'Noisy' gym without planning consent ordered to close

A gym that neighbours say has music "blasting" out has been ordered to close after operating for nearly a year without planning permission.

Kulture Training Club in Fishponds, Bristol, opened its doors in July and has since had two retrospective planning applications denied by Bristol City Council.

Lorraine Hooper, who lives behind the gym, says bass music "blasting" from the early hours and a "total disregard" for neighbours has affected her mental health. Other neighbours have complained about parking.

The council says the venue must close by 26 June, but the gym's owners say they intend to appeal against the enforcement action by submitting another application to "regularise everything".

Hooper told BBC Radio Bristol she felt the owners were "flouting" the rules and the music sounded like a "drum and and bass event in your lounge".

"When they have certain sessions going, my floor would vibrate because it was so loud," she said.

"I've gone round there and it's chaos. There's just a total disregard for what other people have got to live with, it's been awful.

"I was so angry and it really affects your mental health."

She added the neighbours had kept "records" of incidents, and felt "let down" by the council for letting it get this far.

The 15,000 sq ft (about 1,400 sq m) gym is situated in a warehouse on an industrial plot.

Marylin and Mark, who work at the Royal Mail sorting office next door, say staff are often late for work because they have to park "further and further away".

"They park all over the place - in the company's gateways, on both sides of the road. You just can't get up and down, and our lorries are a nightmare," Marylin said.

"I've had my car hit out the back because there's just not enough room."

Mark said a colleague had once nearly been hit by a speeding car, and groups of gymgoers often come running out in groups, blocking the postal vans.

"They just don't seem to care. They seem to think 'well this is our playground'."

Local labour councillor Louis Martin said planning permission had been refused twice because the owners were unable to explain "how they would deal with the noise and the parking issues".

"Since the second planning application was refused, the noise coming from the gym seems to have gotten even worse," he said.

"It's not fair on nearby residents; they have had to put up with a constant drumbeat coming from the gym for the better part of a year.

"If the gym had followed proper process, insulated its property, and provided parking spaces, we could have kept everyone happy."

However, he said the owners could still appeal against the planning enforcement notice within a certain time limit.

A gym spokesperson said: "Kulture has become a big part of the local community, supporting and benefiting hundreds of people with both mental health and fitness needs.

"We are working closely with the council to ensure we can remain open so that all of our members can continue to access and benefit from the facilities we've created."

"We are hopeful that the application will lead to a positive outcome, and as a result, the requirements outlined in the enforcement notice will no longer be necessary."

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