Third of councils expect to be forced to close leisure centres

One in three district councils expect to be forced to close gyms and swimming pools due to the devastating financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

This is according to the District Councils’ Network, whose latest survey found that 36 per cent of its members thought it likely they would need to close one or more leisure centres, while a quarter said it was ‘extremely likely’.

The DCN also says that nearly a fifth of those councils expecting to have to cut services said they were considering shutting three or more leisure centres. Almost four in 10 said at least two would close in their area. Of deeper concern, 19 per cent of councils say centres will go out of business within the next three months and over half (59 per cent) within the year.

Closures will deliver a body blow for health and wealth in towns and cities, affecting community services such as creches, holiday activities, activities for over 50s/60s and exercise referral schemes. The closure of leisure centres would also undermine Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy, a 10-year vision endorsed by ministers to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity.

Dan Humphreys, DCN’s lead member for enhancing quality of life, said: “As these alarming findings show, the gyms, swimming pools and local leisure centres that communities rely on every day face a desperately bleak future, with many on the brink of closing in the coming months due to the financial losses they have incurred during the pandemic.

“The survival of our leisure centres will be fundamental to our health and economic recovery. Council leisure services are not like privately ran gyms, they are hubs of community and services helping everyone get active – from school swimming lessons, to over 60s activity schemes.

“A wave of closures will deliver a real body blow to our efforts to boost physical and mental health and address the health inequalities across our communities. District councils have done all they can to keep leisure services afloat, but the devastating economic impact of the pandemic means over 100 centres across are now at risk of closing their doors forever. The government must step in to provide leisure centres the financial lifeline needed to spearhead the local health recovery across our villages, towns and cities.”