Wyre gyms and fitness classes all set to reopen

Plans are being put in place to reopen all YMCA leisure centre sites in Wyre for gym use and fitness classes.
Gym equipment at Garstang YMCA can be used again from July 25Gym equipment at Garstang YMCA can be used again from July 25
Gym equipment at Garstang YMCA can be used again from July 25

Following the Government’s announcement l that gyms can reopen later this month, Fylde Coast YMCA will be reopening centres in Thornton, Garstang, Fleetwood and Poulton for gym access and fitness classes.

The gyms at Thornton and Garstang will reopen on Saturday, July 25, with classes at those centres starting the following Monday. The gyms at Fleetwood and Poulton will reopen on August 3 followed by classes from August 5.

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Swimming pools and other services are not reopening at this stage, however the council says that will be kept under constant review.

As well as safety concerns, having to limit numbers of swimmers due to social distancing and the practicalities of limited changing room space, it has been decided that pools and further activities will reopen when viable.

Coun Lynne Bowen, Wyre Council's portfolio holder for Leisure, Health and Community, said: “Since our first announcement regarding leisure centres reopening, we have been working with Sport England and industry experts to review plans to reopen.

"Together with Sport England and Leisure Consultants KKP we have looked at the best way to provide opportunities for people to access facilities in all areas of the borough, in a way that makes sense financially and from a safety point of view.

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"This phased approach means that we can now safely open more centres.

“We want to enable as many people as possible to be able to safely access the fitness suites and exercise classes.

"By re-opening all four Wyre sites, more of our residents will be able to be more active, more often with all the health benefits that that brings.

"We are hoping that members and non members will support the leisure centres as they start to reopen, so that we can gradually look at re-opening further facilities within each one.

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"This approach gives us a safe, controlled and supervised health and fitness offer so that we can gradually re-build use of our facilities. We are very much looking forward to welcoming customers back.”

Leisure centres across the country have been closed during the Coronavirus pandemic and as a result are facing unprecedented financial and operational impacts.

The council has been working with the YMCA to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and support a sustainable future for the leisure centres by committing, in principle, to fund over £630,000 of costs in 2020/21.

John Cronin, chief executive at Fylde Coast YMCA, said: “The YMCA will comply with all safety conditions issued by government to ensure all our visitors are safe. We will keep reviewing our services to reopen more activities as soon as it becomes viable to do so.

“I would like to thank Wyre Council for their support to enable us to continue to deliver this community provision in difficult times and serve the residents of Wyre.”