Information and Advice Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Business Support

We are committed to supporting and strengthening the growth and development of our local economy, the backbone of our borough. For information on business support and guidance from government agencies click here.

Community Engagement

We are pleased to support community groups and local organisations in their positive response to the Covid-19 pandemic, giving help to those most vulnerable and in need click here

Health and Wellbeing Hub

Taking care of your health and wellbeing is essential during the Covid-19 pandemic. To stay safe, physically active, mentally strong and emotionally resilient, follow the advice on our Health and Wellbeing hub. click here

General Information on Restrictions

On 5th January 2021 the NI Executive agreed a package of additional restrictions given the high levels of Covid-19 transmission in the community.

The clear message is:

STAY AT HOME. PROTECT THE NHS. SAVE LIVES.

The stay at home restriction is now enforceable in law by the PSNI.

You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:

shop for basic necessities
shop for basic necessities for another vulnerable person
go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person (in which case you should stay 2m apart). Exercise should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
meet your support or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
attend education or childcare – for those eligible

If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local – unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work. Stay local means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live.

If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you are advised to only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. It is recommend that you do not attend work.

HANDS. FACE. SPACE.

Approximately 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it. So please remember – ‘Hands. Face. Space.’

hands – wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds
face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings)

Covid-19 is spreading throughout our community, we must all stay at home to stop the spread and save lives

For information and guidance on the latest restrictions. Please click: www.nidirect.gov.uk/coronavirus

SERVICES AND FACILITIES UPDATES

Leisure Facilities

INDOOR LEISURE

All Leisure Centres will close.
All activity bookings (Indoor and Outdoor) will be made unavailable between Dec 26^th 2020 and Sun 7^th Feb 2021 (inclusive) and all existing bookings between these dates will be cancelled and refunded/credited as appropriate. (This action will be further reviewed on 2^nd January in line with Elite Athlete guidance).
A zero charge will apply to all direct debit memberships for Jan 2021.
Annual memberships will be extended by one month.
All swim lessons will be postponed until further notice from 26^th December.
All face to face activities involving Sports Development coaches and PARS consultants will be postponed until further notice.

For further information log on to: www.getactiveabc.com

OUTDOOR LEISURE

Parks and open spaces are permitted to remain open. We are experiencing high volumes of people visiting our parks. If you are visiting, please ensure you follow the advice to protect you, your family and others.

✅Stay in your household bubble
✅Keep your distance from other walkers & runners
✅Wash/Sanitise your hands before & after using any equipment
✅Put your rubbish in the bins provided or take it home
❌No gathering in groups
❌No group exercising

Please note: You should not travel more than 10 miles from your home in order to take exercise at this time, and that if you arrive at your proposed destination and crowds make social distancing difficult you should find an alternative place to exercise.

Thank you for your cooperation and #StaySafe

Please see a list of services and facilities impacted

Parks, Forest Parks and Open Spaces (incl Oxford Island) and where applicable outdoor gyms and the skateboard Park will remain open.
Play Parks will remain open.
All Public Toilets will remain open.
Angling is open for individuals at Corbet Loughgall and Loughgall Country Park.
Horse riding is open at Gosford and Loughgall for use by individuals.
Bowling Green’s will be closed.
Tennis courts will be closed.
Golf courses will be closed.
Water Sports Centre will be closed
Kinnego Marina will be closed (with the exception of essential maintenance)
MUGAs will be closed
Grass and 3G Sports Pitches will be closed
Caravan and Camping facilities at Gosford Forest Park, Clare Glenn and Kinnego Marina will be closed.
All Outdoor Sports Programmes will be suspended.
Craigavon Ski Slope will be closed
Tannaghmore Rare Breeds Animal Farm will be closed.

For further information log on to: www.getactiveabc.com

Tourism, Arts and Cultural Facilities

All Tourism Arts and Culture facilities will close.

For further information log on to: www.visitarmagh.com

Community Centres

Taking bookings subject to regulations.
Email

Civic Buildings

All Civic Buildings will remain open, with members of the public encouraged to attend only where necessary.

Registration Services

Registration services for births, deaths and marriages are open in line with public health and GRO guidance. For further information on revised operations click here.

Planning and Building Control

Planning and Building Control Services are still operational with significant Covid-19 Health and Safety measures in place to protect staff and customers.

