A gym owner says she feels ‘bullied and victimised’ by a council after spending eight months trying to get planning permission for her unit.

Kelly Garrett, 44, a personal trainer, took over the Steel Town Gym in Consett in late 2020 and faced a turbulent time opening amid lockdown restrictions.

Having made the business a success post-pandemic she was hit with the news Pure Gym was set to open in the town, undercutting her and other local businesses’ prices.

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Fearing her business could become a sinking ship Kelly downsized to a smaller unit, but has since been going back and forth with planning and says she feels bullied and victimised by Durham County Council.

Kelly said: “When we opened back in lockdown, we were very community spirited and wanted to get everyone involved.

The Northern Echo: Kelly Garrett at her gym in Consett.Kelly Garrett at her gym in Consett. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“When Pure Gym opened, we thought we are never going to be able to go up against them. I didn’t want to sit on a sinking ship so made the decision to move to a smaller facility about 500ft away.

“We moved in and I didn’t realise I needed planning permission but applied for retrospective planning as soon as I was told.

“Before I’d even moved in someone from the council came and said they’d had a complaint but wouldn’t tell me why.

“Then I was told we were causing a parking issue. My partner has the other half of the unit for his garage and has cars parked but I only ever have three or four cars outside at a time.

“They kept going back and forth about it then suddenly three weeks ago they said because I’d moved 500ft out of the centre of Consett I needed to get a survey done to justify moving out. It’ll cost me £1,500.”

The Northern Echo: Steel Town Gym in Consett.Steel Town Gym in Consett. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Kelly has been told she needs a sequential assessment, which would look at whether there are any other suitable premises in the area.

“No one had mentioned it until now,” she added. “So now it’s not that I’m causing a parking violation it’s that I’ve moved out of the town centre.

“I had to move because the council let Pure Gym open, and I had to sell about £20,000 of equipment off for pennies.

“I feel victimised and bullied. We are just three women trying to make a living, but it feels like they’re putting barriers in at every point.

“The council should be trying to support local businesses.”

Kelly also offers sessions for people with disabilities and health issues helping to rehabilitate members of the community.

The Northern Echo: Kelly Garrett, owner of Steel Town Gym in Consett, feels 'victimised and bullied' by Durham County

Durham County Council has said the assessment is needed in line with national planning rules.

Michael Kelleher, Durham County Council’s head of planning and housing, said: “After being made aware that a potential new business was occupying the premises, we investigated the matter which showed a gym was operating without planning permission. We contacted the owners to request they submit a retrospective planning application, which is currently under consideration.

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“In line with the National Planning Policy Framework, which applies to all planning decisions across England, and locally within the County Durham Plan, this application requires a sequential assessment.

“This is to establish that there are no suitable sites available within the town centre before we can consider edge of centre or out of centre locations. This requirement is in place nationally to reflect the importance town centres play in our communities and aims to protect the viability of town centres for the future.

“Applications for any other new businesses in the county, such as Pure Gym, were assessed and determined in line with national and local planning policy.”