09 04 20 Covid-19 update from Bridgend County Borough

As the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic continues, Bridgend County Borough Council is continuing to focus its resources on providing essential services and protecting vulnerable residents. The following information provides a summary of latest developments, with the most recent additions at the top:

Easter Bank holiday

With warm weather forecast over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Bridgend County Borough Council is urging people to stay safe at home, prevent the risk of exposure and help protect the NHS. All cemeteries, parks and playgrounds remain closed, and car parks at Rest Bay and Salt Lake in Porthcawl have been shut with digital signage erected on routes into the town. Tannoy cars are patrolling the county borough, and South Wales Police will be monitoring the situation closely.

Foodbank access

Food bank opening times have been confirmed for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. On Friday 10 April, only the Bridgend, Maesteg foodbanks (11am-1pm) and Pontcymmer (12pm-2pm) foodbanks will be open. None will be open on Monday 13 April, and on Tuesday 14 April, foodbanks at Bridgend, Caerau, Maesteg (11am-1pm) and Porthcawl (10am-12pm) will be available. For more information, visit the Bridgend Foodbank website.

Recycling and refuse collections

Recycling and refuse collections will be picked up as usual on Good Friday and one day later than normal following the Bank Holiday Monday, up to and including Saturday 18 April. Deliveries of blue waste bags and green food recycling bags are ongoing, but have been slightly delayed because of the effects of the pandemic. Additional delivery rounds are underway and the service is expected to be back on schedule very soon.

Protect yourself from rogue traders

With an increase in the number of waste removal businesses advertising services on social media, residents are being urged to check that they are licensed waste carriers before paying for any services.  If a business is not properly licensed, your waste could end up being fly-tipped and lead to potential prosecution. You can find out more at the Natural Resources Wales website.     

Garden bonfires

The council and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are warning residents about burning household rubbish and garden waste. Fires which get out of hand can result in firefighting resources being called away from frontline efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, and health concerns include the potential effect on neighbours with respiratory problems, especially those recovering from the coronavirus. Residents are being asked to maximise all recycling, compost garden waste and store any items that may need to go to the community recycling centres when they reopen.

£6.4m business funding support
Local businesses have benefitted from more than £6.4m of business grant funding issued by Bridgend County Borough Council as part of Welsh Government’s Covid-19 business support package. The council has processed 468 applications in just over a week, and is reminding businesses to provide accurate details when making applications to prevent delays. The support is available to local businesses eligible for small business rates relief in Wales with a rateable value of £12,000 or less, and retail, leisure or hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £12,001 to £51,000. You can find out more and submit an application using the council’s online form.

School modernisation

The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has forced various school modernisation projects to temporarily stop construction. With issues surrounding the availability of building supplies, social distancing requirements and health and safety implications for staff, projects such as the East Hub and new classrooms at Cefn Cribwr Primary have paused, forcing an unavoidable delay in their anticipated completion. The council and its partners are monitoring the situation closely, and construction will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.

Community improvements

Funding totalling more than £90,000 has been agreed for town and community councils to enable a range of projects to go ahead throughout 2020-21. Cefn Cribwr Community Council will invest in the renovation of Cae Gof Pavilion in support of local rugby and football teams. Coity Higher will refurbish play areas in Litchard Park, and Cornelly will upgrade the local community centre. Garw Valley will carry out essential maintenance of Betws Life Centre, Laleston will refurbish the Bryntirion and Laleston community centre. Maesteg Town Council will establish a grant fund which can be used to support local clubs, and Newcastle Higher will provide new surfacing, lighting and an upgrade of the Penyfai playing fields. Pencoed will continue with an upgrade of Pencoed Pavilion, Porthcawl will refurbish the John Street toilets, and Pyle will provide new play equipment at Waun Cimla park.

Bus services for key workers
A number of early morning bus routes have been reinstated across Bridgend County Borough to support key workers and help them travel between their homes and work. From Tuesday 14 April, key workers will be able to use the following early morning services: Service 63 (6:40am from Porthcawl to Bridgend / 7:35am from Bridgend to Porthcawl), service 70 (6:25am from Cymmer to Bridgend / 8am from Bridgend to Cymmer), service 73 (6:40am from Blaengarw to Bridgend / 7:35am from Bridgend to Blaengarw), service 74 (6:40am from Nantymoel to Bridgend / 8:17am from Nantymoel to Bridgend / 7:30am from Bridgend to Nantymoel) and service X2 (6:20am from Bridgend to Cardiff / 7:20am from Cardiff to Bridgend). For more details of the early morning services, please visit the First Cymru website.

Halo memberships
The council’s leisure partner, Halo Leisure, has put monthly membership fees on hold while the pandemic is in effect, and no further monthly payments will be taken while venues are closed. 

Extra bed capacity
Three former care homes are being refurbished to provide 150 extra beds during the peak of the coronavirus outbreak. The council is working with the premises owners and Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board to ensure sufficient recovery beds are available to support the Princess of Wales Hospital, and that the hospital can focus on treating patients who require acute medical care. The three former care homes are Abergarw Manor in Brynmenyn, and the Ty Llynfi and Hyfrydol care homes in Maesteg.

Emergency childcare
The council is working hard to provide emergency childcare for key workers. In order to ensure demand can be met, it has to date been made available to a limited number of key worker occupations. The council is now looking at how provision could be expanded to provide safe care for the children of key workers from local and national government, food and other necessary goods, public safety and national security, transport, and utilities, communication and financial services. Anyone working in the above industries who wants to register an interest in accessing the emergency childcare can do so by emailing EDFSCOVIDKEYWORKERS@bridgend.gov.uk with their name, email address and home address. Remember to include the number of children needing to use the service, their names and dates of birth, and their schools and school year group. More details are available at the council’s website - please note that registering an interest does not constitute an offer of access to emergency childcare, and that it is strongly recommended you keep children at home unless it is vital for you to access emergency childcare provision and you have no other childcare options available.  

Social care opportunities
More people are being sought to help support the county borough’s most vulnerable residents. A number of employment opportunities are available, and anyone who has previously worked in social care or who has transferable skills is invited to apply. A fast-tracked application process and rapid refresher training course are available. To apply or find out more, visit the job pages at the council’s website.

Contacting the council
The Customer Service Centre at the Civic Offices in Angel Street, Bridgend remains closed to the public. Residents are asked to use the online My Account and Oggie webchat facilities, or to email talktous@bridgend.gov.uk or call 01656 643643.