As reported in the Ilkley Gazette:

A PHOENIX could rise from the ashes of the closure of Bodies Gym with former staff members planning to open a new fitness club in Ilkley.

Plans to convert space at Ben Rhydding Sports Club into a fitness suite and studio have been submitted to Bradford Council by the former administrator at Bodies.

Nicola Hope-Robertson is hoping that planners will give the green light to the £150,000 scheme which could be up and running by Christmas.

Mrs Hope-Robertson and her husband, Stephen, plan to run the gym with the help of former Bodies staff.

Mrs Hope-Robertson said: "We have been busy making plans to rekindle the spirit of Bodies in new premises which will incorporate at state-of-the-art studio to bring back all the much loved classes and instructors, together with a fitness suite housing new equipment and personal training facilities."

As soon as the closure of Bodies was announced at the beginning of the year, Mrs Hope-Robertson said she was approached by the president of Ben Rhydding Sports Club, John Laxton, who put forward the idea of using the club as a new venue.

"It was a revelation to see just how much space there is down there. The architect has drawn up some amazing plans for the spacious and aesthetic conversion and we are very excited about the prospect of getting up and running again because we know we have found somewhere that can offer what people are used to.

"We all miss the club as much as the members do and we are very grateful to Ben Rhydding Sports Club in helping us bring such an important amenity back to Ilkley." The building on Regent Road formerly occupied by Bodies is to be converted into flats.

Mrs Hope-Robertson said: "There are no central Ilkley locations which would meet planning criteria as regards parking and we see ourselves as ideally placed to fill the gap in the fitness market for Ilkley."

She said already around five or six hundred of Bodies former 1,100 membership had found other clubs but there were still many who had not and others who did not want to travel to gyms at Guiseley, Shipley or further afield.

The new gym will try to attract around 500 members initially to keep the pressure on facilities low. Mr Laxton told the Gazette that when the new clubhouse was built four years ago, the extra space was included for a training facility for Bradford City Football Club but that idea was shelved when the club hit the financial rocks.

He also added that the club, which runs hockey, tennis, cricket and bowling, was not used as much during the week as it was at the weekend.

When the Bodies closure was announced, club officials thought it would be a good idea to offer the spare space for an alternative Ilkley fitness club.

Mr Laxton said: "It is an under utilised facility which now will be fully utilised - there are plusses all the way round."

Mrs Hope-Robertson said: "The future of Gym Ilkley is awaiting the go-ahead from planners. Then conversion work can start in earnest and a time scale can be announced for a grand opening."

Anyone wanting further information, or to be included on the mailing list, can contact Mrs Hope-Robertson on 07980 769712.