Leisure centres get funding boost ahead of reopening

The money has been allocated to Chichester District Council through the Government’s National Leisure Recovery Fund, which was set up to support the recovery of publicly-owned leisure centres and gyms.

It means that Everyone Active, which manages the Bourne Leisure Centre in Southbourne; The Grange Community and Leisure Centre in Midhurst; and Westgate Leisure Centre in Chichester on the council’s behalf, can begin their preparations for reopening as part of Step Two of the national recovery roadmap.

Leisure centres and gyms will be allowed to re-open their doors to the public no earlier than April 12 for individual socially-distanced use. As part of Step Three, indoor adult group sports and exercise classes will be permitted to resume from no earlier than May 17.

Councillor Roy Briscoe, cabinet member for Community, Culture and Sports at Chichester District Council, said: “I would like to thank the district council officers for their work in helping to secure this much-needed funding for our leisure facilities.

“Leisure centres are vital to the health and wellbeing of our residents and have been hit really hard by the coronavirus crisis over the past year.

“This is a much-welcomed boost for our excellent, high quality leisure centres and I’m really looking forward to seeing them re-open over the coming months, as the roadmap allows. I’m sure that there are many people who are eager to get back to their sports and fitness routines and it will be another positive step on the road back to a more normal life.

“The services provided as part of this leisure contract will be even more important during the recovery phase, supporting communities to return to fitness, activity and mental wellbeing.”

For more information about the leisure centres, visit: www.everyoneactive.com