Gyms and pools across Kirklees set to reopen

Kirklees Council has said it will reopen its seven fitness facilities across the borough which come under the Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL), including Batley Sports & Tennis Centre, Batley Baths & Recreation Centre, and Dewsbury Sports Centre.

As well as council-run facilities, private gyms and spas are also making preparations to welcome back customers as the UK enters the next phase of lockdown relaxation on July 25, including DW Fitness, on Gelderd Road, in Birstall.

A spokeswoman from KAL said: “We welcome the government announcement.

“We have missed all our customers so much and can’t wait to welcome them all back.”

In the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has also published guidance to enable competitive grassroots team sports to resume.

Outdoor arts performances – including theatres, opera, dance and music – will also be able to resume from the weekend although audience numbers will be restricted and be subject to social distancing rules.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said a change in planning rules will also mean theatres, concert halls and live music venues will be protected from demolition or change of use by developers, stopping those that have been made temporarily vacant during lockdown disappearing altogether.

He said in a statement: “Our culture, heritage and arts are too precious to lose. That’s why we’re protecting venues like theatres from redevelopment if they fall on hard times.

“We are also giving further clarity on restart dates in our roadmap back to performance and we’re working hard to get indoor audiences back as soon as we safely can, following pilots.”

If you need more information on the KAL reopening, visit the counicl’s new website, which includes reopening schedules as well as important guidance for all customers to read before returning to the centres: www.kalstaysafe.co.uk