IN these uncertain times it is inevitable that all of us will be experiencing feelings of anxiety.

Our usual routines have been disrupted, our ability to live our normal lives has been put on hold and we are living with the constant shadow of an unseen threat to our health and wellbeing, and to those of our loved ones.

South Lakeland District Council fully supports the Government’s actions and, working across party, we are playing our part in following the national guidance in all our operations.

We are also very keen to help to deliver the support being given to businesses and vulnerable individuals.

I can assure you that thanks to the hard work of officers, we have a plan to assist in the response to the coronavirus outbreak, even if many of our staff are affected by the virus.

We expect to be able to maintain essential services such as waste collections and benefits payments, and we will work with colleagues from partner agencies in directly supporting the most vulnerable members of our communities.

We are working to offer advice and support to businesses and employees hit hard by this life-changing situation, and will be involved in the frankly huge task of administering the relief grants and funding for businesses and residents when the schemes are up and running.

We have worked quickly to take measures to protect our communities, including closing our play areas and leisure centres and suspending bulky waste collections. We will also be suspending green waste collection from March 30.

I can also confirm that we will be suspending the need to pay to park in our car parks for a temporary period, effective immediately. This is to help key workers and volunteers, and to reduce the possible spread of the virus via our pay machines.

We are keeping a number of other operations and services under review to ensure we can prioritise our resources to ensure that the most essential services can continue, which means we may need to announce more changes and new measures in the coming days.

It is inevitable that as we address those priorities some non-essential work and responses to non-essential enquiries may take longer than usual.

Each day brings fresh challenges but I can reassure all our residents that this council is working night and day to make sure we continue to do all that we can to support, advise and reassure our residents, especially those most vulnerable members of our community.

I would urge everyone to heed the Government’s advice to stay at home and do everything you can to minimise the spread of this virus, but know that this council and all your elected representatives are with you at this unprecedented time.

Councillor Giles Archibald

Leader

South Lakeland District Council