Covid-19 update from Bridgend County Borough 24 03 2020

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:

Public transport

A number of privately-run bus services have been suspended as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Affected services include the 861 Nottage to Porthcawl service, the 81 Bridgend to Pen-y-Fai and Brackla service, the 49 Bridgend to Oaklands Road, Broadlands and Ystrad Fawr service, and the 16 Bridgend to Bettws service.

Local markets

Most stalls at local markets in Bridgend County Borough are closed in line with latest Government advice. At Bridgend Indoor Market, Woods Butchers and the Deli on the Corner will be open on Tuesday 25 March until 2.30pm, and on Thursday 27 March until 2.30pm. They will then close until further notice. At Maesteg Market, Andrew Garner Butchers and Carmarthenshire Dairy Foods are currently open, but are reviewing the situation daily.

Register Office

Bridgend Register Office is closed. All ceremonies have been cancelled until further notice, and appointments to register new births have been suspended with no penalties for not registering within 42 days. Funeral directors are advising people directly on arrangements for registering deaths, and replacement certificates can be obtained from the Gov.uk website or by calling 0300 123 1837.

Recycling and waste

The three community recycling centres in the county borough have closed until further notice.

Recycling and waste collections are currently going ahead as normal currently. While the two-bag limit still applies, the council is working closely alongside its waste partner, Kier, to monitor the situation and if necessary will make further announcements.

Essential shops

The essential shops which can remain open during the lockdown are described at the Welsh Government website along with those that must close.

Businesses

The local authority is awaiting further information from Welsh Government on grants for businesses. As soon as we have the relevant details we will notify businesses as quickly as possible.

Car parks and Shopmobility

The Rhiw and Brackla One car parks will both close from Wednesday March 25. The Shopmobility service will also close on that same date.

Rest Bay board walk, Porthcawl

The Rest Bay board walk will be closed to the public from Wednesday 25 March.

The Welsh Government has introduced emergency regulations that require local authorities to close footpaths and other rights of way where use poses a high risk to the spread of coronavirus.

The council have decided that to avoid large numbers of people gathering or being in close proximity to each other Rest Bay Boardwalk in Porthcawl, will be closed until further notice.

Letters to most vulnerable residents

Around 4,000 residents will receive letters from the Welsh Government over the next day or two urging them to stay at home for the next 12 weeks. The letter provides advice on areas such as planned GP and hospital appointments, prescriptions, wellbeing, food deliveries, and visiting carers and support workers.

Residents are asked to only contact their local authority for help if they do not have family members who can help, they do not have a local support network of friends (or others) which can help, or they do not have support from a carer or community organisation which can help. If you are isolated and need help from Bridgend County Borough Council please call 01656 643643.

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.

Parks, playing fields, car parks and public toilets

All children’s playgrounds, Bryngarw Country Park, Maesteg Welfare Park, Griffin Park in Porthcawl, and both Rest Bay Car Park and Salt Lake Car Park have closed to the public following government advice on social distancing. All public toilets apart from those at Bridgend Bus Station are closed. 

Coychurch Crematorium and cemeteries

All council-run cemeteries are currently open. Coychurch Crematorium is open, but the number of mourners attending a cremation service has been strictly limited to close family and a maximum of 10. This is to reduce the risk of exposure for staff and mourners. The chosen individuals will be decided between families and the funeral director.

Social care

A recruitment appeal is underway to help support social care services during the outbreak You can find out more at the council’s jobs page.

Assia Suite

Domestic violence support offered by the Calan DVS Assia Suite at the civic offices is focusing mainly on telephone contact, with personal appointments taking place where it is safe to do so. Refuge accommodation is continuing, as is on-call support.