Council Ramps Up Coronavirus Response by Suspending Services
Libraries, leisure centres and community halls now closed
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Hounslow Council has announced that it is to suspend a ranger of its services in order to follow the Government’s direction on increasing social distancing.
All libraries in the borough will be shut as well as leisure centres including Chiswick New Pool and Brentford Fountains Leisure Centre. The Home Library service will continue to operate.
All public halls and community halls run by the council are to be closed until further notice. Hogarth’s House will also be shut. Gunnersbury Park Museum closed on Wednesday 18 March.
Member surgeries are being suspended.
The Bridge Road Depot public MOT testing service is also closed
Resident access to SpaceWaye will be suspended although it will remain open for trade waste businesses – 8am – 3pm seven days a week. Last entry is 2.45pm).
Schools in the borough remain open but only for the children of designated key workers.
Hounslow House remains open, though you are asked not to come in person unless you think it’s absolutely necessary. The council say that queries can be managed on their website, and they have promised increasing support for telephone and video appointments, including for housing, revenues and benefits from Monday 23 March.
A joint statement from Council Leader Steve Curran and Chief Executive Niall Bolger says, “Important services that keep the borough running, including waste collection, street cleaning, bulky waste collection, mobile and online library services, and many that support and protect our most vulnerable residents will continue as normal.
“Please visit our website: www.hounslow.gov.uk/coronavirus for the latest information on council services, how to contact us, and advice and guidance on coronavirus.
“The coronavirus is of course a grave concern for us all. Our priority, above all else, is the protection of our vulnerable residents and the delivery of frontline services on which people rely.
“The Council is working closely with our local partners, particularly those in the NHS, as well as Public Health England and the Government, to control the spread of coronavirus.
“We are also working with our community and voluntary sector to establish a community hub which will act as a focal point for queries from residents and businesses, and help manage the ongoing support effort for our most vulnerable. It is expected to be open and operational next week with a phoneline, email address and website through which queries can be channelled.
“It’s so important that together, as a borough, we all pull together during these difficult times to support each other and help keep our more vulnerable residents safe. We all have a responsibility to follow the guidance from Government and the NHS to try to keep ourselves and others free from infection and help prevent the disease from spreading.
“We want to thank everyone in the borough who has gone above and beyond in their efforts. We are very proud of the residents and businesses of Hounslow and are sure, if we all work together over these coming months, we will be stronger for it.
“Information and advice is available on our coronavirus web page www.hounslow.gov.uk/coronavirus and we have a regular coronavirus e-newsletter too which we urge everyone to sign up to. “
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March 23, 2020
