More libraries and leisure venues set to re-open across Calderdale
Re-openings have been carefully planned to help protect people from Covid-19.
Calderdale Council is phasing the reopening of more of its leisure and recreation venues.
Having trialled the reopening of the Central Library and Archives in Halifax, more of the borough’s libraries are set to open.
Plans are also in place to open more sport, leisure and fitness venues.
Re-openings have been carefully planned to help protect people from Covid-19, which is still a serious risk within our communities, says the council.
Hub libraries at Brighouse and Todmorden will open from Wednesday September 9, with libraries at Hebden Bridge, King Cross and Sowerby Bridge opening from Wednesday September 16.
To ensure the safest possible operation of sports and fitness centres, the reopenings (including tennis courts) are due to be phased, says the council.
Brighouse Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre and Todmorden Sports Centre will re-open from Wednesday September 9, with Sowerby Bridge Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre set to reopen from from Wednesday September 16.
The Central Library and Archives reopened on August 11, with selected services available and extra safety measures in place.
The council’s Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden), said the council was pleased to be able to start welcoming people back to its leisure centres and more of its libraries soon.
She said: “We know that many people have missed using these services, and we thank them for being patient, staying active in a variety of other ways and using our digital library facilities and Home Library Service.
“Keeping everyone well is always our priority, and we had to be confident that we could reopen our facilities safely.
“As Calderdale’s Covid-19 rates have been amongst the highest in the country in recent weeks, it has been vital to take a cautious and phased approach to reopening services, to help us manage the risk effectively.
“People returning to our sports centres and libraries will notice some changes and extra safety measures.
“We urge everyone to respect these and remain vigilant whilst enjoying the facilities.
“We all need to keep doing our bit to protect each other.”
Extra safety measures in leisure centres include reduced opening hours – these will be posted on the council’s website – and limits to the number of customers at any one time.
To enable this, and also to help with Covid-19 contact tracing which might be necessary, people must pre-book to use the facilities.
Bookings must be made online or over the phone, and customer data will be stored securely as part of the Test and Trace service.
Additional cleaning will take place, and signs and floor markings will help social distancing, as well as hand sanitisation units around the buildings and protective screens in reception areas.
Sauna, spas and steam rooms will remain closed.
School swimming lessons will not start until after the October half-term, due to transport restrictions for social distancing reasons.
Out-of-school lessons will also restart after October half-term.
The teaching pool at Brighouse Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre will initially remain closed to allow repairs to be undertaken.
At libraries, face coverings must be warn and in the initial opening phase visitors will only be able to return items, collect pre-ordered items – details are on the council’s website – and request items held at the library.
All items already on loan have been renewed until the end of September and all fines are still on hold, says the council.
Initially there will be no access to public computers, printers or photocopiers and customers will be unable to browse stock.
Public toilets are initially unavailable and there will be no access to study or meeting spaces or the use of newspapers or magazines.