New look Westgate Gym

Olympic hopefuls give their seal of approval to new look Westgate gym.


Three local Olympic hopefuls have given the thumbs up to Westgate Leisure Chichester’s new gym, which was launched on Monday (19 December).


Olympic swimming hopeful Gemma Spofforth, 24, Tom Hendrie, 20, hoping to compete in the fencing team, and Tom Lord, 25, an Olympic volleyball hopeful, tried out the new state-of-the-art fitness equipment.


The gym has had a complete makeover, with 78 pieces of new fitness equipment. It offers six different categories - shape, power, balance, sport, move, and fun - with individual programmes in each category.


The new gym has been installed in time to celebrate Westgate’s 25th anniversary in 2012.


The new equipment has some fantastic features as well. Users are able to choose one of over 20 channels to watch while working out, as the cardio machines have digital TV. They also have iPods and iPhones attached to them to enable customers to access their music and videos and charge their devices at the same time.


Staff can also now send messages to those working on the cardio machines, for example, to let them know if there are spaces free in classes due to start.


There are four new zones in the gym:


·                          functional training zone – an area where you can perform exercises using your body weight to target core muscles and the lower back.


·                          free weight zone – in this area you can perform exercises using a range of dumbbells and barbells, and we will be adding a squat rack.


·                          cardio zone – this area incorporates treadmills, bikes, rowers, cross trainers and the variable stride trainer.


·                          fixed resistance zone – the equipment (weight machines, such as chest press, leg curl, or shoulder press) has moveable seats, allowing easier access for wheelchair users.


Tom Lord, who lives at Chidham, regularly trains at Westgate. He said: “I think the new gym is great.


“There is a real sense of community spirit here at Westgate and the staff are all really knowledgeable. I have been coming here since I was at Chichester High School for Boys. There is lots going on at the centre.”


Councillor Eileen Lintill, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Wellbeing, says: “Westgate is a fantastic community hub and the gym is used by all ages. I am sure everyone will really like the fantastic new features.”


As well as the new equipment and zones, the gym has been redecorated and re-carpeted. The contractor for the new gym has been Technogym.


Westgate Leisure has launched a new-look website to coincide with the reopening.  The site was designed and developed in-house offering a host of new features to make booking and finding information much easier. Features include; interactive pool and class timetables, an arrange a visit form, class videos, latest news slider, and downloadable pocket timetables on all of Westgate’s classes and activities. To find out more see www.westgateleisure.co.uk.


You can see interviews with the Olympic hopefuls on our YouTube page (www.youtube.com/ChichesterDCouncil) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ChichesterDistrictCouncil). To see photos of the hopefuls at the launch of the new gym see our Facebook page or Twitter page (www.twitter.com/ChichesterDC).


For more information on the new gym please contact Westgate Leisure Chichester on 01243 785651, by email at westgateleisure@chichester.gov.uk or see the Westgate Leisure website.