Fife's leisure centres move closer to re-opening

Leisure centres in Fife are gearing up to re-open their doors.

Fife Sport & Leisure Trust staged a walk-through of one of its facilities to demonstrate health and safety measures to staff and customers ahead of a return to operations as lockdown restrictions are eased.

The trust’s network of leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools have been closed to the public since March, resulting in a huge impact on its revenues.

With restrictions now easing, it is working behind the scenes in anticipation of a phased re-opening in line with the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 Route Map.

Last week, it invited Councillor Judy Hamilto, who convenes Fife Council’s community and housing services committee, to tour Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes to see the measures in place for a safe, managed return.

The trust has already updated customers on what they can expect when they return - including pre-booking, limited numbers in centres at any one time, social distancing, increased hygiene measure and one-way systems.

Emma Walker,the trust’s new;ly appointed chief executive, said: “I am very pleased with the level and detail of planning teams have implemented, and, I’m confident that both staff and customers will be reassured by the health and safety measures in place.

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“As a charitable trust, we face significant challenges in getting the organisation fully operational and we would ask customers to be patient while we manage the level of disruption the lockdown has had on the organisation.

“We are also very mindful of customers and staff who will need to continue to self-isolate and we are working on a number of initiatives, including live-streamed fitness sessions, to support those who will not be able to access centres, as well as helping staff prepare for their new working environments.”

Councillor Hamilton said she was confident the facilities were on track to re-open.

She added: “Throughout the pandemic the trust has remained focussed on health and wellbeing. It adapted very swiftly and worked hard to support customers with physical activity online.

“Now, as we cautiously emerge from lockdown, I’m confident that very robust procedures have been put in place to re-open the centres with the safety of customers and staff in mind. “

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