A CHARITABLE Trust which runs sports centres in Kirklees has confirmed the takeover of a gym club.

The Examiner revealed last week that Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL) had taken on the Fitness First club at Lockwood Park.

The deal went through on December 1 and the club closed last weekend for re-branding and re-decorating.

The club has re-opened as Lockwood Park Health & Fitness Club.

Memberships have not been affected but members will be transferred to a KAL fitness membership which will give access to all KAL gyms and swimming pools.

KAL took on Lockwood Park as Fitness First needed to off-load dozens of sites across the UK to cut debts of £600 million.

KAL chief executive Alasdair Brown said: “This is a very exciting development which I am confident will prove to be popular with the local community.

“KAL can now provide an even more extensive and value for money health and fitness offer to the people of south Kirklees, complementing the existing excellent provision at the John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield Sports Centre and the Deighton Sports Arena.

“We hope the existing customers at Lockwood Park appreciate the changes we’ve made already with further investment planned for the months to come.”

Lockwood Park general manager Craig Battersby added: “It’s been a difficult period for staff and customers over the past 12 months. However we have managed to get through it and with the new management in place we are all looking forward to a brighter future.”