FEARS have been expressed by leisure centre users about when – or if - things will “go back to normal”.
GLL, the provider running Better centres in Cornwall, had to close facilities during the coronavirus lockdowns, and faced a huge financial shortfall on reopening. Centres have been reopened with restrictions and changes which GLL says are in line with Government and industry guidance.
During 2020, GLL and Cornwall Council both made requests for financial support from central Government; the local authority provided a £6m relief package in autumn 2020.
Cornwall head of service James Curry said that staffing costs across the county have had to be reduced by 35% to mitigate against the losses caused by long periods of enforced closure.
There had been “some redundancies”, he said, and other staff had left and not been replaced.
In Liskeard, Better member David Humphreys has been visiting for some 20 years.
As well as using the facilities in his leisure time, he also accompanies people with learning disabilities whom he supports in his work.
David described some of the frustrations that he and other users have experienced which include: not being able to phone in and speak to a person at the centre but having to go through an automated general menu; glitches in the app that customers have to use to make bookings and the app not being suitable for everyone to access; some activities not being possible to book via the app; and a reduction in opening hours and session availability.
Similar concerns have been expressed by customers in Saltash.
“It flabbergasts me that it’s a leisure centre and it shuts at 3pm on a Saturday and Sunday,” David said.
“The inflatable equipment and the flume has been broken for ages, the health suite is closed, and when will the café be opening?
“I like all the people that work there, they are great, and it’s not down to them. I think we need to fight for this.”
Meanwhile Caradon Swimming Club chairman Clive Shute said that his club had found it difficult to cope with a large hike in lane hire price at the Liskeard and Saltash centres, and had lost members as a result.
Caradon Swimming Club has gone from hiring five sessions a week across Liskeard and Saltash to just a couple of times a week at Lux Park.
On the flip side, the club has picked up a few new swimmers, he said, amongst those who have been concerned about a reduction in the lessons provided by Better: the centres have moved from a range of ability stages across several days to three broad levels taught on one day of the week.
While Clive acknowledged that “local managers were working under very difficult circumstances” he said that the facilities themselves needed investment.
Mayor of Liskeard Simon Cassidy said: “Although the pandemic ?has disrupted the leisure and fitness industry, it has also highlighted the importance of our health and well-being.?
“Our Leisure Centre is a vital service and as we emerge from restrictions I hope it can open up as quickly and safely as possible to meet our community’s needs?.”
GLL said that the pandemic had hit the leisure industry hard and that as a not-for-profit social enterprise it was “having to slowly rebuild after 18 very difficult months”.
In a statement to The Cornish Times, head of service James Curry said that none of the changes in services at the centres were due to staffing or redundancies, but were part of adapting to Covid restrictions.
“All centre opening times were adjusted when we reopened to reflect Covid-safe ways of operating and likely customer demand. Footfall is being continually monitored and, as customer numbers increase, so too does the number of programmes being run,” he said.
“The new Swim School model works on the basis that we can provide the full range of swimming lessons at the same time and on the same day each week. It is proving really successful and means customers don’t have to change days and times as their child progresses through the levels. This is a massive improvement.
“All activities can be booked by the app and paid for in advance. We are aware there are some challenges for customers with disabilities and are working hard to resolve this.”
While the flume at Liskeard had been repaired, he said, the health suite had had to close because of the pandemic.
Cafes at the two centres “will open when it is financially viable to do so” he added.
GLL says that more staff will be recruited as business improves.
What do you think? Are you happy with your local leisure centre, or do you have concerns? Get in touch with us on [email protected]">[email protected] with your views.
We’ll be carrying more updates on this in this week’s coming edition of the paper - as we’ll be speaking with more users of the centre in Liskeard, Cornwall Councillors representing people who use the facilities, and the manager of the Saltash centre, to get their take on the situation.