As Swanage settles in for another pandemic-necessitated lockdown, Dorset Council has released a list of its services, detailing what’s open, what’s shut and what is continuing but with restrictions.
While some services have had to close amid the new restrictions, a number of key facilities will remain in operation. Dorset Council says that following the first lockdown it now knows what can be kept going safely.
Here is a list of those that will be open, closed and working at a limited capacity.
Service as normal
- Early years settings, nurseries and pre-schools
- Social care services
- Beaches and green spaces
- Public toilets and car parks
- Kerbside bin and recycling collections
- Household waste centres (the tip)
Open with restrictions
- Schools and colleges – only for vulnerable children and key workers’ children
- Libraries – only for order and collect services
- Housing – phone and digital services running as usual, face to face services limited
- Harbours – closed for recreation and leisure, open for commerce
- Country parks – open with COVID arrangements. This includes Durlston Country Park’s outside spaces
- Registration services – birth and death registry will continue, no weddings apart from exceptional circumstances, funerals restricted to 30 attendees
Fully closed
- Tourist information centres and leisure centres
- Dorset History Centre and Archives
- Council offices
Swanage Library is only open for order and collect services
“Our aim is to keep services up and running”
Leader of Dorset Council, councillor Spencer Flower said:
“I’m pleased to say that the vast majority of our services are continuing and will do so throughout this lockdown period. This has been possible due to the experience gained during the first national lockdown
“In some cases people might need to access services differently either by telephone or online rather than face to face, but we’re working hard to ensure that very little is actually closed.
“Our aim is to keep services up and running and be available to residents when they need us. For now, I urge everyone to follow the latest advice to stay at home to protect each other and the NHS.”
Contact the council
While the council office buildings are closed, anyone who needs to can still get in touch at customerservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01305 221000.
