Gym to Introduce Parking Permit System After Ongoing Issues
LWL Gym, on Paragon Industrial Estate in Smithy Bridge, has announced plans to introduce a new parking permit system following months of frustration caused by non‑members using the gym’s private car park.
According to the gym, the car park has increasingly been used by commuters heading to Smithy Bridge Station and by dog‑walkers accessing the canal path. With limited spaces available, genuine gym members have regularly found themselves unable to park, leading to missed sessions, complaints, and even cancelled memberships.
In a message to customers, LWL Gym confirmed that monitoring of the car park has already begun, with further measures to follow:
“The car park is now being monitored… gym permits will be given out to members and clamps will be coming into play. Too many people have been using our parking to walk their dogs or use the train and we have had several membership cancellations due to this… Please once you have your permit only use it when you are actively in the gym and make sure it’s on display”
The gym says the changes are necessary to protect its members and ensure that those paying for the facility can reliably access it. The introduction of ANPR is expected to act as a deterrent to non‑members who have been treating the private car park as free public parking.
With Smithy Bridge and the surrounding area already under pressure from roadworks, station traffic, and increased footfall along the canal, the gym’s move highlights a wider issue: private car parks across Littleborough are increasingly being used as overflow parking by people heading elsewhere.
LWL Gym will begin issuing permits in the coming days, and members are encouraged to display them clearly to avoid enforcement action
