Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor (Communities, Equalities & Public Health), has issued lockdown guidance (see below) in relation to parks and green spaces.
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Following the Government’s announcement regarding the national lockdown, officers have considered the guidance on how this affects Parks and Green Spaces. The impacts and implications under the current guidance is not as significant as the March Lockdown, but we will continue to monitor the guidance should any further changes occur and update you accordingly.
Parks and Green Spaces
- Catering will stay open on a takeaway only basis. To manage the situation we may need to close some outlets temporarily.
- Golf Course at Ashton Court will close.
- Blaise Nursery will remain open.
- External commercial concessions we will make contact with, to notify them of the limitations and provide a link to the government guidance.
- Tennis Courts will close.
- Football pitches and changing facilities will close.
- Play grounds will remain open.
- Skate board areas (wheeled play areas) will remain open.
- Outdoor gyms and multiuse games areas will close (we will need to rely on signage and comms as it will be difficult to facilitate closure of these).
- Public Toilets will remain open.
- Volunteering :
o Public sessions hosted by our staff(Blaise, Ashton Court, Victoria Park, Redcatch) – not relaunching these at all and will contact the volunteers who had signed up to get involved. Hopefully relaunch in mid/late Feb.
o ParkWork open sessions (open to the public) – not relaunching yet, volunteers will be kept updated via Facebook and email
o ParkWork closed sessions (with education groups e.g. City of Bristol College) – continuing, provided the College are happy to do so. These sessions provide a core part of the SEND students’ education provision as the students are not able to access remote learning due to learning disabilities. Social distancing in place at all times.
o One Tree per Child – continuing only with their core group of trained volunteers. No public open sessions. Working with social distancing in place at all times and to a maximum of 10 people (including staff). ParkWork to join some large sites (e.g. spacing of 50m between groups) where the student group can operate independently with supervision from Joe (ParkWork) as a distinct activity.
o Friends of Park Groups (volunteer led)– Volunteers to only work individually/household or support bubble groups, no wider group volunteering permitted.
o Other educational volunteer activities(e.g. students from Bristol Uni and UWE) – students involved in volunteer activities such as survey work or data collection (inc. photography) to continue to be supported where it forms part of their course requirements. Activities to be carried out as independently as possible.
o This is in line with how we were working in November’s lockdown, with the addition of a blanket measure for those who are extremely vulnerable:
They must not volunteer in parks and should resume shielding.
Harbours
- Harbours launching of motorised craft will cease
- Canoes, rowing boats, paddle boards etc. will continue to be allowed to access the water