A Winchester gym is offering a free membership for all refugees living in the city.

Energie Fitness, based above the Brooks Shopping Centre, is giving free access for all Ukrainian refugees over a three month period.

In a bid to promote the offer, the gym has been blocked by Winchester City Council, who are said to be in a contractual agreement with another Winchester gym.

Local MP, Steve Brine dropped into Energie Fitness on Friday, July 29 to help promote the offer.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Mr Brine mentioned that the gym had been blocked from promoting the offer at Winchester City Council’s weekly hub, because the authority says it would breach their contractual agreement with Everyone Active, who operate the new leisure centre at Bar End.

He said: "Energie have made a generous and thoughtful offer so it’s extremely disappointing they’re not being helped by the council as they might by what looks like a really unfortunate conflict of interest.

“The city council might wish to think again and stand with an independently owned local business trying to do the right thing.”

In response to Mr Brine's statement, Winchester City Council said: "Winchester City Council continues to host its Ukrainian hubs that support both citizens and hosts as they settle into Winchester.

“The council does not manage the support given by external businesses, so all activities and offers are collated and listed on the City of Sanctuary website, making it easily accessible and all in one place for our Ukrainian guests. You can contact them at admin@winchester.cityofsanctuary.org.”

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Mimi Simmons, Manager at Energie Fitness said: “We responded to a call from Winchester BID for local businesses to help Ukrainian refugees coming into Winchester and felt Energie Fitness could offer them a fantastic opportunity to aid their physical and mental wellbeing while they’re here.

“We feel the City Council unfairly blocked a service we were offering our guests because of their relationship with the existing leisure centre operator.

“I strongly disagree with this and can't understand why competition and politics is being taken into the debate of refugees health and wellbeing.

“We are quite happy to attend along side Everyone Active and feel very disappointed that our own council are unwilling to help promote this free service in order to benefit their own alliances.”

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