COUNCIL owned sports and fitness facilities in Taunton and Wellington will re-open on Wednesday (December) following the month-long lockdown.

Facilities that will be up and running again are Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa, Taunton Swimming Pool, Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Wellington Sports Centre and Vivary Golf and Adventure Centre in Taunton.

Everyone Active, which operates the sites on behalf of Somerset West and Taunton Council, will have strict operational measures in place, although some activities will not be available at some centres.

Activities not currently allowed include basketball, climbing, dance, dodgeball, indoor football, netball, swimming clubs and volleyball.

Also banned for the time being are saunas, steam rooms, birthday parties and creches.

But all organised activities for under 18s, people with a disability and elite athletes can continue.

Mark Washington, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We’re very much looking forward to reopening our centres and welcoming back the local community.

“After being closed for a month, this announcement from Government is the news the leisure industry has been eagerly awaiting.

“It is very important to give people the opportunity to resume activity and exercise in their leisure centre, particularly during the winter months, and this will go a long way to maintaining the good health of local communities.

“We would like to thank the 615,000 people across the country who signed the petition we supported to keep gyms open, which triggered a Parliamentary debate, and to acknowledge the impressive manner in which the leisure industry has pulled together.

“We would also like to thank Somerset West and Taunton Council for their support, which has proved invaluable during this challenging year.

“Ensuring our colleagues and customers remain safe is our number one priority and we have carefully considered the strict measurements to ensure we adhere to the guidance.

“We will be contacting all customers directly over the coming days regarding the centres reopening. We look forward to welcoming everyone back and thank them for their patience.”

Cllr Richard Lees, executive member for leisure at SWT, said: “I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while our leisure facilities have been closed. We want people to enjoy all the health benefits that our leisure centres have to offer and know how much the restrictions have affected people during these difficult times.

“I am delighted that our centres will open again with the onus on keeping customers safe, and would remind those who use the facilities to support these measures and follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines for the safety of everyone in our communities.”