Popular UK leisure centres suddenly shut as staff admit ‘we didn’t know anything about it’

TWO popular public leisure centres in the UK have suddenly closed down, causing fear among customers and staff.

The confirmed that their Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres would close effective immediately on Wednesday night.

Charity operator, Active Nation, sent the announcement to members saying they were no longer able to operate the venues ‘for the foreseeable future'.

The Yarborough Leisure Centre provided a gym, swimming pool, running track and studios for classes, while the Birchwood facility included a gym, spin studio and 3G pitches.

Active Nation's statement referenced “the ongoing utility crisis and challenges it has created” as the reason for the sudden closures.

It claims to have tried to find another company to take over the services whilst working with the council, but to no success.

A Yarborough Leisure Centre instructor, Carla, told the BBC: “We didn't know anything about it, the place was buzzing and it was busy but then we got the news”, after just having taught a class in the morning.

A number of staff expressed their concerns employment, and cited the tough trading conditions they worked through to try keep the venues running.

Customers of the leisure centres, Mauva Jessel, Nina Hill and Elise Rothwell, have also shared with the BBC they are worried about the fees already paid to be made members.

Ms Hill said: “We paid £150 for annual memberships in February, but there's no receipt or anything like that to prove it – I expect we've lost all that money.”

Ms Jessel added: “Why weren't the public warned about this? It's disgusting”.

Authorities have advised pre-paying members to contact their bank or card provider, or the administrator once appointed.

Popular running event, the Lincoln 10K, which was set to take place from the Yarborough leisure centre on Sunday, is understood to still be going ahead as planned.

The sudden closures of these leisure centres in Lincolnshire come after another popular facility in Scotland was also shut down.

A number of and markets are also facing mass closures around the UK.