Valleys Gym Seeks Permission to Open Earlier on Weekdays Amid Parking and Noise Concerns

A Valleys gym wants permission to open earlier on weekdays but there are concerns over parking, noise, and traffic.
CF44 Gym, which is based at Kings Hall in Cwmbach Road, Abernant, is applying for the variation of a condition of a previously-approved planning application to allow members of the public to use the gym from 6am on weekdays.
The current condition relating to opening hours allows the gym to open from 6.30am until 8pm on weekdays and from 9am until 12pm on weekends.
The applicant has said the gym has operated a 6am weekday class since opening so the application is retrospective.
The application property is the former Kingdom Hall which once housed a place of worship.
The property now operates as a local gym with a small, ancillary café, and a dedicated space for chiropractic treatments.
The planning report says letters of objection have been received from four contributors including Hafod Housing Association which has
raised concerns on behalf of the residents of the Llys yr Ysgol housing development.
They say the gym has not been adhering to their approved opening times and they mention illegal and un-neighbourly parking and on-street parking impacts, adding that users of the gym are parking within the Llys yr Ysgol housing site while attending classes.
They also mention noise impacts as a result of staff and patrons attending the gym during early mornings and associated vehicular movements, slamming of car doors, playing of car radios, and music from within the gym.
Objectors say the proposal will result in an increase in vehicular traffic due to the proposed change to the operating times and what is considered to be the unauthorised use of a café on site.
They also mention littering and a restrictive condition, appended to planning permission, which states the premise should only be used as a gymnasium and
for no other purpose.
But  letters of support have been received from 41 people as well as from Vikki Howells MS.
Early-morning 6am classes are said to be essential for many members,
particularly shift workers, those who commute early, and people with family or caring responsibilities, as they provide the only realistic opportunity to undertake exercise around their daily commitments.
Representations say attendance at the 6am session has a significant positive effect on physical health, mental wellbeing, confidence, and overall quality of life with some members indicating they would be unable to maintain a regular fitness routine if the gym opened later.
Supporters say the availability of early-morning classes enables them to
establish and maintain a consistent exercise regime before work, school runs, and other personal commitments.
The gym is said to be regarded by members as an important community facility, making a positive contribution to health and wellbeing within the local area.
Several representations say the early-morning sessions operate in a
respectful and considerate manner with members encouraged by staff to be
mindful of neighbouring residents when arriving, parking, and departing the site.
Comments indicate the gym maintains positive relationships with
other local groups and organisations including the Ynys Allotment Group.
Planning officers have recommended it be approved saying: “Given the site context and location of the nearest residential receptors to the property it is not considered that the proposal to vary the permitted operating hours of the gym would cause an unacceptable degree of additional noise, disturbance, or other detriment to the amenity or quality of life of neighbouring residents.
“Furthermore the variation to the opening hours of the gym would not impact upon the free flow of traffic or existing parking arrangements in the vicinity of the site, to levels which would warrant refusal of the application.”
The application is scheduled to go before Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) planning committee on Thursday, October 8. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​