We would advise that in relation to Councils Planning and Building Control Services, both these services are operating with additional precautionary measures in place in response to COVID-19.

Further detail on what this means for each service is noted below:-

Planning Service

The planning office at Castlewellan Road Banbridge is currently open with social distancing guidelines in place, if you wish to view drawings etc in the planning office, please make an appointment by contacting 0300 200 7830.

Monthly meetings of the Planning & Regulatory Services Committee are taking place.

Planning applications

New applications are being validated, site visits are being conducted where it is safe to do so and decisions on planning applications are being issued.

Planning Enforcement

Decisions on existing enforcement cases are being made and new enforcement cases are continuing to be opened.

Planning Guidance Note – Temporary Structures and Changes of Use

At its meeting of 27 July 2020 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council ratified a new Planning Guidance Note on temporary structures and changes of use.

This planning guidance note offers advice to existing businesses and organisations who wish to create more space for operational reasons arising directly from Covid-19 through a temporary change of use or the use of temporary structures/buildings or other means including, but not limited to, on street seating for cafes, restaurants and bars, beer gardens and similar outdoor areas to accommodate physical/social distancing.

Please note that this flexibility does not extend to residential properties and that this guidance covers planning controls only.

Guidance Note – Temporary Structures

Any planning queries should be directed to *protected email* or 0300 200 7830

Building Control
Following the latest review of restrictions by Council the Building Control Department will operate as follows.

Building Regulation Applications
Applications submitted to our Department have and will continue to be validated and processed. We are also available to provide technical advice via phone calls and emails on Building Regulation matters. As there is restricted access to some Council buildings we would request that new applications/amended drawings are posted to either of the addresses below and clearly marked for the attention of Building Control.

Civic Building, Downshire Road, Banbridge, BT32 3JY or
Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre, Lakeview Road, Craigavon, BT64 1AL.

Please note that application forms can be downloaded from our website, link below, and online applications for Building Notices and Regularisation can be made via the same link.

www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/resident/building-control-applications-residents/

Should an applicant or agent have a query regarding the status of a current application they should email the relevant offices at the following:-
*protected email* *protected email*
*protected email*

Site Inspection
We have been carrying out external site inspections and completions inspections on new dwellings, that had not been occupied where deemed safe to do so in accordance with current Government guidance, we now will also be doing internal inspections of occupied premises.

To enable us to carry out these inspections we require a minimum 24 hours’ notice. Same day inspection requests will not be carried out. All responses to requests for site inspections will be based on the applicant’s ability to ensure that the site will be safe to enter in accordance with current Government guidance.

When contacting us to book an internal inspection please follow the guidance set out in our COVID-19 Internal Property Inspection and Visits A Guide for Occupiers.

Where it is considered unsafe for site inspections to be carried out at this time, please contact our offices to discuss possible alternative arrangements such as remote inspections via real time video calls.

Anyone considering carrying out any building works is reminded that it is a statutory duty to notify Council Building Control Department prior to undertaking such works.

If in any doubt, please contact our office on the “contact us” details below

Dangerous Structures
The Department will respond as normal to reports of Dangerous Structures, where the safety of public is a concern.

Property Certificates
The Department have been and will continue to be processing and responding to Council Property Certificate matters. Applications for Property Certificates should be posted to Civic Building, Downshire Road, Banbridge, BT32 3JY

Contact us

Our offices are open (for telephone calls and emails) 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and if you urgently need to speak to an officer in relation to any of the above, please note the following contact details:

For Building Control queries and Dangerous Structures in relation to Craigavon Office area, please contact 028 3831 2500
For Building Control queries and Dangerous Structures in relation to Armagh Office area, please contact 028 3752 9616 or 028 4066 0603
For Building Control queries and Dangerous Structures in relation to Banbridge Office area, please contact 028 4066 0603
For Property Certificate queries please contact 028 4066 0603

We apologize for the disruption to our service at this time, we will closely monitor the situation as it develops and will share further updates as soon as they are available.

We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time.

Waste Collection & Recycling Centres

All Household Recycling Centres are open as normal with Covid-19 procedures in place. Visitors to the centres are asked to please respect the Covid safe practices in place at this time.

