Pools and leisure centres reopen as lockdown eased
INDOOR leisure centres and swimming pools in West Lancashire are to reopen on Saturday after the lifting of Government restrictions.
West Lancashire Borough Council has been working with West Lancashire Community Leisure Trust and Serco to develop a detailed plan to reopen leisure facilities safely.
Banks Leisure Centre, Burscough Racquets and Fitness Centre, Nye Bevan Pool in Skelmersdale and Park Pool in Ormskirk will all reopen on a phased basis that will initially involve reduced opening hours.
This will allow West Lancashire Borough Council to assess levels of demand and confidence following the lockdown closures and will also allow enhanced cleaning protocols to be put in place.
Government guidance regarding the safe reopening of leisure centres will be adhered to and will involve enhanced social distancing.
This will mean that customers will need to book for all activities, including those that they would normally just turn up for, such as using the fitness suite and casual swimming.
Numbers in the fitness suite will be reduced to allow safe space for one user per 100 sq ft and pools will have wider lanes.
Deputy council leader Cllr Yvonne Gagen, portfolio holder for leisure and human resources, said: “We are delighted to be able to reopen our leisure centres again after a closure of over three months.
“These facilities are vital in providing residents of West Lancashire with opportunities to exercise and improve their physical and mental health.
“From an economic perspective the closure period has also provided significant financial challenges for leisure centres across the country and we are aware of some facilities that have been forced to close permanently during this period.
“Reopening on a phased basis will allow the council time to carefully assess levels of demand without committing significant cost.”
Full details of the reopening plans are available on the West Lancashire Leisure website, www.westlancsleisure. com