Leaders hope to re-open North Bridge Leisure Centre in Halifax

Calderdale Council hopes to re-open its central leisure centre next month.
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Place Scrutiny Board councillors heard it was hoped North Bridge Leisure Centre at Halifax could be re-opened by the middle of October.

Board members also heard the issue of re-opening Halifax Swimming Pool is to be discussed by Cabinet members on Monday (September 14).

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This week saw Brighouse Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre and Todmorden Sports Centre re-open and Sowerby Bridge Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre is to re-open from next Wednesday, September 16.

North Bridge Leisure CentreNorth Bridge Leisure Centre
North Bridge Leisure Centre

The council’s Assistant Director for Customer Service, Sarah Richardson, said the priority for opening the borough’s leisure centres amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was when it could be done safely.

Additional safety measures had been put in place at the centres.

Coun Bryan Smith (Lab, Ovenden) said he had received a lot of inquiries about when Halifax Swimming Pool would re-open, including its diving area, about which some were wanting to know whether it would be closed temporarily or permanently.

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Ms Richardson said Cabinet members were due to discuss the pool on Monday and Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden) said it would be a very in-depth report.

In terms of the diving area, she said: “We have to look at everything – I can’t give you a yes or no answer.”

Generally, said Coun Press: “We can’t offer every service but we are doing our best to offer what we can.”

Board Chair Coun George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) asked about the impact the COVID-19 epidemic had so far had on income for the council.

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He was concerned the council might be losing gym customers to private ones which had already opened and might be trying to tempt the council’s gym customers.

Ms Richardson said Government had offered some support. As the council had suspended memberships since March and was carrying the time forward, effectively there had been six months without any income from them or from people paying for single sessions.

But customers had been loyal, she said: “There have been some cancellations of membership but most have stayed loyal, they are desperate to get back and are renewing their memberships as we speak.”

Coun Audrey Smith (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) asked about the impact on capacity and Ms Richardson said it had to be reduced to allow social distancing and to allow for extra clean-downs of equipment.

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Only ten per cent of usual income had been achieved with hopes that would rise to 25 per cent by the end of the year.

People feeling confident enough yet to come back was an issue.

Coun Megan Swift (Lab, Town) asked when schools might be back in the swimming pool for children’s swimming lessons.

Ms Richardson said it would not be until after October half term at the earliest and some schools and indicated they did not want to consider it before the new year.

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