WHEN I moved back to Salisbury and ended my gym membership in London, I had no idea how complicated the process would be.

I'd signed up with a country-wide chain as part of a subsidised scheme through work, and then paid full-price to continue the membership when I left.

Later, I couldn't believe the amount of red tape I had to go through simply because I wanted to leave.

In the end I had to send a copy of the tenancy agreement for my new home in Salisbury, to prove that I was moving to an area that didn’t feature one of their gyms.

I’m surprised they didn't require me to sign a contract stating that were they to build one of their gyms in the area at some point in the future, that they would automatically be permitted to start taking £45 out of my account on a monthly basis once more.

I hoped that would be the most frustrating gymrelated occurrence I would come across.

However, this was before I heard about certain changes in the Salisbury area.

First came the news that Five Rivers Leisure Centre, below, has upped some of its prices by as much as 60 per cent, to bring them in line with other Wiltshire leisure centres.

Then the Dolphin Swimming Club for those with disabilities and learning difficulties stated that since pool-hire fees there have gone up, they have had to halve their number of swimming sessions.

This is happening at a time when a new outdoor gym is about to be built in Churchill Gardens.

On the face of it, this sounds great but since Salisbury is not known for its temperate climate and easy breezy rollerblading culture, how many people will actually use these facilities? Would the money not have been better-spent by balancing out these price changes at Five Rivers?

Those who are already active may well enjoy working a spot of duckwatching from the elliptical machine into their daily run, but for those who need a bit of a push to start working out, a handful of rain-lashed equipment seems unlikely to do the trick.

Especially when I read the completion date. The outside gym will be ready to use just in time for…this winter.