GYMS and leisure centres will be allowed to open in St Helens from Saturday, with plans in place to pilot Covid-secure swimming lessons next month.

St Helens Borough Council was forced to close gyms and leisure centres last week after the Government placed the Liverpool City Region under Tier 3 lockdown restrictions.

But during talks with city region chiefs that went into the night on Tuesday, the Government finally bowed to pressure and agreed to let them reopen.

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This came after the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, the Liverpool City Mayor and council leaders requested an ‘immediate review’ of the decision.

Legislation has now been changed to standardise the Tier 3 lockdown restrictions, which will allow gyms and leisure centres to continue operating.

However, this has also meant soft play areas must close.

From Saturday, October 25, Queens Park Health and Fitness, Newton-le-Willows Health and Fitness, and Sutton Leisure Centre will operate its full programme of activities.

The gym at Parr Swimming and Fitness Centre will remain closed until Monday, October 26.

In addition, the council has revealed that from November 2, a one-week pilot of public swimming lessons with Covid-secure measures will be piloted.

If successful, it will be introduced at Queens Park Health and Fitness on Monday, November 9.

The primary school swimming programme will recommence at Newton-le-Willows Health and Fitness from Monday, November 2.

St Helens Star: Queens Park Health and FitnessQueens Park Health and Fitness

Cllr Anthony Burns, cabinet member for public health, leisure, libraries and heritage, said: “It is recognised nationally the key role exercise has on, not only an individual’s physical health, but their mental health, too.

“This is even more important when we are faced with the current situation of Covid and lockdown measures – so I welcome the reopening of our health and fitness centres – but it should never have come to this in the first place.

“Government made a mistake in closing them, I am glad that we have managed to get them to change their mind.

“Our leisure centres welcome more than a million visitors a year and the measures that we have taken post Covid have been extremely successful and welcomed by users.

“We haven’t had a single outbreak in any of our centres – members of the public are certainly in safe hands when visiting our sites, which is largely down to the genuinely caring and dedicated team we have in place here.”

Due to the Tier 3 lockdown restrictions being brought in line with other ‘very high’ risk areas, Willowbees adventure play area, based in Newton-le-Willows Health and Fitness, will be closed until further notice.

St Helens Star: Cllr Anthony Burns (centre) pictured with GoActive staff at the launch of Willowbees adventure play area in December 2019Cllr Anthony Burns (centre) pictured with GoActive staff at the launch of Willowbees adventure play area in December 2019

Newton councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for reset and recovery, said the Government has still yet to provide evidence to justify the closures of gyms and soft play.

“These so far un-evidenced Government restrictions have had a devastating impact on the gym and personal health industry in Merseyside,” Cllr Gomez-Aspron said.

“We’ve constantly asked for the evidence to justify the gym closures through our council, MPs and Metro Mayor, which the Government have never provided.

“This was made worse with the inconsistent position in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

“I welcome the Government’s change of direction. But it should’ve never happened in the first place.

“It now throws soft play areas into the same struggle. And so we will keep demanding evidence from Government to justify restrictions.”

The Labour councillor said Cllr Kate Groucutt, cabinet member for education, skills and business, is leading on the work currently being undertaken by the council to contact impacted businesses to offer support.

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He also revealed that Labour will be putting forward a motion at full council next month, calling to scrap any restrictions that do not have any scientific evidence to back them up.

Cllr Gomez-Aspron said: “That’s the Labour Party position – evidence-based restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus and proper financial support from Government to businesses impacted.”

For more information about the gyms and leisure centres, click here.