We are keeping the majority of Council services running as usual during the national lockdown period, while ensuring the safety of residents and staff.
We are also introducing extra support in key areas, such as ensuring vulnerable residents have the help they need and administering grant schemes to support businesses.
The following arrangements are in place until 2 December:
Bin collections and recycling centres
Refuse collections are continuing as usual and both Chelson Meadow and Weston Mill household recycling centres remain open during their normal opening hours. You can find opening times at: www.plymouth.gov.uk/recyclingcentres
Garden waste collections are continuing until the end of November as planned.
Our gulley and drain cleansing schedules continue to operate as usual. We're also currently targeting known leaf-fall and flooding hot spots.
Street cleaning and grounds works are also continuing.
Parks, open spaces and play areas
All our parks, nature reserves and play parks remain open.
If you visit a play area please use hand sanitiser before and after and think about how you long you stay, to give everyone a chance to use it safely. Please don't use play areas if you or your child aren’t feeling well.
In Central Park, the skate park is open and the Meadow Café is serving takeaways only.
Tennis courts across the city are closed.
Public toilets
Council-run public toilets remain open.
Leisure centres
Plympton Swimming Pool and Brickfields Sports Centre are closed during the lockdown period, in line with the national guidance.
The Plymouth Life Centre will remain closed until April 2021, while urgent works are carried out inside the building.
Libraries
Our five biggest libraries are providing a Select and Collect service during the lockdown period, as well as PC use by appointment.
Customers can use the service to choose the type of books they like and staff will select titles for them ready for collection from Central, Plympton, Plymstock, St Budeaux or Southway libraries.
All other libraries are closed. Browsing in libraries offering the Select and Collect Service is not available.
The Library Service’s popular digital service is available and offers e-books and magazines, as well as audio books.
The Box
The Box has closed to comply with the Government guidance. Anyone with booked tickets is being contacted about new dates. The Tourist Information Centre on the Barbican is also shut.
Registration service
While no ceremonies such as marriages, civil partnerships or citizenship ceremonies are being held, the Register Office remains open for birth registrations and notices of marriage by appointment. Death registrations can continue to be made over the phone.
Licensing and Public Protection teams
We have a duty to ensure that businesses and venues are complying with the Government guidelines. Teams are continuing to visit premises that are allowed to open to provide information and support on how to do this.
Support for vulnerable residents
Caring for Plymouth, the partnership between the Council, Livewell Southwest and a large number of voluntary and community sector organisations, is being stood up to provide a vital lifeline for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.
Support for businesses
We will be administering a grant scheme for businesses affected by the lockdown and will be publicising how businesses can apply once this information is confirmed by the Government. Please check the website for updates.
Schools
Schools, colleges and universities remain open in line with the Government guidance. Early years settings and childminders remain open, and you can continue to use these settings as normal.
When dropping off or picking up children from school, please remember to observe social distancing.
Youth Centres will remain open with limited access by appointment only to the public
For the latest information about Council services and COVID-19 in Plymouth visit: Plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19