ARGYLL AND BUTE
Leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools have been among the most recent facilities to be allowed to reopen as lockdown restrictions eased in Scotland. They were given the green light to resume from August 31, two weeks earlier than had been expected.
Many facilities across Scotland remained closed until September 14, however, LiveArgyll led the way in Scotland and managed to open as soon as it was given the green light from the Scottish Government.
Charitable trust LiveArgyll runs 28 venues and services across Argyll and Bute, including leisure, libraries, archives and museum, halls, Active Schools and sport development, community centres and community lets.
A LiveArgyll spokesperson said: ‘We’re working hard to provide as many services as possible in the soft opening phase, and we’re hoping that our members and pay-as-you-go users continue to support us as we continue to expand opening hours and programmes in the coming weeks and months ahead.’
A small number of services are now up and running including leisure, a new click and collect library service in the six large town libraries, outdoor pitches and Active Schools.
Re-opening the venues was far from straightforward, involving bringing staff back from furlough, many of whom needed extensive training before starting work to ensure a safe environment for all staff and customers alike.
Leisure facilities user Caroline Sutherland said: ‘I’m really impressed with what’s been done. I got a ‘welcome back’ from staff as I entered the building and it was great to be back. There’s obviously been a lot of thought and work gone into the layout, one way systems and cleaning/sanitising which has resulted in a very safe atmosphere. I’d like to thank all the staff for their hard work and looking forward to next week’s classes.’