Gloucester City Swimming Club 'excited' to get back into pool

Members of a historic swimming club say they are "excited" to get back into their home pool after a leisure centre was shut down.

Gloucester's GL1 leisure centre will reopen on Monday to allow Gloucester City Swimming Club to resume training.

It is part of the council's phased reopening after the leisure centre and Oxstalls sports parked closed on 29 September.

The return to training comes in time for a swimming gala at the weekend.

James Richards, head coach of Gloucester Swimming Club, said it has been an intense few weeks for the swimmers:

"There's been a much better mood knowing they are all going to get back into their home programme, their home pool."

"It's been a tough two weeks where we have been training across 11 different venues that have stretched from Cinderford, Tewkesbury, to Bath and also Clevedon," added Mr Richards.

Leisure facilities in Gloucester were thrown into disarray after the leisure provider Aspire Trust announced it was going into liquidation several weeks ago.

Following the closure, Gloucester City Council has been working with local partners on a phased approach to reopening the facilities until an alternative partner is appointed.

Councillor Andy Lewis said the council decided to open the pools to the swimming club as it is certified and qualified to manage its own first aid.

"It is public safety that we have to abide by," said Mr Lewis.

The council has taken on one person to maintain the pool, but is waiting on a new interim provider to fully manage the facility.

Mr Lewis told the BBC the council has identified three potential interim providers who are recognised market leaders in leisure provision.

The council is waiting on legal confirmation before it can proceed.

Further afield, the sudden collapse of Aspire and the closure of much-loved leisure facilities has prompted Forest of Dean District councillors to consider setting up a community interest company to manage a new leisure centre planned at Five Acres.

Councillor Jamie Elsmore has tabled a motion for 19 October's full council meeting which says the recent events in Gloucester highlights the importance of a community's leisure facilities.

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