Leisure centre in Cornwall loses 50% of its members during lockdown

The manager of one of Cornwall's leisure centres has told us they have lost 50% of their members during the pandemic.

St Austell Leisure Centre, like many other businesses, was forced to close during lockdown.

It is run by not-for-proft social enterprise company, GLL, and operates under the Better brand.

Stage 2 of the roadmap meant that on Monday 12th April, GLL's 12 sites in the Duchy were able to reopen their swimming pools and gyms.

St Austell manager Amelia Kitchen has described seeing families come back through the doors for the first time since Christmas as amazing.

"We've lost fifty percent of our members so today is really the start of trying to rebuild our business.

"All of our leisure centres across Cornwall have reopened. We had queues from early doors really for fitness, swimming and the gym.

"Over the course of the day our pools got busier and busier because it's half-term so it was lovely to see families coming in; it's been really positive.

"Just seeing the smiles on people's faces as they come into the leisure centres you realise sport and physical activity, it's about the physical and mental health of people but also the social side.

"There's a real sense of community and particularly in Cornwall, being such a coastal area, learning to swim and those vital life skills are incredibly important".

Amelia Kitchen, St Austell Leisure Centre Manager

The following Better Leisure Centres in Cornwall have reopened:

Bodmin Leisure Centre

Bude Leisure Centre

Helston Sports Centre

Launceston Leisure Centre

Liskeard Leisure Centre

Saltash Leisure Centre

Ships & Castles Leisure Centre, Falmouth

St Austell Leisure Centre

St Ives Leisure Centre

Truro Leisure Centre

Wadebridge Leisure Centre

Waterworld Leisure Centre, Newquay

You can read more details about opening times and the coronavirus restrictions still in place here.

• leisure centres
• st austell
• Cornwall
• lockdown
• coronavirus