Leisure centre reopening after being shut for nearly four months
Lincoln’s closed leisure centres will begin reopening this week, nearly four months after they shut unexpectedly.
The Birchwood Leisure Centre will open its indoor and outdoor areas again on Thursday, July 31.
The Yarborough Leisure Centre will reopen its external facilities on the same day.
This will be followed by its swimming pool and ground-floor areas on August 7, and its gym and studios on August 14.
The City of Lincoln Council says it’s invested heavily in both of the centres to get them up to standard and make them fit for the future.
Some minor works such as decorating will continue for the first few weeks after reopening.
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) was chosen to take over the running after the unexpected collapse of Active Nation in April.
The council says it has pulled out all the stops to reopen the leisure centres in four months, rather than the typical 12 months for this kind of facility.
GLL, a not-for-profit charitable enterprise, also runs the One NK leisure centre in North Hykeham and more than 200 others around the country.
It will take up the contract for the next two years, at which point the council will reassess how leisure services will be provided before a long-term decision.
Councillor Naomi Tweddle (Lab), the leader of City of Lincoln Council, said: “Closing the centres for good was never an option.
“We believe in the health of our city and know the importance of these facilities to thousands of local residents. That belief is what’s driving us to get this right.
“People returning to Birchwood and Yarborough leisure centres will see a real difference. These aren’t the same old facilities reopening; they’ve been enhanced to a significantly higher standard.
“We’re proud to be handing them over to an experienced operator, and we can’t wait to see our communities making the most of them this summer.”
Chris Hebblewhite, GLL Director of Standards & Compliance said: “I am delighted that GLL will shortly be welcoming customers back through the doors at Birchwood then Yarborough Leisure Centres, in a phased fashion.
“City of Lincoln Council have worked immensely hard in preparing them for re-opening, and I know that customers can’t wait to get back to their sport, leisure and fitness routines.
“Customers will be able to book online via our website or through the Better_uk app.
“We can’t wait to operate these as part of the ‘GLL family’, with all the benefits for customers, communities and staff that come with that.”
Lincoln MP Hamish Falconer said: “The leisure centres play such as an important role in their communities, for kids, for adults and for their health.
“The city council have worked incredible hard to get them open as soon as possible.”