Ponds Forge aims to resume to normality after hosting dozens of people that had to be evacuated from their homes during a dramatic police stand-off.
Many students and residents of the buildings opened their doors to armed police and were told to evacuate their homes around 8pm on Tuesday.
They were taken to Ponds Forge International Sports Centre and claim that they were not told much more than that.
Police arrested a man during the early hours of Wednesday morning on suspicion of several offences including criminal damage, possession of a firearm and communication with a bomb hoax.
The senior leadership team at Everyone Active worked in collaboration with Sheffield City Council to ensure the building could be used as a ‘help and evacuation centre’.
Tom Smith, Swim Manager at Ponds Forge told ShefNews: “Some people were here in their dressing gowns and nothing else. Some didn’t even have their phones.
“All of us at Everyone Active and the council did the best that we could at the time.”
“We are just happy to help. Some of us who weren’t even on shift left our homes to come down and help,” he continued.
Others who were not evacuated were forced to watch armed police surround the neighbouring buildings.
Throughout the night, the council provided ‘basic essentials’ such as towels, mattresses and phone chargers to those staying at Ponds Forge.
Evacuees were initially transported to the ‘mini sports hall away from the public’ as a team of police officers and council workers guarded the front of the building.
A cat was seen walking around the centre on a lead by its owners.
Police went back into the residence to collect pets during Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Everyone Active cancelled swimming lessons on Tuesday, as the pool was out of action completely.
The building closed to the public at 3pm on Tuesday afternoon.
The pool resumed its usual service on Wednesday morning, with The Gateway Flats building on Broad Street opening up to residents around 3pm.
Sheffield City Council were contacted for a comment.
