A gym owner has labelled the decision to shut down fitness facilities a "total injustice" amid concerns for people's physical and mental health.

Hundreds of gyms across Kent will be forced to close their doors again this week following the Prime Minister's announcement of an England-wide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

Under new lockdown rules, all gyms, leisure centres and fitness studios must close by Thursday.

Sports and exercise facilities were some of the last businesses to reopen at the end of July – following the first lockdown in March – as studios shelled out thousands of pounds to make themselves Covid-19 secure.

Now a petition calling for gyms to stay open has amassed 500,000 signatures, citing studies that show physical exercise can boost the immune system and releases endorphins to fend off stress and mental illnesses.

Rochester Health Club managing director Terry Moore has taken up the issue with MP for Rochester and Strood Kelly Tolhurst to stress the benefits his facility provides to the community.

The gym boss said they had worked extremely hard to make a safe and Covid-19 secure environment for its members.

"To shut us down again is a total injustice," Terry said, adding in his view the ventilation and safety protocols they had adopted made it safer to be inside their venue than out.

He believes closing health centres at a time when people need their immune system to be up and running the most did not make sense.

Individuals will still be allowed to exercise outdoors, either on their own, with one person from another household or within their support bubble

But it is contended this would not be viable when the weather is poor, for those people who live in cramped conditions, or who can't afford expensive gym equipment.

"I can't see the point of saying you can exercise outside, where in the summer that is fine but in the winter that is not going to happen," Terry said.

Terry also criticised what he perceived to be "mixed messages" from the government who gave the green light in August for saunas and steam rooms to return.

He labelled the move "totally absurd", adding it was "the totally wrong place to be" and so decided against reopening their own thermal facilities.

It comes as a huge blow to the fitness studio which had seen around around 90% of their clientèle flock back post-lockdown, adds Terry.

"Speaking to people they are saying 'I don't know what I'm going to do'" he added. "For some people it is a stress relief... social interaction as well."

Last month the government responded to calls to reopen gyms in other parts of the country already in lockdown, saying sports and physical activity were "vital weapons against coronavirus".

It welcomed the news that gyms and leisure centres that were previously closed in Liverpool, due to its very high alert level, were allowed to re-open on October 23, but these must now close just two weeks on.

However, other Kent leisure venues have accepted the government's decision and said a u-turn would be too late now as they put in place arrangements to survive the month lockdown.

Mark Howarth and his wife run Shapers, a string of ladies-only health centres across the South East, including the Gravesend branch in Milton Road and another in Orpington , which will close tomorrow and freeze all memberships.

He said: "Like any business, to be honest, what we are looking for is consistency – we have struggled to get that.

"We are going through the process of mothballing the centres for one month.

"If they are doing a backtrack now that would be crazy. They need to think these things through before they make announcements."

And while Mark confessed he was bitterly disappointed they could not remain open he said they would respect the decision and make it their priority to be in a secure position to reopen for their members next month.

To this end he said his staff will be keeping in touch with gym-goers and providing workouts and advice online to ensure members continue to get their fitness fix.

"If they are doing a backtrack now that would be crazy"

Mental health is reported to have taken a hit during the first lockdown and so Mark is keen to stress to members the need to look after themselves both physically and mentally as the weather worsens, adding his message to members is "get your wellies on and get some fresh air".

Small businesses such as his are also having to weather the financial fallout of the pandemic but Mark says he was surprised by the level of support on offer first time around.

He also singled out the Federation of Small Businesses for praise, adding his £50 a year subscription was well worth the money in return for the advice and support he received.

"Hopefully it is just going to be a few weeks and some element of support as well," he said.

"The government were very good last time in my opinion, I was quite surprised by the level of support. You don't expect favours as a small business owner."

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