Group told there’s no room — so on your bike

Another popular class axed from new well-being centre

Exercise bike enthusiasts say they are are being ousted from Chadderton Well-being Centre because there is no storage space for the equipment.

The group of 20 regulars have been told the classes will be moved to Oldham Sports Centre at the end of the month.

However, Steve Eyre, from Oldham Community Leisure which manages the Andrew Street facility, said the bikes are being moved around all Oldham’s leisure centres for different users to try.

But sportsman Paul Fish, of Fold Green, is annoyed that his regular Monday and Thursday classes run by OCL in Chadderton will be stopped.

He said: “They moved the bikes from the old sports centre in Middleton Road where they started classes about three years ago.

“These are new X-bikes, bought about 18 months ago, and they are very popular. The 45-minute classes are usually oversubscribed with a waiting list.

“Now we are being told the storage room is needed for other gym equipment and that is why we have got to move. There is storage outside the exercise room where they could be lined up against a wall, but staff say the owners of the building have been told they can’t store them there.

“In fact they cannot even put a coat hanger up without permission, they say.

“I e-mailed OCL to complain and got a letter back saying they were sorry but they can’t store them anywhere and they are moving them to Oldham.”

Paul’s complaint follows OCL’s November decision that regular over-50s table tennis sessions could not move to the Well-being Centre because there was nowhere to store the tables. OCL has now changed its mind and allowed table tennis back to the new centre (see story, left).

The Andrew Street building was built by Community First Oldham, and also houses the new library, pool and meeting rooms.

Mr Eyre said: “The bikes which have been housed at Chadderton Well-being Centre are being moved around all sites of Oldham Community Leisure so all our members have a chance to take part.

“We have done this with other pieces of equipment such as the dance mats which has proved successful.”