Councils leaders have welcomed the news that gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres will be allowed to re-open later this month.
The Government has confirmed that outdoor pools will be able to re-open from 11 July, while indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities can re-open from 25 July.
Operators will have to undertake enhanced cleaning, limit the number of people using facilities and enable people to maintain social distancing, amongst other measures.
The Local Government Association (LGA) warned that many leisure providers are in serious financial jeopardy as a result of months of lockdown.
Cllr Gerald Vernon Jackson, chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: 'Having had to furlough staff and faced with uncertainty about when they might be able to reopen, providers have been unable to prepare.
'This means it may take a bit of time to reopen some facilities in line with government guidance and to ensure the right measures in place to maintaining social distancing and safe use.'
