Leisure services prove to be a hit as people get back into fitness, with Durrington next to reopen

Wiltshire residents have collectively donned their sports gear and visited their local Wiltshire Council-leisure centre in their thousands since the first seven were reopened - with Durrington Swimming and Fitness Centre set to open later this month.

More than 21,000 people have visited Marlborough and Tidworth leisure centres; Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre, Salisbury; Springfield Community Campus, Corsham; The Vale Community Campus, Pewsey; and The Nadder Centre, Tisbury since they reopened.

Durrington Swimming and Fitness Centre will reopen on 19 October with people soon able to book to use services there including swimming and swimming lessons.

Calne Leisure Centre is on track to reopen later this autumn following its extensive improvements.

Fitness facilities, group exercise classes and swimming pools were the first activities introduced and now racket sports and some block bookings for community groups are being provided in some centres, with plans being developed to enable even more to return over the coming weeks. Swimming lessons for most children have also now resumed.

Safety for staff and customers has been at the forefront at all the centres, with COVID-19 measures in place and being respected by those who attend. Feedback from customers has been generally positive and the new measures have made people feel safe as they look to improve their fitness after a challenging 2020 so far. The council is constantly reviewing the safety measures and will make any changes as required.

Some of the customer feedback received includes:

The new systems you have put in place make me feel safe and secure, both in the building and in the pool where I am able to safely enjoy the water once again.

I would like to say a very grateful thank you to you and your staff. I have returned to the gym and have found the whole process easy from online booking to completing the session. The gym felt safe and clean. In particular the staff have been welcoming and friendly. Excellent service.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, said:

We're so glad thousands of people have felt confident coming back to our centres and continuing their fitness journeys with us. Bringing services back at this unprecedented time is a real challenge and we were adamant that we wouldn't do so until we had the right measures in place to keep people as safe as possible. In all my visits to our centres in recent weeks I have been hugely impressed by the positivity and enthusiasm of both our staff and customers.

The safety of our staff and customers continues to be our highest priority and as this pandemic continues, we are regularly reviewing the measures and the leisure services we are providing and will make any changes should we feel the need to.

We know this has been such a difficult year so far, but we hope the services we are providing in helping to get people moving and active has helped them at this time.

For up to date information on what's available, what's changed and how to access activities people should visit

-ends-

Notes to editors:

For political comment:

Conservatives: Bridget Wayman bridget.wayman@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Liberal Democrats: Ian Thorn ian.thorn@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Labour: Ricky Rogers ricky.rogers@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Independent: Ernie Clark ernie.clark@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)