Council Service update Tuesday, 16 June 2020
16 June 2020
Please find details below of the current state of play of Council services. All information is available on our website at - www.derrystrabane.com/coronavirus where it is updated regularly and also shared on our Facebook and Twitter social media platforms in an effort to keep everyone informed.
✅Council civic offices and public buildings – All Council owned buildings – including the Civic Offices in Derry and Strabane, the Tower Museum, Guildhall and Alley Theatre - remain closed to the public until further notice.
Critical services are continuing to operate and the public can contact Council by phone at 📞028 71 253253 or by email at info@derrystrabane.com
✅Committee meetings – All committee meetings have resumed and are taking place during the month of June in virtual form –a full schedule can be found here - https://bit.ly/2XJB2ZJ
Among the meetings take place this week is Planning Committee scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 2pm.
✅Mayor’s Office – The Council installed a new Mayor earlier this month, Mayor Cllr Brian Tierney is very keen to engage with the public and his office is contactable for members of the public – you can get more information via the website at - https://www.derrystrabane.com/mayor/contact
✅Easy Read version – For those living with pan disability issues, the Council has put together an Easy to Read version of its latest COVID 19 information. This information is updated on a weekly basis and is available via our website at -bit.ly/2ybyRVY
✅Leisure centres- All Council owned leisure centres remain closed until further notice. Anyone who has any queries regarding their leisure membership should contact – memberships@derrystrabane.com
✅Community centres – All Council owned community centres remain closed to the public until further notice. A number of our facilities are open to accommodate work being carried out by the community and voluntary sector to assist with the COVID19 response.
✅Play parks, pitches and sports pavilions – All Council owned play parks, pitches and sports pavilions remain closed while Council reviews the NI Executive advice regarding the possible reopening of outdoor recreation facilities.
✅Public Parks – All Council public parks and open spaces remain open to the public for exercise purposes only. The Council is continuing to advise the public to adhere to the Public Health Authority guidelines in relation to social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and to act responsibly when out and about using our public parks and open spaces.
✅Cemeteries - All Derry City and Strabane District Council owned cemeteries remain open to the public daily from 2.30pm to 9pm and are not accessible in the mornings to allow for funerals to take place and to facilitate necessary maintenance works. Please adhere to the guidelines in place regarding social distancing and co-operate with staff at all times. Members of the public with any enquiries are advised to contact the Cemetery office via telephone at 028 71 362615.The public are advised that should contact be required social distancing requirements must be maintained at all times. More info is available at www.derrystrabane.com/cemeteries
✅♻️Bin Collection Services♻️
Our refuse collection service continues to remain operational and the public are encouraged to continue to use their scheduled bin system using all of the bins provided.
Council has concluded its current roll out of the Brown Bin Scheme for garden/green waste. Plans are being progressed to commence the third and final phase of the scheme subject to confirmation of funding. Further details on this scheme including the areas covered can be found at www.derrystrabane.com/greenwaste
If you have any specific queries relating to waste please contact our Service line at 028 71 374107.
• Please leave your bins out for collection at 7am to allow crews to get around all households
• Please do not leave out black bags - Council cannot collect additional black bags left beside bins, please use the blue, black and brown bins provided appropriately, making sure to separate waste as usual according to recycling guidelines and dispose of waste responsibly.
• Please do not put additional pressure on Council waste services resources and staff during this emergency period.
To assist us limit the spread of the virus, we would encourage the public to;
• Clean the lids and handles of bins before and after collection.
• Dispose of tissues and disposable cleaning wipes separately placing them in TWO plastic bags, tying and storing inside for 3 days before putting in the external black bin.
• Place all food waste in compostable bags and ensure that they are tied before putting in your BROWN BIN.
• Bring bins out either the night before their scheduled collection day or before 7am on collection day.
• Park considerately so lorries can access streets to service bins.
✅♻️ Household Recycling centres ♻️
The following Household Recycling Centres are open to the public – they are Pennyburn, Strathfoyle, Claudy, Strahans Road in Strabane, Donemana and Claudy.
The Glendermott Recycling Centre remains closed temporarily closed to the public and we continue to review traffic management arrangements within the wider Glendermott complex. Council is working proactively with the HSE to look at alternative arrangements for reopening. Once these are agreed we will communicate them with the wider public. In the interim, the public are being encouraged to use Household Recycling Centres at Pennyburn, Claudy, Strathfoyle, Strahans Road, Donemana and Newtownstewart.
The following Household Recycling Centres are open as follows:
• Pennyburn – from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays. Sunday, from 1-5pm
• Strathfoyle – from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays. Sunday from 1-5pm
• Newtownstewart from 10 am to 6.45pm Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4.45pm on Saturdays
• Donemana from 10 am to 6.45pm, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.45pm on Saturdays.
