LIFE is being breathed into Calstock's historic lime kilns which have lain empty since the closure of two small businesses there earlier this year.
Last week saw the opening of a new spiritual centre in the former Joint Stock shop premises — InSpirit InCalstock
And recently, Caradon District Council' s planning committee approved an application to use the unlisted part of the building as a gymnasium for one year, subject to a number of conditions.
Owners Anthony and Nancy Hollow, who want the lime kilns to be used as a community asset, said they hoped the district council's conditions would 'not be too onerous' and the gym will go ahead.
Mr Hollow said it had taken a long time to reach the planning application stage. They had to have mining and structural surveys carried out and employ workmen to stabilise the structure and mend the leaking roof.
Fitness trainer Eric Dorrington, who already runs a gym in Saltash, said if things fell into place he would be opening later this year.
'The village has been good to me and I want to put something back into it,' said Mr Dorrington. 'There is a lot of enthusiasm and I have been badgered to get going.
'The gym won't be high tech. Mainly we will be listening to what people want, whether its young men weight training or those who have been sitting at an office desk all day and want to just keep it.'
He envisaged that fitness centre will be open five days a week, evenings only.
'We have found the Saltash gym is not busy during the day,' said Mr Dorrington.
In response to people concerned with no parking at the gym, he told the planning committee he anticipated that his clientele would be drawn from the village and that they would walk to and from the building.
The new centre which aims to nurture mind, body and spirit, will incorporate a shop, meeting place and venue for classes, workshops and treatments. It will be run by Mary Kemmenoe.
Spokeswoman Ciara White said: 'InSpirit will be hosting regular classes and a wide range of workshops by local experts in their fields as well as national and international workshops leaders.
'Everything from the conventional to the weird and wacky — dancing, Reiki, crystal and spiritual healing, Tarot, Shiatsu, massage, music and the Medicine Wheel to Soul Retrieval is on the menu.'
A regular newsletter with listings of forthcoming events and classes will be published and distributed widely around Cornwall and Devon.
'It is expected that InSpirit will become an important venue for a real mix of interesting events and therapies, a resource centre and a lively meeting place,' said Ciara.