Stafford gym to close with 52 members of staff facing the chop

Virgin Active Stafford, based on Eccleshall Road, will close from October 31, with the site set to become a Pure Gym.

Bosses claimed the site was not deemed to be set up for future success after undertaking a review.

Staff were told on Monday afternoon that the gym would be closing at the end of the month, with 52 full time employees to be affected.

All current members will be able to transfer their membership to another club or their account will automatically be closed.

A spokesperson said: "We can confirm Virgin Active will no longer be operating its club in Stafford from 31 October.

"It's never an easy decision to choose to close one of our health clubs.

"We understand that they are an important part of the communities that they serve and of people's day-to-day lives.

"We are currently discussing the changes with the club's employees and we will be working hard with the team members to ensure that those staff who wish to remain with Virgin Active have a chance to do so."

They added: "We routinely review our portfolio of clubs to ensure we are set up for future success.

"Following this review, we have decided to close our Stafford club."

Monthly rates for customers at the Virgin Active Stafford gym range from £37 to £65 a month.

The club is one of 10 run by the company across the Midlands and 97 across the UK, with Virgin Active taking over the site in 2011.

A statement on the Virgin Active Stafford website read: "We have been approached by Pure Gym, who want to acquire the Stafford club and after careful consideration, we agreed to transfer it to them.

"Pure Gym will spend some time refitting the club to meet their needs before re–opening.

"The club will therefore cease trading as Virgin Active and will close on 31 October 2015.

"We would like to apologise in advance for any impact this may have on you. We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your loyalty to Virgin Active."

Virgin Active said it would not disclose how many members were at the gym.

Staff and members took to Facebook to share their dismay at the news, with swimming manager Viki Towers saying: "The last 24 hours has been a bit of a daze. Now that it has finally sunk in, I feel upset for those loyal members of the club, those little smiling faces of the kids learning to swim and the amazing team at Virgin Active in Stafford."