• Claudy – from 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday
• Strahan Road Strabane - from 10 am to 6.45pm, Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays from 10am to 4.45pm.
Our remaining household sites at Eglinton, Plumbridge and Park will continue to be closed to the public under review.
Vans and trailers
Van drivers who use the Household Recycling Centres within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area are being advised of new arrangements that are currently in place.
As in from this week, large vans with trailers will only be permitted to Strathfoyle and Strahans Road sites during the following revised times - Strathfoyle, between 8 and 9am Monday to Saturday, and at Strahans Road between 10 and 11am Monday to Saturday.
No large vans with trailers will be accepted at Pennyburn however, large vans will only be permitted access between 8 and 9am, Monday to Saturday.
These new arrangements are in place to assist with traffic management arrangements and in the interests of the health and safety of staff and site users.
Temporary waste disposal service at Castlederg
A temporary waste disposal facility has set up at Spamont Playing Fields in Castlederg to assist those in the rural area of Killen, Castlederg and Killeter, to dispose of additional waste during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
It will continue to open two days per week, every Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 am to 4pm, to dispose of general and green waste only.
Those wishing to dispose of larger items of waste are encouraged to use Council recycling centres at Newtownstewart and Strahans Road, Strabane, or to avail of Council’s free Bulky Waste Collection Service that can be booked online at www.derrystrabane.com/bulkywaste
The public are advised that in keeping with the Government regulations, a queuing system will be in place and pedestrians will not be permitted on this site.
General advice for visiting the sites
Please adhere to the restrictions and controls in place at all of our centres. These measures are to ensure the health and safety of staff and the public using the site and have been taken in consideration of social distancing requirements.
In addition to having in place a one-way system, the number of cars accessing the sites at any one time will continue to be restricted.
Only one person will be permitted to leave their vehicle to dispose of waste with staff unable to provide assistance during this emergency period.
Please avoid bringing bulky waste onto the site during the initial reopening phase and encouraged to continue to use the Bulky Waste Collection Service and to also avoid visiting the recycling centres during peak times.
Anyone intending to dispose of black bags must ensure they are double bagged and have been stored for a 72-hour period before disposal, as per PHA guidelines.
In order to protect staff and the wider public, social distancing is required within all the sites and the public will be required to unload their own waste. Members of the public experiencing symptoms or who are self-isolating must not enter the recycling centres.
Council will have staff on hand to offer guidance only however, it is imperative that the public adhere to their instructions at all times and co-operate fully with them as they continue to provide an important public service during this challenging time. Abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.
Members of the public with bulky waste are advised that they must avail of the Council’s free Bulky Waste Collection Service as they will not be permitted access to the sites with bulky waste at this time. Bookings for this service can be made online via the Council website at www.derrystrabane.com/bulkywaste or contact by phone at 028 71 374107.
Flytipping continues to be an issue for Council and our enforcement team are on the ground actively investigating all incidents of fly-tipping. It is an offence to dump indiscriminately and you could face a Fixed Penalty Notice or a fine imposed by the court.
Protecting our environment and keeping our streets, laneways and greenways clean are still a priority and everyone has their role to play.
✅♻️Bulky Waste service♻️ – Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Bulky Waste Collection Service is fully operational. Members of the public wishing to avail of this service are advised however that it is only for those who have bulky items of waste and have no space in their home or garage to store them during this emergency situation.
Those wishing to avail of the service are being encouraged to book online.
All bookings for collection must be made in advance and items must be left out on the kerbside before 7:30am on the day of the confirmed collection. Please note that we are currently accepting mattresses.
Among the items accepted for the Bulky Waste Service re -
✅ Bulky furniture – wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside lockers, sofas
✅ Carpets, lino
✅ Electrical appliances e.g. TV
✅ White goods e.g. fridges, washing machines and cookers
✅ Large toys, bikes etc
✅ Mattresses
Among the items that are not accepted are:
❎ Bags of general waste
❎ Glass furniture/mirrors
❎ Building material e.g. concrete, wood, tiles
❎ Fencing, sheds
❎ Wooden flooring
❎ Bathroom suites
❎ Kitchen units
❎ Tyres
❎ Trees
❎ Paint Tins
❎ Recyclable materials
The public are advised that waste accrued as a result of work carried out in your home, such as bathroom suites, kitchens or fireplaces will not be lifted as part of this service. Arrangements must be made with your building contractor to remove these items or alternatively, you can organise removal by an authorised waste collection company or hire a skip.
