THE firm which runs leisure centres in Hereford and the county's market towns has revealed centres will start to reopen from July 25.

Halo Leisure said the final touches are being made to centres across Herefordshire to make sure that it is safe for staff and members to start to return later in the month.

"We know that during these months of lockdown our centres have been sorely missed, and reopening them will be welcomed by families looking for safe places to work out, for those wanting to work out alongside others, and for those who rely on our support to promote their mobility and prevent ill health," a Halo spokesperson said.

"We have an important role to play in building community cohesion as lockdown eases and are thrilled we can now start counting down to opening our doors to a new normal, safe and welcoming environment for exercise."

Halo's preparations are in line with thousands of gyms and leisure centres across the UK preparing to reopen as part of the Fit Together campaign from the fitness industry trade body, ukactive.

The campaign is based on the Government's guidelines for reopening, which were supported by fitness trade body ukactive and approved by independent scientific advisers.

This is phase one of Halo's reopening and not all centres and all activities will be available straight away.

Centres reopening on Saturday, July 25:

  • Ledbury Swimming Pool
  • Leominster Leisure Centre
  • Hereford Leisure Centre
  • Ross-on-Wye Swimming Pool

Swimming pools at Ledbury, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye ​are expected to reopen on August 15. Hereford Leisure Pool will remain closed until end of 2020 due to flood damage.

What will change at leisure centres?

Halo Leisure said there will be signs guiding customers on how to act safely and responsibly, similar to the signs used in supermarkets, and equipment may be marked as 'out of use' or spaced further apart to comply with social distancing rules.

Social distancing means no 'walk-ups' so members must prebook all activities online or through the Halo Leisure app.

Changing rooms and showers will also be temporarily unavailable, meaning that members are asked to arrive on site wearing the appropriate clothing to be active.

Along with social distancing restrictions, there will be an increase in the cleaning of equipment and sanitisation stations, to ensure the highest possible standards of hygiene and cleanliness. We are equally as excited about getting people back in the water and have a​ phased plan to open our indoor swimming pools in England during the month of August.

The temporary measures will be adapted as and when government advice changes throughout the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.