Leisure centres in Cornwall will suffer 'massive impact' from second lockdown
James Curry from GLL Leisure says gyms and leisure centres should be allowed to continue operating over the next four weeks.
The second lockdown is going to have a 'massive impact' on gyms and leisure centres in Cornwall, according to the head of services for GLL Leisure.
The company currently run a number of facilities in the Duchy including in Launceston, Truro and St Ives.
Head of services, James Curry said he was extremely disappointed by the news of a second lockdown which was announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday 31st October.
Gyms and leisure centres were exempt from closing during the three tierd system, which had been previously implemented by the Government as a measure to reduce the number of coronavirus cases across the UK.
"To hear the news was a bit of a body blow, especially when some of the centres in Cornwall have only just reopened.
"The data nationally on covid is showing that infection rates in leisure centres and gyms are extremely low. Far lower than other parts of the economy and the UK."
James Curry, Head of Services for Cornwall, GLL Leisure
It was because of this data that James felt that gyms should have been allowed to continue to operate throughout lockdown, which began on Thursday 5th November and is expected to last until Wednesday 2nd December.
Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops are also having to shut for four weeks.
"The infection rate since we opened in July have been below 1 per 100,000 people in leisure centres so I personally feel they should have been kept open."
James Curry
Following the Government's announcement on extending the furlough scheme, it means those who work for GLL Leisure will be entitled to 80 per cent of their wages from the Government; protecting its staff from facing financial difficulties.
"We've been working hard with our partner, Cornwall Council, to agree a loan up until next summer. That loan was based on a 'return to business' in July and for some centres a couple of weeks ago.
"Obviously the longer the lockdown period goes on; it will put that business plan and those numbers that went into that loan in jeopardy, so we will generally struggle if this lockdown period extends past December."
James Curry
James says he would like to thank customers for their support throughout the year and urges them to continue doing so after the second lockdown:
“We're extremely grateful that customers have returned in the last few months. Numbers have steadily risen and I know that customers have been extremely satisfied with the measures that GLL has put in place within their centres.
“We really ask that customers do return in December, assuming we reopen as planned, if not in January and the health and wellbeing of Cornwall residents will be vital in staving off this pandemic.
“The bottom line is, if customers don't use the facilities then unfortunately we will end up losing them and we won't survive next year.”
James Curry