Members of the public wanting to book a Bulky Waste Collection should fill out the online form on the website at – www.derrystrabane.com/bulkywaste
Or alternatively phone on - 02871374107.
✅♻️Street cleansing ♻️ – Street cleansing services are continuing with our staff out keeping our city and town centres clean and tidy as well as our parks, green spaces and rural communities. There are some changes in place with regard to social distancing measures and health and safety measures as we continue to protect our staff and the public.
✅Business support - The Council Business team are available to offer advice and assistance to local businesses on the level of Government business support available. They are updating this information as it is released on the Business Support social media platforms. You can follow on Facebook @Business Support Derry Strabane and Twitter @dcsdbusiness
To make an appointment to speak with one of our Business Advisers, please find details below:
Telephone: 0759503778 (Businesses based in Derry) / 07548162347 (for Strabane Businesses) Email: Tara.Nicholas@derrystrabane.com / Laverne.ODonnell@derrystrabane.com
✅Births deaths and marriage registration –The Council’s Registration of Births, Still-births, Death, Marriages and Civil Partnership service is continuing to operate and following new Government legislation is continuing to provide remote death registration without the attendance of an informant at the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office in Derry has resumed birth registration by appointment only. The Strabane Registrar’s office remains temporarily closed and restriction measures remain in place at the Derry office. Following new guidance from the NI Executive, small religious and civil marriages and civil partnerships with up to 10 people attending, can now take place from 08 June. The 2m social distancing rules must be adhered to. Anyone with any queries please telephone 📞02871 253253 or 📞02871 376520 or email -registrars@derrystrabane.com. To view all the details relating to the changes to services and to access the relevant online forms please visit www.derrystrabane.com/district-registration
✅Public Toilets - Council owned public toilets at Strabane, Sion Mills, Plumbridge, Donemana, Cranagh, Barnes Gap and Moorlough are all currently closed in line with Government guidelines. Council buildings with toilets accessible to the public also remain closed at present. Any plans to reopen any of our public conveniences will be in line with the Government’s Pathway to Recovery legislation where appropriate risk assessments and health and safety procedures will be put in place to ensure they are safe to use. The Council is also involved in the Community Toilet Scheme, a partnership between Councils and local businesses across the Council area which allows the public to use their toilet facilities for free without having to make a purchase. Some of the premises that have signed up to this programme remain closed as a result of the emergency situation. It is hoped this service will become fully operational again once all the businesses are reopened following Government advice. Any plans to reopen these facilities will be done so in keeping with Government and PHA guidance and advice with the appropriate measures around health and safety, social distancing and cleansing all being put into place.
✅ Planning Service has put into place a number of measures, including the provision of a reduced number of back office staff to allow it to provide a range of services to keep the service operational. Site visits have recommenced on a phased basis with rural sites initially and progressing to urban open air sites in the coming weeks.
Planning staff continue to receive new applications by post and progressing existing applications in the normal manner, using technology to engage with customers where necessary and issuing decisions in the office on a rota.
A new Addendum to the Protocol for the Planning Committee to allow Virtual Planning Committees was ratified by Full Council on 28th May and is available on the Planning Service website. The first virtual Planning Committee (meeting) is scheduled for June 17 and applications to be presented at this Committee will be listed as normal on the website a week in advance. The meeting can be viewed on the Council’s Youtube channel. July’s Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for 01st July .
The Planning Enforcement Service is progressing in dealing with complaints as far as possible with restrictions on some site visits, however, rural and emergency and priority cases are taking place and under regular review. In addition, consultation on LDP Draft Plan Strategy Representations has been suspended and the position remains under review.
Anyone looking for planning information on application forms, planning fees and planning applications are encouraged to visit the planning portal: https://www.planningni.gov.uk/public-access-info
Or contact the service directly at planning@derrystrabane.com or contact the main office at 📞028 71 253253.
✅Building control service–– Following changes in government advice in respect to Covid19, the necessary risk assessments and safe systems of work have now been developed to enable external site inspections to resume while internal site inspections are being limited to unoccupied properties only and subject to compliance with preconditions set out on Council’s Building Control web page being met by contractors (details below). Where appropriate, virtual inspections will continue for occupied properties until further notice. The service is continuing to provide the other aspects of its service to the public including plan assessments and its officers are available to provide advice and assistance – contact via email at building.control@derrystrabane.com or get more information relating to its service arrangements during COVID-19 at –www.derrystrabane.com/Services/Building-Control – Tel 028 71 253253.
