Leisure charity Everybody Sport & Recreation has confirmed that Congleton Leisure Centre's gym and swimming pool will reopen on 1st September.

The leisure facility on Worrall Street is one of four centres in Cheshire East which will form the last part of a phased reopening by Everybody.

It follows the announcement by Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden at the Downing Street press conference last Thursday of a further easing of coronavirus lockdown measures.

But while the government minister has given the go-ahead for indoor swimming pools to reopen, Everybody are adopting a cautious approach and the leisure centre's pool, along with eight others, will remain closed until 1st September.

Everybody says the health and wellbeing of customers and staff are the priority and staff have been working around the clock to ensure they can welcome people back to a safe and Covid-19 secure leisure centre.

The key points are that people need to come already dressed in their gym gear for their pre-booked sessions, only one session a day is permitted and there will be no cash transactions.

Safety measures out in place include a one-way system and hand sanitisation stations, while equipment has been taken out of action in the gym to maintain social distancing.

Gym goers will also need to wipe down all the kit they use before and after each activity while gym staff will be undertaking numerous deep cleans of equipment during the day.

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Along with Crewe Lifestyle Centre, gyms at Nantwich Swimming Pool, Alderley Park, Holmes Chapel Community Centre, Macclesfield Leisure Centre and Wilmslow Leisure Centre will reopen on 25th July.

The second phase on 1st August will see Shavington open along with gyms at Sandbach Leisure Centre, Alsager Leisure Centre and Sports Hub, Knutsford Leisure Centre and the Barony Sports Complex in Nantwich.

Middlewich Leisure Centre, Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre, Congleton Leisure Centre and Poynton Leisure Centre will reopen on 1st September along with Everybody's nine swimming pools.

Nantwich Brine Pool will be opening from Monday, 20th July, but only for limited numbers of swimmers and booking will be essential.

All gym members will be contacted early this week with more information on re-opening hours and details of the safety measures put in place.

For the moment all cafes and changing facilities remain closed, while there will be no hiring of facilities for events or activities, such as children's parties.

Andrew Kolker, Chairman at Everybody Sport and Recreation said: "The health and wellbeing of people in Cheshire East is at the heart of our charity. We are committed to providing the best possible experience to our customers, even under social distancing measures, and we can't wait to welcome people back to our community leisure centres.

"The Coronavirus pandemic has been tough for everyone and we are all in this together. It is important now more than ever that we have support from our loyal customers to ensure the future of our services."