Due to operational issues and high demand our Bulky Waste Collection Service is experiencing some disruption which may cause temporary periods of suspension in certain areas of the borough. If you wish to book a bulky waste collection please contact the Environmental Services department on 0300 0300 900 who will inform you of the current status for your area We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding with this matter.

Household Recycling Centres

Armagh: Station Road, Armagh BT61 7NP
Monday – Friday: 8am- 4.15pm
Saturday: 9am- 4.15pm

Banbridge: Scarva Road, Banbridge BT32 3QD
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 8.30am- 3.45pm

Restore Facility at Banbridge Recycling Centre is Closed.

Dromore: Mossvale Road, Dromore BT25 1DG
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 8.30am- 3.45pm

Fairgreen: Duke Street, Portadown BT62 3EX
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm

Keady: Keady Business Centre, Annavale Road, Keady BT60 2RP
Monday closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm

Markethill: Markethill Business Centre, Fairgreen Road, Markethill BT60 1PW
Monday closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm

New Line: Tandragee Road, Lurgan BT66 8TA
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm

Rathfriland: Iveagh Park Road, Rathfriland BT34 5DZ
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 8.30am- 3.45pm

Tandragee: Madden Road, Tandragee BT62 2DG
Monday closed
Tuesday – Saturday 9am- 3.45pm

For information on acceptable waste streams click here.

PLEASE NOTE:

- - Last entry will be 15 minutes before each site closes
  - Opening hours are under continual review
  - The number of vehicles on site at any one time will be restricted to facilitate social distancing
  - It is anticipated that there will be high volumes of vehicles at centres, and therefore there may be queues
  - If users are bringing bulkier items to centres, 2 people may leave the vehicle, staff on site will be unable to assist with lifting
  - Users are advised to ensure social distancing on site in line with Government and Public Health Agency (PHA) advice
  - Users are asked to observe site rules at all times
  - Users are asked to sort waste before coming to centres, this will help to reduce waiting times
  - Users are asked to continue to use household kerbside collections for recyclables, organics and general waste.

Who can access the centres?

- - Only householders of the borough will be permitted access – photographic ID may be required
  - Registered commercial users can use the recycling centres from Tuesday 2nd June.

Important Public Health Guidance
Any suspected Covid19 tissues/waste should be double bagged and separated from other wastes for 72 hours before bringing this waste to the recycling centres, in line with Public Health Authority (PHA) guidelines.

Users are asked to respect the temporary measures in place and the guidance from staff on-site, at this time. We thank-you for your cooperation.

Bulky Waste

The Bulky Waste Collection Service will be running as normal from Monday 18th May, to book a collection please call 0300 0300 900.

Bin Collections

All bin collections are continuing to operate, however you may experience disruption. To help ensure your bin is emptied, please leave your bin out the night before and follow the waste collection hygiene guidelines.

Waste Collection Hygiene

Please respect the safety of refuse collection staff and your own personal safety by taking the following steps:

Wash your hands before and after handling your bins/boxes.
Put cloths, wipes and gloves used for cleaning in the general waste bin.
Do not put tissues in your recycling bins or boxes, there are people sorting your waste, please respect their health and safety.
Always disinfect the handles of your bins/boxes before and after collection.

If you are self-isolating:

Place personal waste, used tissues, and disposable cleaning cloths or gloves in disposable rubbish bags.
Put that bag into a second bag, tie them securely and kept separate from other waste for 72 hours before putting into your usual external general household waste bin.
Also make sure to keep this waste away from children and pets.

Always remember to keep at least two metres (six feet) away from your waste collectors.

Bryson Recycling (Armagh area)

Temporary Collection Measures
From Monday 6 April temporary collection measures will commence until further notice. Householders are asked to separate their waste into boxes, regardless of the box colour.

Option 1: Paper and cardboard only
Option 2: Plastic, food & drinks cans, foil, cartons and aerosols
Option 3: Glass bottle and jars.

If residents do not have a third box they are asked to hold this waste until their next weekly collection. Guidance on hygiene and contaminated waste will also be included on the leaflet delivered to householders.

Food waste collections will continue as normal.

Unfortunately, batteries, textiles, hand tools or overflow bags will not be collected until further notice.

For Temporary Collection Measures, please click here
For FAQ’S from Bryson Recycling, please click here

Lockdown Address