Fitness fanatics gear up for exercise as Falkirk health club re-opens

The Bannatyne Health Club in Falkirk’s Central Retail Park will be open to members from August 31 after the company undertook an extensive assessment of the COVID-19 infection risk to members and staff and made changes to its working practices to reduce the risk as far as practicable.

Unfortunately the club will not be operating a booking system for gym or pools, only for classes, as the health club has sufficient space and The Bannatyne Group has calculated the maximum number of members it can accommodate safely.

The team will be monitoring attendance and has a booking system on standby, ready to use if needed.

Measures being taken to promote safe use of the facilities include temperature checks on arrival, compulsory wearing of face masks in the clubs except when exercising, hand sanitising stations, enhanced cleaning procedures, cashless transactions using contactless payment or the Bannatyne 360 wristband.

There will also be reduced class sizes and careful class timetabling to ensure there are no bottlenecks and crossovers in corridors and changing areas.

Staff have spaced out equipment and fitness machines to achieve social distancing and placed prominent floor markings on the gym floor to remind members about working out safely.

All dining and cafe bar tables will be appropriately spaced to maintain social distancing.

Hot tubs, steam Rooms and saunas will not be operating and water fountains will be out of use, so members are advised to bring their own water with them.

Some lockers will be out of action, together with some showers in order that social distancing is achieved in these areas.

The man himself, club owner Duncan Bannantyne said: “I’m absolutely delighted we can reopen our Falkirk health club. A lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes at all the Bannatyne health clubs to ensure our large and spacious facilities, which are conducive to social distancing, are safe for members and staff. “Although some wet area facilities will remain closed for the time being, we hope to be able to reopen these in the near future. Most of our members in Falkirk have been loyal throughout the pandemic and I am delighted to be welcoming them back.

“I’d also like to personally thank the staff who have remained positive through the very difficult last few months, I know they will be as pleased as I am to open the doors again.”