PLANS to reopen leisure centres and pools across southern Oxfordshire are now under way.

Following the Government edict that such facilities could reopen, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are now drawing up plans for their centres.

Saturday, July 25, has bee given as a target date, but not all centres will open on this date.

The councils said there would be a gradual, phased reopening of facilities, with safety measures put in place to protect public and staff.

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The councils said that each leisure centre was being assessed independently, as they all have different facilities and availability of space to make any necessary changes.

Precisely when they open and how they operate when they are open will reflect that, they said.

In a statement the councils said: "When the centres do re-open things will work differently at first, and not everything will be available in the early phases of reopening – for example, many programmes and classes that were running before the Covid-19 pandemic will not be available to begin with."

Outdoor splash pools and swimming pools in Abingdon and Wallingford will not reopen this year, including the campsite at Riverside, and nor will the council-run splash pads in Wantage. The council said it was unfortunate but necessary.