'Council wants £85 a week for my free Pilates class'

A Pilates instructor fears she could have to stop running her free community sessions after being told she must now pay the local council £85 per week.

More than 100 people regularly attend Alexandra Beard's Sunday morning classes at Bell Wharf beach in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Participants are encouraged to donate to local charities rather than pay a fee but the 35-year-old said she would now also be required to complete extensive paperwork.

Southend-on-Sea City Council said it required organisers of public activities to follow formal application processes to ensure safety and proper use of public spaces.

Beard told the BBC she had been asked to complete around 30 pages of documentation and provide multiple safeguards before she could be granted permission.

"I needed an event application form, a risk assessment and public liability insurance," she said.

"I also needed a first aider on site, an event management plan and then I had to pay a fee of £85 per week, plus an additional admin charge."

She added: "I can't afford £85 a week for a free class."

The executive assistant from Leigh-on-Sea has asked the council for a detailed breakdown of the proposed costs but said she had not received a response.

She described the requirements as "wildly extreme", adding her sessions were intended to be a free and accessible initiative for the local community.

"I was there for 45 minutes on a Sunday, simply trying to offer something positive for the community.

She added that she was unclear about the council's reasoning after being told it was "trying to clamp down on things like this".

"I don't really understand what that means," she said.

Beard hopes a resolution can be reached to allow the classes to continue.

Regular attendees said the classes had become an important part of their weekly routine.

Terri Dent, 46, from Rayleigh, said the sessions boosted her physical and mental health.

"It's such a welcoming environment," she said. "There's no pressure and no cost which makes a huge difference. I look forward to it every week and it's brought a real sense of community."

The beauty therapist added she was disappointed at the prospect of the classes ending.

"It seems really unfair. Something that's clearly benefiting so many people is being put at risk because of charges. It just doesn't feel right."

Sophie Glasson, 32, from Leigh-on-Sea, found the sessions welcoming and less intimidating than going to a gym.

Glasson, who works in risk management, described the council's decision as "terrible".

"I understand there need to be rules but £85 a week for something that's free is just wrong," she said.

It's a shame because it's exactly the kind of thing communities need more of, not less."

Labour councillor Matt Dent, cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, said the council supported community activities but has a duty to ensure larger events are "safe and properly managed".

He said this required permits, documentation and insurance in line with national guidance.

He added the council was willing to work with organisers and would welcome further discussion about the concerns raised.

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