Council’s stay safe approach as we enter Stage 4 of the Covid roadmap
St Albans City and District Council is maintaining many of the measures it put in place for Covid safety in view of the rise in cases across the country and locally, while slowly opening up services more widely.
While the government has announced the end of many of the legal restrictions relating to Coronavirus, the Council is still required to consider the risks of COVID to ensure customer and staff safety.
The Museums Service
Visitors to the District’s museums are encouraged to wear masks, and staff continue to wear visors. Touch spots are being cleaned regularly, and visitors have access to hand sanitiser stations throughout both museum sites. Both museums will keep spaces as well ventilated as possible. Visitor numbers are being managed to ensure people feel safe when visiting the museum. Visitors are asked to book ahead so they have a guaranteed timeslot for their visit at Verulamium Museum. (To make a booking, see: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/verulamium-museum-tickets). Staff continue to work in bubbles to ensure resilience across the museums service.
Leisure Centres
Additional hygiene and control measures remain in place, and sanitiser stations are located at points around the leisure centres. All public areas are checked regularly by staff. Users are encouraged to wear face coverings when moving around the centres. Class sizes have increased to help satisfy demand but are not yet operating at maximum capacity. Booking systems remain in place*.
The Splash Park in Verulamium Park
The Toddler Splash Park will be open 7 days a week until Sunday 8 September. The new booking system for the Splash Park** remains in place so that numbers can be managed safely.
Cllr Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the Council’s Public Realm Committee, and Lead Councillor for a range of community services, said:
“We need to strike the right balance between getting things back to normal and keeping people safe. Many people will be reassured by continuing attention to hygiene, space management and ventilation, and, while we want to offer a warm welcome to as many people as possible to use the local leisure facilities, it makes sense to do so in a gradual way, especially while the vaccination programme continues.”
Markets
The Council is retaining the current layout and operations of the Charter Market for the short term, monitoring the COVID data, and planning a phased approach to bringing back former traders and adding new ones to trade.
Cllr Mandy McNeil, Vice Chair of the Council’s Regeneration and Business Committee and Lead Councillor for a number of business areas including the markets, said:
“Ultimately, the Council's goal is the safe return of permanent traders and Council officers will be writing to them shortly to find out what their plans are.
“The return of additional traders means pitches will be closer together. The markets team will discuss all changes to pitches with the traders affected.
“Longer term, the team plans to invite further traders from their long waiting list to trade, including traders who currently trade only one day a week. They will be looking for traders who can add something new complementing both the existing market mix and that of the city centre retail and hospitality businesses. In this way the Council aims to develop the range of products and services offered at the market and in the City centre as a whole.
“The market manager has written to traders to explain the changes and reassure them that the Council will continue to consult with them to address any concerns they may have.”
Councillor contacts:
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair of St Albans City and District Council’s Public Realm Committee and Lead Councillor for a range of community services. cllr.a.rowlands@stalbans.gov.uk, tel 07761 232064
Cllr Mandy McNeil, Vice Chair of St Albans City and District Council’s Regeneration and Business Committee, and Lead Councillor for a range of business services, including markets. cllr.m.mcneil@stalbans.gov.uk, tel 07584 198999
Media contact:
Claire Wainwright, Policy and Communications Manager, St Albans City and District Council: claire.wainwright@stalbans.gov.uk, tel 01727 819572.
Notes
*Booking for leisure centre activities:
https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/westminster-lodge-leisure-centre/
https://www.1life.co.uk/Harpenden-Leisure-centre/
https://www.1life.co.uk/Batchwood-Golf-Course-and-Sports-Centre/
https://www.1life.co.uk/cotlandswick-leisure-centre/
https://www.1life.co.uk/Abbey-View-Golf-and-Track-Facility/
**Splash Park bookings: