Gym members call for replacement as La Roche faces closure

Members of a popular gym in Maidenhead have called for a replacement if it closes as part of the Chapel Arches development.

La Roche, in Crown Lane, could be demolished as part of the £100m project from the Shanly Group, with work beginning as early as 2015 if full plans are given the go-ahead.

Members have called on Shanly to include provision for a new gym as part of the development, with regulars saying there are limited options for fitness fans in the town centre.

Douglas Watts, who joined five years ago, said: "It's like our community.

"It's small, compact and it's very friendly and it's what a lot of people like."

Helen Kent, who runs a circuits class at the business, added: "We'd like to see a small, friendly gym built."

In a November letter addressed to members, a spokesman for the Shanly Group said the company did not see any reason why a gym should not be included in the project plans, but the use of commercial space in the proposals will be determined following viability assessments nearer the time of construction.

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