Swimming clubs to benefit first from reopening of pools

The decision was reached at a special meeting behind closed doors on Tuesday evening.

Fiirstly, access to pools will be made available to swimming clubs in the borough.

Gyms and fitness facilities are not expected to commence reopening until mid-September.

The leisure centres have been closed since the start of lockdown in March.

A delay in the reopening of swimming pools in Mid and East Antrim has meant that Olympic hopefuls have had to travel to Bangor to train.

Last month, the NI Executive permitted the reopening of leisure centres but the doors at facilities in Mid and East Antrim have remained shut.

Swimming in neighbouring towns such as Ballyclare has resumed at Sixmile Leisure Centre, Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey and Antrim Forum. Gym facilities are also operational.

Commenting on social media after last night’s decision, the council said: “The safety of the public and our staff remains our top priority and we thank the public for their patience over recent months.”

Larne Swimming Club commented: “It’s no exaggeration to say that the very future of our club was in the balance.”

Previously, the club said: “This is a huge season for us as a club and for the world of sport with the Olympics less than a year away.

“It is essential that if we want to continue to push the sport in Ireland forwards in Larne, we need to get back to training.”

Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Danny Donnelly welcomed the decision but indicated that the phased reopening may continue until October.

He said: “It’s not quite as soon we would have liked – our proposal to open everything in September was rejected primarily by the DUP, TUV and most of the UUP.

“I’m very happy that our local athletes will be able to train in their own home pool again and glad to see that our leisure centres will soon be reopened to public although not as soon as we would have liked.

“The Larne Swimming Club demonstrated their bond as a team by producing social media videos and testimonies that described how important getting back to swimming was to them.

“I have to commend them on their efforts and it’s great news that they can train again in the Larne pool.”