Dudley Council - coronavirus updates 5 June

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council sent this bulletin at 05-06-2020 05:06 PM BST

Online bookings for the tip

From today (5 June) residents attending in a car and those with existing permits will be able to go online to book a disposal slot at the tip.

The number of visits per hour is being limited to allow people to use the site safely. Households and existing permit holders will be limited to one visit per week (subject to availability) to maximise the number of residents that can benefit from the site being open. Anyone turning up without a prior appointment will be turned away without exception.

New test and trace

Anyone in England who tests positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by the NHS Test & Trace service

People are also advised to be vigilant regarding Test & Trace scams

More shops to re-open

With more shops expected to open later this month, we've been preparing to put plans in place to allow people to visit the town centres safely.

Priority areas will be places with narrow footpaths and busy pedestrian areas. Measures could include widening footpaths by using part of the road in areas where there is high footfall. Signs, floor markers and one-way pedestrian access are also planned in some areas.

Supporting you throughout COVID-19

We know this has been a challenging time for all of us, and we've been working hard to try and support our communities.

We've procured 41,750 litres of sanitiser
Issued 846 free parking permits to support businesses and key workers
Collected 10% more refuse and 15% more recycling than usual
Issued £46.3m in business grants to 4,021 businesses

And supported care homes, vulnerable and shielded people. Find out more below

Virtual council meetings

Virtual meetings are underway in Dudley after government regulations gave the green light for council business to take place online during the Covid-19 emergency.

The development control committee was the first to meet virtually on May 26 and the council has now set a programme of meetings up to August, after which the situation will be reviewed.

More mourners able to attend funerals

Following the latest government guidance, we've been able to increase the number of people able to attend funeral services.

At Gornal Wood, 16 mourners will now be able to attend in chapel with 15 additional mourners allowed to stand outside to listen to service via external speakers.

Due to the smaller chapel size, Stourbridge Crematorium will still be limited to 10 persons in the chapel but an additional 15 will now be allowed outside.

Burials in Dudley borough cemeteries will now be limited to 30 mourners, adhering to 2 metre distancing.

Car parking charges at Himley

Parking charges are to be reinstated for visitors to Himley Hall and Park next week.

The charge had been suspended during the coronavirus crisis, but visitors will have to pay again from Monday 8 June

Breastfeeding for health

One of the best things you can do for your baby is to breastfeed, especially during the current coronavirus outbreak. Breastmilk protects babies from infectious diseases and boosts their immune system. Ask your midwife for support, or call 01384 244358 for community breastfeeding support.

Help with energy bills

With more people staying at home, Dudley Council’s Energy Advice Line can help people to save money on their home energy bills, find grants and discounts and even free insulation or boilers

Online activities for children

Parents and carers can get easy access to a wealth of online resources to help them support their children throughout the coronavirus crisis

Park life

Our parks and nature reserves are open but please use them responsibly and remember to use bins or take your litter home with you.

Social distancing is crucial to reduce the spread of coronavirus, so please keep a 2 metre distance at all times to stay safe.

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