Anger at moves to open pubs but keep sporting facilities shut

Paralympian star warns PM thousands of gyms and leisure centres are at risk of permanent closure

BARONESS Grey-thompson has written to Boris Johnson expressing her “disappointment and frustration”, after the Prime Minister confirmed pubs would be allowed to reopen while sports facilities remained shut.

The former Paralympian who, as Tanni Grey-thompson, won 17 gold medals at Olympic and World Championship level, warned that 2,800 gym and leisure facilities were at risk of closure, putting 100,000 jobs under threat. To lose the facilities in the midst of the coronavirus crisis could “set back public health for a generation”, she said.

Baroness Grey-thompson wrote: “Prime Minister, this is a personal plea to you. I fear further delays could see us lose these facilities forever.”

Writing in her role as chairman of the health body ukactive, the peer urged Mr Johnson to publish the guidance that led to his decision making.

The 11-time gold medallist also asked for an explanation on how “the relative risk of a busy pub at one-metre social distancing was lower than a controlled gym or leisure centre environment”.

It came after gyms claimed they had been “led to believe” they would be allowed to reopen on July 4 alongside other sectors of the economy such as cinemas, pubs and galleries.

Mark Sesnan, managing director of Greenwich Leisure, which runs a number of council-owned gyms and swimming pools, said: “We were shocked and disappointed that we weren’t included in yesterday’s announcement. We were led to believe we would be.”

He said he “didn’t buy” that pubs were safer than leisure centres when it came to social distancing, pointing out that “chlorine in the swimming pools kills the virus stone dead”.

Yesterday, the Culture Secretary confirmed that the Government intended to reopen gyms in mid-july.

Oliver Dowden tweeted: “Many people keen to hit the gym & keeping Britain fit is key in Covid battle.”

He insisted the Government had “made a lot of progress” on the issue and had noted the steps businesses had taken to make their spaces “safe”.

“Subject to public health, our aspiration is to reopen gyms & leisure facilities in mid-july,” he added.

Meanwhile, Swim England criticised as “appalling” the decision to keep chlorinated swimming pools shut while pubs could reopen. Jane Nickerson, its chief executive, said: “By ignoring the swimming sector in the latest easing of lockdown, the Government has let down millions who rely on being in the water – from those who use pools for mental or physical health reasons, to our recreational swimmers and competitive club athletes.

“Thousands of workers and facilities across the country are still in a state of limbo, and this is simply unacceptable.

“It appears it is OK to sit on the couch watching professional sport, go out for a high calorie meal and then go to the pub but you can’t go for a swim, which provides a sanitised environment.”