Council sets its own roadmap to reopen its venues and services
Council bosses in Sunderland have been reviewing services, venues and facilities in preparation for their staged reopening as coronavirus restrictions lift.
Following the Government’s announcement of the planned roadmap for recovery, Sunderland City Council says it is working towards the proposed key milestone dates and all its services will work to Covid-secure guidelines and any restrictions in place.
While still working through the relevant national guidance, it has set out its plan for reopenings during the first two steps of the Government' s plan.
Everyone Active Centres will follow a staged reopening based on national guidance. For details visit www.everyoneactive.com
The city's three football hubs will also follow a staged reopening based on national guidance. Further information will be available at Washington Hub www.facebook.com/ football washington, Ford Hub www.facebook.com/footballford and Downhill Hub www.facebook.com/footballdownhill
From April 12, a range or services will re-open, including the museum shop at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens and Arts Centre Washington opening in later steps. Houghton and Washington Libraries will also reopen and the city centre library will open for click and collect only. It is expected that City Library
will open fully when essential maintenance is completed.
Digital services continue to be offered including books at home at www.sunderland.gov.uk/libraries The council' s customer service centre at Fawcett Street will re open three days a week but services will also remain available online.
The council is still waiting for detailed guidance on Sunderland Care and Support run Adult Day Care Centres.
Council leader, Cllr Graeme Miller, said: "I know we're all desperate to get our lives back on track and return to some kind of normality but Covid hasn't gone away.
"It's really important to recognise that the dates set out in the Government's roadmap aren't set in stone but dependent on our collective efforts to drive infection rates down and keep them down.
"We still have high case numbers in our city, and it really is vital that we all continue to follow the rules.”