15398/01GAZETTE & HERALD: DISGRUNTLED gym user Yvonne Cripps said North Wiltshire Leisure Ltd acted like Robin Hood in reverse after it took some cardiovascular equipment from a gym in Calne for another in Chippenham.

North Wiltshire Leisure admitted it had taken equipment from other gyms in the area and placed it in the newly- expanded and revamped gym at the Olympiad Leisure Centre but said it had returned some of it after complaints and would be willing to return more if gym members felt hard done by.

Ms Cripps, from Fairway, Calne, attends the gym at Calne's White Horse Leisure Centre with the town's 50+ Club.

She said she was shocked to find equipment had been taken when there is not usually enough for her group anyway.

Ms Cripps said: "We normally have to wait our turn but we don't mind waiting. When we found three machines missing we were amazed.

"We had four treadmills, four cross trainers and they took one of each of those and a bicycle.

"We just couldn't believe it. We thought what a cheek. Someone said 'what's happened?' and none of us knew. We have a girl who watches over us and she couldn't explain. Even the manager didn't know."

With the Calne 50+ Group Ms Cripps is able to swim, go to the gym, have a sauna and do some stretching as well as enjoy a cup of coffee with other members, each paying £2.90 a time.

She said the gym needs all the equipment or people will become frustrated.

"If they replace them or put them back then I don't think anybody would begrudge them," she said.

"People have come who have had strokes and the improvement they've made is remarkable.

"As far as I know the equipment has gone to Chippenham. Their gym has been made larger so they thought we have got room for more machines.

"It's like a Robin Hood in reverse."

Gary Milne, head of operations at North Wilts Leisure, defended the company's actions and said only machines with a low amount of usage were taken.

"Before Christmas we assessed all our cardiovascular equipment miles done and hours used and when we created the new centre there was a need to use equipment from other centres.

"We are talking about three units and they still have 20 there.

"It's not about others being second class customers to Chippenham. All our sites and communities are very important but we do need to look at our demand."

Mr Milne said the lack of chance to use equipment at the White Horse could have been exacerbated by The Olympiad being shut for four days which would have made it busier.

He also said Cricklade has had two of its three machines put back and Calne one machine after complaints.

Mr Milne added that when Malmesbury's Activity Zone has its cardiovascular equipment replaced the older equipment may go to gyms such as Calne.

"We are doing a complete replacement of all its cardiovascular equipment which lasts for about five years.

"Some of the treadmills have done more miles than your car while some in other sites have done less.

"We could trade it in for a sum not dissimilar for trading your car in or we can keep that and send it out.

"We have had to use it round to get the best out of it. There's an on going replacement programme."

Mike Parlour, chief executive of North Wiltshire Leisure, said the company is just trying to do the best for its customers with the equipment it has available.

He said: "We have moved everything we had in The Olympiad into the new gym and given it a much more enjoyable space to work in and we have zoned the gym off for weights or fitness.

"We felt we were short of four or five pieces and took them from other gyms.

"What we are trying to do is make it (the Olympiad) more active and cut down the huge congestion we have got.

"All of these machines have usage recorders on them and it's pretty obvious which ones are being used and which aren't.

"If there are major problems then we will put that right."

alawless@newswilts.co.uk