Council pledges to support communities through Coronavirus

Published on 25 March 2020

With measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus affecting many aspects of our daily lives Staffordshire Moorlands District 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.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

This includes updates on the support available for residents and businesses alongside details of how the services we deliver are being affected. These pages are updated regularly to keep people up-to-date with the latest developments.

The Council remains open but Moorlands House in Leek is closed to the public, traditional Council meetings have been suspended and some services and amenities have been closed until further notice.

Council Leader, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, said: "We are all having to adapt to the changing circumstances on a daily basis in these uncertain times and I want to reassure our communities that we are here to support you.

"It is essential that we all help to stop the virus spreading by following the advice to stay at home if possible, to practice social distancing when we are outdoors or in public places, to self isolate if necessary, to wash our hands regularly and to shield the most vulnerable people.

"That's why we've taken the difficult decision to close Moorlands House and 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.

"The first port of call is our website which has lots of information and useful links to access support. I would also urge 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 guidance, leisure centres and public toilets across the Moorlands are now closed until further notice.

Leek's Butter and Trestle markets and the market hall and the outdoor markets in Leek and Cheadle are also now closed.

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.