Gyms in Runcorn and Widnes allowed to reopen after U-turn

Facilities had been ordered to shut after Halton and the wider Liverpool City Region was placed into tier three coronavirus restrictions.

But this decision had come under criticism after gyms in Lancashire, which is also in the third tier of measures, were allowed to remain open.

And Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has now confirmed that sites across Runcorn and Widnes will be allowed to reopen.

In a statement on behalf of council leaders in the area, including Halton Borough Council’s Cllr Rob Polhill, Mr Rotheram said: “On behalf of the leaders and MPs across our city region, I entered into further talks with 10 Downing Street last night to highlight the inconsistencies of the measures that we had been placed under following the Government’s decision to impose tier three restrictions in our area.

“Collectively, we have consistently requested the scientific evidence that supported the imposition of the suite of measures under tier three and we have pointed out the inconsistencies of approach following the announcement that Lancashire would not have exactly the same package of restrictions as our city region.

“Talks continued till late last night, and the Government has agreed with the case that I put forward - that they would now bring us in line with other tier three areas so that soft play areas would be closed but that gyms could reopen.

“I argued that gyms in the Liverpool City Region were no less safe than those in Lancashire that had been allowed to remain open.

“I also convinced them that, as we now had local test and tracing and had been chosen as a pilot area to trial new test technologies, we could manage the safety of gym users as well as anywhere in the country.

“The government will now include the provision to rescind their original decision, when they lay the legislation before Parliament tomorrow, on the orders for Greater Manchester.”

Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury has welcomed the decision.

He said: “I wrote to Ministers last week questioning why those gyms in the Runcorn part of Weaver Vale had been forced to shut, while those in Lancashire were allowed to reopen.

“Since then, Greater Manchester's gyms were allowed to remain open too.

“But following pressure from myself, MP for Halton Derek Twigg and other local leaders it's good to see the government has finally seen sense.

“This was not only vital for local jobs, but also for physical and mental health.”