We aim to issue an update on the latest situation with council services every working day.
Any new developments will be highlighted at the start of the update.
Even if there are no new developments we will issue an update to say so! The latest information about services can also be found on our website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Recycling and waste
Recycling and refuse collections are continuing as normal at the moment. All recycling and waste crews were out today with additional support from council contractor Glendale who are collecting cardboard.
Despite the garden waste crews’ best efforts, there are some properties in Portishead who didn’t receive a garden waste collection today. If it wasn’t collected today please take your garden bin back in and put it out again on your next scheduled garden collection day.
Increased volumes of recycling are being put out and residents are being urged to help the crews cope by correctly sorting their recycling boxes. Below is an example of what a crew faced this morning, with a jumbled box containing tissues. This rightly causes crews, who are working extremely hard in challenging conditions, concerns. This box was not collected. See our press release for advice on properly disposing of personal waste.
Residents are also being asked to park sensibly to allow the crews to access kerbside waste.
The council’s three recycling centres at Backwell, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare are closed until further notice.
North Somerset Together
North Somerset Together is an initiative to help residents who have no support from family or friends and who are socially isolated access the support they need during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. It will also help those who want to volunteer to get involved or donate to link up with the right organisations, and signpost businesses to relevant information. Residents and businesses can access the service at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/together.
Weston Crematorium
The Crematorium has closed its grounds to the public. Staff are continuing to deal with enquiries on the phone and by email but have stopped face-to-face contact. Funerals are continuing but are limited to immediate family only.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) update
The council has already received over 35 responses to the plea for PPE. Thank you. Please keep it coming. Items donated include hand sanitiser, nitrile gloves and handmade masks and aprons.
Rough sleeping
We’ve been working hard to ensure that people are not homeless and since Thursday 19 March we’ve found accommodation for 29 people who were either rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping in North Somerset.
We are continuing to offer assistance to anyone who wants support. We are working with two B&B owners in order to respond quickly and accommodate anyone needing help, not just those at risk or symptomatic.
We would like to thank our partner agencies for their ongoing support during this challenging time.
Bus services
Most bus services in North Somerset are now operating emergency timetables. Some services have now been suspended (please see below). We are directing all passengers to www.travelwest.info/coronavirus for more information about local bus, rail and coach services. Passengers can search for their local bus service number to find out if this service is operating and at what frequency.
We are asking people to only travel if their journey is essential and follow these travel recommendations:
- Board the bus one at a time
- Remain two metres apart
- Pay via contactless or an app if you can
- Do not travel if you feel unwell
- Cough/sneeze into a tissue or the inside of your arm
- Wash your hands before and after travelling.
To ensure the safety of drivers and passengers, we have now suspended the following council-supported services:
- Bus Service 88 – Nailsea to Clevedon via Portishead
- Bus Service A5 – Winford to Winscombe via Wrington
- Community Bus L1 – Locking Parklands and Haywood Village
- Community Bus B1 – Bleadon
- Community Bus C1 – Worlebury
- Community Bus C2 – South Road/Hillside.
Events
Weston Air Festival, due to have taken place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June, has been cancelled.
Car parking
Due to a drop in usage the Sovereign Centre car park in Weston town centre has closed until further notice. Nearby on-street parking is available.
Parking charges in North Somerset are being waived for NHS staff and key workers during the coronavirus outbreak. Essential workers – such as NHS, social care staff, volunteers and key workers – can now park for free to enable them to carry out their critical work.
This applies to on-street pay and display areas and council-run car parks. They can also park without time limit in areas where it is free but usually time restricted. See press release for more details.
In addition to the Sovereign Centre car park, nine other council car parks are closed to reduce the opportunity for people to visit areas following the government announcement about the introduction of more stringent social distancing measures. They are:
- Salthouse, Clevedon
- Bus Terminus, Kewstoke/Sand Bay
- Beach Road (opposite Commodore), Kewstoke/Sand Bay
- Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare
- Uphill Beach, Uphill
- Knightstone Causeway, Weston-super-Mare (access will remain for residents)
- Melrose, Weston-super-Mare
- Worlebury Woods, Weston-super-Mare
- Kilkenny Fields and cricket club car park Lake Grounds, Portishead.
