Eye on News
NEW HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP PUTS LOCAL BUSINESS GYMCO AT THE HEART OF FITNESS A new partnership between Northern Ireland’s largest private healthcare provider, the 3fivetwo Group, and Belfast-based gym company, GymCo, means local people can reap the benefits of looking good on the outside whilst knowing their inner health and wellbeing can be monitored and checked at any stage, as well.
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he new healthcare partnership means that new customers as well as those who are signed up as members to GymCo can now receive special rates and discounts off treatments at 3fivetwo such as health screenings and eye tests, along with access to specialist consultants. Part of the JDM Group, GymCO boasts 2 gyms in Belfast, one located at Finaghy Road North within the Devenish Complex and the other at Cityside Retail Park at Yorkgate, while plans are already in place for further sites within greater Belfast
and further afield. The staff at GymCo as well as clients will gain access to the most complete package for sports and fitness along with rapid access to MRI scans, surgery and consultations through 3fivetwo’s National Sports Injury Clinic at Kingsbridge Private Hospital, located on the Lisburn Road. Jim Conlon, Director of the JDM Group, says the partnership is one which puts GymCo at the heart of Belfast’s health and fitness platform, “At this time of year many of us are trying to make a new start and get more
Pictured at the launch are Jim Conlon, Director JDM Group; Judith McGirr Manager at GymCo and Robbie Maye from 3fivetwo Group.
active especially after over indulging a little over the festive season. Whilst many of us are becoming more health aware, we want to help pioneer this new stance on fitness, health and wellbeing together, as they are all connected.” “Many people start heavy training regimes without having their heart or blood checked beforehand to make sure it’s safe, or even chatted to their GP about any concerns they may have about their general wellbeing. Through this partnership we can give members exclusive deals for health checkups with dieticians and consultants at Kingsbridge Private Hospital so they can train safely, knowing all their health requirements are being met.” GymCo currently employ 25 staff across 2 gyms, but Mr. Conlon says the have no plans on stopping there. “We aim to grow the GymCo name and our facilities in the coming years to propel ourselves to the forefront of Northern Irish fitness
Belfast People Urged To Help Shape Their City’s Future Growth
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Phil Williams, Director of Planning and Place, Belfast City Council, Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive Belfast City Council and Cllr Peter Johnston, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee
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ow do you want to see your city grow? That’s the question being asked this morning at City Hall as a major consultation is launched on how the development of the city will be planned to 2035. It’s Belfast City Council’s first step in creating the Local Development Plan (LDP) which will guide investment and set out a framework for the use and protection of land across the city. And once adopted, the LDP will be used to guide and improve decision making on planning applications. By complementing the Belfast Agenda, the city’s first community plan which outlines priority actions and programmes to ensure Belfast’s success, the LDP will help determine where development and infrastructure proposals will be located and which areas will be protected. Councillor Peter Johnston, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee said: “It’s absolutely critical that
and this partnership represents a big step forward for us, one which we are really excited about.” Robbie Maye, sales executive for the 3fivetwo Group, feels the deal will benefit many local gym goers and sports people alike. “We are delighted with this partnership as it means both parties are moving forward in providing all-round, fitness and quality health packages to the public. It creates a somewhat holistic approach to health and fitness whereby you can treat your medical and sporting needs all under one membership.” “Where you would usually have to wait weeks to be seen for an injury, you can be seen as early as the next day by a specialist and get the medical attention you need to get back to training safely in the gym, it’s fantastic,” concludes Robbie. For more information about GymCo or becoming a member, please visit: http://www.gymbelfast. co.uk/ Or call: 028 9560 0669
we plan for and stimulate Belfast’s growth. Our Local Development Plan will have an impact on everyone who lives in, works in and visits Belfast, because it will shape how Northern Ireland’s capital city grows and becomes more competitive in the future. “We want to identify enough space to support the creation of up to 46,000 new jobs, allocate land for 37,000 high quality new homes and increase Belfast’s population to over 400,000 by 2035.” “It’s vital that we get people’s views on what sort of a city centre they want, where new homes should be built and new jobs located – and on how, together, we can make Belfast a more shared, connected and sustainable city where people love to live, work and visit.” The LDP’s vision is to promote development which enhances communities’ health and wellbeing, creates a more vibrant economy, improves connectivity, responds to environmental challenges and both protects and makes it easier for us to enjoy our natural settings and green space. It also seeks to ensure that we pursue high quality design in new developments, protect and enhance our built heritage, promote vibrant local neighbourhoods and make the most of our city’s unique assets.