Fitness classes used by elderly and disabled people in Bulwell are to end as part of council plans to save £500,000 a year.
Nottingham City Council announced it is recommissioning all of its healthy lifestyle services and replacing the six existing contracts with just one.
Some people who use the service in Bulwell, provided by the YMCA for the council, are opposing the plans as they say the service will focus more on weight management rather than fitness.
The changes are expected to make savings of around £500,000 a year, compared with what the previous service cost to run.
A few classes have already shut in the city, including one in Top Valley.
However the city council says when the new contract is finalised in April, it will still be delivering affordable classes.
The YMCA-run classes currently take place at Bulwell Riverside twice a week and are attended by around 60 people.
Denis Robinson, 79, of Highbury Road, Bulwell, regularly attends after suffering several falls.
He said: “I have been coming here for around one year now – before that I had three falls.
“I was so nervous walking that I even paid a neighbour to get a bottle of milk for me from the local convenience store.”
Denis says he has noticed great improvements to his health under the existing scheme.
YMCA fitness instructor Charlotte Kenny said the benefits of the classes include reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, increased quality of life and improved fitness.
Bulwell Ward Councillor Jackie Morris, who accepted a petition from users opposing the changes, said the cuts are ‘vital’ and ‘nobodies fault’, but said she is working to see if the classes can be saved.
Councillor Alex Norris, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health at Nottingham City Council, said: “The YMCA are the current provider of our Physical Activity on Referral service which has been in place in the city for around a decade. They have done some great work over the years, helping thousands of people in Nottingham to become more active through a dedicated referral system.
“However, the contract will end in March 2017 due to the need to re-commission all healthy lifestyle services. It is a shame that they have chosen not to bid for the new contract, but we completely respect their decision and hope to continue to work closely with them in the future.
“The new healthy lifestyles model has been redesigned in light of evidence showing that we could deliver better value for money by creating a more integrated weight management service.
“The new model will run the service in a much more efficient way which is in-line with many other areas around the country. Rather than six separate services, we will instead operate one which will ultimately reach more people across the city – a decision supported by extensive public and patient consultation as part of the review.
“Physical activity will still play a key role and people will be advised of other leisure activities in their area that may be of interest. Allied to this will be support and guidance on nutrition, healthy eating and weight management, and NHS health checks for the over-40s.”
