Round the clock reps in Kelso
A popular Borders gym is aiming to be fit for purpose 24 hours a day.
The Muscle Factory in Kelso’s Spylaw Road has been successfully operating for more than a decade.
Its current opening hours are Monday to Friday from 6am to 10pm and on the weekend from 7am to 6pm.
Now in a bid to meet the working patterns of gym users, which include Blue Light employees, a planning bid has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council to operate the business 24 hours a day.
A report with the application states: “The Muscle Factory has successfully operated as a commercial gym serving Kelso and the wider Scottish Borders community.
“The facility provides strength training, cardiovascular exercise and general fitness facilities for members of all ages, abilities and fitness levels.
“This proposal does not seek to intensify the approved use but instead allows members greater flexibility in accessing an existing community facility.
“Working patterns have changed considerably in recent years, with many people employed outside of the traditional working hours.
“Providing 24-hour access will enable local residents who work irregular hours to maintain healthy lifestyles while balancing employment and family commitments.
“Many of these individuals begin work before conventional gym opening hours or finish work late at night. Without flexible access they are often unable to maintain regular exercise routines.
“Exercise plays a significant role in maintaining both physical and mental well-being, and extending access removes unnecessary barriers for members of the community whose work schedules fall outside traditional business hours.
“The proposal does not introduce a new land use and is not expected to materially increase activity at the site.
“Instead, allowing members to access the gym over a 24-hour period is expected to distribute attendance across a longer timeframe, reducing concentrations of users during existing peak periods.”