Coronavirus: Fareham gyms' plea to be recognised as an 'essential service' over lockdown in a bid to stay open

LEISURE centre bosses have thrown their weight behind a campaign demanding to be recognised as an ‘essential service’ amid month-long closures due to the second lockdown.

By Tom Cotterill

Published 5th Nov 2020, 21:16 BST

Updated 5th Nov 2020, 21:18 BST

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Fareham Leisure Centre and Holly Hill Leisure Centre managed by sports and leisure operator Everyone Active in partnership with Fareham Borough Council, had been forced to close for a second time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Health chiefs beg people to stick to lockdown rules

In a letter from Everyone Active’s managing director, David Bibby concerns were raised about the tougher effect on the public this time round, with shorter hours of sunlight and colder weather affecting mental health and the motivation for people to exercise outdoors.

Holly Hill Leisure Centre is among the gyms to have backed a petition urging the government to allow them to remain open during lockdown

Picture: Sarah Standing (161401-4177) — Holly Hill Leisure Centre is among the gyms to have backed a petition urging the government to allow them to remain open during lockdown Picture: Sarah Standing (161401-4177)

Holly Hill Leisure Centre is among the gyms to have backed a petition urging the government to allow them to remain open during lockdown

Picture: Sarah Standing (161401-4177) — Holly Hill Leisure Centre is among the gyms to have backed a petition urging the government to allow them to remain open during lockdown Picture: Sarah Standing (161401-4177)

He said: ‘This second lockdown will be even tougher on the UK, with shorter hours of sunlight and colder weather, people in the UK will no longer feel safe or motivated to exercise outdoors. By offering essential access to gyms and leisure facilities during the lockdown period, we can help to tackle this issue of inactivity.’

SEE ALSO: Ferry firms urge people not to cross the Solent for fun during lockdown

Research by industry body ukactive showed 58 per cent of people managed their mental health by being active during the last lockdown, emphasising the role gyms and leisure facilities can play in providing vital sanctuaries for health and wellbeing this winter.

Following the reopening of leisure facilities in July, Everyone Active, overhauled its safety measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Rigorous cleaning regimes were implemented and online booking systems introduced to managed numbers.

Ryan Grant, Everyone Active’s contract manager, has now urged the people of Fareham to support their effort to reopen.

He added: ‘This is an incredibly difficult time for the leisure industry and our centres in Fareham.

‘We are urging our members to get behind us and to support their local centre by signing the petition to encourage the government to keep gyms open.’

To support the campaign, see petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333869

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