Temporary Closure for some Council Services during Lockdown

National restrictions that come into force today to help control the spread of Covid-19, mean a number of services run by Gloucester City Council will close temporarily.

The Gateway customer service centre in Westgate will remain closed and residents are encouraged to use the Council’s digital services as the majority of enquires and payments can be made online.

Also closed throughout the lockdown which is intended to help protect the NHS and to save lives, are the Museum of Gloucester, the tourist information centre, Blackfriars and the Guildhall. Public access to The Folk (the former Museum of Gloucester Life) will also be restricted during the lockdown period.

In addition, the indoor market at Eastgate Shopping Centre will close.

Funerals and cremations at Coney Hill will continue but with continued restrictions on the numbers of mourners able to attend; but the crematorium office will not be open to the public and the Mulberry Tea Room and the Arbor will be closed.

However, Shopmobility will continue to operate with safety precautions that have been introduced still in place and playgrounds will remain open.

Waste collection and recycling services will continue unchanged during the lockdown.   Most of the City Council’s staff will remain working from home, where that is possible.  Site visits and premises inspections will continue where these are necessary and can be done in a socially distanced and covid-safe way.

The Community Help Hub has continued to run throughout the pandemic and the online and telephone hub options will be promoted again with hours for the calls extended over the weekends. It is intended to support people throughout these challenging times and can be accessed online

There are some exceptions to the new national restrictions relating to education, getting essential supplies and for medical needs, but the important messages in the new rules are that residents should:

• Stay at home and work at home if they can and;
• Minimise contact with others outside their household or support bubble
• Avoid travelling in or out of the county and reduce the number of journeys they make
• Understand and follow national guidance which is available on government websites

Anyone who thinks they are eligible for a Test and Trace Self-Isolation Support payment which is being administered by the Council can apply online or call Here to Help.

And residents with a My Gloucester account residents can visit the website to access a number of services from paying Council Tax to applying for housing benefits and Discretionary Housing Payments.

Councillor Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: “I appreciate that this is an extremely difficult time for many of our residents however, it’s vital that we follow the national guidance and do our best to protect the NHS and save lives. I would encourage where possible, that residents use our digital services and do what they can to stay home and stay safe.”