On 31st October 2015 Virgin Active Health Club in Stafford UK will be closing and sold to PureGym, a budget gym chain. From what I understand, the facilities at the health club will no longer be provided by the new owners

The health club has been running for 12 years and has been the focal point for the local community in Stafford for all ages from children learning to swim to elderly people who rely on the club for social activities that get them out of the house.

The decision was announced to both staff and members alike on 12th October 2015. There are roughly 50 members of staff at the club, most of whom, rely on their employment at the club to meet their financial obligations, mortgages, rent payments, etc. These people have been made redundant with little notice giving them little chance of gaining employment elsewhere while they work their notice. From what I gather the redundancy payments being proposed are too small to make a difference to what I have recognised as a fantastic and dedicated team of people with the interests of all the members at heart. These people, in my opinion have been marginalised by their employer.

I propose that the sale of the Virgin Active facility in Stafford to PureGym is stopped, that all members of staff are reinstated and that the facility remains as a Health Club with all the current services remaining in place.