£280k for Exeter's leisure centres

Government cash to help reopening

Exeter is getting more than a quarter of a million pounds to help its leisure centres get back on their feet after lockdown.

It's part of a £100 million National Leisure Recovery Fund provided by the government to local councils.

Exeter City Council's shares is £280,000. It will offset some of the losses made since leisure centres closed as well as help the phased reopening across the city's facilities beginning on 12 April when government restrictions are eased.

Last October the council took back control of its leisure facilities from a contractor, and has new projects about to come to fruition. St Sidwell’s Point, the new leisure complex on the site of the former bus station in Paris Street is set to open this summer and the pool at Riverside Leisure Centre should get back into action four years after it closed because of a fire.

Cllr Duncan Wood, lead councillor for leisure and physical activity, said: “It’s been a tough year for the leisure industry, as it has been for most businesses, but as we start to see the gradual relaxation of restrictions, this award is a welcome boost for Exeter Leisure and for thousands of people across the city who will be itching to get back to their fitness programmes and sports and enjoy staying fit and healthy using our great centres and facilities.

“In Exeter we are proud to be an active place to live, work and visit. But of course we can always do more together to give even more people across the city the chance to be active. This is particularly important as we emerge from these restrictions and where activity levels are currently low. This money will help us moving forward to deliver a programme of activity across all our leisure centres."