There are some changes to services provided by Allerdale Borough Council due to the introduction of new national restrictions from 5 November until 2 December.
Residents are urged to continue to keep up to date with any further changes via the council’s website at www.allerdale.gov.uk/coronavirus as well as on the council’s Twitter and Facebook feed.
Customer contact centres
The council’s customer contact centre in Wigton closed at 5pm on Wednesday, 4 November and will remain closed during the period of the new national restrictions. Offices in Maryport, Workington, Cockermouth and Keswick will continue to remain closed to the public.
The customer service team will continue to be available on the phone on 0303 123 1702.
Residents in Allerdale are being encouraged to use digital methods to contact the council where possible, to avoid having to wait on the telephone. There are a range of services readily available on the authority’s website and through the myAllerdale mobile app. There is also a webchat facility on the council’s website.
The council’s website is open 24/7 and the “Report It” forms allow customers to let the council know about issues and obtain information at a time which is convenient for them. Go to www.allerdale.gov.uk/report
Customers can also use the website to check their eligibility for housing and council tax benefits, make an application, as well as access their benefit and council tax account. This service is also available for landlords with tenants on housing benefit.
Payments can also be made online or via the council’s automated payment line 0303 123 1702. This number can also be used if customers would like to speak to a customer service advisor.
By downloading the myAllerdale app, customers can also have many of these services available to them in the palm of their hand. The app is compatible with Apple and Android phones, and customers should search for ‘Allerdale’ on their app store and then register for an account.
Anyone facing financial hardship or potentially being made homeless should contact the council on 0303 123 1702.
Financial and housing support for residents
The council’s homelessness team will continue to operate during the lockdown period. Anyone facing being made homeless should contact the team on 0303 123 1702 (24hrs).
Anyone facing financial hardship can find out more information on the help and assistance available to them, including help with paying their council tax. More information can be found on the council’s website: www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-council-tax-benefits-and-financial-support/ or by calling 0303 123 1702.
Anyone asked to self-isolate who is on a low income, cannot work from home, and is therefore facing the prospect of financial hardship may be entitled to a Test and Trace Support grant of £500. More information, and an application form, can be found at: www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-council-tax-benefits-and-financial-support/test-trace-support-payment/.
Leisure centres
In line with the latest government advice, the council’s leisure partner GLL will be temporarily closing leisure centres in Workington and Cockermouth as well as the gym at the Wave in Maryport, to support the new national restrictions from Thursday 5th November until Wednesday 2nd December. The leisure pool and gym in Keswick will also remain closed during this time.
Details of how this affects memberships and those who have booked classes, can be found on the GLL website: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/allerdale
Waste services
There are no plans to make any changes to the Allerdale Borough Council residential waste services during the period of the national restrictions. Residents are asked to have their bins out before 7am on their collection day.
Residents can check their collection day at: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/bincollections/
More information on waste services during the coronavirus pandemic, and how to dispose of potentially infected waste, can be found at: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-waste-services/.
If trade waste customers would like to suspend or change their waste collections, they should contact the council’s trade waste team at [email protected].
Car parking
Allerdale Borough Council’s car parks remain open for use by those making essential journeys.
The council will continue to provide free parking for NHS and other key workers. For these staff, passes are available through NHS Trusts, local authorities and the Royal Voluntary Service. More details on the scheme’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions. All staff making use of the scheme whilst working, need to provide evidence in their vehicle from their employer or voluntary organisation to prove their eligibility.
Those eligible for free parking can make use of any of the council’s car parks, except Workington’s multi-storey car park.
Anyone with queries should contact the council’s parking services team on [email protected].
When using short stay car parks users should clearly show their time of arrival, such as with a parking disc, as well as their essential worker permit. The short stay car parks are: Ladies Walk and Udale Street at Workington; Tithebarn Street, Booths at Keswick; Bell Close at Keswick; Fairfield, Sainsbury’s at Cockermouth. This is not required in the long-stay car parks.
Markets
Allerdale Borough Council has taken the decision to cancel all markets for the rest of this week due to the introduction of the new national coronavirus restrictions. This affects the market in Wigton on Friday and Keswick and Workington on Saturday. Keswick’s market today (Thursday) was also not held.
The council will be reviewing the guidance and discussing the situation with traders and other partners before any further decisions on future markets are made.
Play areas
Allerdale Borough Council manages some play areas in the borough. These will remain open, but the council urges everyone to practice social distancing and keep hands clean when using them. However, the skate park in Workington Hall Parklands and the tennis courts in Harris Park, Cockermouth, will be shut in line with Government guidance.
Public toilets
Toilets in Workington, Allonby and Maryport will remain open. The council asks all users to follow the Covid-secure guidelines.
Bereavement services
The council’s bereavement services team will continue to provide support to the recently bereaved. In line with government guidelines, funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people, and it is advised that only close friends and family attend. Linked ceremonial events such as stone settings and ash scatterings can also continue with up to 15 people in attendance.
Anyone working is not included in the numbers. It is advised that social distancing should be maintained between people who do not live together or share a support bubble.
Other services
There are no planned changes to our other council services, such as planning and building control. Customers are asked to make use of the council’s website as much as possible to access these services.
