Gradual and safe reopening of cultural services in Oxfordshire

Residents in Oxfordshire will see a very gradual and safe reopening of cultural facilities such as libraries, the Oxfordshire Museum, History Centre and Registration services over the coming weeks and months following the Prime Minister’s further easing of lockdown arrangements across the UK.

Oxfordshire County Council is planning a phased approach to the reopening of public buildings with every precaution being taken to make sure that this happens safely for those staff who will work in them and members of the public who visit them.

On June 23 Prime-Minister Boris Johnson announced in parliament a number of changes to the UK’s response to COVID-19. These will be applicable from July 4.

Previous changes to lockdown arrangements in Oxfordshire have seen household waste recycling centres reopen and schools welcome back more pupils. All of the county council’s cultural services sites have been closed in Oxfordshire and elsewhere since late March.

Methodical and safe

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services said: “We will fully focus on each building before making decisions on re-openings to ensure that the work required to meet the latest social distancing guidelines is undertaken in a methodical way leading to excellent and safe arrangements.

“All of us at the council appreciate how highly valued our cultural facilities are and we join residents in looking forward to them all being reopened in a safe way in future times.

“The council is committed to keeping the public up to date whenever a new re-opening is due and we will update people on what arrangements have been put in place to keep visitors safe.”