A NEW fitness centre will open in the sports fields next to the Morrisons supermarket in Chingford.

The site will be developed by Darlington-based Bannatyne Fitness Ltd, which owns a large chain of health centres around the country.

Councillors last week gave the go-ahead to develop the site, which has been disused for a number of years. Some of the area was bought by the Co-op supermarket chain, which opened a Leo's store in 1988. That has since changed ownership to become Morrisons.

The sports fields, which include tennis courts and a bowling green, were used until the mid-1990s but, when the sports club could no longer pay the rent charged by the Co-op, the site had to be vacated.

The pavilion has since been demolished after being set on fire, and the rest of the site has become overgrown.

The chairman of Bannatyne Fitness, Duncan Bannatyne, said: "We were looking around the country for sites and are working with Morrisons supermarkets in developing clubs."

The new fitness club will add to the several others already in Chingford, including Greens in New Road, Solutions in Highams Park and the new Larkswood Leisure Centre.

Mr Bannatyne said: "I think it will be competitive but I think that will benefit the people in the area by keeping prices stable.

"The problem of obesity is growing fast in this country and we want to encourage more people to use health clubs."

Greens manager Sarah Wiltshire said: "Any healthy competition is good for businesses and good for people in the area."

At last Wednesday's meeting Tory Councillor Peter Herrington said: "The state the area is in at the moment is bad anything would be better.

"As long as certain conditions are adhered to, it can only be an improvement for that part of Chingford."

Concerns over the design of the building, vehicle access, external lighting and possible general disturbance were raised but the plan was passed unanimously.