The council has revealed which services will close and which will stay open during the second national coronavirus lockdown, which lasts from today until at least December 2.

​In his new weekly newsletter on Covid-19, Reading Borough Council (RBC) leader Jason Brock highlighted the changes and spoke of the importance of following the rules.

He said: “We all know these restrictions aren’t easy, but we do need to act to make sure we can protect vulnerable people and prevent the NHS being overwhelmed this winter.

“If we all do the right thing and follow the rules then I hope we can make a faster economic and social recovery when the lockdown is over.”

READ MORE: Figures reveal how successful Reading's Covid contact tracers have been in first week

Reading’s coronavirus cases have reached 140 cases per 100,000 people in seven days, as of November 4.

Which services are closing?

The following Council services will close temporarily:

  • Reading Museum and Town Hall (Coroner’s Court will remain open)
  • Marriage appointments and wedding ceremonies (but notice of marriage and birth registration appointments are still running)
  • RSL Leisure centres at South Reading, Palmer Park and Meadway, along with Rivermead
  • Outdoor sports such as football pitches
  • Reading Arts venues – the Hexagon and South Street Arts Centre

Which services are staying open?

RBC says all other services will continue. A selection of services remaining open is highlighted below.

For more information click here.

Waste and recycling

This includes waste and recycling collections and booked appointments at the Re3 recycling centres.

The council will also be increasing collections from bottle and clothing banks due to increased demand and will start waste collections an hour earlier than usual until further notice.

Funerals

Funerals are allowed with a maximum of 30 people in attendance.

The council has followed government guidance to calculate the maximum number of attendees in the chapels of Reading Crematorium, which will be:

South Chapel – 20

West Chapel – 10

RBC is trialling the use of West Chapel as part of the South Chapel service, to allow 30 attendees.

Only services booked in the South Chapel at 1.45pm, 2.30pm, and 3.15pm will have this option.

If families wish to use this option, ten mourners will watch the service on a screen in the smaller chapel.

Libraries

Central Library and Caversham Library also remains open for booked appointments, though computer use will be temporarily suspended.

The visa service continues and order and collect will continue with some changes.

All other libraries remain temporarily closed.

Care homes and day centres

Strathey Close Day Centre remains open with restrictions, while Maple Day Centre is closed until further notice.

Whitley Wood Respite Care is running with limited capacity.

Nursing homes should be contacted directly for their policies and guidance.

Schools and other education

Reading’s schools, colleges and the University of Reading remain open.

Cllr Brock said: “This will be important for the wellbeing of our young people”.

Support during lockdown

The One Reading Community Hub will continue to help with urgent food and prescription needs, getting a priority supermarket delivery slot, or other issues such as debt, loneliness, stress and anxiety. ​

The hub can be contacted online at www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirussupport, by calling 0808 189 4325 or via Reading Deaf Centre on SMS to 07704 687298 or fax to 01189 500507

READ MORE: Thirteen under-fours among Covid cases in Reading, new figures reveal

Additionally, appointments for vulnerable people can still carry on at the Civic as per the previous arrangements.

RBC can be contacted at 0118 937 3787