Portsmouth residents urged to use re-opened sports sites 'sensibly' by council chief

Portsmouth City Council re-opened a select number of sports hubs across the island yesterday after weeks of lockdown-enforced closures.

Among the new facilities to have been opened include tennis courts in Cosham, Drayton and Milton.

But Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of the city council, has urged people to be sensible and cautious using the sites.

In a statement last night, the Liberal Democrat boss thanked the ‘vast majority of people’ who have taken lockdown rules ‘to heart’.

He added: ‘I know how important open spaces are for people's physical and emotional wellbeing, so I would urge people to use the spaces we have available in Portsmouth, including the waterfront, responsibly. We all need to continue to follow the rules in order to keep people safe.

‘We'll be monitoring the situation very closely. If it seems that people are breaching the guidance and putting others in danger, we will have to look again at whether these facilities can remain open.’

The opening of certain sports facilities comes following a change in the government’s lockdown measures.

The new approach allows people to spend unlimited time outdoors and meet one other person from outside their household – as long as strict social distancing guidelines are adhered to.

Other activities that are permitted include open water sports and visiting garden centres.

Sports sites opened in Portsmouth include tennis courts at Cosham Park, Drayton Park and Milton Park.

To avoid queues forming, people must book in advance and turn up just before their session. They cannot turn up without a pre-booked session. To book, see www.portsmouth.gov.uk and search 'tennis'.

Limitations still apply; only the player who brought the tennis ball to the court is allowed to touch it and serve it.

A number of other sports courts are also being opened in the city.

People can only take part in activities alone, with members of their household or with one other person from outside their household, with exercising social distancing.

Play parks, play equipment and outdoor gyms must not be used.

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