A community health club is no longer being operated by a leisure trust after bailiffs were sent in to seize equipment to pay off historic debts.

In April 2019, Rossendale Leisure Trust entered into a partnership agreement with the owners of Pioneer Community Health Club, on Park Road in Bacup.

Although a sale had been agreed for the Trust to take over, no paperwork had been signed.

An historic creditor then took legal action against the owners, and on Wednesday morning, court appointed bailiffs arrived to seize gym equipment as payment towards an outstanding debt.

This has resulted in the gym closing.

Rossendale Leisure Trust Chief Executive Ken Masser released a video on the Pioneer Community Health Studio Facebook page on Wednesday to explain more about what had occurred at the club.

He said: “We are saddened to inform you that the Rossendale Leisure Trust partnership with Pioneer Health Studio will cease today.

"Since the trust became managing agent of Pioneer Community Health Club in 2019 the business has grown.

“The Leisure Trust has fully supported the employees, customers and the gym owners throughout the Covid pandemic including the ongoing payment of all costs and further investment into the facility.

“Unfortunately, the Trust was recently informed that one of the gym’s historic creditors had taken legal action against the gym owner and the court had appointed bailiffs to seize the gym equipment as payment towards the historic debt.

“Over the last few weeks, the Trust’s team has worked hard with the gym owner, the creditor, and the bailiffs to try to reach a resolution, including reaching an agreement to purchase the assets of the business and secure the long-term future of the gym.

“However, the gym owner has since decided not to progress with the sale, and, with bailiffs arriving on site to remove equipment, we now feel that we have no option but to exit from our partnership agreement.”

The Trust is now exploring other ways to deliver health and fitness opportunities in Bacup and is keen to continue its support for the community to keep healthy and well.

All the Leisure Trust employees who were based at Pioneer, have been redeployed within the Trust’s other businesses and no one has lost their jobs.

Mr Masser added: “In the meantime, all Rossendale Leisure Trust members who use Pioneer Community Health Club will have full and ongoing access to our other fitness facilities in Rawtenstall, Haslingden and Whitworth as well as 18 other community leisure sites across East Lancashire on www.active-network.co.uk.”

If customers wish to discuss their membership, they should contact frances.ferguson@rltrust.co.uk.