EAST Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure welcomed members back to its two biggest leisure centres this week.

Gym facilities and indoor fitness classes are now running at Barrhead Foundry and Eastwood Park Leisure, with enhanced cleaning, safety and social distance measures in place. 

Swimming pools at the venues will be available from Monday, September 14.

The leisure Trust has also outlined further plans as part of their phased approach to reopening, including public libraries operating with reduced capacity as Barrhead Foundry Library, Busby, Eaglesham, Neilston and Thornliebank Libraries expect to open from September 21, followed by Giffnock and Mearns Libraries at the end of the month. 

A pilot programme of outdoor sports classes will also launch this month, with a limited Holiday Camp programme planned during the October school holiday week. 

Professor Grant Jarvie, from East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the public over the past few months and are so pleased to welcome our members back to our gyms and indoor fitness classes.

“The safe reopening of our services is our priority and we are continuing to work behind the scenes to progress our plans. We thank all of our customers, local community and staff for their patience as we prepare for the rest of our phased reopening.”

Plans are in place for Neilston Leisure Centre’s reopening by the end of next month, as well as gym and fitness facilities at Eastwood High Sports Centre. 

Swimming lessons, arts and drama classes and indoor sports bookings are also expected to be available by mid-late October.

East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure continued to keep the public fit and healthy during lockdown, running a host of free online fitness classes for kids and adults alike. 

Outdoor fitness classes were launched in July.

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