PR Date: Wednesday, 16 December 2020 - 11:30am
At its Cabinet Meeting on 15 December, North Herts District Council (NHDC) proposed a further package of financial support to help maintain sport and leisure provision at the North Herts Leisure Centre, Archers Gym in Hitchin, Hitchin Swim Centre and the Royston Leisure Centre. The measures will be voted on by Full Council on 21 January 2021.
The facilities, operated by Stevenage Leisure Ltd (SLL) under a contract with NHDC, have been heavily impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) since the start of the pandemic. This has been a national trend affecting fitness and leisure facilities throughout the UK. In order to restrict the potential spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk to members of the public, the government instructed all gyms and leisure centres to close in March and again in the period of national restrictions during November.
The loss of income caused by closures and social distancing measures, together with ongoing running costs, has seriously threatened the viability of sport and leisure provision at the centres, prompting NHDC’s Cabinet to propose additional funding to cover the closure in November and in case there are further restrictions that require temporary closure, so that the facilities can remain viable and available for residents.
Cllr Steve Jarvis, NHDC’s Executive Member for Leisure said: “The Leisure Centres are really important assets for our local community. Their loss would have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of residents in North Herts at the worst possible time. It is therefore important that we provide the necessary financial assistance to safeguard their future.”
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