A GYM firm pulled out of becoming a part of the �45million Dolphin Square redevelopment because it did not offer what they wanted, the Mercury has been told this week.

Anytime Fitness backed out after growing concerns that its 24-hour gym would not be used enough, if situated inside a hotel.

But a spokesman for the firm said it was still exploring other potential sites in Weston to build a new gym complex. It currently has two facilities in Bristol.

He said: “Our gyms really appeal to local residents and workers as a community facility and the 24-hour access does not lend itself well to tourists and high visitor numbers because we can’t allow casual users 24-hour access to our clubs.

“These visitors also tend to keep away the local people, as tourist areas are very busy and also don’t offer health and fitness businesses the same opportunity that bars and restaurants do.”

A spokesman for developers McLaren Life said the gym’s decision to pull out was ‘not a blow’ despite a purpose-built mezzanine already having been constructed in the 112-bed Premier Inn and no other business having been found to replace it.

The �45million Dolphin Square development is on time for completion next summer but as revealed last week no shop retailers have signed up to be a part of it. The spokesman said he was not worried by the lack of businesses willing to join First Bowl, Harvester, Pizza Express, Prezzo, Nando’s and Vue Cinemas at the complex.

But his views are not shared by Mercury readers, as more than 70 per cent of voters in an online poll this week raised their concerns at the apparent lack of progress.