Catmose Sports Centre will close to the public at the end of today. The facility in Oakham opened 13 years ago. Rutland County Councillors voted not to renew the contract to Stevenage Leisure, who've operated it since the start, saying they couldn't continue to subsidise the facility as they had been doing since the pandemic.
It's still unclear where all the community clubs and classes will go. Some have found new homes at other facilities such as Oakham School and the Active Rutland Hub. Vanessa and Rachel, who work there, say there's a strong community that's built up over the years.
"The people that come to the gym, it's just been amazing to see how much fun and how rewarding it is for them, and how it's helped their health and their wellbeing, their mental health especially.
It's a very female friendly gym as well, gyms can be quite intimidating for females, but there is nobody here that would tell you that, I don't think. Everybody has really enjoyed it. It's just a big family really now. So many people I know here. They've just created friendships through here and now they've got their own little circles. They meet up for coffee and this is members of staff as well as members of the gym.
It's got such a community feel. I think it is going to be such a loss."
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