Eddy Ellwood vows to fight closure notice on Horden gym a week after court shut Hartlepool site

Brothers Eddy and Karl Ellwood appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after being served with a closure notice on Ellwoods Gym in Horden by Durham County Council.

They say they have been staging a peaceful protest by continuing to allow people to exercise in the gym against lockdown rules requiring them all to remain shut.

And they say they plan to fight an application by the council for a Closure Order on the gym in Windsor Terrace which could force it to remain closed for up to three months or risk prison.

It comes just a week after a district judge at Teesside Magistrates’ Court ordered Eddy Ellwod’s Xtreme Fitness gym in Hartlepool to close for three months for the same reason.

Eddy and Karl say gyms are necessary for people's physical fitness and mental wellbeing, especially during lockdowns.

They are asking for people who have used the Hartlepool and Horden gyms during lockdown to email them statements to help fight the latest closure application to be heard at the Newton Aycliffe court on Wednesday, February 24.

The case was adjourned on Thursday at their request and will be listed in front of a district judge.

On the Horden gym’s Facebook page Eddy said: “We’ve decided to contest it this time.”

The page said the business is closed adding: “We were only open to those wishing to use their right to peacefully protest.

“We protested many disproportionate collateral damages caused by lockdowns; mental health, suicides, domestic, drug and alcohol abuse the list is endless!”

Owen Cleugh, Durham County Council’s public protection manager, said: “We can confirm we issued a closure notice to Ellwood’s gym after it appeared to be open to the public in breach of coronavirus regulations.

"We are seeking a closure order through the courts but it would be inappropriate to comment further until our application has been heard.”

Speaking to the Mail after the closure order on Xtreme Fitness last week, Eddy said: “We should be treated as responsible adults that can look after our own health.

"There’s more risk going to the supermarket.”

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