New national restrictions which come into force from tomorrow (5 November) are expected to have minimal impact on council services.
In line with the national guidance, Swindon Borough Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) will remain open, with the current booking system in place to allow for social distancing on site and to ensure residents and staff are kept safe. Waste and recycling collections will continue as normal, but services may need to be prioritised should resources be affected due to the current situation.
A Click, Call and Collect service will continue to be available at libraries, apart from the West Swindon library which will be fully closed. Several online library services are also available and the Home Library Service will continue to run.
The public toilets at Lydiard Park, Coate Water, Stanton Park, Barbury Castle and the town centre will stay open.
People will continue to be able to visit council-run parks, as long as they adhere to government guidance on socialising outdoors. However, at Coate Water country park, the golf course will be closed as well as the play area and the Coate Water Miniature Railway. There will also be no event hire or boating taking place.
Cafes at Lydiard Park and Coate Water will remain open for takeaways only.
Following government guidance on the closure of venues, the council-run STEAM Museum will temporarily close its doors from tomorrow (5 Nov) and the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery will also remain closed.
Any weddings and civil partnerships booked at the Council’s Register Office will not take place during the lockdown period but parents can still register births. The Council’s Customer Services centre will remain closed for face-to-face queries, but residents can continue to get in touch via the website or over the phone.
Some non-essential housing repairs for council tenants will temporarily cease, but emergency and urgent housing repairs will continue.
Parking enforcement will continue as usual, but Bristol Street and Brunel North car parks will be closed. All other car parks will remain open.
Councillor David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “We are doing all we can to keep as many of our services running safely and effectively. The measures we introduced during the last lockdown, such as the new booking system for the Household Waste Recycling Centre and the Click, Call and Collect service at our libraries, have helped to minimise disruption this time around.
“However, there are some cases where this just isn’t possible within the national guidance. Officers are working hard to keep our staff and residents safe, and that will continue to be our priority.
“I would like to thank the public for their continued understanding throughout this difficult period. The community spirit which Swindon has shown during the pandemic is outstanding; long may that continue.”
Further information about council services can be found on the Council’s website: www.swindon.gov.uk/coronavirus