Disbelief as doors remain closed on pools and gyms
COUNCIL bosses have been accused of “floundering” with most council-owned leisure centres in Stockport remaining closed - weeks after they were allowed to reopen.
Stockport borough council chiefs issued a statement earlier this week saying they were keen for leisure centres to reopen, and thanking residents for remaining patient. However, no further details, or dates for when centres might eventually reopen, have been provided.
At present, only the gym and class studio facilities at two sites, Stockport Sports Village in Woodley, and Houldsworth Village in Reddish, are open to the public. None of the borough’s council-run pools are open.
The town’s councilowned leisure facilities are managed by charitable trust Life Leisure, on behalf of the local authority.
Coun Mark Roberts, the council’s communities scrutiny chairman and Lib Dem member for Bredbury Green and Romiley, has asked what is going on.
He said: “Leisure centres are opening up across the country, but the residents of Stockport are once again left high and dry without pool and gym provision.
“On July 9 the Government said leisure centres and indoor pools could reopen from July 25. Why are we still waiting over three weeks later?
“Something has to be done and quickly to ensure residents can access these important facilities which will help improve their health and wellbeing.
“This has been going on for too long now – the residents of Stockport deserve better than this from the Labour administration, who just seem to be floundering in the deep end.”
Leisure facilities across the rest of Greater Manchester began phased reopenings with new safety measures from the end of July, although a number of facilities in some boroughs do remain closed.
The council statement reads: “Stockport council and Life Leisure have been working closely together since the closure of council-owned leisure centres in March 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Both the council and Life Leisure are keen for centres to reopen as quickly as possible, with customer safety uppermost in our minds.
“We thank residents and Life Leisure members for their patience at this time and further details will be provided as soon as we are able to do so.”