The following is an update from the City Council:
The majority of City Council services are being maintained under this new lockdown, with some staff being redeployed as required. Most staff will be working from home, but those in frontline roles will continue to report to their normal place of work – and we will ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place.
The two customer services centres at 89 High Street and Trinity Street have closed and we have put comprehensive steps in place to ensure that customer inquiries can still be dealt with. We are directing residents to contact us at 01905 722233 or www.worcester.gov.uk/contact-us. This information is on our website and is being promoted on our social media channels. We have also put notices on the doors of both of the centres – in the case of Trinity St, this includes information on making a reverse-charges call to the Council from nearby public phone booths. Face-to-face appointments will be organised if necessary.
Other changes to services are:
- The Guildhall is closed to the public and Members, and all events there (including weddings) are cancelled. The Tourist Information Centre is also closed
- The museums are closed – although it is normal for The Commandery to close in January. Staff will be on site regularly to do essential checks, and a programme of online activities is being launched
- Our leisure centres are closed, and most Freedom Leisure staff are furloughed. Regular security checks are being made on the buildings
- Tennis courts are closed
- Football pitches are not open for bookings.
Parks, play areas, MUGAs and public toilets will all remain open.
Environmental Operations services are being run on a priority basis, with resources being redirected if required to maintain domestic bin collections.
The limit on 30 mourners attending funerals remains under this new lockdown, so Bereavement Services arrangements will not be changing.
Parking enforcement will not be suspended, but officers have been instructed to concentrate on the city’s main routes and to have regard to economic and community recovery plans before taking any action.
The Community Engagement team will be supporting shielding residents, assisting the Test and Trace programme as required, and assisting the countywide Here2Help service. The Youth Engagement and ASB work will continue where necessary at city locations, with full COVID – 19 secure precautions in place.
Our complement of Advisers, working through WRS, will continue to be deployed across the county in order to manage and contain local outbreaks and to provide advice regarding current lockdown rules.
The County Council is keeping the Household Recycling Centres open and is also allowing access to libraries for collecting books or computer use, as long as slots are booked in advance at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/libraries.
Wellbeing workshops
Please let your constituents know about the programme of free online wellbeing workshops for January, run by Museums Worcestershire, exploring the healing power of creativity and self-expression.
Inspired by the artwork on display across the Art Gallery & Museum, The Commandery and the County Museum at Hartlebury Castle, these creative wellbeing sessions will encourage participants to connect through the use of stories – both personal and imaginary, taking artworks as their starting point. Sessions are designed to be fun and therapeutic and will begin as a guided discussion and may include creative activities such as drawing or gentle movement exercises. Each session will focus on a different part of the museum collections.
These online sessions will be led by experienced drama-therapist Gergo Danka and will run 10am-10.3pm on January 12, 14, 21, 26 and 28. All sessions are free but must be booked in advance here. People can book for as many sessions as they like.