LIBRARIES and leisure centres across the Wokingham borough have now been temporarily closed, following the latest Coronavirus restrictions announced by the government this past weekend.

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech to the nation on October 31, announcing a four-week-long nation-wide lockdown, the Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) has taken the decision to close down leisure centres across the borough, as well as closing the only two previously-reopened libraries, and encouraging residents to use the library services available online.

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Council staff in these facilities are being redeployed into alternative services.

The council has also stated that all leisure centre membership and lesson payments have been suspended, and annual members have had their membership extended equal to the length of lockdown.

The council has also said advance bookings will also be refunded within 14 days of the start of lockdown.

Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure said: “Library employees and those working in the borough council’s sport and leisure team will be re-deployed to critical roles that will help support our efforts in tackling community spread as quickly as possible.

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“In particular, we need extra resource in our dedicated tracing team, who are following up by phone with anyone who NHS Test and Trace has been unable to get hold of and ask to self-isolate, and are even visiting homes if they’re still not able to reach people.

“This is critical to slowing the transmission of the virus across the Borough.

“The resilience and flexibility of our staff has been key throughout our Covid response, while also ensuring that residents have access to a helpful online offering where possible.”

For access to Wokingham Libraries online, visit https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/find-and-join-a-library/join-a-library/.

How do you feel about the government’s decision to introduce a second nation-wide lockdown? Let us know by emailing us at news@readingchronicle.co.uk.