Worthing set to get back to business: “We are really excited to reopen”

This week, Sharon Clarke Worthing town centre manager and director at Worthing Town Centre Initiative, reflected on a tough year and said supporting our retailers now was ‘essential to secure a bright future for them and the town’.

“All the businesses have been working hard to ensure it’s safe for you to visit and they can’t wait to see you very soon,” she added.

South Downs Leisure (SDL) said it was pleased to be reopening its centres in the town – and opening its Adur sites for the first time since taking them over.

Chief executive Duncan Anderson said: “We are really excited to reopen our centres, to start welcoming back our members and to start helping them achieve their fitness goals again.

“While we have experience of reopening from previous lockdowns, we understand many people may still be apprehensive to return, however the changes and restrictions we’ve put in place should hopefully mean that visitors to our venues do so with the peace of mind that they can exercise safely and with minimal risk.”

Mr Anderson said a number of different services will be reopening at key dates, in accordance with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Outdoor services, such as tennis and walking football have reopened already and are bookable via the SDL app.

From Monday, SDL will offer indoor individual sessions such as the gym and swimming.

And it will also launch the largest outdoor group exercise class timetable on the South Coast.

More services, including an indoor class timetable are proposed to start from May 17.

Mr Anderson added: “Similar to when coming out of previous lockdowns, there will be a number of protocols and safety guidelines in place.

“Examples of these are, but not limited to, spaces in sessions will be limited and booking is essential, to help maintain social distancing; one-way routes around centres to limit customer crossover and higher cleaning regimes will be in operation.

“While it is nice to be getting back open, the safety and peace of mind of both visitors and staff is the number one priority.”

A full list of what is opening where and when, as well as more information and answers to some frequently asked questions can be viewed via the SDL website at www.southdownsleisure.co.uk/pathway.