Active Tameside chief executive outlines reopening plans

Active Tameside chief executive Chris Rushton has shed light on the services that will be available as part of the government’s relaxation to lockdown measures.

In a statement uploaded to their website, Chris said: “Yesterday (Monday), the Prime Minister appeared before the House of Commons to unveil the Government’s ‘cautious’ four step plan to lift the Coronavirus lockdown with the primary focus being ‘data not dates’ thereby implying potential fluidity” Chris said.

“In terms of our products and services, I’ve outlined the key elements below:

Step 1

March 8th

Schools to reopen.

Active Tameside has continued to deliver the PE Curriculum for 50 Tameside primary schools during lockdown for both vulnerable children and the children of key workers so little change on this front.

Education Swimming will resume as soon as is practicable after March 8th and in consultation with each school.

March 29th

Outdoor sports facilities to reopen.

Pitches and courts etc will be available for hire within prevailing social contact limits.

Formally organised sports for both adults and under 18’s will be permissible in line with the guidance issued by National Governing Bodies.

Step 2

April 12th at the earliest

Gyms and pools can reopen.

Active Tameside will open gyms and pools at the earliest possible date thereafter in line with the COVID secure protocols that were in place prior to the latest lockdown – the wearing of a face covering will be mandatory for those without a recognised exemption.

Group exercise will not be permitted in Step 2.

May 17th at the earliest

All other facilities will be allowed to reopen including group exercise.

Active Tameside will introduce a new group exercise timetable at the earliest possible date thereafter with revised booking protocols in line with customer feedback and reduced capacities as was the case before the most recent lockdown.

Facilities such as children’s soft play, ten pin bowling and thermal suites will be opened as soon as is practicably possible in line with COVID secure protocols.

We, like our loyal customers are desperate to return to some semblance of pre-COVID normality though the pandemic has undoubtedly changed some of the things we do irrevocably, often however, in a positive way such as the functionality of our app.

Nevertheless, like the majority of similar charitable operations within the sector, we now face acute financial challenges. To this end and in collaboration with the Council, we are running a consultation exercise around the future provision of leisure services in Tameside.

The exercise will inform decisions in relation to a number of Active Tameside centres and provide valuable feedback for the ongoing evolution of the charity as a viable force for good within the borough – please complete the survey via the link below:

www.tameside.gov.uk/activetamesidesurvey

Finally, I want to thank each and every one of you for sticking with us during these incredibly uncertain times – the last eleven months have been challenging for staff and customers alike as we’ve closed and opened and closed again, with a myriad of frustrations around reduced capacity in particular.”