Update on current availability of services

PR Date: Friday, 15 May 2020 - 8:45am

Following the government’s latest guidance on staying safe outside your home which came in to effect this week, we wanted to update you on the current status of council services and facilities that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

We want to thank everyone in North Hertfordshire for their patience and support in these difficult times. We are continually monitoring government guidance and have begun to look at ways that we can re-open additional services where it is safe to do so. Please keep up to date by visiting our website and subscribe to receive further updates by email or text.

Cllr Martin Stears-Handscomb Leader (Labour and Co-operative)

Cllr Paul Clark Deputy Leader (Liberal Democrat)

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Customer Service Centre and Council Offices

• The Customer Service Centre and council offices remain closed.
• Please contact us online or call us on 01462 474000 instead.

Waste and recycling

• Garden waste and food waste collections restarted on Monday this week. It is taking longer than normal to complete collections due to the build-up of waste in bins, so we ask you to please bear with us and be patient. If your bin hasn’t been collected by the end of the correct day, you can report it as missed in the usual way.
• Bulky waste collections will restart next week (18 May). To protect our crews, please do not book a bulky waste collection if your household is in isolation as a result of COVID-19, unless items can be disinfected and left safely within your boundary for up to 72hours before collection.
• Household Waste Recycling Centres at Letchworth and Royston have reopened for essential visits only. Please check opening times and what qualifies as an essential visit on the Hertfordshire County Council website.

Leisure and parks

• Some tennis courts are now open for use, but social distancing is essential. These are at:

• Studlands Rise, Royston
• Priory Gardens, Baldock
• Norton Common, Letchworth
• King George V, Hitchin

• All other playgrounds, multi-use games areas, tennis courts and facilities within parks remain closed. Courts, pitches and adult gym equipment must not be used.
• All leisure centres (North Herts Leisure Centre, Royston Leisure Centre, Fearnhill Sports Centre and Hitchin Swimming Centre) remain closed.
• Parks and open spaces are open for exercise, but you must observe social distancing guidance (stay more than 2 metres from others).

North Hertfordshire Museum and Hitchin Town Hall

• Both Hitchin Town Hall and North Hertfordshire Museum remain closed.
• You can take a peep inside the museum by subscribing their YouTube video channel.

Other services and facilities

• Allotment plots are now available to hire again.
• Cemeteries are open to visitors, however non-essential visits should be avoided. Graveside services are permitted, although attendance at funerals is limited to 10 mourners.
• Public toilets at Howard Park in Letchworth, Fish Hill in Royston and The Arcade in Hitchin are closed. Disabled toilets are accessible with radar keys.
• Car parks: the Lairage multi-storey car park in Hitchin and Garden Square multi-storey car park in Letchworth are open but the lifts remain temporarily out of service for safety reasons.