HALTON'S leisure facilities are set to reopen - in stages - from Monday.

Halton Borough Council’s leisure centres have been closed since March due to Covid-19 and staff have been working to help other council services through the pandemic, while also doing their best to support members with online activity, help and advice.

As staff return to the centres they are working behind the scenes to ensure leisure centres and all the activities that take part in them are Covid-19 safe and secure. When leisure centres open, new systems and procedures will be in place.

The leisure centres are going to re-open in phases:

• Brookvale Recreation Centre will reopen to members on Monday. This will be for dry-sided activity only (gym and classes). The council expects the swimming pool will reopen the following week (subject to completion of staff training).

• Kingsway Leisure Centre will reopen mid-August, dry side first and the pool later in the month. As Kingsway is a larger, more complex centre, it takes longer to make sure it is Covid safe and secure. Also, staff have been redeployed to other council services during the pandemic and now returning to the centre.

• Runcorn Swimming Pool is expected to open in September.

• All members will be able to use Brookvale Recreation Centre while the other facilities are still closed.

Further information will follow to confirm opening dates and times for each centre.

All sessions will, initially, have to be pre-booked via the online booking system https://online.activehalton.co.uk/Membership/en/public/home or by calling 01928 712051.

Cllr Phil Harris, the Council’s portfolio holder for sport and leisure, says: “I'm sure many users want to get back in the gyms and swimming pools, but safety is our number one priority in any building re-opening. I would urge all centre users to abide by the procedures that have been put in place for the safety of users and those working in the centres.''