A FITNESS programme that has improved the health of people in Southampton for 15 years faces the axe so council chiefs can save up to £60,000.

The Active Options scheme has helped an estimated 12,500 city residents into a healthier lifestyle through individually tailored three month fitness programmes.

But cash strapped city council bosses said it was no longer affordable in the current squeeze on budgets, particularly in leisure.

The cutback comes after the Daily Echo revealed that obesity is costing the city £147m a year. We launched a Beat the Bulge campaign to encourage healthy eating and exercise to tackle above average obesity levels in the city with one in four adults and nearly one in ten five-year-olds dangerously fat.

Tory leisure boss councillor John Hannides said a "agreement" was reached last year with Southampton City Primary Care Trust which would have allowed Active Options to continue with the council running it and PCT funding it. But the deal collapsed.

Consultations have now begun with unions over three redundancies.

Active Options, based at Bitterne Leisure Centre, offers a 16-week programme of exercise and rehabilitation, for unfit people. It was first introduced at St Mary’s Leisure Centre in 1994 and has since grown into one of the most prolific exercise schemes in the country and is the longest running GP referred fitness programme in the country.

Participants referred by their GP are given a full health screening by a qualified health and fitness consultant.

They are then put on tailored regime of exercise and dietary changes with 16 exercise sessions at a discounted prices.

Gary Cook, regional organiser for GMB which represents threatened staff, said the pioneering scheme was “fantastic value for local people”.

He said: “If the Tory controlled council need to stoop so low as to make these miserly savings by cutting vital support to a scheme which has delivered year on year for the people of Southampton and helped literally thousands of residents, many of whom are vulnerable, then no service no matter what value they bring to enhancing peoples lives will be safe.

“I am calling on any beneficiaries of the scheme, past and present to contact their local Tory councillor with responsibility for this ruthless cut and Cllr John Hannides along with their GP and make their feelings known.”

Cllr Hannides said the costs of the original scheme had escalated and the council felt Active Options fell more under the responsibility of the primary care trust (PCT) NHS Southampton City.

He said: “In very difficult circumstances we have tried to keep the scheme running for as long as possible in partnership with the PCT. But funds are no longer available without cutting back other services very seriously.”

An NHS Southampton City spokesman said: “Active Options has been jointly funded by NHS Southampton City and Southampton City Council and has enabled many people to become more physically active as well as improving their health and well being.

Since Southampton City Council has decided to cease its funding, NHS Southampton City has been exploring ways of ensuring as many people as possible continue to receive help to regain physical fitness.”

Have you been on the Active Options course? What was your experience? Contact the Daily Echo newsdesk on 023 8042 4522 or email newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk