Third of councils expect to have to close leisure centres

One in three district councils expect to be forced to close gyms and pools due to the devastating financial impact from the coronavirus pandemic.

This is according to the District Councils’ Network, whose latest survey found that 36 per cent of its members thought it likely they'd have to close one or more leisure centres, while a quarter said it was ‘extremely likely’.

The DCN also says that nearly a fifth of these councils expecting to need to cut services said they were considering shutting 3 or more leisure centres. Almost four in 10 said at least two would near the coast their area. Of deeper concern, 19 percent of councils say centres will go out of business over the following three months and over half (59 percent) within the year.

Closures will generate a body blow for health and wealth in cities and towns, affecting community services such as creches, holiday activities, activities for over 50s/60s and exercise referral schemes. The closure of leisure centres would also undermine Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy, a 10-year vision endorsed by ministers to change lives and communities through sport and physical activity.

Dan Humphreys, DCN’s lead member for enhancing quality of life, said: “As these alarming findings show, the gyms, pools and local leisure centres that communities rely on every day face a desperately bleak future, with lots of on the point of closing in the coming months because of the financial losses they've incurred during the pandemic.

“The survival of our leisure centres will be fundamental to our health and economic recovery. Council leisure services are not like privately ran gyms, they're hubs of community and services helping everyone get active – from soccer practice swimming lessons, to over 60s activity schemes.

“A wave of closures will generate a real body blow to the efforts to boost mental and physical health insurance and address the inequalities across our communities. District councils did all they can to help keep leisure services afloat, but the devastating economic impact of the pandemic means over 100 centres across are now vulnerable to closing their doors forever. The government must step in to provide leisure centres the financial lifeline needed to spearhead the neighborhood health recovery across our villages, towns and cities.”