The phased reopening of Contact Centres/Library Contact Centres and the upcoming opening of more public toilet facilities has been announced today.
Sixteen public toilets have been open for some time and it has been agreed to reopen 11 additional facilities in:
- Earlston
- St Boswells
- Newtown St Boswells
- Morebattle
- Yetholm
- Denholm
- Chirnside
- Greenlaw
- Cockburnspath
- Broughton
- West Linton
The intention is to open these facilities between 9am and 5pm seven days a week until the end of October. Opening dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Contact Centres/Library Contact Centres
Within the next week, four Contact Centre/Library Contact Centre facilities will reopen, in Kelso, Duns, Coldstream and Eyemouth, with a fifth, in Selkirk, opening the week after.
These will provide access to the full range of pre-COVID face-to-face services for customers. Opening days and times can be found online.
Service requirements will be closely monitored and where achievable and sustainable the reopening and extension of services will be accelerated.
Work is ongoing to ensure that our six other Contact Centres/Library Contact Centres are able to open as soon as possible. The facilities within Jedburgh Grammar Campus will open when restrictions around more general public access to schools are removed.
Councillor Scott Hamilton, Executive Member for Transformation and Service Improvement
“Whilst traditional face-to-face services have not been available during the pandemic, we have continued to serve customers through our website, by telephone and through pre-booked face-to-face appointments where necessary.
“This has been very successful and many customers have welcomed these flexible service options, which will continue to be available. So many services can be accessed through our website and these continue to expand all the time, so I would urge customers, wherever possible, to click before they call or visit.
“With the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise again, we all have to remain extremely vigilant and take all necessary precautions. Service users will be required to wear face coverings (unless exempt) in our Contact Centres/Library Contact Centres, ventilation will be increased and hand sanitiser will be available and should be used. Screens will also be in place at desks to provide additional protection for customers and staff.”