Leisure Centre to stay shut until mid-August

Godalming Leisure Centre won't reopen until the middle of August, Waverley has admitted.

The delay in reopening is apparently due to financial issues.

In a statement released today the authority said: "The pandemic has resulted in severe financial impacts for many businesses, including the entire leisure industry and has left both Places Leisure and Waverley Borough Council with a shortfall in income.

"Therefore, it was important to reach a financial agreement that results in the best outcomes for all parties and ensures value for money for residents."

Godalming Nub News has asked Waverley to clarify the nature of the financial issues.

Only last week the council indicated that a decision on reopening was imminent, saying it was looking forward to reopening 'soon'.

Now a final decision on reopening has been pushed back to 11th August after a crunch council meeting which will decide whether the financial deal can go ahead.

Waverley's Full Council will consider the issue at that meeting, and, says Waverley, "subject to approval at this meeting, Places Leisure will then confirm to members the 17th August as the reopening date".

The decision will govern all five of Waverley's leisure centres, which are run by Camberley-based Places Leisure.

Waverley adds that the six-day delay between the decision being taken and the centres reopening is to allow Places Leisure to train staff on the new procedures and "bring the required health and safety improvements into the leisure centres".