Countdown is on for sports centre re-opening
07 Apr 2021 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
It’s just days to do until Active Northumberland can once again open the doors to its sports centres and welcome customers back in to enjoy the fantastic facilites.
Staff are making final preparations for the re-opening on Monday, April 12, and are excited to get back to their job of helping people of all ages to get fit and enjoy the many benefits that exercise brings.
Under the new government regulations, re-opening will be phased, with gym and swimming sessions permitted, including children's swimming lessons. All sessions must be pre-booked.
While indoor fitness classes are still prohibited, outdoor bootcamp sessions are being introduced at Ashington, Blyth, Concordia, Wentworth, Willowburn and Ponteland sports and leisure centres.
Under the easing of lockdown restrictions, outdoor pitches and 3G pitches will re-open for organised groups and indoor racquet sports will also be permitted for the same household or social bubble in certain centres. The popular Clip n’ Climb will also re-open at the new Ponteland Sports Centre and at Concordia in Cramlington.
To enable social distancing anyone wishing to use the facilities must pre- book a place from the Active Northumberland website or app as numbers will be limited in the gym or pool at any one time. Members can book 14 days in advance and pay-as-you-go customers can book 7 days in advance.
Active Northumberland will continue to have stringent hygiene practices in place to keep customers and staff safe and well. Thorough cleaning measures will include a thirty-minute closure of the gym after each session to enable the cleaning of equipment. There will also be anti-bacterial wipes available for members to wipe down their equipment and hand sanitizer points throughout the centres.
The move to open the facilities comes following the Government’s announcement that it is to ease some of the restrictions on indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities, ensuring millions of people can get back into sport and fitness activities.
Active Northumberland is the charitable trust which manages sports and leisure facilities in Northumberland on behalf of the county council.
Mark Warnes, Acting Chief Executive of Active Northumberland said:
“We are delighted that we have had the green light to reopen the centres, albeit in a limited capacity. It’s been a tough 12 months for everyone and exercise has never been so important for reducing stress, boosting the mood and having a positive impact on our mental wellbeing.
“Our team are really looking forward to welcoming our customers back through the doors to resume their fitness regimes. Please be rest assured that health, hygiene and safety remain our top priorities.”
For those who are unable to get to their local sports centre, Active Northumberland has launched a new online fitness experience which brings professional group exercise classes to your home.
With the help of the latest technology, the new Active at Home sessions allow you to join the fitness team at Active Northumberland for your favourite exercise classes either live or on-demand.
The monthly subscription of £7.99 offers fantastic value for money, launching with over 20 live classes a week and access to workouts you can do at any time, delivered by Active Northumberland instructors.
Classes include Yoga, Pilates, Les Mills Body Combat, Body Balance and Body Step, HIIT and Zumba so there is something for everyone.
For information about the re-opening of Sports Centres go to: https://www.activenorthumberland.org.uk/Join-Online.aspx