THE phased reopening of leisure centres will be discussed by leading Forest councillors tomorrow (Thursday, August 13), after detailed talks with facility managers Freedom Leisure.

Gyms and other leisure centres closed on March 20 in line with Government Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

And Forest centres are still closed despite the Government announcing last month that they could reopen from July 25 with appropriate hygiene and social distancing measures in place.

A report to the Forest Council Cabinet highlights that public funding of up to £400,000 will be needed if leisure centres are to reopen again.

And it adds: “Government requirements and additional guidance from the leisure industry will shape how leisure centres can operate in the coming months.

“They will not be able to operate to full capacity and some activities will not be feasible due to the need to maintain social distancing.”

The report notes that this will “severely reduce their ability to generate income and will mean a large number of providers will operate at a loss in the short term.”

A council spokesperson said that in practice this will mean that leisure centres will need increased public subsidy to reopen, with Freedom Leisure otherwise facing closure with subsequent job losses.

The report adds: “With ongoing costs but no income they cannot survive financially and requested that the council (and other councils that they have contracts with) support their ongoing costs during shut down.”

Councillor Tim Gwilliam, Leader of the Council, said: “Nationally this has been an immensely challenging time for the whole leisure sector.

“They have been unable to open for months and when they finally do open, social distancing will mean that they will be running well below their traditional capacity. That means their income will be well down on what it was pre-lockdown.

“We are keen to get centres open as quickly as possible but we obviously have to balance that enthusiasm with our responsibility to spend local taxpayers’ money wisely.“

The Cabinet will consider eight potential options for the phasing of reopening.

Officers originally developed six options for discussion at a member briefing last month.

An additional two options were added after member input and a review of an online public questionnaire.

Cllr Gwilliam added: “Over 1,200 residents responded to our questionnaire and there was considerable enthusiasm for swimming to return quickly.

“That is challenging for us as pools are expensive to run and use will have to be limited to maintain social distancing.

“But I think the Cabinet will really want to respond positively to the public enthusiasm for swimming if we can.

“I’ll continue to make the case to central Government that this is a national problem that will eventually require a national solution.”

The report states the cost of reopening leisure facilities in the district as potentially costing the council up to £400,000 if the centres need to be subsidised up to the end of February 2021.

The full report can be seen at https://meetings.fdean.gov.uk