Babies born during the pandemic can now be registered

Appointments are now available at Bridgend Register Office for parents who have been unable to register the birth of babies born during the Covid-19 coronavirus as well as couples who wish to give notice of a forthcoming marriage or civil partnership.

The appointments will be available from Monday 13 July at Bridgend Register Office’s all-new premises within the Civic Offices at Angel Street, Bridgend, and can be booked by calling 01656 642391 or emailing registrar@bridgend.gov.uk

Please note that while the pandemic is in effect, Bridgend Register Office will only be accessible via appointment and there is no drop-in service available at this time. Once an appointment has been made, access to Bridgend Register Office will be available via the ceremony entrance, which is located at the side of the Civic Offices.

As well as being the main point of call for registering births and deaths, the all-new Bridgend Register Office has been especially adapted to host bilingual marriages, civil partnerships, citizenship ceremonies, vow renewals, baby-naming celebrations and more.

The fully-accessible new premises includes a ceremony room capable of accommodating up to 50 guests, and is equipped with a new sound and lighting system to help create the perfect atmosphere. Improved wi-fi and a hearing loop have also been installed to help guests to share their special occasion with family and friends.

Depending on what national guidelines are in place at the time, the council anticipates that marriages and other ceremonies will be able to take place at the new premises from 24 August. Work is also underway to support the issuing of certificates from this date.

Events at the former Ty’r Ardd premises near Sunnyside can take place in the meantime, but due to coronavirus restrictions and social distancing requirements, there are strict limits on how many people can attend.

I’m sure that residents will welcome this opportunity to register the birth of their new baby or take the first steps towards getting married or enter into a civil partnership. Since lockdown restrictions came into effect, there have been more than 700 births in the county borough, and around 200 weddings and ceremonies have had to be cancelled or postponed.

To support couples as they go about rearranging their big day, the council is waiving notice fees for anyone who had to postpone their ceremony because of the pandemic. Our registrars have been working closely with couples to rearrange services to new dates, and have informed all those who have been affected.

I’m looking forward to seeing the all-new Bridgend Register Office revealed as part of its official opening once pandemic restrictions have eased.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations