Service information
Blue Badge – There may be some delay in processing applications.
Children With Disabilities – Most services are continuing as normal. Some short breaks have been cancelled.
Citizenship ceremonies – You must normally book the ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office, however, due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months.
Complaints and compliments, Freedom of Information requests and enquiries about information we hold about you – there will be changes in the way these are processed
Concessionary bus passes – Delays to the normal 10 day processing.
In order to allow older people to travel to supermarkets earlier in the day we are relaxing the restrictions on concessionary bus travel. With the agreement of bus operators, concessionary bus passes can now be used before 9.30am on services across Somerset.
Copies of certificates – If you need a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate please see the General Register Office website
Early Years Providers – Our Early Years Team have produced a Frequently Asked Questions document for Early Years providers.
Free school meals – You can find guidance on free school meals during the Coronavirus outbreak here
Health Visiting Service – We are not currently running groups however we are continuing to provide appointments where required and can offer telephone and email support.
Heritage – Our Heritage Centre is closed.
Highways – All planned highway maintenance works in Somerset are now suspended to comply with Government instructions and to allow us to focus resources on safety repairs and emergency works. The Government has classified a number of roles within the transport industry as key to delivering essential services. This includes highways workers playing a critical role in maintaining roads to ensure safe passage for emergency services, key workers and deliveries of supplies. We’ve received reports of some crews being approached by the public, potentially putting themselves and road workers at risk. Please give them space to continue keeping roads safe for those who need to use them.
Jobs and careers – Recruitment activity continuing as normal, however all interviews will be taking place virtually.
Libraries – All libraries are closed. No overdue charges or additional hire charges will apply on any items during this time.
Parking – Somerset County Council is suspending parking enforcement across the county. The County Council is standing down its Civil Enforcement team in line with Government guidance during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. You can read more here.
Reception closures – Following new government advice to reduce the spread of Covid-19, all County Council Receptions are now closed until further notice to ensure the wellbeing of the public and our employees. Support information and advice can be found on our website or for anything urgent, please phone 0300 123 2224.
Registration services – Registration offices are currently only taking death registration appointments until at least 13 April. If you need to make an appointment to register a death please phone 01823 282251. We are now able to carry out death registrations over the phone. Following emergency legislation passed by government, changes to the process will further protect staff and members of the public during the Covid-19 social distancing period.
Birth, notice of marriage and civil partnership appointments are currently unavailable. Please be advised that only one informant will be able to see the registrar during the appointment. We will issue an update around birth registrations when we receive further guidance from the Government.
All ceremonies are cancelled until 13 April at the earliest, both at our offices and all approved premises. No bookings for wedding or civil partnership ceremonies are currently being taken. Please visit www.somersetweddingservice.org.uk or follow @SomersetWeddingService on Facebook for updates about our ceremony service.
Rights of way – The public rights of way network remains open. We ask that all members of the public follow the requirements for social distancing and use their local routes rather than travelling to the countryside unnecessarily. Travel to exercise is not essential travel and people should not be travelling to do their daily exercise.
School Notifications – Closures and Partial Closures – Find details of schools that have let us know about closures or limited opening.
School admissions – Delays to progressing and hearing appeals.
School Nursing – We are available to offer support to schools that remain open during this time. We will be contactable by phone or email for all other School Nurse service support. We can signpost you to other providers for sexual health advice and support.
School Transport – Following the Government Announcement on Schooling for Key Workers Children and Vulnerable Children our School Transport network will continue to operate from Monday 23 March to ensure that all entitled children within the groups identified can continue to access schools. You can read more here
Smokefreelife Somerset – Currently not running any support groups or home visits, however are continuing to support people to stop smoking by phone. Alternative arrangements have been made for people to receive their stop smoking medication.
Somerset Waste Partnership – Recycling and rubbish pick-ups are continuing but SWP may be unable to make return pick-ups if recycling collections are missed. Containers should be taken back in and put back out again for the following week.
Garden waste collections have been suspended; existing 2020-21 subscribers will have their service extended for 12 months from the restart of collections. Bulky waste collections have been suspended and no new container orders are being accepted.
The county’s 16 Recycling Centres remain closed.
A new contractor (SUEZ) took on the recycling and waste collection services from Monday. For more detail visit https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/new-fleet-signals-bright-future-for-somerset-recycling/
To help the crews complete rounds as quickly as possible, please: rinse containers, squash all but aerosols and glass if safe to do so, sort-segregate materials without using carrier bags, and put it all – including all food waste (in the food waste bin) – out by 7am.
If you have Coronavirus symptoms or are in a household with someone showing symptoms, government guidance on personal waste which can be found at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus along with latest updates on service disruption.
Please follow @Somersetwaste on Facebook and Twitter, and visit: www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus/
Volunteering – Somerset County Council is currently suspending volunteer recruitment for it’s usual roles, and we are focussing instead on supporting those affected by Coronavirus
Zing Somerset – All events and programmes cancelled. Zing social media pages will be used to share ideas on how to stay active and healthy.
If you haven’t found what you need, or need more support please phone us on 0300 123 2224