Council offices
The Town Hall reception in Weston-super-Mare has now closed to the public until further notice. If you need to contact the council please do this online at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/connect or over the phone at 01934 888 888.
If you usually come in and use one our council tax payment kiosks, please consider switching to online payments. You can find out more at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/counciltax or pay by phone by calling 01934 888 121. You will need your 10-digit council tax reference number, which you can find on your bill, and your credit or debit card.
Children’s centres
All of our children’s centres are now closed, except for two – Yatton (Rowan Tree hub) and Ashcombe (Maple Tree Hub) – which are delivering midwifery services only.
If you need to contact a children’s centre please ring one of these and a member of the team will be able to help you with your query:
- Portishead Children’s Centre – 01275 884 001
- Clevedon Children’s Centre – 01934 426 440
- Worle Children’s Centre and Library – 01934 426 618
- Ashcombe Children’s Centre – 01934 426 380
- Oldmixon Family Centre – 01934 426 881
If you need to contact your midwife please use the telephone number on the front of your yellow book.
Motex equipment and demonstration centre
The council’s equipment and demonstration centre at the Motex building in Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare has closed until further notice. There are notices on site with details of where customers can go to access council support and other providers. Telephone calls automatically redirect to Care Connect on 01934 888 801.
Business checks
North Somerset Council’s licensing team is working with the police to ensure local businesses are complying with the government’s closure order. Reports of any breaches will be investigated.
Business support
There is a round-up of the grant schemes and other measures in place to support businesses and employers at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Leisure centres and venues
All our leisure and sports centres are closed. Go to www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus for more information.
All events are cancelled until further notice at the following venues – The Tropicana and Playhouse in Weston-super-Mare and Somerset Hall in Portishead. The Bay Café is also closed.
The Campus
The Campus in Weston-super-Mare is closed until further notice. However, the midwifery care at The Campus children’s centre will continue so people are to keep attending appointments and will be able to access the building.
Play areas
Play areas have been closed until further notice to ensure any visits to parks are only for the purposes of exercise as outlined by the government.
Registration Service
No ceremonies are being conducted and the service is open for death registrations only. Go to www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus for more information.
Libraries
All North Somerset libraries, including the mobile library, are closed until further notice. While we recognise that libraries are important hubs of the communities which hundreds of people visit every day, our priority is to protect the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff.
Libraries are more than just a physical space and we aim to continue to deliver a range of services, including access to eBooks, eMagazines and eResources. The libraries service will be working hard to develop additional digital outreach. This could include online activities for pre-school children such as online Rhymetimes, keeping in touch with home service customers by phone to reduce risk of social isolation and promoting home-schooling resources.
We will also be making it easier for people to join online and this will be promoted widely, with investment for the coming financial year switched from hardcopy to digital to extend the eBook and eAudio titles offer.
Existing loans will be automatically extended until Wednesday 1 July. Please do not return any items borrowed from the library during this time and please do not leave them on library doorsteps, as they could be stolen or damaged.
Extended Access is not available at Portishead and Winscombe Libraries and Worle and Yatton Library and Children’s Centres.
Congresbury Community Library, which is run by volunteers, is also closed.
Some libraries share a building with children’s centres. If you are currently under midwifery care at one of the area’s children’s centres, keep attending at your usual location as these midwife appointments will continue.
For the latest updates follow us on Twitter at @nsomlibraries or on Facebook /NSlibraries.
Online services will still be available to use:
Online library from home:
Including ebooks and audio books.
Enquiry service: https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/leisure/libraries/enquiry-centre/.
To join online visit www.librarieswest.org.uk/join.
All critical services
We have plans in place to make sure critical front line services keep running as the coronavirus epidemic develops. These include identifying and training staff for possible redeployment into essential services, and looking at service changes that could be made in the coming weeks. Any changes will be advertised on our website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus
North Somerset Council is following the latest Government advice regarding the wellbeing of residents, staff and contractors during the developing coronavirus situation.
As a provider of services to some of the most vulnerable people in the community, the council will make sure it maintains service levels in critical areas.
The council is reviewing advice and information and will make update decisions daily in response to the changing situation.
Residents are urged to visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus for the latest information about services. Updates will also be posted to the council’s Facebook and Twitter feeds.
