A DUMBARTON gym owner says he is now facing hundreds of thousands of pounds of debt due to the continued restrictions on leisure facilities reopening.

Jamal Hashmi, owner of Energie Fitness, told the Reporter last week how he had spent lockdown making his gym a safe place to workout.

But on Thursday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that despite many gyms going above and beyond to socially distance, introduce heightened hygiene measures and install booking systems, gyms will remain closed until September 14.

Jamal said he has been left dumbfounded by the announcement, as UK Active, who represent the fitness industry, stated the government’s decisions lacked any clarity for the industry.

He said the gym closure has cost his business upwards of £160,000 and by the time it reopens, it will be closer to £200,000 from a lack of any income against his costs.

And he could see his home repossessed.

Jamal said: “I am now in the biggest financial hole I have ever been in, it doesn’t make sense to keep gyms shut and Wales have also announced an August date so this reaction in Scotland is unjustified.

“We have benefited slightly from a leisure grant which was offered some months back, but it doesn’t touch the sides when we have been forced to close for six months.

“I don’t know of any independent gym which will manage to survive this and not be in thousands of debt. I cannot simply pull the plug and I wouldn’t anyway, I have put my heart and soul into this gym and my livelihood and family depend on it doing well.

“Over and above the financial impact on businesses, we are also facing an obesity crisis and it has been proven that people with health conditions or obesity are far more likely to suffer long term and fatal consequences of the virus, so why wouldn’t the government be promoting health and wellness.

“I feel it is one excuse after another, at first it was because sweat might transmit the infection but gyms made every effort to avoid members sharing equipment, now its to track a second spike better, gyms trace everyone who comes through the door, it’s just not good enough to open everywhere else but leave us crippled.”

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “These facilities should be open now, and the sector should be afforded the respect given to other parts of society.

Nicola Sturgeon said “Because of the nature of these environments, they pose a particular risk and require a cautious approach.”

The Scottish Government has offered to review the opening dates in three weeks’ time, with the possibility of accelerating the date to the end of August.