Council gyms and sporting facilities to reopen

Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre and Witton Park Arena are gearing up to reopen.

The Council has been lobbying the Government for our gyms and sporting facilities to reopen since the national easing of restrictions, including the eight areas designated as a protection zone.

The Council leisure centres are opening at a slightly later date to other gyms and sporting centres as our staff have been working in different posts during the pandemic – with many supporting the Help Hub and the most vulnerable in our community, and also in the community swabbing programme.

Council leisure services at Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre will be reopening on Monday, September 14^th for dry activities. The swimming pool will also open up on Monday, September 14th.

The initial Opening Hours for Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre are: Monday – Friday: 7am – 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am – 3pm

• Gym and Classes will start 14^th September, bookings will be possible from 11am Friday 11th September
• Pool Programme will start 21^st September, bookings possible from 11am Wednesday 16th September
• Initially both of the above will be for direct debit members only.

Membership Payments – the first Direct Debit run will take place on 1^st October 2020 for all customers.  More information will be available across social media and emails will be sent informing everyone of this and direct messages to all app users.

Witton Park Arena will also reopen on Monday, September 14.

It will initially be used for a variety of targeted health condition programmes such as exercise referral, cardiac, stroke and COPD rehabilitation, weight management, falls prevention, physical and learning disabilities and a range of other sessions.  This is primarily due to spacing restrictions for movement within the centre and only being able to run very small sessions with social distancing in place.

Darwen Leisure Centre reopened on September 1st when restrictions in the town were lifted at the end of August.

Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said:

It is great news that our gyms and sporting facilities can open again after such a long break due to the pandemic, and I know the centres are looking forward to welcoming people back. A massive amount of work has gone in to making the classes, equipment and areas as covid safe as possible.

We would urge people to keep following all guidelines and rules to keep yourself and others safe while at the gyms. This will help to keep infection rates down and allow us to carry on enjoying these activities. A healthy lifestyle including exercise and keeping fit can help to boost your immune system and improve your health, which is of extra importance at the moment.”

Social restrictions remain in place in the protection zone and everyone should continue to follow basic coronavirus guidance on hand washing, social distancing, face coverings and indoor and outdoor gatherings.

All businesses need to follow all relevant covid-secure guidelines and this is crucial in businesses where close contact with customers is required.

More information on Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre and Witton Park Arena can be found here: https://bwdleisure.com/we-cant-wait-to-see-you-again/

Full guidance on businesses can be found here: bit.ly/3gY9WW9