GET your kit on – Rubicon Leisure’s Abbey Stadium is re-opening this Saturday, July 25 for fun, fitness and games.
Operations manager Scott Brinkworth says stadium and sports hall staff have gone ‘above and beyond’ to ensure that all facilities are safe to use and in the current Covid-19 pandemic climate, pose no threat to people.
The sports hall will be open for badminton and exercise classes, although restrictions will be in place on the number of users throughout the complex, which will operate a strict one-way system.
Singles will be encouraged for badminton with family bubbles permitted to play doubles.
The outdoor running track will also be open for athletics.
Meanwhile social distancing has been introduced into both the gym and spin room with equipment moved out to allow users plenty of space to exercise in.
Hand sanitisers and paper towels will be in plentiful supply with users expected to wipe their apparatus down ready for the next user before moving on to the next piece of kit.
Even then, said Scott, staff would be on hand to make sure conditions are met.
They would also be doing regular major cleans to ensure everyone was kept safe.
The swimming pool will feature with three cordoned off double lanes for fast, intermediate and slow swimmers.
“We’re asking people to come ‘beach ready’ with their swimming costumes already on,” said Scott.
“There will be no changing rooms or showers and there will be three tables for each of the double lanes where people can leave their things.
“After 45 minutes a whistle will blow, they get out, get dried and then walk out through the fire exit.”
And he’s convinced people will quickly adapt to the new ways of operating.
“We’ve had people desperate to get in and start using using the equipment again,” said Scott.
“We’re asking users to take responsibility and help us out, but at the same time we have a duty of care and it is one we intend to fulfil to the letter.”
And he acknowledges that as and when things returned to normal, in all likelihood people’s expectations of cleanliness will remain as high, and is happy to meet that challenge.
“We really have gone above and beyond to make sure people can get back in, we’ve employed a private company to do the deep cleaning and I can now say we are Covid secure.”
Bookings must be made online at the the Rubicon Leisure website.
The cafe remains closed but there will be vending machines and Matt Hartles said when the cafe does re-open the cut in VAT announced by the government will be passed on to customers.
For a video of the measures taken, click here
