We know many of you are looking forward to meeting friends and family this weekend, either in your own homes, or in pubs, bars and restaurants. It is important that we all continue to act responsibly, follow social distancing guidelines and regularly wash our hands.  

Visiting local businesses will be a very different experience to what it was pre-COVID, with measures such as pre-booking, contactless payment and limited opening hours in place, to ensure our safety. 

Not every business will re-open this weekend, you will need to check whether your favourite pub, bar or restaurant is open before visiting, as well as what measures they have put in place.

Most importantly, you must stay at home if you, or anyone in your household, has coronavirus symptoms. 

Remember to stay alert, control the virus and save lives. Get more information on what you can and can’t do after 4 July.

Test and Trace in place at Swindon venues

When visiting pubs, bars or restaurants you will be asked to provide your contact details so that the NHS Test and Trace service can contact you if needed. Your data will be stored for 21 days.

What we have been doing to support the re-opening on the 4 July

We’ve given advice and support to venues across Swindon to help them re-open, laid clear markings on pavements and put up signage across the borough to help keep you safe.

Alongside the police, we will be monitoring the streets to ensure social distancing is followed. The police can take action against any individual or business who do not follow the guidelines.  

Re-opening council services

Where it is safe to do so, some council services will be resuming from tomorrow (4 July). 

• From tomorrow (4 July), weddings will resume as we catch up on those that have been postponed over the past three months. New bookings can be taken for the Autumn.

• From Tuesday, 7 July, the Lydiard Park café will reopen for takeaway only. We will only be accepting card payments and social distancing measures will be in place

• Lydiard and Coate Water playground will remain closed for now but others may reopen. Please check with your local Parish Council to see whether your local playground is reopening

Announcements on the re-opening of other council services will be made in the coming weeks. You can check the latest status of all council services on our website.

Libraries and museums remain closed

Whilst the latest government guidance permits libraries and museums to re-open, our venues and services such as Lydiard House, Steam Museum, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and our local libraries, will not re-open on 4 July as work is still ongoing to make sure all these premises are COVID-secure.  

Additional national guidance for opening libraries was released earlier this week and our teams are working hard to make sure the re-opening of Swindon libraries is safe and in line with this guidance. 

In the meantime, we are still providing an expansive digital offer to our users, including: online membership, a range of e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines, as well as, interactive events such as Story and Rhyme Time. 

Find out more about our online library service. 

Local Outbreak Management Plan

As we’re moving towards recovering from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, local authorities are required to have a COVID-19 management plan for controlling and preventing the spread of the virus.

Our Outbreak Management Plan outlines measures to protect the public’s health by preventing, identifying and containing local COVID-19 outbreaks.

You can read Swindon's Local Outbreak Management Plan on our website.

Help for vulnerable residents to access food parcels and prescriptions

Latest status of all council services

How the Council is supporting residents and businesses

How you can support your community

See our daily report of waste and recycling collections

Pre-book a slot at the Household Waste Recycling Centre

Book a coronavirus test if you or someone in your household has symptoms