LEISURE centres across Wiltshire will begin reopening next week.

Wiltshire Council will carry out a phased reopening of the county's leisure facilities, starting with Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury, and Springfield Community Campus in Corsham on August 3.

Customers will be able to access the fitness suite, swimming pool and group exercise classes.

Then, on August 10, Tisbury's Nadder Centre, The Vale Community Campus in Pewsey and Devizes Leisure Centre will open.

On the same day a number of the sites managed on behalf of the council by Places Leisure will reopen, including The Olympiad in Chippenham, The Activity Zone in Malmesbury, Castle Place Leisure Centre in Trowbridge, Melksham Blue Pool and Warminster Sports Centre.

Marlborough Leisure Centre will follow suit in late August or early September.

The Lime Kiln Leisure Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett, Bradford on Avon and Westbury's swimming pools and the Leighton Recreation Centre will open again in September.

To manage the number of people at each centre at any given time, customers must book in advance, and follow social distancing and increased hygiene measures.

The opening schedule aims to ensure that Wiltshire Council and Places Leisure can manage resources effectively during the pandemic, while keeping customers and staff as safe as possible at each centre.

Facilities such as cafes and creches will remain closed, and due to the restrictions on group swimming will stop under-16s free swimming sessions.

Centres will initially reopen with revised opening hours. To find out more, go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-covid19 or for centres managed by Places Leisure, see www.placesleisure.org/wiltshire/.

Calne Leisure Centre will reopen later this autumn, when its development work is complete. Repair works are continuing at Trowbridge Sports Centre, with work set to be complete before the end of the year. Amesbury Sports Centre and Durrington Swimming and Fitness Centre will remain closed for the time being. The council is working with the MOD on the reopening of Tidworth Leisure Centre at a later date.

Coun Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for leisure, said: “Our teams have worked hard to put the arrangements in place to be able to provide leisure services again during the pandemic. This is a new way of providing services, and we ask people to bear with us while we reopen in a careful and phased way.

“We have closely followed government advice to ensure that when each centre opens it’s as safe as possible for our staff and customers. Our friendly and attentive staff are eager to welcome people back and as time goes on we hope we can introduce more services for all to enjoy.

“For those that have to wait a little longer for us to reopen, we appreciate your patience and hope you understand that this approach takes into account our current resources and financial pressures. Our focus is on ensuring the safety of every individual at our centres and reopening in this phased way is the right way to do it.”

The decision to reopen, including the phased approach agreed, is subject to a five-day call-in period for councillors, and leisure members will be contacted next week with final confirmation of reopening dates.

For more information, including membership details and FAQs, people should visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-covid19

For information about Places Leisure managed services, people should visit www.placesleisure.org/wiltshire/