MARKET Drayton Swimming Centre will reopen this month although Whitchurch will remain closed.

Shropshire Community Leisure Trust Ltd has announced reopening plans for Market Drayton and The Quarry in Shrewsbury.

Market Drayton is due to reopen on Monday, October 19, with The Quarry due to follow on Monday, November 2.

Both centres have been closed since March, when the government instructed all leisure facilities in the UK to shut due to coronavirus. When restrictions were eased in July, safety assessments at both sites highlighted issues around air ventilation, which would need to be addressed for the sites to reopen and be Covid-19-safe.

Whitchurch Swimming Centre site remains closed though, as it is currently not possible to enforce government social distancing guidelines within the ageing facility.

Chris Stanbrook, contract manager for the trust, explained the decision.

"With the ventilation works due to be completed very soon at both sites, ensuring they'll be Covid-19-safe facilities, I am delighted to announce reopening dates for the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre and Market Drayton Swimming and Fitness Centre.

"When Market Drayton does reopen we'll be offering a full range of activity sessions, including swimming lessons, family swim, use of the gym and more.

"Although we're seeing healthy attendance numbers at our other sites, we're aware that some people are still a little nervous about re-entering a fitness facility.

"However, as a Trust we can assure customers and colleagues that when they visit a Shropshire Community Leisure Trust Ltd centre, they'll be at a Covid-19-safe venue.

"With research from ukactive showing gyms and fitness facilities are experiencing extremely low levels of coronavirus infections among visitors, it's clear that the leisure sector is doing a great job of keeping centres and equipment clean and safe for all.

"I'd like to thank our client Shropshire Council for their support in getting these centres open, and thank teams at the sites and our customers who've shown great patience while this essential work is carried out."