Residents are urged to continue to keep up to date with any further changes via the council’s website at www.allerdale.gov.uk/coronavirus as well as on the council’s Twitter and Facebook feed. 

Customer contact centres  

Our offices in Maryport, Workington, Cockermouth, Keswick and Wigton will continue to remain closed to the public.

The customer service team will continue to be available on the phone on 0303 123 1702. However, residents are encouraged to use digital methods to contact the council where possible, to avoid having to wait on the telephone. There are a range of services readily available on our website and through the myAllerdale mobile app. There is also a webchat facility on the council website.

The council’s website is open 24/7 and the “Report It” forms allow customers to let us know about issues and obtain information at a time which is convenient for them. Go to www.allerdale.gov.uk/report.

Customers can also use the website to check their eligibility for housing and council tax benefits, make an application, as well as access their benefit and council tax account. This service is also available for landlords with tenants on housing benefit. 

Payments can also be made online or via the council’s automated payment line 0303 123 1702. This number can also be used if customers would like to speak to a customer service advisor.  

 
Financial and housing support for residents 

The council’s homelessness team will continue to operate during the period of restrictions. Anyone facing being made homeless should contact the team on 0303 123 1702. This number can also be used out of hours for emergencies.

Anyone facing financial hardship can find out more information on the help and assistance available to them, including help with paying their council tax. More information can be found on the council’s website: www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-council-tax-benefits-and-financial-support/  or by calling 0303 123 1702. 

Anyone asked to self-isolate who is on a low income, cannot work from home, and is therefore facing the prospect of financial hardship may be entitled to a Test and Trace Support grant of £500. More information, and an application form, can be found at: www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-council-tax-benefits-and-financial-support/test-trace-support-payment/.    

Leisure centres 

In line with the latest restrictions, the council's leisure partner GLL will be temporarily closing leisure centres in Workington and Cockermouth as well as The Wave Centre in Maryport. The leisure pool and gym in Keswick will also remain closed. 

Details of how this affects memberships and those who have booked classes, can be found on the GLL website: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/allerdale. 

Waste services 

There are no plans to make any changes to the Allerdale Borough Council residential waste services. Residents are asked to have their bins out before 7am on their collection day. 

Residents can check their collection day at: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/bincollections/. More information on waste services during the coronavirus pandemic, and how to dispose of potentially infected waste, can be found at: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-waste-services/. 

If trade waste customers would like to suspend or change their waste collections, they should contact the council's trade waste team at trade.waste@allerdale.gov.uk.   

Car parking  (updated January 11, 2021)

Allerdale Borough Council's car parks remain open for use by those making essential journeys.  

The council will continue to provide free parking for NHS workers, care workers and NHS volunteers. For these staff, passes are available through NHS Trusts, local authorities and the Royal Voluntary Service. More details on the scheme's website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions.  All staff making use of the scheme whilst working, need to provide evidence in their vehicle from their employer or voluntary organisation to prove their eligibility. 

Those eligible for free parking can make use of any of the council’s car parks, except Workington’s multi-storey car park. Anyone with queries should contact the council’s parking services team on car.parks@allerdale.gov.uk. 

When using short stay car parks where the relevant maximum duration of stay still applies users should clearly show their time of arrival, such as with a parking disc, as well as their essential worker permit. The short stay car parks are: Ladies Walk and Udale Street at Workington; Tithebarn Street, Booths at Keswick; Bell Close at Keswick; Fairfield, Sainsbury’s at Cockermouth. The use of a parking disc is not required in the long-stay car parks.   

Multi-storey in Workington

We've made the decision to temporarily close our multi-storey car park in Workington from Tuesday (January 12, 2021) at 6pm. This decision has been made in order to free up extra staff resource to support the ongoing response to the Covid-19 pandemic and because people have been sticking to the lockdown rules by staying at home, usage of the site has been very low in the last week.

We'd like to thank all those who are following the national 'stay at home' message and look forward to welcoming customers back when the time is right.

Permit holders will be contacted by our car parking team and those who need to travel into Workington town centre for essential reasons can still use our other car parks - locations can be found on this link: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/parking/car-park-locations/.   

Play areas 

Allerdale Borough Council manages some play areas in the borough. These will remain open, but the council urges everyone to practice social distancing and keep hands clean when using them. The tennis courts in Harris Park will be closed in line with the Government restrictions.   

Markets  

Following discussions with traders we've taken the decision to close our markets in Keswick, Workington and Wigton temporarily following the announcement of a new national lockdown.  

As the restrictions allow markets to continue to operate for traders selling essential goods only, the council will keep the decision under regular review. 

We encourage people to adhere to the Covid-19 restrictions by staying at home and avoiding social contact. If you need to shop for essentials, please consider supporting local businesses as much as you can.  

People can support the market traders through our ‘virtual market’ giving customers information on how they can buy their goods online, through home delivery or other methods. To visit go to https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/sport-leisure-arts-culture/markets/virtual-market/.    

Public toilets 

Our public toilets in Workington town centre (disabled cubicle only) will remain open and the council asks all users to follow the Covid-secure guidelines. The toilets in Maryport are currently closed for repairs.  

Bereavement service 

The council's bereavement services team will continue to provide support to the recently bereaved. In line with government guidelines, funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people, and it is advised that only close friends and family attend. Linked ceremonial events such as stone settings and ash scatterings can also continue with up to six people in attendance. Anyone working is not included. 

It is advised that social distancing should be maintained between people who do not live together or share a support bubble.    

 
Other services   

There are no planned changes to our other council services, such as planning and building control. Customers are asked to make use of the council's website as much as possible to access these services.