As we start the second national lockdown, Dorset Council is urging residents to comply with the new restrictions, whilst advising people as to how services will be affected.

1. Household recycling centres, refuse and recycling collections, garden waste collection and commercial waste will all stay open and services will continue

2. Social care services will continue

3. Public toilets and car parks will stay open as will beaches, parks, skate parks and our green spaces

4. Registration Services (registering a birth or death) will continue, but weddings will not be held and funerals continue to be restricted to 30 mourners

5. Local country parks’ open spaces will stay open but visitor centres are closed and the restaurants will only offer takeaway services

6. Schools, colleges and childcare remain open

7. Library buildings are closed but the book lending scheme will continue online.  The Order and Collect service has re-started and there is a Home Library Service for people who are housebound.

8. Tourist Information Centres, leisure centres and history centre and archives are closed.

Leader of Dorset Council, Cllr Spencer Flower said, “I know this second national lockdown will bring challenges for many people. But the Government has made it clear that significant intervention is needed if we are going to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives this winter. I want to reassure residents that Dorset Council stands ready, once again, to support our communities by continuing to provide essential services including paying out financial packages to businesses and supporting clinically vulnerable people.

“We were in Tier 1 until this latest lockdown started, and if we all follow the guidance we hope we will still be in Tier 1 at the end of the lockdown – this is really important for us all.”

Dorset Council is also carrying out welfare checks for people who are isolating, providing emergency grant payments to businesses that have to close, supporting people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, and supporting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

Any residents who are clinically extremely vulnerable and don’t have family, friends or a support network that can help them get things like food or medicine, should request help using Dorset Council’s online form or call 01305 221000. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5pm.

If people are worried about money, redundancy or reduced pay and are finding things tough right now, they should call Dorset Citizens Advice on 0344 411 1444 for free and impartial support.