Trust warning future of leisure facilities at risk

Fife’s largest leisure centre operator said it is frustrated by a further delay on plans to reopen facilities in Scotland.

Fife Sports & Leisure Trust, which runs council-owned gyms, swimming pools and sports centres, said the loss of six months of income would have a serious impact on the organisation.

While facilities in England opened last weekend, the Scottish Government has set an indicative opening date of September 14.

The Fife trust said the long-term sustainability of its own and other leisure centres was at risk.

It previously predicted a £5 million loss based on a 12-week lockdown.

Chief executive Emma Walker said the organisation is stepping up its support for the national #saveleisure campaign in light of the first minister’s announcement that the closures will now last at least six months.

Campaign leaders Community Leisure UK, which represents nonprofiting leisure trusts, estimates almost half of all public leisure facilities across Britain face permanent closure unless local authorities receive urgent ring-fenced funding.

Ms Walker said this would mean 1,300 closures and the loss of more than 58,000 jobs.

She said the provision of community leisure facilities has never been more important than “in the face of a national public health emergency, and to help support the fight against obesity which has been identified as a key risk factor in Covid-19”.

She urged customers to lobby local and national government.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said while September 14 remained the indicative opening date, it would be kept under review in case facilities could open earlier.

She said: “The clinical advice I have is that because of the nature of these environments, they pose a particular risk and require a cautious approach.”