Plans are in place to ease restrictions at all council venues including libraries, gyms, youth clubs, family hubs and more from Monday 17 May.
Council officers are also working closely with pubs, entertainment venues, shops and businesses right across the borough to support them as the rules change.
Officers will continue to investigate any reports received of breaches of regulations in various retail businesses and work with police whilst Covid Ambassadors will continue to offer a reassuring presence.
The new rules from May 17 include the rule of six (or two households) being allowed to meet indoors, meaning you will be allowed in other people's homes and inside pubs and restaurants. Customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.
Council services due to ease restrictions include:
Leisure Centres
Leisure centres will relaunch group exercise classes in Redcar's Leisure and Community Heart building, Eston Leisure Centre and Saltburn Leisure Centre will host instructor-led and virtual classes, while Loftus Leisure Centre will host virtual classes and Guisborough Swim and Fitness Centre will host aqua classes.
Operator Everyone Active, which runs the leisure centres in partnership with the council, has committed to a strict policy of following safety guidelines and has also provided a package of online workouts for people to use, along with livestreamed classes across its social media pages. More information is available on each leisure website, or log on to https://www.everyoneactive.com/covid-information/
Youth Clubs and Family Hubs
Youth Club sessions will continue on a booking only basis for up to 15 young people maximum (and depending on the space available at individual centres).
For details of our youth sessions in Redcar please contact Hellen Higgs Helen.Higgs@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk; in East Cleveland please contact Peter Carter Peter.Carter@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk and Greater Eston contact Lee Waters Lee.Waters@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk. For details on our CWD (Children with Disability) youth sessions please contact Terry Colley, Terry.Colley@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk;
Family Hubs have already started to offer small group activity sessions face-to-face for parents and children from new-born to five years, on a referral only basis. In addition from 17 May, some outdoor parent and toddler groups will start at Grangetown, Loftus and Redcar. Please check the family hub Facebook pages for more details. (Places should be pre-booked in line with COVID guidelines)
Libraries
Libraries will be open for more services in addition to self-service browsing. These include: Public computer access (appointment based), face-to-face Council Tax and Housing Benefit advice (appointment based – find out more on the council's website or 01642 774774) and photocopying and printing.
Health and safety measures continue to be in place at each of the buildings, with information posters displayed at each location. Users will be welcomed and given specific guidance for the particular library building they are using:
- Brotton Community Library – Tuesday and Thursday, 10am-4pm (closed for lunch 12.45pm-1.15pm) (Tel: 01287 676342)
- Dormanstown Community Library – Tuesday and Friday, 10am-4pm (closed for lunch 12.45pm-1.15pm) (Tel: 01642 483626)
- Grangetown Library & Customer Service Point – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01642 454417)
- Guisborough Library and Community Hub – Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01287 632668)
- Laburnum Road Community Library – Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am-4pm (closed for lunch 12.45pm-1.15pm) (Tel: 01642 484142)
- Loftus Library and Customer Service Point – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01287 640582)
- Marske Library & Customer Service Point – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01642 485440)
- Ormesby Library & Customer Service Point – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01642 314716)
- Redcar Library and Community Hub – Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01642 444141)
- Saltburn Library and Customer Service Hub – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01287 623584)
- Skelton Library & Customer Service Point – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01287 650487)
- South Bank Library and Community Hub – Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm (Tel: 01642 513699)
The libraries have self-service machines (with the exception of Dormanstown and Laburnum Road) and returned books may be placed in the designated area at the entrance of each library building where they will be quarantined for 72 hours.
BorrowBox - the digital service allowing users to borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks - and a book delivery service for housebound library users remain available.
Weddings and funerals
In common with the other areas across England, up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
Business Support and Restart Grants
Information on grants for businesses is available on the council's website. We are currently distributing Restart Grants to eligible businesses and have supported more than 700 businesses to date.
From Tuesday 18 May:
Kirkleatham Museum
The award-winning will reopen open on Tuesday 18 May with a one-way route system and new signage, hand sanitisers and contactless payment measures in in place. However, visitors are being asked to book tickets in advance on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kirkleatham-museum-visit-tickets-113867189830 to help maintain social distancing and ensure visits to the museum are safe and enjoyable. A timeslot will be allocated for the arrival time and the length of time visitors can stay will be made clear during the booking process. First booking is at 10am, last admission is 4pm. Anyone who is unable to book tickets online can call the museum on 01642 479500 where a member of staff will be able to help. There are also walk in bookings available. The museum will open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 - 5pm. For further information please visit the Kirkleatham Facebook page or www.redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/kirkleatham-museum.
Health Visiting and School Nursing
From Tuesday 18 May – the council's Health Visiting & School Nursing service will resume full face-to-face visiting for ante-natal, new births and post-birth visits (including one year and two year child visits). Additionally, all other contacts will be face-to-face for children with additional health needs.
Councillor Steve Kay, Cabinet Member for a Health, Housing and Welfare, again stressed that safety must come first. He said: “It's wonderful that such great progress continues to be made. I'd again like to thank our frontline staff who've manned essential services, whilst strictly following the safety rules. Thanks also to the vast majority of individuals and businesses, who've done everything asked of them. But it's not over yet. We all must continue to work together and keep the rules."
Find out more on the council's website or call 01642 774774.