Coronavirus: Leisure centres and libraries close as council announces shut down of its County Durham venues

Durham County Council has taken action to close down some services and cancel events in response to advice from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and health experts to try and control the spread of COVID-19.

It says it is “continuously reviewing” the advice and considering how it can maintain essential services to residents.

Today, Wednesday, March 18, it said as of the end of today:

*All council venues, including Durham's Gala Theatre and Durham Town Hall, are to shut or not reopen following winter closures, until further notice. People with tickets up until the

end of May will be contacted for refunds, while Gala members will have the period of closure added to their membership.

*All council leisure centres have closed until further notice, with memberships, lessons, frozen for the period of the closure and direct debit payments to be adjusted.

Anyone who has paid upfront for will have the period of the closure added to the end of their membership.

*Libraries have also shut but it has said its mobile library service will continue to operate and residents can access online library services, including e-books and e-magazines.

The council is looking at how access to computers provided at libraries can be maintained, while fines accrued while shut will be waived.

*Council events up until the end of April will be cancelled or postponed. Durham Adventure Festival, due to take place at the Gala Theatre from April 24 to 26, has been cancelled. Refunds will be arranged.

*A full council meeting scheduled for next Wednesday, March 25, will not convene, with all other council meetings cancelled until the end of the month, when the situation will be reviewed.

*The Big Spring Clean litter-picking campaign has been cancelled with a decision to be made on whether events as part of it can take place later in the year.

The council says it is prioritising essential services, including adult and children’s services, refuse collections and support for community and voluntary groups and businesses.

Customer access points will continue to be open and provide a service to residents, as are the One Point hubs and family centres.

Household waste recycling centres remain open.

Terry Collins, the council’s chief executive, said: “We have had to take some really difficult decisions but these are based on Government advice and out of a desire to protect the health, wellbeing and safety of everyone in the county.

“We are doing our best to ensure the priority services we provide to residents – particularly the most vulnerable such as adults who receive social care and looked after children – are affected as little as possible.

“Similarly we are doing all we can to support businesses and those who suffer financial hardship, and working with other agencies to co-ordinate volunteering efforts in communities at this difficult time.

“We are looking at whether we need to change how we deliver some services in light of the current situation and will ensure residents are kept fully informed in the fast-changing situation.”

More information can be found via www.durham.gov.uk/coronavirus.