Manchester City Council will begin the phased reopening of community leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools across the city from Saturday 1 August.
Following careful consideration of new guidance published by the government, six community leisure centres will reopen in the first phase, with strict operational measures in place to prioritise the safety of all customers and staff.
Arcadia Leisure Centre, East Manchester Leisure Centre, Hough End Leisure Centre, Moss Side Leisure Centre, North City Family & Fitness Centre and Wythenshawe Forum will reopen, with a limited capacity in each case to ensure that social distancing measures can be successfully implemented. Tennis facilities at the Manchester Tennis & Football Centre and the outdoor athletics track at the Manchester Regional Arena will also be reopening to the public on 1 August.
Anyone wishing to use leisure facilities, including lane swimming, will be required to pre-book a time slot via www.mcractive.com. Equipment within gym areas will be reduced and spaced out to enable social distancing, while fitness classes that are made available will be relocated to larger spaces or to outdoor spaces, weather permitting. Opening times may vary during this initial phase, so please check while pre-booking a slot at your chosen centre.
Staff will be adopting new, enhanced cleaning regimes, while all users will be asked to wipe down equipment they use. Hand sanitiser stations will also be available throughout. Full details of the additional safety measures introduced can be found at www.mcractive.com and visitors are asked to familiarise themselves with these before booking and attending sessions at any centre.
Visit the website, or follow MCRactive on social media to receive real-time updates on places and facilities as they open across the city, sports-specific guidance and reassurance on your journey back to being active at your local leisure centre.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Skills, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Mancunians back to some of our gyms, studio spaces and pools from the start of August, in the first phase of our careful journey to fully reopening our leisure centres.
“Sport and leisure is fundamental to our city and we know that many residents have really missed their leisure centres during the lockdown. We know that our gyms and pools help the city to get active and are keen to get going, but we must do this in a way which prioritises the safety of all visitors and staff.
“I want to say a huge thank-you to our centre members for their continued patience, understanding and support. I’d also like to pay tribute to the local staff, partners, clubs and coaches who have made a big difference during these unprecedented times, facing the many challenges created by the pandemic and making it possible to see these green shoots of recovery.”
