A COLCHESTER gym is set to close at the end of the month.

Potentia Performance, which is based in The Crescent, in Severalls Business Park, will close at 3pm on April 30.

The move comes as the gym’s landlord plans to convert the space used by about 400 members and ten personal trainers, to offices, which would add to the building’s value.

David Bond, Potentia Performance’s managing director, said although his longterm plan is to move, no firm location has been found yet.

He added: “The landlord has been a great help to us.

“It’s because of him really that we got off the ground and I understand his reasoning.”

Mr Bond, who opened the gym more than three years ago, said there had been difficulty with the small number of parking spaces and neighbouring officers had complained about the fitness studio music.

He added: “We are looking for a suitable location where we would not have the difficulty with parking or noise.”

The landlord reached the decision when the lease agreement reached a threeyear break clause, which allows either party to end the contract.

In a letter to members, Mr Bond added: “We hoped to deliver the bad news of the closure with a silver lining that we would be moving to a nearby location, but unfortunately this has not come to fruition.

“We have, therefore, made the very difficult decision to suspend the company.”

No further payments will be taken from members’ bank accounts. Members who paid in advance will be contacted to arrange a refund.