Hundreds flock back to leisure centres

MORE than 750 people have visited West Berkshire Council leisure centres since they opened last weekend.

At this stage only fitness gym and selected classes are available so that centres can get used to the new arrangements and make any adjustments required to ensure safety.

All leisure centre activities must be pre-booked at www.leisurecentre.com or via the app.

Limited numbers are allowed into the centre, and also in individual sessions, and customers should come ready-dressed for their activity as changing rooms are closed.

No cash transactions can be taken at this time.

As reported in last week’s Newbury Weekly News, council swimming pools are unlikely to open until September.

The Northcroft Lido will not be reopening until 2021, owing to delays to repairs.

The council’s executive member for public health and community wellbeing, leisure and culture Howard Woollaston (Con, Lambourn) said: “We’re delighted that the centres have been reopened.

“There are new measures in place to keep people safe, but the disruption is minimal and we know that two-thirds of visitors have been happy to come back for a second visit.

“Although we’d have liked to have opened the swimming pools, we are not alone in facing challenges and we’ve heard anecdotally that only around 20 per cent of pools nationally have reopened.

“Staff are working hard behind the scenes to open the pools as soon as it is safe to do so.”

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