District Leisure Centres prepare to reopen

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Press Release

Published on 10 July 2020
Archived on 10 August 2020


Stratford-on-Avon District Council's five leisure centres are preparing to reopen on Saturday 25 July following the Government's announcement yesterday.

Since the leisure centres in Alcester, Shipston, Southam, Stratford and Studley were closed in March, Everyone Active who operate the centres have been putting the necessary social distancing and extra cleaning and hygiene measures in place to make the facilities COVID-safe for all users and staff in preparedness for when they were allowed to open again.

A number of social distancing measures are in place at each of the leisure centres:

  • Sneeze screens
  • Hand sanitisation units
  • A-frame displayed at the entrance
  • Social distancing floor stickers
  • Gym signage - Foamex boards / window clings
  • Gym equipment - Swing tickets ('Not in use')
  • Staying COVID-19 Secure posters


Additional cleaning measures have also been put in place at each leisure centre and these include:

  • Deep clean prior to reopening.
  • Public areas to be cleaned thoroughly, including additional cleaning regimes during and at the end of the day for all areas that are open and accessible.
  • All high contact surfaces to be cleaned and disinfected on a more frequent basis, including areas/objects such as toilets, door handles, grab rails in corridors and stairwells, water fountains and shared equipment.
  • Fogging machines to be used in all areas, especially high contact surfaces.
  • Customers to be asked to clean down equipment before and after each use. Cleaning stations to be located around fitness suites and studios.
  • Ventilation levels to be maximised in all areas in line with the CIBSE guidance.


Customers and centre users will be made aware of all the changes and expected behaviours before they use the facilities via digital communication, centre signage and public address announcements (where available).

Gyms at the centres will open on Saturday 25 July with swimming pools opening the following week on Saturday 1 August.

Cllr Sarah Whalley-Hoggins, Community Portfolio at Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "We were frustrated that leisure centres and gyms were not included in the government's announcement that many hospitality venues and businesses could reopen from 4 July.

"However, now we've been given the green light to open, we want to assure members and regular users of our leisure centres that we are fully prepared to welcome all of our customers back with their health and safety remaining our top priority.

"Whilst leisure provision is not an essential service, it does provide many benefits, including previously providing a substantial income for the Council.

"We've been working closely with our contractors, who have been working during lockdown to make sure our centres are COVID-safe, so that we could be in a position to reopen our leisure centres as soon as we were allowed, providing much needed opportunities for physical activities and well-being."

For more information please visit: https://www.everyoneactive.com/reopeningmeasures/


Contact details

Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House, Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX
Tel: 01789 267575

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Last updated on 10/07/2020