Local Leisure Centres Start Phased Reopening
Everyone Active open gyms first with pools 'shortly after'
Ealing borough’s leisure provider has announced that some of the centres they operate will be partially reopening to the public this Friday (31 July).
Everyone Active Acton Centre, Brent Valley Golf Course and Fitness Centre, Dormers Wells Leisure Centre, Northolt Leisure Centre and Southall Sports Centre, which are managed by Everyone Active, will have their gym areas accessible again after being closed for four months. Everyone Active says that it has introduced procedures that will ensure social distancing is managed throughout the centres and regular cleaning is maintained.
Everyone Active have said the swimming pool facilities at Everyone Active Acton Centre, Dormers Wells Leisure Centre and Northolt Leisure Centre will reopen shortly after and all customers will be communicated with directly regarding the details. No information has been given about whether or not classes will be available.
Elthorne Sports Centre, Greenford Sports Centre, Perivale Park Athletics Track, Reynolds Sports Centre, Swift Road Outdoor Sports Centre and Twyford Sports Centre will not be reopening on this date and no information has been provided on the likely reopening schedule.
It had already been announced that the Gurnell Leisure Centre will not reopen and there will be no leisure facilities at the site until the centre is rebuilt. Finance and leisure portfolio holder Bassam Mahfouz told councillors in a virtual full council meeting on 21 July that he expected the redeveloped centre, subject to planning permission, to reopen in February 2024.
Whilst its 200 leisure centres across the country have been closed, Everyone Active launched a package of online workouts for people to do whilst on lockdown, along with streaming live classes across its social media pages. It also pledged to donate half the cost of a membership to charity – The National Emergencies Trust – if customers continued to pay. Consequently, the operator raised over £400,000 for those most in need during the pandemic.
Phil Edwards, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said, “We’re very much looking forward to reopening the centres and welcoming back the local community. After being closed for nearly four months, this latest announcement from the government is the news the leisure industry has been eagerly awaiting. Giving people the opportunity to resume activity and exercise in their leisure centre will go a long way to maintaining the good health of local communities.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with the support we have received from customers during these unprecedented times, and we’re so grateful. Like many other industries, leisure has been greatly affected by the lockdown.
“Ensuring our colleagues and customers remain safe is our number one priority and we have carefully considered the strict measurements to ensure we adhere to the guidance. We will be contacting all customers directly over the coming days regarding the centres reopening. We look forward to welcoming everyone back and thanking them for their patience.”
Cllr Bassam Mahfouz said “It is vital that local people have the opportunity to exercise and stay active and I encourage local people to use the borough’s excellent facilities safely and responsibly when they open next week.
“Ealing’s facilities will comply with the highest government, public health guidelines to ensure the safety of customers and staff and everyone can play their part by washing their hands, sticking to social distancing and following the new rules in our leisure centres.”