Registration team are playing catch-up with lockdown babies

CARMARTHENSHIRE Council’s registration services team are working around the clock to catch up with the registration of more than 800 babies born in the county during lockdown.

The team is also assisting couples who intend to marry or form a civil partnership or who have had their big day postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Throughout the pandemic, the team has been supporting bereaved families registering a death, although these registrations have been – and will continue to be – carried out over the phone until further guidance is issued by the General Registration Office.

The team is now in the process of contacting new parents inviting them to make an appointment to register their child’s birth.

Couples are also now able to make an appointment to give notice of their intended marriage or civil partnership, or to give new notice for a ceremony that has had to be rearranged because of the lockdown.

Appointments can be made online at www. carmarthenshire. gov. wales.

Councillor David Jenkins, executive board member for registration services, said: “Our registration services team supports families during life’s biggest occasions, both happy and sad. It has been an especially difficult time for many people who have suffered bereavement, and those who have been unable to celebrate the birth of new children or marry or form a civil partnership with the one they love.

“We are so pleased to be able to reintroduce these services but hope that people will understand the significant backlog and pressure the team are now dealing with.”

The team has already began carrying out small statutory marriage and civil partnership ceremonies at the council’s registration offices and at some religious buildings.

Ceremonies in approved premises, such as hotels, cannot yet be undertaken.

The team will be in contact with those who have ceremonies booked over the next couple of months to discuss arrangements. ■ Updates will be made available on the council’s website at www. carmarthenshire.gov. wales, alternatively enquiries can be made over the phone during office hours on 01267 228210.