✅Environmental Health Services – Environmental Health staff are carrying out inspections of business on a limited basis following the completion of Covid 19 Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work procedures. All inspections will be considered on an individual basis and carried out when it is safe to do so. The Environmental Health team have put into place a number of measures to allow it to operate as many other services as possible and staff can be contacted via the main office at 📞028 71 253253 or via the website at https://www.derrystrabane.com/Subsites/Health-Community-Wellbeing
Please contact the service areas directly via email at:
Environmental Protection -environmentandneighbourhoods@derrystrabane.com
Food Safety - Food@derrystrabane.com
Health and Safety - HealthandSafety@derrystrabane.com
Health & Housing- health&housing@derrystrabane.com
Port Health - porthealth@derrystrabane.com
Licensing - Licensing@derrystrabane.com
Health and Safety at Work
Members of the public seeking advice and information regarding new regulations on health and safety legislation at their work can contact the Council’s Environmental Health team to find out how Council can assist them in ensuring their workplace is safe. For more information visit – https://derrystrabane.com/subsites/Environmental-Health/Health-Safety-and-Consumer-Protection-Team/Health-Safety-at-Work.
As city centre retailers reopen – retailers looking for advice can get information at - https://www.derrystrabane.com/Subsites/Health-Community-Wellbeing/Covid-19
✅Dog Control Services - the Dog Control Service continues to operate with a number of restrictions and measures in place to ensure the safety of staff and members of the public. Stray dogs continue to be taken to the Pound where they can be reclaimed by their owner with five days. If the owner cannot be identified then Council will liaise with any available dog homing charities who are willing to assist in finding the dog a new home. Complaints about attacks on livestock, dogs or members of the public continue to be investigated. Please contact 02871253253 E:dogcontrol@derrystrabane.com
✅Animal Welfare Service: Calls continue to be prioritised and investigated, providing it is safe for staff to do so and within the Government guidelines. The service remains under review on an ongoing basis. Many animal charities have closed therefore there may be no provision in place to rehome animals. Contact details: 📞028 82256226 E:animalwelfare@fermanaghomagh.com
✅Community Services staff are continuing to work with the Department for Communities, local community groups and advice services to ensure that resources being made available in this emergency situation are delivered on the ground as soon as possible. Community Development Staff are working with Community & Voluntary groups across the Council area to ensure the effective delivery of the £280,000 funding package provided by Council to support community led responses and to assist the most vulnerable. The funding package saw an initial £15k for each of the District electoral areas supporting local responses and a further investment of £80k where additional need has been identified. The Council has also worked with the Community Foundation NI’s Acorn Fund to deliver an additional £50k which has ensured the swift delivery of funds to Community & Voluntary sector organisations providing a vital response across the Council area.
✅Car parks – Council owned car parks remain open as normal and the Department for Infrastructure has announced the temporary suspension of all on-street and off-street parking enforcement and charges.
✅Council Events – A large number of Council organised events up until the end of September have been cancelled – they include: the North West Angling Fair, the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon, the Foyle Maritime Festival, the Walled City Markets (06 June) and the Battle of the Atlantic VE Day commemorations, as well as the Waterside Half Marathon and the Sperrin Walking Festival.
Officers are currently examining a number of options for alternative ways of celebrating the Strabane Summer Jamm festival and the annual Halloween Festival while details of a virtual arts and cultural programme at the Alley Theatre are being processed. Keep an eye on our events page for more information – www.derrystrabane.com/whatson
While the City of Derry Jazz Festival was cancelled in its usual format back at the beginning of May, Council held a hugely successful virtual jazz festival with a series of virtual performances by local artists. You can still view the videos online at www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com
The team were also involved in organising a very successful virtual Tea Dance for the previous Mayor that was broadcast live on BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson Show. It is available for listen back at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000j9xn
Meanwhile, all events in Council owned facilities have been cancelled up until the end of August, under review.
✅Sports Development - Sports Development are currently designing a series of physical activity programmes accessible online that participants can do at home while respecting government guidelines and social distancing. For further information please follow Council’s social media or for general enquiries, please contact sportsdevelopment@derrystrabane.com All officers have access to this email and will be followed up by the relevant officer.
✅Community Safety Wardens – Community Safety Wardens are assisting in patrolling our public parks to help with social distancing and providing reassurance and advice to the public. They are also continuing to provide vital community service in an effort to provide reassurance and protection to our communities and keep people safe at this difficult time for many. Contact details – TRIAX/Waterside (07709 457690) / Outer North/Outer West 📞 (07736 213140) and Rural Waterside 📞 (07736 213152).
✅City of Derry Airport – A significant number of changes have been made by the airlines to some flight schedules operating at the Airport. The public are urged to visit the airport website for live flight information and regular updates. For more information visit –www.cityofderryairport.com