Will you be ‘on the move’?

Villagers across Mendip are going to be On The Move from next week. As part of a new healthy lifestyle initiative, Mendip District Council has teamed up with Peter Grosjean, a UK athletics qualified coach and qualified fitness and circuits instructor, to bring exercise out of the leisure centres and into the rural areas of Mendip.

This week he will begin a series of exercise programmes in five Mendip villages, entitled On The Move...and each lasting for 12 weeks.

Nunney, Coleford, Priddy, Stratton-on-the-Fosse and Walton are the first villages to benefit from this project, and more are being considered in other areas of Mendip.

The first gets underway in Nunney on Tuesday (September 25) at the village hall between 9.30am and 10.30am. The course will continue for 11 more weeks at the same time every Tuesday.

Each session costs £2 and there is no need to book a place, just turn up on the day. Those taking part are advised to wear comfortable clothes and trainers, and take a drink with them.

Mr Grosjean said: “This is a great opportunity to gradually increase your physical fitness through a series of running and exercise activities.

“You can work at your own pace, and I’ll offer my support and expertise so that I fully understand your needs, and there’s no need to be nervous or intimidated because I know exactly what it’s like to start an exercise programme from scratch.”

The other 12-week On The Move sessions will be held at:

- Coleford and District Royal British Legion Club every Thursday between 11.30am and 12.30pm starting on September 27.
- Priddy Village Hall every Wednesday between 1.30pm and 2.30pm starting on September 26.
- Stratton-on-the-Fosse every Tuesday between 1.30pm and 2.30pm starting on September 25.
- Walton Village Hall every Thursday between 2pm and 3pm starting on September 27.

Cllr Ron Forrest, who is Mendip District Council’s portfolio holder for community services, said: “The council prides itself on the excellent leisure facilities it provides across the district in partnership with its contractors Avalon Leisure. However this tends to put more emphasis on the main towns in Mendip.

“This project is a way of reaching out to those who live in our villages, and who may struggle for one reason or another to access our leisure centres. It is for this reason that it is vital that our villagers who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle are able to access the services we provide.”

For more information about the On The Move scheme please contact Customer Services by emailing customerservices@mendip.gov.uk.