Bucks leisure centres back campaign to reopen in lockdown
They want to be reclassed as an 'essential service'
Two leisure centres in Buckinghamshire are calling for the reopening of gyms.
Everyone Active, who run Aylesbury and Buckingham's leisure centres, want to be reclassed as 'essential services'.
Aqua Vale Swimming and Fitness Centre and Swan Pool and Leisure Centre are currently closed for the second time this year.
They're backing a campaign that would allow them to stay open during national and regional lockdowns.
Chris Williams, Everyone Active's contract manager, says the risk is low in gyms but the benefits are high:
"Everyone has a different reason to attend the leisure centres, for some it is their mental health.
"It's getting them out of the house as well, to an area that they can do something thats worthwhile for them.
"For some it can be the routine, they like having that regular session they're going to attend or have regular goals they want to achieve.
"And there's also the social aspect. The centre's are place for people to have a community feel."
Chris says various safety and lceaning measures have been put in place at these two centres to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Although there is a risk of contracting coronavirus at these centres, as with any communal space, Chris believes that is low enough to allow them to continue. Saying that the benefits to visitors are too important to ignore.
At the time of writing, the petition has over 600,000 signatures.
It reads:
"In the event of a spike we would like you not to close gyms as a measure to stop any spread of Covid. Also for gyms to not be put in the same group as pubs in terms of risk or importance. Gyms are following strict guidelines and most members are following rules in a sober manner.
"The gyms are a huge benefit for users, not just physically but mentally too. There are studies that show physical exercise can be a great boost to the immune system and releases endorphins which can prevent stress and a chain of mental illnesses.
"In such a stressful time people need a viable way to exercise. Using home equipment just isn’t sufficient, unless every person in the UK has hundreds of pounds to pay out on equipment (much of which has increased in price since the pandemic)."