Melton leisure centres in big demand after reopening

Waterfield Leisure Centre and Melton Sports Village which are run by Everyone Active in partnership with Melton Borough Council, welcomed back new and existing users on April 12 after three months of closure due to the third national coronavirus lockdown.

In the latest stage of the government’s four-step roadmap, centres were permitted to reopen with strict operational measures in place, including rigorous cleaning regimes and timed activity sessions.

And numbers through the doors showed that members were keen to get active again.

A total of 2,983 people used the gym at Waterfield Leisure Centre in the first week after reopening, a 40 per cent increase on the 2,126 people who did so in the week after the first lockdown last summer.

Some 484 people used the swimming facilities in the first week after reopening, a 13 per cent increase on the 428 who swam there after the first lockdown.

Melton Sports Village continues to serve as an NHS vaccination centre but its gym is open, with 203 people attending in the first week after reopening.

It is hoped that figure will rise, as members receive dual use of both centres.

Abigail Grewcock, contract manager at Everyone Active, said: “We’re so pleased to see so many new and returning members using our centres.

“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from customers, who are delighted to be able to exercise in an indoor, Covid-safe environment once more.

“We will continue to ensure the safety of customers and colleagues by meeting and exceeding government guidance and look forward to welcoming more members of the community soon.”