Early birds get fit at Belfast leisure centres

Wake up to exercise – that is the message from Belfast City Council, and to help even more people do just that it is extending early opening hours at its leisure centres.

From Monday 2 April, more centres will open from 7.15am – so you will be able to lose weight, tone up and get fit while avoiding the dreaded rush hour.

Leisure Development Manager, Cormac McCann, said: “We have been piloting early opening since March 2006 and it has proved so successful and popular that we are now extending it so more people across the city can take advantage of the service.

“It gives people the chance to remove the cobwebs before going to work or for those coming off a nightshift it is a chance to get rid of tension and relax.”

Andersonstown, Avoniel, Olympia and Shankill will now join the Falls Leisure Centre in opening at 7.15am Monday – Friday.

Ballysillan and Whiterock Leisure Centres will open at 7.15am three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Information on early opening and on our membership deals can be found at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/leisure - and also will be delivered to your door this week, when our ratepayers’ magazine, ‘City Matters’, begins dropping through letterboxes.

‘City Matters’ also has a special four-page pull out explaining the rates and where your money goes, as well as details of holiday bin collections as St Patrick’s Day and Easter approaches.

There are a number of competitions offering prizes such as a Captain Cleanup game, an LCD TV or David Healy signed goodies.

The magazine will be delivered to homes in the Belfast Council area over two weeks beginning today.

(JM/SP)