Coronavirus: Chesterfield leisure centres close and walking festival is cancelled

Two Chesterfield leisure centres are to close and a walking festival cancelled as the coronavirus crisis continues.
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Chesterfield Borough Council has announced that Queen’s Park Sports Centre and the Staveley Healthy Living Centre will both be closed from 10pm on Friday March 20 until further notice.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We have made the important decision to close these facilities to the public in line with Government guidance and with the aim of reducing the possible spread of the coronavirus.

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“At this difficult time, it is vital that we all take our own health and wellbeing seriously, I would like to remind residents that our parks remain open in order to allow you to walk and exercise whilst maintaining social distancing.”

Queens Park Sports Centre will be closedQueens Park Sports Centre will be closed
Queens Park Sports Centre will be closed

Leisure centre members will have their membership suspended and no direct debit payments will be taken.

Anyone who pays council tax, rent or other payments at the Healthy Living Centre can now do so online by visiting www.chesterfield.gov.uk or calling 01246 345 345.

Payment stations are also still open at the Customer Service Centre in Chesterfield town centre but people are asked to only use this if they are unable to pay online or over the phone. Payment can also continue to be made at PayPoint outlet and through the Post Office if it is safe to do so.

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Chesterfield Area Walking Festival, which was due to take place in May, has also been cancelled.

The council said the decision was taken in order to ensure that proper social distancing measures, as recommended by the Government, can be maintained and they can ensure the health and wellbeing of the volunteers who support the festival.

The authority’s Visitor Information Centre team are working to ensure that anyone who has booked tickets for the festival is informed of the changes and customers who have paid for tickets will be refunded.

The council said: “Please be patient with the team and wait for them to contact you, they are receiving a high number of enquires and it is taking slightly longer than usual to reply to everyone.”

For the latest on service disruption, see www.chesterfield.gov.uk/coronavirus.