A large Ashford gym is in the process of being taken over by a fitness chain already in the town.

Anytime Fitness is transferring its equipment from The Panorama building to The Park Club next to Lidl.

The chain - which has more than 165 UK sites - is promising all its usual gear in a space which is roughly three times the size of its former 24-7 unit.

The renovations and refitting needed means the new facility will not open until August.

Park Club memberships will be transferred automatically to Anytime Fitness, with prices staying the same for existing users.

The Park Club issued a statement on Facebook, saying: "It is with a heavy heart that we have announced to our members that Park Club Ashford is in the process of being transferred to Anytime Fitness.

"We would like to thank our amazing members for all their support during our time at the club.

"We have loved being a part of the Ashford community."

The announcement follows speculation amongst the customers of both gyms - some of whom have reacted to the news with anger.

David Murphy said about Anytime Fitness' correspondence: "No contact whatsoever, no emails, no messages back, no comments back when asked what's going on.... nothing.

"Not even a simple 'we know gyms are reopening as of so-and-so date but we won't be due to certain circumstances and we will update you as and when we can, sorry for the inconvenience'.

"I'm moving clubs as I'm not happy with this."

Video announcement from Anytime Fitness

The gym was a highly-touted part of The Panorama building when it opened on the ground floor in 2016.

The nine-storey apartment block was bought for £14 million by an Israeli investor earlier this year, amid ongoing construction work on blocks next to the main building.

Elsewhere, PureGym announced in January it had bought the former Office Outlet store in Simone Weil Avenue, but Covid-19 has delayed its opening.

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