Funding to help Richmondshire Leisure Trust’s two centres recover from the Covid-19 pandemic has been secured.
The trust – supported by the District Council and Colburn Town Council — has been allocated £53,000 from Sport England’s National Leisure Recovery Fund.
The fund was set up to ensure public leisure centres could reopen safely for as many residents as possible.
The cash will be used by the trust to support the costs of maintaining the leisure facilities in Richmond and Colburn during lockdown as well as for their re-opening.
It is part of a £100m government fund allocated to 266 local authorities across England.
Richmondshire Leisure Trust general manager Austin Gordon said: “This grant support is very welcome as it will provide much need cash as we work towards reopening our doors in mid April and help get our community back, fit, healthy and active.”
Leader of the district council, Councillor Angie Dale, added: “Getting all our leisure facilities back up and running is vital to the health and well being of the people of Richmondshire so we are delighted to have been able to help the Leisure Trust access this funding.”
The centres will reopen in stages following the government’s road map – with the hope that by June 21 all restrictions will be lifted and full service can once again be resumed.
Further details of opening dates and programmes will be published following the government’s announcement on Monday, April 5.
