Ceredigion MP Ben Lake is to put pressure on council officials over the reopening of leisure facilities.

Ceredigion County Council is keeping its leisure centres shut until at least July, despite the Welsh Government giving the go-ahead for pools and gyms to reopen, and every other council in Wales reopening its facilities.

The Welsh Government said on Friday that from Monday, 3 May, “gyms, fitness facilities, leisure centres, spas and swimming pools can reopen”.

In response, every Welsh local authority reopened their leisure centres on 3 or 4 May, except Caerphilly, whose facilities will reopen on 10 May.

Penlan Leisure Centre in Swansea even opened just after the stroke of midnight to welcome back keen swimmers.

Centres in Carmarthenshire, such as in Newcastle Emlyn, have reopened - with free access for over-60s.

And residents north of the border in Powys can enjoy their facilities - including Bro Ddyfi Leisure Centre in Machynlleth, which reopened this week.

In Ceredigion however, which has among the lowest Covid rates in Wales, Aberaeron Leisure Centre, Lampeter Leisure Centre and Lampeter Swimming Pool will not be open until 5 July “at the earliest” – more than two months after the Welsh Government advice says it’s safe to open.

Cardigan Leisure Centre is currently a mass vaccination centre and will “remain so for as long as required”.

Plascrug Leisure Centre in Aberystwyth needs to be converted back from a Covid field hospital and no date has been given for its reopening.

Aberaeron swimming pool, which is run by a charitable trust, not the county council, will reopen on 10 May.

Speaking to the Cambrian News, Mr Lake said: “As Ceredigion continues to enjoy low rates of infection, and with welcome progress on the vaccination programme, it is natural that attention should now turn to reopening facilities safely. I understand the desire of many to see the county’s leisure and sporting facilities reopen, especially as the weather improves.

“I shall be raising this matter with the council in the hope of getting the facilities reopened as soon as possible.”

A spokesperson for Ceredigion County Council said: “It is recognised that the dates provided are potentially later than anticipated.

“However they have been set to ensure that we continue to reduce the risk of any increase in cases and play our part in supporting the local authority’s priorities in the county’s recovery from the coronavirus.

“The dates also enable staff who have been seconded to support other council services during the pandemic to return to their posts within the Wellbeing Centre Service.

“Plascrug Leisure Centre has now been returned to the local authority from Hywel Dda University Health Board.

“There are significant decommissioning and reinstatement works required before it can operate as a leisure facility. No date has been set for its reopening at present.

“Cardigan Leisure Centre is currently a mass vaccination centre and will remain so for as long as required by Hywel Dda University Health Board.”