Outdoor sport and fitness opportunities are reopened at Banburyshire council-owned leisure centres

Woodgreen outdoor pool which has reopened as part of the lockdown easing

With the next phase of lockdown easing underway, Cherwell District Council and Legacy Leisure are inviting leisure centre users back and advising them of the safety measures that are in place.

These include gym and swimming pool bookings being made mandatory and limits on capacity. Hygiene stations are available and equipment such as running machines has been spaced out to promote social distancing.

Jane Portman, Corporate Director, said: “Keeping active is so important for physical and mental well-being so we are delighted to be welcoming residents back to the leisure centres.

“We have been working closely with Legacy Leisure to make sure people feel safe and welcome when they return to the centres.

“Some outdoor facilities have been open for two weeks now and we are really pleased with the positive response, especially at Woodgreen outdoor pool, where we are trialling cold water swimming.

“Everyone is being asked to book online or using the app to help us manage numbers and encourage them to respect - as they have previously - the social distancing measures in place.”

As part of the government’s announcements for the resumption of organised outdoor sport, Woodgreen outdoor pool opened on March 29 at 7.30am to around 50 swimmers who were taking the opportunity to make the most of the earlier spring opening of the pool.

In line with the government’s roadmap, restrictions for some activities, such as indoor classes, will remain in place.

Outdoor sports facilities at the North Oxfordshire Academy and Cooper School in Bicester (operated by the council) welcomed their clubs back from March 29 with both Bicester Hockey Club and Banbury Hockey amongst those returning to training. Stratfield Brake Sports Ground in Kidlington and Whitelands Farm Sports Ground in Bicester both reopened on the same date.

To download the leisure centre app and book a session at any of the Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington leisure centres visit the Google Play store or the App Store and search ‘leisure centre’.