A FITNESS entrepreneur who offers personal exercise services to people with serious physical conditions and disabilities has won a planning battle.

Matthew Howarth, of Inspire Health, has been running the sessions at Calder House, in Spring Lane, Colne, for 18 months.

But planning officers at Pendle Borough Council said a new application had to be submitted and said it would be classed as a gym operating from the premises.

Planning officers had recommended the application should be refused, which would have forced the facility to close, but councillors gave Mr Howarth the green light to continue operating from there.

Steven Alcock, who rents the property to Mr Howarth, said the building had been used for therapy treatments previously and that it shouldn’t be classed as a gym.

He said: “This council still classes Inspire Health as a gym, but it is not. It is by appointment only and is for a maximum of eight people.”

Coun Paul White said: “This is not a gym as you would imagine. It is very small, there are no showering or changing facilities and it is by appointment only.

“This treatment isn’t readily available anywhere else. Inspire does a lot of work with severely handicapped people, both mentally and physically.

“It has been operating for 18 months already without any traffic or parking problems.

“We must support local businesses at times like this.”

Mr Haworth said: “I’m delighted with the outcome of this process. It’s a victory for common sense and I’m grateful to everybody who has supported us.

“I’ve worked really hard and spent my own money launching Inspire Health as an affordable personal training service.

“It’s really encouraging that we’ve had so much support, as we’re a business that is promoting a healthier, fitter and happier lifestyle for people in Burnley and Pendle.”