Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, which manages leisure centres and swimming pools across the kingdom, has announced that it will start a phased reopening, taking six weeks to complete. This is a result of the Scottish Government’s further easing of restrictions as the country comes out of lockdown.
While a number of centres will reopen on September 14th, the East Sands Leisure Centre is in the second phase and reopening on September 28th along with Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre, Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre and Dalgety Bay Leisure Centre. Cupar Leisure Centre and Waterstone Crook Leisure Centre are in third phase and will reopen on October 14th.
The Trust will be releasing details of its online booking system, programme timetables and new customer app over the coming weeks so that customers can easily access facilities with the new Covid measures in place.
Emma Walker, chief executive, welcomed the reopening after six months of lockdown. She said: “The indication that gyms and leisure centres may open from the end of the month welcome, but the short notice period suits smaller, private providers rather than larger organisation like the trust.”
“Two weeks’ notice to ramp up the range of facilities managed by the trust is too short notice after six months of mothballing centres. Although our sites are ready, it takes a significant level of preparation to make facilities, such as swimming pools under the new Covid regulations, available to the public.”
“So, we will re-open on September 14 with adequate staffing levels – as some of our staff are still furloughed – and, teams who have received the necessary training in Covid protocols, along with booking systems and programmes fully available for our customers.”
She added: “We understand customers will be eager to get back to their local leisure centres and we would appeal for understanding as we step up preparations as quickly and as safely as we can.”
