Leisure centres set to re-open

Opening dates have been set for two Charnwood Borough Council leisure centres.

Fusion, which operates the leisure centres on behalf of the Council, has confirmed the health and fitness facilities will reopen at Soar Valley Leisure Centre on Saturday 8th August and South Charnwood Leisure Centre will reopen on Monday 10th August.

A date has not yet been set for the swimming pools, but they say it is likely they will open in the coming weeks.

The Council is still working with Fusion on plans to reopen Loughborough Leisure Centre.

The Council says as the reopening of all three centres has a significant financial impact, a decision is required by the Council’s Cabinet which meets on 13th August.

A spokesperson from Charnwood Borough Council said: "The pandemic has caused a significant drop in income as centres have been closed for four months and customer numbers are expected to be lower when they reopen because of market conditions. Social distancing also means fewer customers will be allowed in the building at one time under COVID-19 secure guidance.

That means the Council will need to financially support Fusion to run the centres as they are no longer able to generate as much income.

The Cabinet report recommends to members that the Council pays a subsidy of £367,000 to keep the pools and gyms at all three centres open until April 2021.The situation will have to be reviewed again before then.

Other options, including not reopening the pools or not reopening all the leisure centres, have also been considered."

Councillor Leigh Harper-Davies, lead member for leisure centres, said: “This is a very difficult situation as we have moved from a position where the leisure centres used to generate income for the Council which would fund other services, to one where we have lost that income and need to pay a significant amount of money to keep the services operating.

“It is no-one’s fault except that of the pandemic.

“We have looked at a range of options but the one being recommended to Cabinet is to commit to that financial support and reopen all three leisure centres. It is now up to Cabinet to decide.”

Customers of Soar Valley and South Charnwood leisure centres will be contacted directly by Fusion about the steps being taken to ensure people’s safety.

Measures include managing capacity by asking customers to pre-book classes and gym sessions, spacing equipment at least two metres apart with social distancing markers and increasing the amount of cleaning.