THE battle of the bulge is about to take on a new meaning in Dulverton where two rival gyms are set to go head to head.

Earlier this year local people launched a campaign against the closure of the Exmoor Gym opened by leisure trust 1610 in 2010.

When its doors closed in April, citing falling membership and concerns about long-term viability after just 18 months of operation, a community-led group offered to take it over.

When the offer was rebuffed, the group set up a 'pop up' gym in the local church.

It has since become a not-for-profit local company and is currently applying for charitable status, also calling itself the Exmoor Gym.

But this week 1610 announced its Exmoor Gym would re-open on September 10, promising longer opening hours and new classes.

However, after a board meeting on Tuesday, the community-led Exmoor Gym confirmed it would continue to provide a variety of exercise facilities and classes for local people and visitors.

Chairman Dr Sarah Blackburn said: "It ought to be good news for local people that 1610 Ltd has announced a re-opening date but sadly it is still uncertain whether 1610 Ltd's plans are sustainable.

"The old Dulverton gym was burdened by 1610's overheads and central admin costs and whatever they say about introductory discounts, the price of 1610 membership is definitely going up.

"There are some vague words about classes but key issues, such as where the classes will be held and what they will cost, are unclear.

"As they have higher costs and less than a year to run on the lease, has 1610 Ltd set itself up for failure - again?"

A spokesman for 1610 said the closure of its facility had been temporary to allow a review to be carried out.

Extensive public consultation had been undertaken over the past two months, involving both telephone and face-to-face interviews with focus groups, local businesses and community organisations, as well as former gym members about how services could be improved.

Taster sessions at a free health week at the gym had also been trialled to find out more about what gym users wanted so a long-term future for the facility could be established.

Opening hours would be extended to 30 hours a week and new equipment installed.

A GP referral system would also be introduced and personal training and weight management programmes offered, as well as new classes on body conditioning, yoga and pilates.

Jayne Lethaby, who will be responsible for the management of the facility, said 1610 had listened to what the wider community of Dulverton wanted.

But she warned that local residents now had to come forward to support the gym if it was to have a long-term future.

"After speaking to the local community at length and organising taster sessions at the gym, we really wanted to be sure that we have the right mix of services and activities that would appeal to local residents and make the gym a vibrant place as well as commercially viable," she said.

"We are making the gym more accessible with longer opening hours and we are offering more flexible gym membership schemes at affordable prices to ensure that the local community can access a new and improved service that still offers real value for money."

However, Ian Whybrow, finance director of the community company Exmoor Gym, claimed the 1610 Ltd statement about re-opening defied basic common sense.

"They state - correctly - that they need 100 members to be viable, which is a few more than us because of additional overheads," he said.

"They never achieved that before and have subsequently alienated a significant number so will not achieve it in the future.

"Only we can deliver the membership."

And Dr Blackburn said: "When 1610 Ltd fails, we will be ready to pick up the pieces and run the gym professionally.

"We have been working with half a dozen of the best gym instructors for miles around.

"We have development funding and we will be bringing popular new classes to the area."

Dr Blackburn said the pop-up sessions had diversified from the church to other locations and the company was currently drawing up a programme for the autumn.

More information about the community enterprise is available at http://www.exmoorgym.org.uk">www.exmoorgym.org.uk, while more information about the 1610-run gym can be found at http://www.1610.org.uk">www.1610.org.uk or by contacting Mandy Godsell on 01643 708815.