Fitness instructors and personal trainers must have a licence to run classes in Chichester parks and green spaces

The district council said it has seen an increase in outdoor exercise classes taking place in its parks while gyms and other indoor venues remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government’s current social distancing guidelines allow groups of up to six individuals to meet outdoors, provided they keep two metres apart from anyone outside of their household.

The council’s sport and leisure team issued licences to those wanting to use parks for personal training or group fitness sessions 'to ensure public safety', by checking that fitness operators hold 'appropriate qualifications and insurance' as well protecting the parks and the public’s access to them.

“Our parks are fantastic spaces and we welcome fitness instructors and personal trainers to use them to hold their sessions, but we want to remind them that they must have a licence to do this,” said councillor Roy Briscoe, cabinet member for community services and culture.

"We also want to remind everyone using our parks that they must observe social distancing by keeping two metres apart from anyone they don’t live with and wash their hands as soon as they get home.”

The council said fitness instructors and personal trainers can apply for a licence to hold sessions with a maximum of five attendees at; Oaklands Park; New Park Road; Sherborne Road; Whyke Oval; Priory Park; Florence Park, and The Amphitheatre Park, behind the old Cattle Market.

People can apply for a licence by visiting www.chichester.gov.uk/outdoorfitnessclasses.

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