Changes to council services in Chesterfield
Chesterfield Borough Council have issued the below statement:
The safety of our residents and staff has been considered carefully following the latest government guidance relating to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak and as a result we have had to make a number of changes to service delivery.
Customer services arrangements
We would like to reassure residents and businesses that Chesterfield Borough Council remains open and people can continue to contact us through our website, by telephone or if absolutely necessary, can visit us in person at our Customer Service Centre.
Our preference is for people to make contact through our website (www.chesterfield.gov.uk) or by telephone (01246 345345), to enable us to reduce face to face contact as much as possible.
It is very likely that the council will move a number of services to essential response only, as more stringent social distancing measures are expected to be introduced in the coming days. More information will be published as any changes are made.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s Leader, Councillor Tricia Gilby, said: “We understand this is a difficult time for everyone, but I want to reassure residents and those who have businesses and work in the borough, that public safety is our top priority. We are working closely with our partner agencies and monitoring the guidance provided by the government so that we can ensure that the council’s services continue to operate wherever possible.
“We will continue to coordinate our response to this unprecedented situation as it develops, and updates to services will be published on our website and social media channels. We are a resilient borough with a strong sense of community, and I am sure this will help us all tackle the serious challenges that lie ahead.”
Theatres, museums and Visitor Information Centre
We have made the decision to postpone or cancel all events at the Winding Wheel Theatre and Pomegranate Theatre up to and including Saturday 2 May.
This position will be regularly reviewed, and customers will be advised if the closure period is to be shortened or extended past this date.
If you have tickets booked for one of the shows at our theatres, a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible to provide more information.
Our Visitor Information Centre has also been closed. However, the services provided at the Centre can still be obtained by reference to the above customer services arrangements.
Chesterfield Museum and Revolution House will also be closed to the public until further notice.
Local events and other venues
Events due to take place at local parks have also been cancelled. Hasland Village Hall and the Assembly Rooms will also be closed until at least May.
Leisure
Queen’s Park Sports Centre and the Healthy Living Centre have suspended, until further notice, the provision of group activities such as swimming lessons, fitness classes, climbing instruction and gymnastics classes. This is to remove the opportunity for larger groups to come together in the leisure centres in line with the Government guidance issued earlier this week.
Currently customers can still attend the leisure centres to undertake personal fitness activities, however, we are constantly reviewing the situation and more information will be published in due course.
Facilities are available at both centres for customers to wash their hands with soap and water, as well as there being a number of hand sanitiser points.
Extra cleaning regimes have also been implemented including to regular touchpoints such as gym equipment, door handles, lockers and water fountains.
Our leisure teams will contact customers where appropriate to advise of any further changes including through the use of social media and the council’s website.
If you are a member and unable to attend our facilities at this time, memberships can be suspended, and Direct Debit payments can be frozen. These can then be reactivated at a later date.
For further information or for advice on membership suspension and payments please email your enquiry to (for Queen’s Park Sports Centre) qpscenquiries@chesterfield.gov.uk / (for the Healthy Living Centre) hlcenquiries@chesterfield.gov.uk
The latest service related updates will be available on the council’s website www.chesterfield.gov.uk or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
