Visitors to two Swale leisures centres will once again be able to park for free while they workout, swim or play.

Swale council is reinstating free parking for users of the Sheppey Leisure Complex in Sheerness and Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne from Monday.

The council’s new coalition has agreed to reinstate the concession, which was removed in September 2018.

Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab), leader of the council, said: “Adding on the cost of a couple of hours parking can put people off visiting the centres, especially those on low incomes who could benefit from using them.

“By reinstating the concession, we are taking away that barrier and making every visit that bit cheaper. Hopefully this will encourage even more people to take advantage of what the centres have to offer and keep themselves fit and healthy without breaking the bank.”

The council's Cllr Angela Harrison (Lab), cabinet member for health and wellbeing, added: “A lot of people can’t afford expensive private monthly gym memberships, and our leisure centres are an ideal alternative for them – there’s a great choice of equipment and classes, at a reasonable price.

"It’s not just gym goers who use the sites. Families use the soft play and pools, and the new healthy lifestyle studio has specialist equipment for residents suffering from health-related problems such as mobility or obesity.”

The concession offers users a refund for up to two hours parking at the sites, which have both benefited from improvements over the past year.

The Sheppey Leisure Complex has a new healthy lifestyle studio, which includes power-assisted fitness equipment specifically for those with health problems.

It also has a new virtual spin room and improved gym facilities, with equipment upgrades and about 12 new stations.

Swallows has had repairs carried out to its roof and now includes a new family adventure zone with new soft play and a Clip n Climb, a new virtual spin studio and an extended gym, with equipment upgrades and about 10 new stations.

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne