A new Greenwich gym has caused outrage among residents for its high membership fees, labelling it 'public facilities for the well-off'.

Anyone wanting to join the new Greenwich Centre gym opening on Saturday (June 13) will have to fork out £46.25 a month to use the facilities.

Fitness fanatics in the borough have reacted angrily to this, claiming they are being ignored by the council.

Alison Miller from the Friends of Plumstead Sports Centre could not believe the membership fees at the Greenwich Centre

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She said: "I think it's outrageous, it's a labour council behaving like a Conservative government.

"It's public facilities for the well-off and forgetting the residents of the borough as a whole.

"We all live together in Greenwich borough and it's about time our Labour council recognises they have a responsibility for all residents in the borough."

The new leisure centre will have a six lane 25m pool, which is half the size of the Olympic standard, and a 'state-of-the-art' gym with more than 100 pieces of equipment.

Mrs Miller also criticised the council for investing in expensive new gyms whilst the Plumstead Warehouse Gym she has been 'systematically managed into disrepair'.

A Greenwich Council spokeswoman said the Greenwich Centre will provide residents with state of the art leisure and adult learning facilities under one roof.

She added: "The fitness facilities are managed on our behalf by GLL and the monthly membership fees of £46.25 are the same as those charged in all other council facilities in the borough.

"Discounts are available for young people, senior citizens and people claiming benefits.

"We are confident the new Greenwich Centre will be as successful as the facilities in Woolwich and Eltham, which have resulted in more people using the library and leisure facilities than ever before."