Free health and fitness weekend in Atherstone faces cancel threat over 'shift in fighting coronavirus outbreak'

A council-run 'discovery weekend' in Atherstone aimed at promoting health and fitness among the local population could be a victim of the UK moving into the "delay" phase of combating coronavirus.

Free gym classes, swimming sessions and children's activities are all on offer on Saturday and Sunday at the Atherstone Leisure Complex in a bid to incentivise people to use leisure facilities in the district.

But a spokeswoman for North Warwickshire Borough Council told Nub News this afternoon that the events, which are also being staged in centres in Polesworth and Coleshill, "could be cancelled".

She added: "We are waiting on Government guidance as to whether public gatherings of this kind are to be continued – or possibly stopped because of containing the Covid-19 outbreak.

"At the moment the promotion is still going ahead as planned but we'll have to see what happens. We will keep the public informed."

Earlier this week, councillors on the Community and Environment Board were told about plans for this weekend's special promotional activities – encouraging people who already have leisure membership to bring family and friends to access a variety of services, which will either be free of charge or incentively-priced.

The weekend is also aimed at boosting prospects for squash, soft play sessions, parties and courses. Sport Relief is to be the beneficiary of any donations given.

The borough council is trying the 'open weekends' to generate additional sales and income as new targets to increase numbers using the facilities have fallen behind the hoped-for figures.

But the threat of pulling the planned pleasure days loomed a little larger this lunchtime as Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired a Cobra meeting where ministers are due to assess whether Government action should shift out of the containment stage.

Moving to 'delay' would mean social distancing measures could be brought in, such as restricting public gatherings, and more widespread advice to stay at home. Scotland has already given notice it will be banning mass gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday.

It comes after 10 people with Covid-19 – including an elderly patient at Nuneaton's George Eliot Hospital – were confirmed to have died in the UK. There are now 596 positive cases in the UK, up by 140 from Wednesday.

A total of 29,764 people have been tested for the virus in the UK so far.

The global picture shows China with 80,980 confirmed cases and 3,136 deaths; Italy on 12,462 cases, with 827 deaths; and Iran with 7,869 cases and 66 deaths.

Britain's nearest European neighbour – France – has 2,140 confirmed cases with 49 deaths.

Nub News has published a 'What Atherstone needs to know about coronavirus' , compiled from Government-approved sources, which you can find here.