Leisure centres and gyms across the Slough area are pushing to be recognised as an ‘essential service’ as they weather another crippling closure due to the second lockdown.

The Centre, Langley Leisure Centre and Slough Ice Arena are managed by sports and leisure operator Everyone Active in partnership with Slough Borough Council. They have all faced extended periods of closure this year because of the pandemic.

Everyone Active’s Managing Director David Bibby is warning that shorter hours of sunlight and colder weather affect mental health. He believes that gyms and leisure facilities can prove vital sanctuaries for health and wellbeing.

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Following the reopening of leisure facilities in July, Everyone Active implemented a host of strict operational measures to ensure safety across gym, swimming, group exercise and other activities.

This included online booking systems to manage capacity at its centres and rigorous cleaning regimes.

Luke Routhorn, Everyone Active’s area contract manager, added: “This is an incredibly difficult time for the leisure industry and our centres in Slough.

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“We are urging our members to get behind us and to support their local centre by signing the petition to encourage the Government to keep gyms open here.

“We're so proud of all our colleagues for their hard work and dedication to providing a safe environment for our customers and can’t wait to reopen our doors once again.”

You can find the petition on https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333869