CULTURE and leisure centres across Shropshire are to begin reopening from Wednesday, December 2 in line with new government guidelines.

Covid-19 safety measures that were installed earlier in the year will remain in place to ensure social distancing and hand hygiene standards can be maintained and the safety of visitors, staff and local communities protected.

As they did during the first national lockdown, countryside parks and sites have remained open while so many other places were forced to close.

More information about the reopening of services on December 2 will be announced in due course.

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for culture, leisure, waste and communications, said she was pleased to see sites reopen.

“Our sites, facilities and services have been well visited and used since reopening from July and have been important helping us stay active and healthy," she said.

“We’re pleased that we’re able to begin reopening our facilities again for people to visit from December 2.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has been following the lockdown rules so diligently and for showing patience and togetherness as we begin to move slowly back to something like normality.”

From midnight on Wednesday, December 2, the new local alert level two restrictions for Shropshire will mean:

  • People must not socialise indoors with anyone who is not part of their household or support bubble, whether at home or in a public space
  • People can meet family and friends not in their household or support bubble in outdoor settings. When they do so, they must not meet in a group of more than six people
  • You should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
  • Pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants and can only serve alcohol with a substantial meal
  • Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
  • Shops, personal care, gyms and the wider leisure sector will reopen
  • Schools, colleges, universities and places of worship will remain open
  • Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
  • Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) and spectator sport and business events, is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50 per cent capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors.
  • Organised grassroots sport will be able to resume

For local advice and support during the pandemic, call Shropshire Council’s Covid-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 or visit the council's website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus