Update on COVID restrictions, 25.6.21
Throughout the pandemic the Squash Club Committee has endeavoured to operate the club in compliance with government restrictions and England Squash reccommendations.
We have to balance members wish to play with maintaining a safe environment. On 17th May, the club re-opened for competitive play but with some significant restrictions, which included the fact that changing rooms and showers were not available.
We had hoped that if government restrictions were eased from 21st June that we would be able to to open the changing rooms this month. However, this has not been the case, and members who are currently playing still have the inconvenience of no access to changing facilities.
The committee have, and will continue, to keep this under review. However we have reluctantly decided that, for the time being, changing rooms and showers must remain closed.
The reasons include:
- Opening the showers would require an enhanced and frequent cleaning regime, which we are not able to implement.
- We would have to restrict the number of people in the changing rooms at any time, and place time limits on the time spent, both of which could prove problematic.
- We want to minimise the number of people in the building at any time by keeping the off-court time that people spend in the club as low as possible.
- Unlike the courts, the changing rooms are confined spaces with limited ventilation and multiple plastic surfaces, all of which increase transmissibility of the virus.
We do understand that the lack of showers and changing facilities is inconvenient and discourages people from playing, However, our priority is to keep everyone safe, ensure club is a safe environment and to minimise risk.
We are keeping the situation under review and we hope to reopen the changing room as soon as circumstances permit to do so safely in these difficult times.
Please remember that anyone who has symptoms that could be covid after they have been at the club should promptly arrange a covid test and also inform the club secretary. In the event of a positive test, the club will have to notify members and close down while deep cleaning takes place.
Please enjoy your squash while respecting the restrictions that have been put in place.
Best wishes
The committee
