24-hour licence for Greenhithe gym set for approval

Beefs & Babes Gym in Stone applied to the council for a 24-hour licence for their members in April with councillors expected to approve the request at a meeting next Thursday.

The Stone gym's ambitions of staying open all night have been warmly welcomed by fitness fanatics from across Kent as more than 120 representations have been lodged, supporting the planning application.

One supporter even suggested that this gym has had a life-saving impact on their health, writing: "Needless to say, but i will again say that this gym saved my life.

"I recently moved to Gravesend to be closer to work but I have a bus that goes directly to this gym from work and I still go there.

"These people in the gym who work there are not only friends now but i feel like I am a part of a gym family."

However, the idea of a 24-hour gym has seemingly ruffled feathers with nearby residents who have voiced concerns over issues with parking space, loud music playing overnight and potential litter generation.

One neighbour wrote: "Currently parking for residents of Acacia Road is at a premium.

"There is only just room for everyone despite the lack of houses on one side of the road.

"At times I have arrived home late and have had to park in front of the gym or the industrial unit behind it.

"Gym users do park in Acacia Road and this adds to the problem. Clearly if the gym is open 24-hours this will make things worse."

Another neighbour expressed concern of loud music being blasted beyond 10pm, writing that she can hear the "constant thumping of the bass of the music they play".

However, according to council documents the gym owner has stated that no music would be played during the additional hours they would be open for.

A decision will be reached on this application at the next meeting of the council's development board on June 6.