The government has announced that pools and gyms are to be allowed to re-open from 25 July 2020, with outdoor pools allowed to re-open from 11 July 2020.
Read the government’s announcement.
While the government has made this announcement, it should be recognised that this is only an enabling regulation – it may take longer for pool operators to bring back their staff and make pools available to the public. Swim England envisages it taking two to three weeks for pool operators to recommission facilities.
The club currently has no information from Places Leisure or Wandsworth Council as to when Tooting Leisure Centre will re-open.
Swim England’s #OpenOurPools has had more than 50,000 signatures and has been handed-in to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
As a result of this effort the government has announced that it will develop a timetable for the re-opening of pools.
Swim England has launched a new campaign to have swimming pools re-opened, following the government’s recent announcement on relaxing Covid-19 restrictions – which had no provisions for re-opening pools.
Swim England is calling on its members, clubs, coaches, teachers, swim schools, swimmers and facility operators to back its #OpenOurPools campaign. Chief Executive Jane Nickerson has said millions of people are being let down by the Government’s decision not to allow pools to reopen on 4 July.
Swim England is therefore urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to re-open facilities up and down the country as soon as possible.
- Sign the Swim England petition
- Write to your MP
- Share the Swim England infographics
- Pledge your support on social media
View Swim England’s information on the #OpenOurPools campaign.
Swim England has developed new guidance for returning to swimming, aimed at pool operators, casual swimmers, clubs, coaches and those attending swimming lessons.
Swim England Chief Executive Jane Nickerson said: “While the guidance contains vital information on how to reopen facilities, unfortunately it doesn’t include the key date on when pools can open”.
“We will continue to lobby the Government for a reopening date but, ultimately, we have to be guided by them on this. However, it will not be a case of ‘business as usual’ and we know that things will have to be different.”
View Swim England’s advice for returning to the pool.
We have heard today that Wandsworth are going to close Tooting Leisure Centre from tomorrow. So, unfortunately, Battersea Jacs sessions will have to stop until further notice.
As schools are also closing, we will not be able to have the Sunday sessions at St Joseph’s either.
We may be able to arrange some ad hoc sessions at at other pools. We will contact you with details if this is possible, but it is likely that other councils will follow Wandsworth’s lead, so don’t hold your breath!
Please suspend your standing order to Battersea Jacs while there is no club swimming. We will contact you again as soon as swimming (and payments!) can start up again.
We would like to send our best wishes to you and your families at this difficult time, and we look forward to seeing you all again in the not too distant future.
The Battersea Jacs committee and coaches
