THE team running sports and leisure centres locally has a new goal of getting more people active and healthy.

Since East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure began operating the gyms, sports halls and swimming pools last year, the number of people using the facilities has rocketed.

In the third quarter of the current financial year the numbers using swimming pools has increased by 8.1 per cent with 16,355 people splashing out.

There were 7,156 attendances at gyms, up 9 per cent and the 5,421 people going to fitness classes showed a whopping 14.9 per cent increase.

But in a bid to get even more people involved in physical activity, bosses at ERCL have decided not to increase hire and admission charges in the next financial year.

It is hoped the freeze in fees will encourage even more people to take part. in sport and healthy leisure activities.

A new cut-price gym membership package has also been introduced from April 1 with access to all ERCL gyms and fitness classes for a fee of £32 per month.

The normal gym membership package of £39.95 - it’s price is also being held for the coming year - includes gym use, fitness classes, as well as swimming and sauna.

Anthony McReavy, chief executive of ERCL said:

“We’ve always said a big part of our remit is to encourage more people to take part in sport and live more active lives.

“Freezing our admission and hire charges at the same level as the past year, should be an incentive for people to come along and use our first-class facilities.

“And creating a new cheaper gym membership package is our organisation reacting to customer demand.

“Our surveys have shown that some people would prefer a gym and fitness class-only package at a reduced membership fee and that’s exactly what we’re providing.”