Coronavirus: Scottish gyms and pools reopen

Many of Scotland’s public and charitable trust-run pools and gyms are taking a slower approach. One issue is the viability of reopening if customer numbers are low and operational costs high.

While High Life Highland, which operates sport and leisure facilities in the area, says all of its leisure facilities will reopen today, others have said some facilities will not reopen until October.

Different arrangements are in place for each area. For example, although most of the facilities run by Live Argyll are reopening today, pre-booking will be required and limited to members only for the first four weeks. Pools will be open for lane swimming only and there will be a minimum age of eight.

In the Borders, the trust that runs leisure facilities on behalf of the council has started a phased reopening of its facilities. Live Life Aberdeenshire is taking the same approach.

But in Dumfries and Galloway, the council is working towards having its sites across the region – including the flagship DG1 centre – open by 14 September.

In Angus, the seven Angus Live sport and leisure venues will not reopen until after 14 September. The operators say it is to allow for safety procedures to be put in place and for staff to be trained. No dates have been given for when pools in the area will reopen.

Similarly in South Lanarkshire, fitness classes will not resume until 14 September and gyms will reopen the following week. Pools will not open until Monday 5 October.