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27 March 2020
Teams across the Council have been working flat out over the last couple of weeks to manage the impact of COVID-19 on local services and respond quickly to the fast-changing directives from Government.
Our priority is to keep residents safe and protect the elderly and vulnerable, as well as support local businesses, key workers and those who are experiencing financial difficulty.
Many of our staff are being redeployed to fill critical roles, ensuring essential services are maintained while protecting the most vulnerable as the country tries to minimise the impact of coronavirus.
As well as implementing Government measures we have been taking our own steps to support the city, such as offering business rates deferral and revised payment options and discounts for Council Tax, suspending charges in car parks and tolls on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry and lifting time restrictions for national bus passes.
We are helping to co-ordinate support for an estimated 8,000 people who have been identified as being the most vulnerable people in Plymouth through their age or medical conditions.
Teams are providing a wide range of support for vulnerable and homeless people, ensuring people can leave hospital by securing bed spaces, providing social care in the community and continuing to deliver vital services to protect and care for our children and young people.
We are all in this together. Find out more about the huge efforts being made in Plymouth to respond the crisis.
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A small army of volunteers is assembling to help Plymouth’s most vulnerable through the coronavirus outbreak.
They’re all joining our new Plymouth Good Neighbours Scheme, bringing together community groups and charities across the city to provide a central place for people to put their hat in the ring to help.
We’re linking volunteers with different skillsets to the right places at the right time so that people get the support they need.
Find out more and register here.
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Refuse collections are still running as usual but our recycling centres are closed and garden waste and bulky waste collections have been suspended.
Our leisure facilities and play areas are closed but parks remain open for exercise. Libraries are closed but you can still renew items and access services from home.
Plymouth City Market is closed but some food traders are operating from perimeter shops.
Weston Mill Cemetery and Crematorium is open but the main office is closed and there are some restrictions in place.
See our COVID-19 information page for the latest updates.
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We’re writing to local businesses eligible for support through the Government’s new Small Business Grants Fund.
We estimate that around 3,500 businesses across the city will qualify for grants of up to £25,000.
We want to help them access this financial help as soon as possible to get them through the current uncertainties created by COVID-19.
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We’ve suspended charges in Council car parks to support emergency services, NHS and care workers and other key workers who are keeping our city’s residents safe.
The focus is on supporting those providing essential services, which is why we are still enforcing yellow lines, footway parking, disabled parking bays, business bays and doctors/emergency bays.
We are asking that people continue to observe restrictions to help keep entrances and roads clear for those who need to visit and care for the vulnerable.
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Sport England have created a web hub of indoor exercise materials to help you keep fit during social distancing.
The Stay in, work out website is full of fun and creative ideas on how to stay active at home, including exclusive offers and workouts.
There's also advice to help you make the most out of the fresh air during your daily walk, run or cycle.
Have a look and share your #StayInWorkOut on social media.
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Trading Standards are warning people to remain vigilant following a rise in coronavirus-related scams.
Residents should ignore scam products such as supplements and anti-virus kits that falsely claim to cure or prevent COVID-19 and look out for email scams that trick people into opening malicious attachments.
See the Friends Against Scams website for further advice.
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This email with friends and family if you think the information might be useful to them.
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