Reopening date confirmed for Sunderland swimming pools as centres emerge from lockdown

Everyone Active, which runs sporting facilities on behalf of Sunderland City Council, has confirmed Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre and Washington Leisure Centre will welcome back swimmers from Saturday, August 22, joining their gyms and group exercise studios, which relaunched last month.

Swimming lessons will also begin again from this weekend.

Hetton Community Pool and Leisure Centre will reopen its gyms on the same day, along with its pool for bookable lane swimming and swim lessons.

Sunderland Aquatic Centre’s gym is also already open, though its pool shut until at least November while its roof is repaired.

A message on its Facebook page on Tuesday, July 21, said it was in talks with the council to confirm a date.

The Government confirmed on Thursday, July 9, that leisure facilities were safe to reopen, with Everyone Active introducing a “variety of measures” across its sites.

These include booking sessions and fewer lessons in the pool at any one time to allow children and swimming teachers to social distance.

Lesson times will be staggered so there will be fewer classes starting and finishing at the same time and only one parent or guardian to attend to reduce the number of people in the centre.

Ian Bradgate, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “After a successful reopening of our gyms and studios, we’re pleased to take the next step in our phased reopening plan and get everyone active in our swimming pools again.”

Councillor John Kelly, the council’s cabinet member for vibrant city, added: “It’s good to see pools reopening and swimming lessons resuming.

"We know they have been greatly missed.

“Measures are in place to ensure the safety of both swimmers and staff and we would urge everyone to make sure they follow these when they visit our pools.”

Full guidance on the safety programme can be found via https://www.everyoneactive.com/reopeningmeasures/.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Sunderland Echo website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.