5th November 2020

Covid-19 RESTRICTIONS AND Bracknell Forest Council Services

• For education;
• For work, if you cannot work from home;
• For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household;
• For all medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm;
• To shop for food and essentials;
• And to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday on new national restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19, some Bracknell Forest Council buildings will be closed from today (Thursday, 5 November).

As in the initial lockdown in the spring, the majority of council services will still be accessible via online and digital means but our most of our libraries and leisure services, run by our partner Everyone Active (Bracknell Leisure Centre, Coral Reef Waterworld and Downshire Golf Course) are now closed in line with the new national lockdown measures.

Parks, open spaces and playgrounds will remain open as will the Click & Tip service at the Longshot Lane waste and recycling centre (re3.fccenvironment.co.uk/click-tip-services ). Schools, nurseries, colleges and childminders will also remain open.

Bracknell Library is open for 'select and collect' only. Crowthorne Library’s select and collect service will be available from tomorrow (Friday); Whitegrove Library’s select and collect service will be open from Saturday; and Sandhurst Library’s select and collect service will start next Thursday. (www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-and-support/council-services/libraries-service-updates)

Our community learning team is continuing to provide support to learners, this will be via a mixture of classroom based and online learning. Access to the Open Learning Centre will be via appointment only. More information is available via the community learning webpages. (www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/community-learning)

The Look Out outdoor playground will remain open but with tighter, revised arrangements and a reduced capacity.  Spaces must be booked in advance via the online booking system but there is no longer a charge for booking the play area. Bookings cover access to the play area for a specific period of time only. Visitors must follow government guidance and stay within their household bubbles.

Indoor facilities at The Look Out Discovery Centre will remain closed, however, the coffee shop will remain open for takeaway only and the forest remains open for exercise. The car park will remain open; pay and display charges apply.

From today, residents must stay at home, and should only leave their homes for a limited set of reasons. These include:

If you are self-isolating, are clinically extremely vulnerable or need support with anything from finance to mental health, there is help available.

The Bracknell Forest Community Response can help if you live in Bracknell Forest, don't have support from family and friends and you:

• have received a letter from the Government telling you that you are clinically extremely vulnerable
• are self-isolating due to having COVID-19 symptoms or living with someone who does, or if you have been asked to do so by NHS Test and Trace
• are social distancing but have other health conditions, disabilities or caring responsibilities that make it difficult for you to leave your home

The response can help with things like:

• food shopping
• collecting prescriptions
• dog walking
• information and advice

Contact the Bracknell Forest Community Response by:

• Email: community@theark.org.uk
• Phone: 01344 266911 between 8am and 8pm

If you are struggling with anything from staying active at home, mental health, access to food or financial, housing and welfare advice, visit our website support pages.

The coronavirus job retention scheme, known as the furlough scheme, will remain open until December, with employees receiving 80 per cent of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.

Cllr Paul Bettison OBE, Leader of Bracknell Forest Council and Chair of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board, said: “It’s really important that we all follow the national restrictions in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our borough from the spread of COVID-19.

“Naturally, I know people will be disappointed that some businesses and services will have to close again but this step has been brought in by the Government to help keep us and our loved ones safe.

“If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, are self-isolating and do not have family and friends nearby, are concerned about your mental, physical or emotional wellbeing, or need some financial help, there is support available. Please visit the coronavirus support section of our website for more information.

“Together we can and will overcome this virus and together we can protect each other and our borough.”

Visit: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/coronavirus.

News Release