Preston gym owner summoned to court for refusing to close for lockdown

The owner of a Preston gym that has refused to close for lockdown has been summoned to appear at court tomorrow (Friday, February 5).
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Steven Todd, the owner of Reps Gym, has today been visited by police and council officers, who served him with a closure notice under Section 76 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The enforced closure will take automatic effect and will remain in place for the next 48 hours, before expiring at 6am on Saturday (February 6).

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He has been summoned to appear at court tomorrow afternoon (Friday, February 5), where the Council's application to seek an extended closure will be considered by magistrates.

The owner of Reps Gym, Steven Todd, has been summoned to appear at Preston Magistrates' Court tomorrow (Friday, February 3)The owner of Reps Gym, Steven Todd, has been summoned to appear at Preston Magistrates' Court tomorrow (Friday, February 3)
The owner of Reps Gym, Steven Todd, has been summoned to appear at Preston Magistrates' Court tomorrow (Friday, February 3)

Police officers at the scene warned that anyone entering the gym after the closure notice takes effect will be committing an offence and are liable to be arrested.

Yesterday, Mr Todd claimed the police and Council were "powerless" to stop him from opening his gym and has refused to pay a number of police fines for breaching coronavirus restrictions.

Lancashire Police said no-one has been arrested and no fines have been issued.

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Councillor Peter Moss, deputy Leader at Preston City Council, said: "The action taken today is the next step in following due process to ensure this premises do not continue to break Covid restrictions which are putting the health of others at risk.

"We take all breaches of Covid restrictions and our role in enforcing them seriously.

"Our first priority is to inform businesses of the rules, but we will not shy away from using our powers on offending businesses to protect the health of the public."

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