Waitrose plans to open staff-only gym to public

The planning application will be decided by Bracknell Forest Council

Waitrose wants permission to open its private sports and leisure club to the general public because too few of its staff are using it.

The supermarket chain has been based in Bracknell since 1972 and its club in Willoughby Road can be used by all of the 2,700 staff who work on its campus in the town.

About 800 people had signed up to use it five years ago but that now stands at 620. Just 100 of them use it weekly.

A planning application to open the "significantly under-utilised" club as a public gym has been filed with Bracknell Forest Council and will be decided later.