COUNCIL leaders have insisted the decision to close gyms and leisure centres lies with the Government and have vowed to work together to reopen them as soon as possible.
From today, St Helens and the wider city region has been placed under a Tier 3 lockdown – putting the entire region under “very high” alert.
Boris Johnson set out the Government’s new three-tier lockdown system on Monday, confirming the Liverpool City Region would be the only place in England to be put under Tier 3 restrictions.
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Under the new restrictions, pubs and bars, gyms and leisure centres, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos have all been ordered to close.
However, the Government guidance states that only pubs and bars must close in very high alert level areas, as a baseline.
The Government says additional restrictions may apply depending on discussions between central and local government.
This has led to questions over whether council leaders across the city region took the additional steps themselves, something they flat out deny.
During a regional press conference on Tuesday, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram responded to the “vitriol” leaders have received in recent days, admitting some of the comments aimed at him have “stung”.
The Metro Mayor has especially come under fire following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Monday, where he repeatedly namechecked Steve Rotheram.
Many have seen this as a deliberate ploy to give the impression city region leaders agreed willingly to the stringent new measures and thus shift the blame on to local authorities.
During Tuesday’s press conference, St Helens Borough Council leader David Baines accused the Government of “petty cynical politics”.
“I know people in St Helens and our region are perfectly capable of judging the Tory government and Boris Johnson for themselves, and whether or not they’re telling the truth,” Cllr Baines said.
“This situation should be beyond the petty cynical politics we’ve seen in the last 24 hours from the Government.
“I’m clear, other leaders are clear – there was no negotiation about going into Tier 3 or what exactly that meant in terms of closures.”
The decision to close gyms has been met with dismay from the public, with many questioning the evidence behind it.
Wirral Council leader Janette Williamson said the region was not given any choice by the Government around the closure of gyms being placed in the legislative measures.
The Labour council leader said she was “disappointed” by the decision, and said local authorities will work closely with local gyms to push for them to reopen during the first review in four weeks’ time.
This was backed up by Cllr Baines, who said council leaders are concerned by the potential impact of closing leisure facilities on physical and mental health.
Cllr Baines said: “In the coming weeks, ahead of the review after 28 days when the sunset clause comes in on these regs, I think that’s a particular issue we need to keep a really, really close eye on and do what we can to work with them to get them open as soon as is safely possible to do so.”
The new restrictions means that from today, all Go Active indoor leisure facilities, including gyms and leisure centres, have closed until further notice.
Exercise classes are still permitted outdoors.
Go Active customers will also be able to access more than 100 free online classes a week, delivered by instructors and the freestyle fitness team.
A spokesman for St Helens Borough Council said the authority has already frozen all direct debit membership payments.
Cllr Anthony Burns, cabinet member for public health, leisure, libraries and heritage, said: “It is disappointing to be forced to close our facilities as I recognise the positive impact exercise has on not only individual’s physical health their mental wellbeing, too.
“We have done everything possible to ensure customers and staff remain safe – rearranging equipment to ensure social distancing and sanitising equipment and surfaces regularly which had led to nothing but positive feedback from those who have visited our facilities, and we have had no outbreaks in any of our centres.
“As this is now legislation, there is nothing that the council can do to reverse Government’s decision but I’d like to thank customers for their support and co-operation over the past weeks and assure them we look forward to welcoming them to our centres hopefully in the not too distant future.
“In the meantime, I would encourage people who are unable to attend their regular gym class or training sessions to take advantage of the free classes that Go Active will be running while centres are closed.”
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The council’s outdoor sports facilities will also remain open for use.
However, spectators will not be allowed to attend adult matches or training sessions, while junior activity has been limited to one parent or guardian per child.
Further details on the free fitness classes can be found on the Go Active website and Facebook page.
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