Covid in Wakefield: Council confirms plans for bin collections, birth registrations, gyms and country parks as third national lockdown arrives

Announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening, the national restrictions introduce strict new rules designed to limit the spread of Covid-19, including closing schools, non-essential retail and leisure facilities.

These are the latest Covid figures for every area of Wakefield and the Five Towns - including Pontefract, Castleford, Ossett and Outwood

And Wakefield Council has now confirmed which of its services are affected by the new restrictions.

From today (Tuesday, January 5, 2020), the following services will be closed or restricted:

All museums will be closed.

All libraries will be closed, except to provide essential PC/digital services. A click and collect service is available online and over the phone.

Sandal Castle grounds will remain open, but the cafe will be closed.

All leisure facilities and golf courses will be closed, with a temporary freeze on memberships.

The following services will remain open and continue:

Country parks remain open, including toilet facilities, except at Newmillerdam Country Park. The café at Pugneys Country Park will be serving takeaway food and drink only.

Pontefract Castle grounds and toilets will remain open

Funerals can be attended by up to 14 people at Pontefract Crematorium, or 16 at Wakefield Crematorium. This is the maximum number that can fit in the chapel and maintain proper social distancing. Up to 30 people can attend a burial outdoors, as long as social distancing is maintained.

Registrars’ services remain open for appointment only to register a birth or give notice of a marriage or civil partnership. Death registration appointments will continue via telephone. Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies are not permitted during the national lockdown.

All children and adult services remain unaffected. Children’s Centres and Children First Hubs remain open for individual appointments and support only.

Bin collections and other essential Council services will continue as normal, including Household Waste Recycling Centres at South Kirkby, Castleford and Wakefield which will remain open, although people are asked to avoid peak weekend times if possible to minimise traffic disruption.

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Andrew Balchin, Chief Executive of Wakefield Council, said: “Our priority is to provide support to the most vulnerable in our district and keep our essential services running, in line with government guidelines.

“Bin collections will continue as normal and Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open for essential rubbish. Please only visit if essential and please adhere to social distancing rules.

“It’s important that you keep healthy both physically and mentally during this time. With that in mind, our Aspire@home programme offers a range of resources to keep you active at home. Our libraries will be closed but a click and collect online service is available.

“These restrictions are going to continue to be a huge challenge to us all, especially as we enter a new year, but we must continue to work together to keep slowing down the infection rate in the district.

“Information on all changes to services or closures can be found at www.wakefield.gov.uk. You can still contact the Council online or by calling 0345 8 506 506. Lines are likely to be busy so please bear with us. We will help you as soon as we can.”

The Council has a dedicated phone line for anyone worried about themselves or someone else, who does not have an existing support network of friends, family or neighbours. Call 0345 8 506 506 between 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, and choose option 3 to make a request for support to be arranged.