Reopening date for local leisure centres announced.

Local leisure centres in Havering are set to reopen from Monday 12 April, after receiving the government’s go ahead for Step 2 of the roadmap.

Central Park Leisure Centre and Sapphire Ice and Leisure managed by sports and leisure operator Everyone Active in partnership with Havering London Borough Council will reopen their doors following a three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Hornchurch Sports Centre has been replaced by the new state-of-the-art Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre. The centre’s facilities include a 25m eight-lane swimming pool, diving pool, sports hall, Fortis studio and group cycling studio.

The Government confirmed on Monday 5 April thatleisure centres would be safe to reopen with strict operational measures in place. This is the latest stage of the four-step roadmap plan and follows the reopening of several outdoor activities at Everyone Active sites on Monday 29 March, including Noak Hill Sports Complex.

The Government’s roadmap includes detail on which facilities can reopen within each step, meaning some may not be available at the centre in the first instance. For details about which facilities can reopen in each step and the latest guidance, click here.

Everyone Active has committed to keeping its customers safe and active, ensuring it will meet and exceed Government guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 with the Everyone Active Pledge. Full detail on the operator’s pledge and safety measures can be found here.

While its 200 leisure centres across the country have been closed, Everyone Active has provided a comprehensive package of online workouts for people to use, along with live streamed classes across its social media pages. 

Tom Fletcher, 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 three months, the latest step in the Government’s Roadmap is a positive move forward for the leisure industry and gives people of all ages the opportunity to resume activity and exercise in their leisure centre. 

“Ensuring our colleagues and customers remain safe continues to be 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.”

Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said: “In the last year we’ve seen just how crucial it is to keep fit and healthy and our leisure centres play a pivotal role in the health and wellbeing of Havering residents, so we are very pleased to see our fantastic leisure centres reopen after such a long time.

“This will help residents get back to living healthy lives, something that is incredibly important to the Council.

“It also comes just before the official opening of the new Harrow Lodge Leisure centre in Hornchurch, which will be really exciting to see. This is the next step in the Council’s ongoing investment in leisure facilities, which will also include the start of the construction of a brand-new leisure centre in the south of the borough later this year.” 

For further information on Everyone Active and its leisure centres, visit www.everyoneactive.com.