Sports facilities shut from lockdown restrictions are set to cost almost £100m A WEEK following analysis of economic and social impacts from industry group UK Active
- UK Active has carried out an analysis into the financial damage of lockdowns
- Around £90m will be lost a week on revenue such as membership fees
- Another £7.25m is lost based on missed health-related social value savings
The shutdown of sports facilities will cost the country almost £100million a week, new research has found.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools have all been forced to close in the latest national lockdown.
And analysis by industry group UK Active has revealed the scale of the economic and social impact of the restrictions.
Gyms are closed to the public as part of the coronavirus restrictions under lockdown
Swimming pools, including the Manchester Aquatics centre (above), are also closed
Sports operators are set to lose revenue of at least £90m a week based on lost membership fees.
On top of that, the lockdown is estimated to cause a loss to the economy of £7.25m based on missed health-related social value savings.
These figures are calculated based on how the sector, through exercise, contributes to reductions of health conditions such as depression, diabetes and cancer.
Huw Edwards, chief executive of UK Active talked up the mental health benefits of exercise
Huw Edwards, chief executive of UK Active, said: ‘This evidence shows why the fitness and leisure sector provides such an essential service to communities across the UK, from the vital mental and physical health benefits to the economic benefits.
‘The closure of gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools during January and February poses a major threat not only to thousands of facilities and jobs, but also our nation’s health.
‘We urgently need to see credible plans from the Government to work with our sector to keep people active. The Government must also protect this sector as a priority, before it becomes too late.’