Plans are in place to safely reopen services and business, from libraries to gyms to shops to youth clubs, right across the borough as Covid restrictions ease.
The authority has also worked with pubs, cafes, restaurants, non-essential shops and hairdressers and to ensure the retail industry can reopen safely and guidance has been shared with them.
Council officers will continue to investigate any reports received of breaches of regulations in various retail businesses and the wider area and Environmental Enforcement Officers will patrol across the borough. The council will continue to work with and share information with police.
The borough's Covid Ambassadors will offer a reassuring presence as well as offering advice and guidance to both residents and businesses.
Council services due to reopen with strict rules include:
Libraries
Libraries will open their doors for self-service browsing, with new health and safety measures – including limited numbers, a one way system and sanitisers - in place at each of the buildings.
From Monday 12 April, the following libraries will open on Mondays to Fridays with several closed one day a week: Grangetown (closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays); Guisborough; Loftus (closed Tuesdays); Marske (closed Thursdays); Ormesby (closed Wednesdays); Redcar, Saltburn (closed Tuesdays); Skelton (closed Wednesdays) and South Bank.
From Monday 19 April Dormanstown library will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays (closed for lunch 12.45pm to 1.15pm) and Laburnum Road, Redcar will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays (closed for lunch 12.45pm to 1.15pm). Plans are progressing to reopen Brotton Library once health and safety issues are resolved.
The libraries will have self-service machines (with the exception of Redcar's Dormanstown and Laburnum libraries) 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. Unfortunately there will be no provision for public use computer equipment, face-to-face appointments, printing or photocopying facilities during the initial re-opening period. There will also be no provision for group meetings, events or activities. BorrowBox - the digital service allowing users to borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks - and a book delivery service for housebound library users continue to remain available.
Library users must wear face-masks unless there's a medical reason not to and are reminded to bring their library cards. Information posters will be displayed at each location and users be welcomed and given specific guidance for the particular library building they are using.
Leisure Centres
Eston Leisure Centre, Saltburn Leisure Centre, Loftus Leisure Centre, Guisborough Swim and Fitness Centre and Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart in Redcar, will all reopen.
However, the health suite at Loftus Leisure and swimming pool at Eston will remain closed until further notice. Group exercise classes won't operate in any centre until at least May 17. There will be no squash or bowls at Eston until June 21 at the earliest, no squash at Loftus and no swimming pool at Guisborough.
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 re-start 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 will start to offer small group activity sessions face to face for parents and children from newborn to five years, on a referral only basis.
Testing centres
There will be some changes to the Covid-19 testing service – which is for people who are not displaying symptoms of the disease – at Redcar and South Bank.
The South Bank centre at Golden Boy Green, will from Monday 12 April only operate as a collection point for home testing kits. Opening hours and days will remain the same: Mondays – 8am to 12pm; Wednesdays – 8am to 12pm; Thursdays – 8am to 12pm and Fridays - 8am to 12pm.
The Redcar testing centre will move out of the Heart Sports Hall from Friday 9 April and reopen at Redcar and Cleveland House – just over the road at the library – from Monday 12 April. Opening days/ and hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am to 1pm. Closed on Wednesday.
There will be no change at Loftus Fire Station testing centre which is open Mondays, 8am – 12pm; Tuesdays, 8am – 12.00pm; Thursdays, 2pm – 6pm and Saturdays 9am – 1pm
Tests at Redcar and Loftus can be booked at www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk or by ringing 01642 774774. Coronavirus home testing kits can be ordered by visiting: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
Weddings and funerals
In common with the other areas across England, funerals can continue with up to 30 attendees from April 12. Weddings, outdoor receptions, and commemorative events including wakes will be able to take place with up to 15 attendees (in premises that are permitted to open). Find out more on the council's website.
Shops and hospitality businesses and other commercial services are also re-opening and some have had support and guidance from the council.
Information on established grants for all businesses – not only retail and hospitality - is available on the council's website. Restart grants for all eligible businesses will be paid as soon as possible, when all government required checks have been completed.
Those businesses significantly impacted by Covid-19 lockdown between 5 November 2020 and 31 March 2021 which have not received a government grant in relation to the November and January lockdowns are also now able to apply for a new grant. If successful, a one-off payment, which can range from £1,000 to £10,000, will be issued. Eligible businesses only have until April 30 to apply for the grant and can do so by visiting www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Businesses due to reopen include:
Pubs, shops and restaurants.
Hospitality businesses will be allowed to serve customers outdoors – as long as social distancing rules are followed. Council officers have been in touch with these businesses across the borough and, after discussions with them and others, have issued guidance.
Temporary pavement licences have been made available and in some cases the council has agreed to close street parking and loading bays to provide more space.
Non-essential shops and hairdressers
New signage will be installed at retail centres to remind people about social distancing at retail centres and leisure areas. Covid Ambassadors will be patrolling and will be on hand to offer advice and support for both shoppers and businesses.
Self-contained accommodation
Tourism businesses like caravan parks and holiday lets have been advised they may open self-contained accommodation.
Councillor Steve Kay, Cabinet Member for a Health, Housing and Welfare, has stressed that safety must come first. He said: “It's heartening to see Covid restrictions easing and life becoming more normal and our wonderful businesses and community services deserve all our support. However, we don't want to find ourselves heading back to another lockdown after all this good progress. Let's continue to work together to overcome this awful disease by observing the guidance and keeping everyone safe.
“I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank our frontline staff who have kept our essential services going while following all safety rules, including those supporting some of our most vulnerable people, right through the pandemic, whether in full lockdown or not."
Find out more on the council's website or call 01642 774774.