners granted permission earlier this year for the private gym to be built near Tingwall Airport – paving the way for the club to expand.
The weight training club, which has grown to enjoy a membership of around 170 since forming in 2008, will be able to buy new and better equipment when it launches its proposed new two-storey gym.
At the moment the club runs out of rented space over three floors at Norway House in the centre of Scalloway, providing 24/7 access if necessary thanks to a fingerprint recognition system.
It has continued to prove popular, with over 1,100 visits in August last year, for example – a daily average of 37.
Shetland Weight Training Club chairman Stuart Moar said the team would like to get on with the work for the new building “as soon as possible”.
“We moved into Norway House in Scalloway ten years ago, and even before that, with the gym at Herrislea, it was always a dream to be able to go ahead and get a purpose-built building that the club can then own,” he added.
“That will secure the future of the club for years and years to come.
“We’ll have a bit more room and scope to cater for some things that we don’t do at the moment, even the possibility of running classes and that kind of thing.”
Weight training equipment is also available at the recently upgraded gym at the Clickimin, but Moar believes the facilities can cater for different folk.
He said the weight training scene in Shetland is healthy at the moment, with social media helping to spread the word.
“When we opened up the gym in Scalloway, we only had the one floor, and about 30 or 40 members,” Moar said. “It just seems to be growing and growing.
“Some of the folk maybe just train because they enjoy it, but we do have the guys that go away and compete in powerlifting and strongman, so hopefully with a new place we’d be able to push that on a bit further as we do sponsor our guys to go away.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
