Still No Date For Reopening of Local Leisure Centres
Users of Chiswick New Pool and Fountains Centre left in the dark
The pool at Isleworth Leisure Centre
Hounslow Council have announced the reopening of most public halls and libraries in the borough but the future of local leisure centres remains unclear.
Five public halls will begin a phased re-opening to the public and most borough libraries are back in action.
Back in August, Hounslow Council bosses said they were planning a phased return for leisure centres then run by Fusion Leisure.
But in September Cllr Samia Chaudhary, who has cabinet responsibility for leisure centres, confirmed the council would take over running the services by “mutual agreement” with Fusion, apologising to residents over delayed openings.
Just before the second lockdown the management of the borough’s leisure centres was taken over by the council’s trading company, Lampton Leisure.
In an update in a council newsletter, a council spokesperson said: “Today (December 2) the Government’s national lockdown restrictions will lift.
“Although technically this means that public halls and leisure centres can officially reopen, Hounslow’s leisure centres and public halls will not be reopening on December 2.
“As you may know, before these venues were transferred successfully to Hounslow Council and Lampton Leisure respectively a month ago on November 1, we announced that the locations would be reopened in stages throughout November and December.”
Under the first phase reopening dates were announced for:
Isleworth Public Hall – Thursday, December 3
Heston Village Hall – Friday, December, 4
Wellington Day Centre – Friday, December 4
Chiswick Town Hall – Monday, December 7
Osterley Sports & Athletic Centre (running track) – Tuesday, December 8
Heston Fitness – Wednesday, December 9 / Pools – Monday, December 21.
However, no dates were given for borough leisure centres such as Chiswick New Pool, the Fountains Centre in Brentford and the Isleworth Leisure centres.
Swimming pools and gyms run by neighbouring local authorities opened up as soon as the second lockdown restrictions ended.
The council says. “We have carried out extensive work to ensure our centres are well-presented and more importantly that we can welcome everyone back safely.
“Our sites will be deep cleansed prior to opening and we are installing safety measures such as hand-sanitiser stations and COVID-secure signposting, which will ensure staff, members and hirers can keep safe and observe social distancing.”
According to Cllr Lambert, in his weekly blog on BrentfordTW8.com there have been issues with the boilers in a number of the centres with only two out of twelve operating at one point.
Meanwhile, Hounslow Council has announced that a number of libraries across the borough have reopened after lockdown for browsing, borrowing and returning books.
The libraries open include Beavers Library, Bedfont Library, Chiswick Library, Cranford Library, Feltham Library, Heston Library and Osterley Library.
Brentford Library is due to open its ground floor to users from 7 December while the rest of the site undergoes a refurbishment.
Libraries at Hanworth and Isleworth Leisure Centres, and at Hounslow House continue to be closed.
December 4, 2020