Funding boost to help Ribble Valley leisure centres bounce back after lockdown

Ribble Valley Borough Council is one of 266 local authorities across the UK to secure a slice of the £100m. National Leisure Recovery Fund aimed at supporting the reopening of publicly-owned sports centres.

The cash will be used to reopen Roefield Leisure Centre in Clitheroe and the Longridge Community Gym.

And council bosses today welcomed the cash boost saying it would help the two centres play a key role in helping Ribble Valley residents recover from the pandemic.

Coun. Ricky Newmark, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s community services committee, said: “Leisure facilities play a vital role in supporting the health of our residents, particularly those living in isolated communities.

“This investment will help Roefield Leisure Centre and Longridge Gym reopen as soon as they get the go-ahead from the Government and ensure people can resume the activities they have badly missed.

“I would like to thank council officers who pulled out the stops to bring these vital funds to Ribble Valley.”

Councils play a critical role in delivering sport and fitness activities and maintaining the UK’s leisure infrastructure.

The National Leisure Recovery Fund, managed by Sport England, provides funding to help publicly-owned sports centres successfully reopen.

The Government will announce in early April whether leisure centres can reopen on April 12th under Step 2 of its roadmap setting out how pandemic restrictions will be eased.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s flagship sports complex, Ribble Valley 3G, which is next door to the Roefield Leisure Centre, reopened yesterday (March 29th), but users are asked to follow a new one-way system and observe social distancing guidance.

Plans are also afoot to restart the popular Clitheroe Castle Junior Park Run from Sunday, April 11th, also with new Covid-safe measures.

Further details are available at ribblevalley.gov.uk.