THE company that operates most of Thurrock's community-based leisure centre has asked Thurrock Council for financial help as it faces possible collapse due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thurrock Community Leisure (TCL)is part of the wider Impulse Leisure group but is a standalone charity in its own right. Its sister company within the Impulse Leisure brand is Adur Community Leisure (ACL) which operates five leisure centres in West Sussex and Impulse has announced it is in danger of closure.

Both TCL and ADL are charitable companies and non-profit distributing organisations which plough any surpluses back into the business.

Impulse has called on the local council in the West Sussex, Adur District Council, to provide financial support in order to keep sites in the district open.

And Impulse, while saying that its operation in Thurrock where it runs centres at Blackshots, Belhus and Corringham has reserves available, has also requested support from Thurrock Council. The situation in Thurrock appears less on the brink as that in West Sussex – check out the company statement here

Apart from golf at Belhus, all of Impulse's operations in Thurrock remain closed and the company has expressed its disappointment that the government has not yet given the green light gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools to reopen.

A statement says: "We understand that the government are under a lot of pressure to reopen every sector but we and other fitness providers have been working incredibly hard to ensure that the health and safety of our staff & members when we reopen are our top priority.

"Over the past 20 years Impulse Leisure has been providing health and fitness services for the whole community through all its activities with the aim of improving the physical and mental wellbeing of those that live in the West Sussex and Essex areas.

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"As the fight against coronavirus continues we want to be able to continue to provide these services and hopefully soon the Government can give us a date to work towards our goal of creating an active and healthy community, as well as being able to support those who are suffering the long terms effects of the coronavirus.

"We are confident that we can provide a safe environment for staff to work in and for members to workout in and as soon as we get the go ahead to reopen we will be ready!"