Coronavirus: important changes to Hartlepool Borough Council services

Published Monday, 30th March 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve announced some significant changes to our services.

These changes have been announced to reduce the risk of the virus spreading and to help keep services running that are essential to life and tackling the impact of Coronavirus – particularly those supporting vulnerable people.

To do this however, we had no choice but to prioritise what we do. Some services have stopped so more essential ones can keep going and some have been reduced.

We will need to review this on a daily basis and we will keep you as up to date as we possibly can during this extremely difficult time.

Follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds for the latest information and advice or check out our website – www.hartlepool.gov.uk/coronavirus

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “Local authorities are at the front line in the fight against coronavirus and we’ve had to make some important changes to ensure our most vulnerable residents continue to be protected.

“We’ve had to make some really tough decisions – very swiftly – to prevent the transmission of the virus and to ensure we can maintain our critical services.”

Services and venues stopped / closed until further notice:

  • Leisure centres
  • Cultural venues including Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool Art Gallery and Hartlepool Borough Hall 
  • Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Garden waste service
  • Youth Clubs
  • Bulky waste collections
  • Town centre mechanical sweepers
  • Town centre market
  • School crossing patrols
  • All events - including Hartlepool Live, Armed Forces Day celebrations and the Hartlepool Waterfront Festival

Services continuing in a reduced capacity:

  • We will only carry out emergency highway and streetlight repairs
  • We will only carry out essential gully clearing
  • Parks remain open to pedestrians for the purpose of exercising. However, play areas around the town, including those within parks, are closed until further notice
  • Although all Hartlepool libraries are closed, online services can still be accessed by clicking here
  • Street cleansing services cut back to minimum levels with a focus on emptying waste and dog bins
  • Grass cutting and grounds maintenance will be restricted to minimum levels with the exception of areas where it is needed to ensure public safety
  • Children’s Centres are closed to open access but appointments can be appointments can be booked to see staff – allowing parents to access to health visitors and community nursery nurses 
  • Crematorium and Burial Services continue to operate but in line with Government COVID-19 guidance

Services currently operating as normal:

  • Refuse and recycling collections continue as normal for now
  • Passenger transport will continue to operate while schools remain open and there is a demand
  • School meal service for children of critical key workers and children eligible for free school meals
  • CCTV continues to operate 24/7
  • Fleet services continue to operate to ensure Council vehicles are kept on the road delivering key priority services

We need your help too:

Every resident can play their part in the fight against coronavirus. You can do this by complying with the government guidelines and also by helping out locally as follows:

  • Please help us keep Hartlepool’s streets and green spaces clean by taking any litter home with you when you are out exercising.
  • For dog owners, it’s so important you continue to clean up after your dog and – wherever possible – take the bags home to bin.

Councillor Moore added: “This is an unprecedented situation we face and I would also call on all Hartlepool residents to play their part and be mindful of the impact of their actions on others.

“In particular, this weekend we have had reports of overflowing dog waste bins and I would ask dog owners to clean up after their dog and – wherever possible – take the bags home to bin.

“Hartlepool has a great tradition of coming together to support one another in times of need and I’ve heard and seen so many examples of this over the past fortnight.

“Most importantly, please continue to stay at home and follow government advice to take your exercise locally.”