More than half of public leisure facilities in England could close in the next six months unless the government provides greater financial support, the prime minister has been warned. Around 400 gyms, pools and community centres have already shut since the start of the pandemic. However Tanni Grey-Thompson, the chair of ukactive, has told Boris Johnson there is a “grave fear” across the industry that more will go bust, with more than 2,000 facing uncertainty and possible risk of closure, widening the health inequalities across Britain. In a hard-hitting letter to the prime minister, she calls on him to personally intervene to ensure the government’s promises for a healthier nation are backed by significant support. “Just this week, we were pleased to see the Queen’s speech set out the government’s priority to deliver a national recovery from the pandemic that makes the UK ‘stronger, healthier and more prosperous’ than before,” writes Grey-Thompson. “However it concerns me deeply to see a gap between the ambition and the reality which sees a continued lack of financial support for facilities that will be integral to improving the nation’s health. “If the government is to deliver on the aims of the Queen’s speech, it cannot allow hundreds of facilities to close across the country. If this ambition is to be realised, financial support for the physical activity must be provided immediately.” Last month a ukactive survey found 54% of leisure facilities were at risk of closure within six months. A separate local government association survey also reported one third of councils were planning to close one or more facilities due to financial pressures. So far the government’s help has been restricted to a £100m package for leisure centres, and a £18,000 Restart Grant for individual gyms. However, Grey-Thompson says a broader package of support for gyms, pools and leisure centres is needed – including applying the same VAT relief that corporate hospitality already gets. “I would now ask you to intervene and reconsider both these proposals,” writes Grey-Thompson. “My grave fear is that failure to do so will contribute to a worsening of our health inequalities, with inactivity levels continuing to climb. “This fear is driven by projections that more than 50% of public leisure facilities are at risk of closing in the next six months. Furthermore, we know facilities, whilst now open, are faced with the need to reduce essential services to keep expenditure down. These include community services that are relied upon by the NHS, such as GP or exercise referral and social prescribing programmes, alongside activities for specific populations such as cancer groups.”