Sarah Dines MP has welcomed positive discussions with Ministers on the safe reopening of the leisure, sport and hospitality sector and is delighted that today the government have announced that pools can reopen soon.
Sarah said, ‘Following my meetings with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP and Nigel Huddleston MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport in the past few weeks, I am delighted to say that our much loved outdoor swimming pools will be able to open from 11TH July and indoor pool and sports from 25th July . I gave Oliver the Hathersage Pool brochure, which he was most impressed with and enjoyed looking at.
Detailed Covid secure guidance will be published in the forthcoming coming days to ensure that safety and the science is at the forefront of the swimming pools opening up again. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP even referenced the great open-air pools of Derbyshire in the House of Commons Tuesday, so I am delighted that our wonderful community assets in Derbyshire Dales are right at the forefront of present Ministerial decisions.
During my visit on 27th June to the open air pool in Hathersage, it was incredibly clear to me how passionate local people are about getting our pools open and I was incredibly impressed by the vast amounts of work Hathersage Pool have been doing with Swim England to ensure a safe opening and the large amounts of work from the Parish Council, so I am delighted that following my lobbying on their behalf, I can bring them some good news. I have also been contacted about Wirksworth Swimming Pool who are also very keen to get back to teaching local children to swim, so I am delighted that very soon they can.
Furthermore, I welcome the fantastic £1.57 billion rescue package that has been announced to support the arts, culture and heritage industries. Thousands of organisations across a range of sectors including the performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema will be able to access emergency grants and loans. The money, which represents the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture, will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic.
I am very pleased that the government recognises the significance of these sectors and I welcome both their ambition to reopen, but also to financially assist so many important charities and businesses.’
