When leisure centres finally re-open
HOUNSLOW’S leisure centres will begin a phased reopening from November, it has been confirmed.
Government guidelines allowed the facilities to open their doors from July 25 but borough bosses said they were continuing to work on coronavirus measures and would open when they were “absolutely certain it is safe to do so.”
On September 9, the council announced its leisure centres such as Heston Pool and Fitness, Osterley Sports and Athletic Centre and Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre and Library, which are run by Fusion Leisure, will be taken over and managed by the council’s own company Lampton 360.
The plan was approved in private at a cabinet meeting on September 8, which also decided public halls such as Chiswick Town Hall and Wellington Day Centre will be transferred to council management.
Leisure boss cllr Samia Chaudhary, said: “We apologise for the delay in being able to reopen our leisure centres and public halls, we know this has been a hugely frustrating time for our members and users of these services.
“It has been agreed by mutual consent between Fusion Lifestyle and Hounslow Council that from November 1 2020 the leisure centres will be run by Lampton 360, the council’s trading company and the public halls by the council.
“We will move the services and staff as quickly as possible and therefore, we anticipate that services will reopen in a phased way during November, providing that government guidelines to be Covid-secure can be met.
“To make sure this can happen as seamlessly as possible all staff from Fusion Lifestyle who deliver the Hounslow services are likely to be transferred to Lampton 360 and Hounslow Council respectively.”
The council has said staff being transferred will be paid at least London Living Wage and that the in-house service will mean more joint-up working with the NHS and Public Health over health and well-being plans for residents in the borough.
Lampton 360 provides a range of public services for the council such as managing parks and open spaces, recycling and property development.
Operations director at Fusion Lifestyle, Anthony Cawley, said: “The last six months has been a difficult time for all concerned and continues to be so.
“Fusion is looking to concentrate on other areas of their business in light of the impact of coronavirus on our operating model.
WWe are pleased that we have been able to come to a mutually acceptable decision with the Council on the leisure services, and for our valuable staff, and we know that the services will be in good hands going forward.”
Communications over the changes to more than 10,000 leisure centre members will continue through Fusion Lifestyle until the transfer to Lampton 360 is complete.