Council pledges to support communities through Coronavirus

With measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus affecting many aspects of our daily lives High Peak Borough Council is keen to reassure people that there is help and support available for residents and businesses. 

New guidance and advice is being issued daily so to help people navigate what this means for them or their business the Council has set up an information hub on its website at www.highpeak.gov.uk

This hub includes updates on the support available to residents and businesses alongside details on the hardship fund and business grants alongside more information on how the services we deliver are being affected. The pages are updated regularly to keep people up-to-date with the latest developments.

The Council remains open but our buildings at Gamesley, Glossop and Buxton are closed to the public. Traditional council meetings have been suspended and some services and amenities have been closed until further notice so that we can focus staff on essential services.

Council Leader, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, said: "We are all having to adapt to the changing circumstances daily basis in these uncertain times and we are focusing our support on essential issues and services.

"It is essential that we all do our bit to help stop the spread of the virus and that we follow all the advice in terms of staying at home wherever possible, social distancing when shopping for essentials or taking exercise, self-isolating if necessary, washing our hands and shielding the most vulnerable people.

"That's why we've taken the difficult decision to close some of our services and amenities until further notice. But please be assured that the Council remains very much open and able to help.

"We're working hard, and with our partners, to ensure that all our communities are kept informed of any changes to advice or to the provision of services locally and nationally and that we are doing what we can to support people and businesses through the days and weeks ahead.

"I would urge people with any questions to, first of all, check the information on our website as they may well find what they're looking for there. I would also encourage people to follow our social media channels, Facebook and Twitter, for timely information about how services are being affected along with the latest news."

In line with Government advice, leisure centres and public toilets across the High Peak are now closed until further notice and, following the instruction that we should all stay at home and minimise social interaction, the Council has taken the decision to close St Anne's Well in Buxton.

Glossop's indoor and outdoor markets are also now closed and the temporary move to alternative accommodation whilst the market hall roof is replaced has been put on review. The respective operators will decide whether to close other markets in the High Peak.

Our parks remain open to allow people to exercise with the people they live with but playgrounds are closed and people are asked to respect Government advice not to meet in groups, to stay 2 metres apart and to wash your hands before you go out and when you get home.

The same advice applies to allotment plot holders on the Council-run sites at Cunningdale in Buxton and Jordan Street in Glossop which remain open for essential visits to livestock and for daily exercise.

At present our waste collection services continue as usual but all non-essential housing repair works are suspended and we're prioritising emergency (within 24 hours)  and urgent (within seven days) repairs along with any required safety checks.