Customers and business owners at a Bury St Edmunds gym which announced its sudden closure have described feeling "disappointed" and "distraught" at the loss of the facility.
Sports Direct Fitness in Easlea Road told gym-goers in an email on Tuesday, August 8, that it would close permanently that evening, with no prospect of re-opening.
Just months ago, plans to change the gym to a retail facility were refused by West Suffolk Council following months of campaigning by gym-goers.
One such customer was Melanie Soanes, who was at the forefront of the campaign and spoke in a council meeting on behalf of members at the time.
Of the sudden closure, she said: "It is just really disappointing how we fought for it to remain open for all of its members, to be told on a random afternoon that it was closing.
"There were 3,000 of us. I have been a member for 22 years since it was LA Fitness and a lot of the other members have been there more than 20 years. It was our little community.
"I am quite disgusted with the way they did it. Even if they gave us just one month's notice to arrange things, particuarly for the small businesses. A lot of people are very distraught today."
Melanie said the swimming pool was a 'perfectly brilliant' facility where over 500 children and babies learnt 'essential life-saving skills'.
She said she recieved the email announcing the closure at 3.54pm on Tuesday, and went straight to the gym where she saw people in tears.
She is particularly upset for the owners of On Point Barbers, which opened in June after an expensive renovation project, who have been told they need to leave by the end of the week.
Oli Norman, who co-owns the business with Brodie Nurse, posted to social media on Tuesday and said: "We are so disappointed with the communication from Sports Direct Fitness, giving us such short notice to get out the property.
"It leaves us heart broken seeing the hard work put into making the shop how it was to seeing it being ripped out."
He said the pair were told at 2pm on Tuesday that the gym would be closing permanently, and added that they will now be forced to look for a new location in the area to move into.
In the email to its members, Sports Direct Fitness said: "We are really saddened to deliver this news, despite our attempts to keep the gym trading, sadly the costs to maintain the facilities has made it impossible for us to continue."
They said customers would get a partial refund on their direct debit payment for the 23 days of August the gym would be closed and said all belongings should be collected from lockers by 4pm on Friday, August 11.
"We want to take time to thank you for your support and loyalty. We are continuing to open new clubs under our Everlast Gyms brand and as such hope to see you in the future at one of our sites," they added.
Moreton Hall Health Club is offering free membership for the rest of August for Sports Direct Fitness customers.
Fraser Group plc, the company behind Sports Direct, has been approached for comment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here