BOSSES at Renfrewshire Leisure have confirmed that more services will resume after most coronavirus restrictions were removed in Scotland this week.

From next Monday, operational changes will allow an increase in swimming capacity for each session. 

Changing rooms and showers will reopen, although customers are still recommended to arrive "session-ready", as maximum capacity in changing rooms will remain limited.

The pre-booking system remains in place, online and by telephone, with some limited opportunities to arrive without a booking and only where capacity allows.

Fitness suites in gyms will return to their original fitness areas, and there will be a trial of early morning gym sessions starting at 6.20am at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley on Mondays and Wednesdays, and at the ON-X sports centre in Linwood on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Johnstone Community Sports Hub will reopen once pool repairs are completed in the coming weeks and be available to the public outside of school day hours. After reopening, session capacity will double to 24 - an increase of 524 sessions being bookable each week. Double sessions will also be possible again, subject to availability and pre-booking.

And from Monday, August 23, the ON-X leisure pool and the flume at the Lagoon Leisure Centre will reopen between 4pm and 8pm on weekdays, and between 10am and 4pm at weekends.

This enhanced range of services is expected to trigger substantial demand for those looking to rebuild fitness and enjoy the exceptional leisure facilities available across Renfrewshire.

Victoria Hollows, chief executive of Renfrewshire Leisure, emphasised the importance of increasing capacity to meet the needs of local people and help them rebuild their physical and mental health after the long period of restrictions since March of last year.

She said: "We take very seriously our commitment to support local people who depend on our range of services to support their wellbeing, so we are carefully and safely enhancing our capacity to meet that need. In order to prioritise the wellbeing of our users, caution will continue to be our watchword, but opening up this phase of leisure and fitness opportunities is really exciting.

"We know how much local people have missed our wide range of activities, so we are pleased to be moving to meet those needs as quickly as we can."

Locals are being encouraged to visit www.renfrewshireleisure.com to take up the new booking opportunities and for further information about the entire range of activities available.