00:00 The reason to have everybody here today is just for you to understand that how this gym is not ready to close yet.
00:06 This place is a community center for us. It's like a socializing place for everyone. It is a life line for everyone.
00:14 People who come here, they don't just come here for a gym. It's a way of living for them.
00:18 They come here not only just once, two, three times a week they come.
00:22 About 28% of our members, there are over 400 people who are above the age of 50 and up to the age of 90.
00:30 So it means for them, they live alone. Here they come to socialize, to get to know each other, just for their own mental health and their fitness.
00:39 So we would like for the community council to take the ownership of this one.
00:46 And when they are taking a decision that this gym is not ready to close, there are 2,300 people who are a member here.
00:54 And for them to take a decision, if we shut this facility down, there has to be an alternative for them.
01:01 And I'm sure Highland Council will look into it.
01:05 If they were to take this facility away from our members, what is it that they would offer as an alternative?
01:11 What kind of value for money that facility can provide for our members?
01:16 What kind of amenities are available for them? How they will make it an ease of access for them?
01:22 Not only just for our senior members, it also is a place to be for our young kids who come from schools and colleges, come here after the school.
01:33 And I take pride that they come here and they start their fitness journey here with us, as opposed to being on the streets and losing track of their life.
01:44 So, we're like, you put up a poster, a board asking for people to help the gym, and there's been quite an important reaction on objections on the planning application for the change of use of this facility.
02:02 So, how do you feel about having such a back-in from the community and the members?
02:08 I would say that this is quite overwhelming. And that actually shows how these people love this place.
02:14 And that's why they're all there with their whole heart and their full strength.
02:19 They are here, their only cause for them is to make sure that this place is not being taken away from them.
02:25 As soon as the news came out, it was very devastating for all these members. Some of them have been here for 14 to 17 years, ever since this project was as a leisure in Bhopal.
02:37 And since then, they have been here. And for them to take it away, you can see all those objections are coming.
02:43 And these are very, very valid points. They come from a very logical ground that they are not ready to let this gym go yet.
02:51 What are the next steps for you as members of staff, and in general, what do you hope to do to try and counteract this planning application?
03:03 So, the plan is only we will continue to raise awareness within our members.
03:08 And we will continue to object, as it is, because the application is open until 11th of August for us to put that for consultation, maybe a consultation.
03:18 After that, we are hoping that it will, we will have some positive results from the positive outcome out of that.
03:26 And we'll take it because Fraser Group is not ready to leave the building yet.
03:31 They are happy to be here. These are two profitable locations they have.
03:35 There is no reason for Fraser Group to vacate and shut those two businesses.
03:40 On the contrary, they do have plans to expand within Highlands.
03:45 There is another plan for not only just this location, there is a new elevated concept of our gyms ready to come.
03:52 So, this is what it is for us. This is where we want to see our future.
03:56 Thank you very much.
03:58 Thank you.
