Charitable trust gets ball rolling on reopening

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust announces the opening of some of the synthetic turf pitches (STPs) for the first time since they were forced to close operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Article Source: Fife Sports and Leisure Trust
First Published: 14 August 2020 13:36
Updated: 14 August 2020 13:36

We’re announcing the opening of some of our synthetic turf pitches (STPs) for the first time since we were forced to close operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

We are looking forward to welcoming local club players back to its STPs at Dalgety Bay Leisure Centre, Cupar Leisure Centre, Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre, Glenrothes and Lumphinanns Sports Hub for a limited time period as we await the go ahead to start our wider re-opening programme.

Bookings are being accepted for a four-week period for juniors from August 17 to September 13, and, a three-week period for adults from August 24 to September 13. We are also contacting club users who had regular bookings before the lockdown to ensure players can get back to regular training as soon as possible. However, we are warning that dates will be subject to change in line with any announcements from the Scottish Government.

Clubs interested in making bookings during this limited period will be required to complete a block booking form and return this along with a specific COVID-related risk assessment as well as a named Club Covid-19 co-ordinator to block.booking@fifeleisure.org.uk.

Scott Urquhart, sports and physical activity team manager for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “Our teams have been working hard to get our centres up and running with the highest health and safety protocols in place, and, despite not being able to open our indoor facilities, we are very pleased to be in a position to welcome bookings for our STPs.

“We are following measures set out by the Scottish Football Association and will require anyone making a booking to provide contact information for track and trace purposes. Access currently will be restricted to the outdoor pitches only while changing rooms and toilets remain closed.

“The use of the pitches is restricted to registered clubs at the moment and they will be required to adhere to Covid-19 track and trace obligations, but, we are hopeful we will open access to casual bookings in the near future.”

Recently, the trust has been frustrated by a further delay in its phased re-opening of its leisure centres and is warning that the loss of six month’s income will have a serious impact on the organisation and is backing the Community Leisure UK – the umbrella organisation which represents non-profiting distributing leisure trusts – #saveleisure campaign, to highlight that nearly half of all public leisure facilities in the UK face permanent closure by the end of the year, unless, local authorities receive urgent ring-fenced funding from the Government to overcome the enormous financial impact of the Covid-19 lockdown period and its legacy.

The trust’s wider re-opening programme will see Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes, Carnegie Leisure Centre and Pitreavie Athletics Centre, in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre opening doors first, followed by East Sands Leisure Centre, Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre, Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre and Dalgety Bay Leisure Centre.

The next phase will see Duloch Leisure Centre, Cupar Leisure Centre, Bowhill Swimming Pool and Waterstone Crook Leisure Centre welcoming customers, followed by the Beacon Leisure Centre.

For further information, visit www.fifeleisure.org.uk/football

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