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New free beach fitness park on the way in Bournemouth

The new equipment is being delivered by BCP Council
The new equipment is being delivered by BCP Council

NEW free fitness equipment is set to be installed at Bournemouth seafront.

BCP Council’s plans for fitness park near Toft Zig Zag in Undercliff Drive were given the green light by the local authority’s planning department.

The facility will include include a dip bench, shaped benches, pull-up bars, a rope climber and push-up bars, among other equipment.

Construction work is due to start towards in late July and the build will be limited to several weeks with small interruption to nearby parking on Undercliff Drive.

Councillor Phillip Broadhead, deputy leader of BCP Council, said: “This fitness park will provide a fantastic community space to support health and wellbeing for residents and visitors.

Bournemouth Echo:
Bournemouth Echo:

“It’s also a welcome asset to our award-winning seafront, providing yet another reason why the BCP region is the very best to work, live and visit.”

An idea for a fitness park was first suggested in 2017.

Since then, the Steve Bernard Foundation and the Talbot Village Trust started fundraising for the project, which will cost £30,000 to deliver.

BCP Council led delivery of the park and will take responsibility for ongoing maintenance.

Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, chairman of Talbot Village Trust, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project and to offer a grant to the Steve Bernard Foundation for the creation of this fitness park.

“To have equipment such as this available for the public to use freely and at ease is incredibly important in making a healthier lifestyle more accessible for all.

"The trust is thoroughly excited to see the finished result and we hope it will become an asset to the community.”

The planning approval was granted for an initial temporary period of 10 years to ensure the area is not left with an “untidy and redundant area of equipment in a prominent location”.