Gyms and pools are back in business
Renfrewshire Leisure venues will reopen on September 14
Swimming pools and gyms run by Renfrewshire Leisure are to reopen on Monday, September 14.
And in another piece of good news, members won’t be charged any membership fees until November as a thank you for their loyalty.
On September 14, the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley, ON-X in Linwood, Renfrew Victory Baths, Erskine Sports Centre and Erskine Swimming Pool will reopen.
Shared leisure facilities at Park Mains High School in Erskine and at the Johnstone Community Sports Hub will open in a second phase, with strictly controlled public access.
This will involve detailed health and safety reviews and will ensure there has been sufficient time to settle pupils and staff safely back to school.
Planned investment work at the swimming pool at Johnstone means that it won’t not be ready to reopen alongside other areas of the site, but will follow later.
Entrance to indoor leisure facilities and services will be by online pre-booking of time slots only.
Victoria Hollows, chief executive of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “We know how eager people are to enjoy the services in our venues once again and are looking forward to welcoming members and customers back as we work to help improve residents’ wellbeing across Renfrewshire.
“That’s why I am so pleased that we are able to help people invest in their health by continuing our freeze on members’ direct debit payments until November.
“While arrangements at our venues will be different to that which our communities are used to, we are sure that by working together and adhering to all of the guidelines in place that the gradual restart of our services will be enjoyable for everyone.”
Details on restarting the Learn to Swim programme are being reviewed with an update expected soon.
Some outside synthetic sports pitches will reopen to pre-existing club bookings on Monday, August 31, although changing room facilities as well as smaller pavilions and gym facilities at Seedhill, Ferguslie and Ralston will remain closed for now as a result of challenging physical distancing requirements.
Wider bookings - which must be made by phone - will be opened from September 14.
Lisa-Marie Hughes, Chair of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “The safe and phased restart of on-site services at our leisure centres and swimming pools is a major milestone in not only our charity’s careful route out of lockdown, but that of the communities we are proud to serve.
“Safety remains our number one priority. The dates and phased approach we have planned for the restart of our services reflect that, ensuring we will be in the strongest position to welcome people back in the safest way.”
For more details, go to www. renfrewshireleisure. com.