Critical services at Derry City and Strabane District Council to continue over Easter

While the Council’s civic offices at Strand Road, Derry, and Derry Road, Strabane, will remain closed to the public, the majority of Council functions will continue to operate and be contactable by phone at 028 71 253253 on Good Friday and Easter Monday and Tuesday.

Among the critical services that will continue to operate as normal over the Easter period will be Refuse Collection services, across the Council area, with the public being reminded how they must maximise the use of their existing black/blue/brown bins.

The new COVID-19 Waste Service and Helpline, set up earlier this week to offer advice to those seeking advice on how to dispose of excess waste issues, will also remain operational over the Easter period. The number 028 71 376590 will be staffed from 9am to 5pm on Good Friday, Easter Monday and Tuesday. The public are advised that this helpline is only for those with issues around excess residual black bin, recyclable/blue bin or garden waste.

The public are reminded that everyone should be continuing to maximise the use of their existing bins and doing all they can to reduce any further pressure on this essential service.

The public are asked to note that there is no Bulky Waste service during this emergency period and they should refrain from doing major spring cleaning unless they have adequate storage space in their sheds or garages.

Street cleansing, enforcement and grounds maintenance staff will continue to operate, working to keep our streets clean and litter free and to respond to reports of indiscriminate dumping.

Efforts will continue also to deal with the increasing amount of irresponsible behaviour of dog owners who continue to allow their dogs to foul on public paths, parks and green spaces.

The Council’s Registration of Births Deaths and Marriages service will continue to operate over the Easter period and the public can now avail of an online service that allows death registrations to be carried out without the attendance of an informant at the Registrar’s Office.

While the Strabane Registrar’s office remains temporarily closed, the Derry office remains open with some restriction measures in place. Anyone with any queries please telephone 02871 253253 or 02871 376520 or email [email protected]. 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.

Following the Government’s restrictions on movement, all Council recycling centres and cemeteries remain closed to the public.

All leisure centres and community centres are closed, as are all of our play pitches, sports pavilions and children’s play facilities.

While our public parks and open spaces currently remain open for people to exercise, the public are reminded that they must adhere to the Government instruction regarding self-distancing, with no public gatherings permitted. Additional signage is being erected across Council owned areas and our park wardens and community safety wardens will be patrolling the areas encouraging people to abide by social distancing measures.

Other services including business support, planning, building control, environmental health, community services, sports development will be contactable to deal with priority calls and issues.

Members of the public can continue to contact the Council over the Easter period at 028 71 253253 or by email at [email protected]

All information relating to Council’s response to the COVID-19 situation is available on our website at - www.derrystrabane.com/coronavirus and regular updates posted on Facebook and Twitter in an effort to keep everyone informed.

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Colr. Michaela Boyle in a message to the public encouraged people to be responsible and to take heed of the Government instruction to stay at home.

She said she hoped many would not be tempted to take advantage of the warm weather this weekend by visiting local beauty spots and urged everyone to do their bit to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by staying at home.

Extending a Happy Easter message to the public, the Mayor praised the people of Derry and Strabane for their continued support and resilience. She said - “We all have our role to play in this. For many of us it is a simple one. Be safe, Be sensible, Be responsible and Stay at Home.”