More than 50 objections to new 10-pin bowling alley plan for Highland capital
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Highland Council has received more than 50 objections from the public against plans for a new multimillion-pound bowling alley and inflatable activity course – in less than a week.
Hercules Unit Trust, which owns Inverness Shopping Park, is seeking to create the major new facility inside the building that currently houses Sports Direct and the Everlast gym. In its application, the trust says the existing tenants "wish to vacate the premises".
The comments – some from employees of the gym and shop – include a degree of anger.
If the proposals get the green light from Highland Council, the new bowling alley and inflatable course will also house a bar, diner and amusements.
Planning documents from Hercules Unit Trust state: "The 10-pin bowling centre is expected to employ 40 people (around 30 full-time/10 part-time jobs) and the inflatable activity centre is expected to provide 20 full-time jobs."
The proposals would not result in any external alterations to the existing building.
Several objectors suggest that losing the gym on the east side of the city would be detrimental to people's health, as well as it having social and environmental impacts if customers have to travel further to use a different gym. Some people are concerned at the prospect of losing access to group fitness sessions and child swimming lessons.
They also point out that the city has existing businesses such as Rollerbowl, soft play centres and a trampoline park.
Daniel Nisbet said: "These are all independent businesses. If this gets approved, I can guarantee you'll see these businesses majorly struggle. We have not long come out of the pandemic and things are back to 'normal' but this will massively affect them. Guaranteed.
"The impact of sport and fitness needs to stop being put to one side. The facility currently is great as is. We serve hundreds of people a day in the store and we have thousands of members at the gym.
"Would this new facility really be all it's cracked up to be? Will it just be another case of being busy for a period of time before folk become sick of it and stop going?
"Do we want to add a bar and restaurant to a lovely retail park area? Drinking whether we like it or not brings social issues such as violence. Having this at the retail park also brings more and more people away from the city centre. This is already an issue. The centre has many vacant units and this will drive more people away.
"I know my opinion is a biased one, but in all honestly as an adult male I can understand the potential excitement as Facebook culture is like that, but realistically, long term I believe this will have major knock-on affects to many other businesses."
Belle Crofts, one of the personal trainers at Everlast gym, said: "The gym is a safe place for a lot of people that I know and has helped people more than you would expect. Mental health is a massive issue in Inverness and it is proven that exercise aids in improving your mental wellbeing as well as physical wellbeing. It is completely unacceptable that it is even being considered to be removed for this reason alone.
"I am a self-employed personal trainer with a good business at this gym and a lot of my clients come from Culloden, Balloch, Tornagrain, Nairn and Ardersier. A lot of members of the gym are from these areas and rely on being able to walk to the gym, to grab a bus here but if this gym was to disappear then they would have issues getting to another gym.
"I think it's unbelievable that '60 new jobs would be created' yet around 60-plus jobs will be lost losing the gym and Sports Direct. There are personal trainers, fitness instructors, experienced staff members in both gym and store and all these people will lose business and their jobs."
She, and some other objectors, pointed out the facilities are also used by Caley Thistle footballers.
Another personal trainer, Calum Howarth, stated: "The members who come to Everlast all socialise with each other as well which is amazing to see, and is not something you often witness at a lot of other gyms. Closure of the facility would be ruining a strong and positive community.
"If Everlast Fitness Club was to close it would have an enormous negative [impact] on more people and more businesses than you can imagine. I hope these points are taken seriously as these are people's jobs, lifestyle, and physical/mental health on the line."
Cathel Bethune stated: "The Everlast gym provides an invaluable facility in the local area. From my own personal perspective I have utilised the facilities of the gym and swimming pool for rehabilitation to two recent surgeries and from meeting other people in a similar predicament, I know it is well used for this purpose.
"There are very few options for facilities with a swimming pool in Inverness and if this facility was lost it would only further add to this problem.
"In general, to even consider closing the Everlast gym and swimming pool in an era when there has never been more emphasis on the need for health and wellbeing, seems a massively backwards step."
He, and others, also point out that there are already relatively large vacant units elsewhere in the city.
Hollie MacIver, who worked for DW Fitness First which closed at the site due to the company entering administration in August 2020, said the gym has around 2300 members. She described it to be a community and more than 'just a gym' which is successful and in an ideal location.
"It was incredibly insensitive finding out from the papers regarding this situation," she said. "I have heard that a lot of our current members will not join a new gym as they love our club and have been here for many years and can't imagine going to another gym. Although Inverness has other gyms, ours doesn't compare. Every gym offers something different.
"Although I know this is a business decision, it will affect all the staff personally, so please take this into consideration.
"We already have a bowling alley in Inverness, Rollerbowl, which is a family-run business. I imagine they are feeling some worry now as I think this will have a heavy impact on their business."
Connor MacGregor, who works at Rollerbowl pointed out it dates back some 30 years, adding: "The new proposals are in direct competition with what Rollerbowl offers and I fear that this may take away our job security. It is a great place to work and it is wonderful to work for an establishment that has been around for as long as it has.
"Many people in Inverness will have attended birthday parties, family get-togethers and staff night outs in Rollerbowl and with that brings a sense of nostalgia that we frequently get commented on. It definitely has a strong hold on the Inverness entertainment scene and it would be sad to see that dwindle.
"I don't believe we have room for another entertainment venue. Rather than saturating the market it would be nice to see these local established businesses thrive and survive."
Neil McColgan warned against sacrificing fitness and wellbeing for "flashy nonsense".
Adam Gray, supervisor of Sports Direct, "The main negative affect is the loss of our jobs, over a proposed business that with all due respect is absolutely useless for this side of Inverness. Many people in this unit have families to provide for, rent to pay and university to pay for. There are plenty empty buildings within Inverness, and it provides no use to eject a well-established community in the gym and a shop that provides easy access and convenience for many people."
Jasmine Potts said there was a psychological aspect to the potential changes, stating: "I have discussed with a number of [gym] members about the situation, with them stating to me they have a lot of anxiety surrounding the gym and it had taken them a long time to become accustomed to the gym environment here and the thought of having to do this in another facility if this does go through fills them with a higher amount of anxiety. As they are dreading having to take the time to get used to and comfortable with another gym entirely.
"While I can agree that Inverness could benefit from more amusements within the city, I feel like taking a gym away is not a fair exchange."
