Wiltshire leisure centres have received a £865,000 cash injection from the government to help support the sites as they reopen. 

The funding, as part of the government’s £100m National Leisure Recovery boon, will help support leisure centres which have lost income due to the pandemic. 

The cash will also go towards maintenance/servicing as part of normal operating expenditure, Wiltshire Council confirmed. 

Corporate director for place, Sam Fox said: “We are very pleased to have received this funding on behalf of our partner operators and this funding will assist them with reopening our leisure centres as soon as government restrictions allow.

“Leisure centres and our leisure staff will have a key role to play in helping people get back to leading physically active lives as the nation recovers from the pandemic.”

The council partnered with Places Leisure, Cricklade and District Community Association and Brian Whitehead of Sports Centre Association to apply for the funds. 

The money will go towards the 10 Places Leisure managed leisure centres across Wiltshire: Bradford on Avon swimming pool, Castle Place Leisure Centre in Trowbridge, Lime Kiln Leisure Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett, Leighton Recreational Centre in Westbury, Melksham Blue Pool & Gym, The Activity Zone in Malmesbury, The Olympiad in Chippenham, Trowbridge Sports Centre, Warminster Leisure Centre and the Westbury Swimming Pool. 

Wiltshire Times: Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth Photo credit should read Steven Paston/PA Wire.Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth Photo credit should read Steven Paston/PA Wire.

Chief executive of Sports England, Tim Hollingsworth said: “Leisure facilities have a vital role to play in supporting the health of the nation and in particular in serving our more disadvantaged communities.

“They have been hit especially hard over the past year, so this investment is crucial and will help thousands to reopen when it becomes possible to do so – supporting the recovery and helping people get back to the activity they have badly missed.

“Sport England has worked at pace to enable the distribution of the investment to happen as quickly as possible and remains committed to doing what we can to continue to support this crucial part of our sector.”

The £100m pot  has been funded by the government with the process managed by Sport England.
Under the government’s road map indoor group sports and exercise classes can resume from May 17.