Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils have agreed to offer a financial support package to GLL, the leisure contractor that manages leisure facilities across both districts, subject to formal agreements being entered into.
The leisure industry has been hit really hard by the pandemic having spent much of the last year closed or running to a limited capacity as they followed the Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
This financial support package demonstrates the value that the councils place on residents’ wellbeing. With the extra challenges residents have faced throughout the pandemic from having to shield, home school and self-isolate it’s taken a toll on people’s physical and mental health. The government’s roadmap brings light at the end of what has been a dark tunnel for many so despite the financial challenges the councils face like every local authority, they are determined to make sure it’s leisure facilities open their doors once again to residents as soon as it’s practically possible.
Cllr Helen Pighills, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “Ensuring residents have access to facilities and opportunities to stay healthy and active is a priority for the council. This sector has been hard hit financially because of the Covid pandemic and I am pleased the council has been able agree a package to keep our leisure facilities operating”
“We will continue to push government for additional financial support for the leisure industry to ensure long term sustainable operation for leisure facilities across the Vale.”
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Cabinet Member for Community Services at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “It’s so important that we all look after not only our physical but mental wellbeing, especially right now. We have just marked a year since the first lockdown and that time has taken its toll on not only individuals but also those that run our leisure facilities. We need to do all we can to make sure that our residents can stay active and as healthy as possible.”
The councils continue to work alongside GLL to plan carefully for the safe reopening of the districts’ leisure facilities in the coming weeks and months.
