PEOPLE in Berkeley and the surrounding areas now have the chance to benefit from a state-of-the-art Fitness Suite at the Vale of Berkeley Sports Centre.

The £90,000 development at the Vale of Berkeley College in Wanswell was a joint project between the school and Stroud District Council. Work started in July to transform the old sixth form unit into a dance studio and fitness suite.

The official opening for the Fitness Suite, which contains top of the range Cybex Fitness equipment, is set for Monday and will be performed by Cllr Laurence Carmichael, Stroud District Council's Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion.

She said: "I am delighted that Stroud District Council has invested in this project that will benefit both the school and the wider community.

"We all know the importance of sport on health and wellbeing and the new Fitness Suite at The Vale of Berkeley Sports Centre demonstrates the Council's commitment to encouraging and developing sporting activities and facilities in partnership with schools, the voluntary sector and other organisations."

Members of the public are invited to have a look at the fitness suite on Monday between 7.30pm and 8.30pm. Staff will be on hand to show visitors round the facilities and sign them up to the fitness suite there and then! The first 20 people to sign up will receive a free goodie bag from Cybex.

The top-of-the-range Cybex equipment is accredited by the Inclusive Fitness Initiative and offers a full body workout for disabled and non-disabled users. In addition to this, Spinning Bikes from Keiser will be arriving in the New Year.

The centre at Berkeley will be one of the first sites in the country to have this new style of bike.

A new programme of fitness classes which includes Spinning, Aerobics and Circuits will start in the New Year just in time to burn off those extra calories from Christmas.

The extra facilities are in contrast to those closing in North Wiltshire where the district council has announced the closure of three leisure centres.