THE doors to Barnard Castle Town Council’s headquarters will remain firmly closed to the public – at least for the time being.
A meeting of the town council’s resources committee last week was the first time members had got together in person since the lockdown was introduced in March.
The town council has held just two meetings open to the public using videoconferencing software – unlike a number of other parishes across the dale which have staged regular virtual meetings throughout recent months.
At last week’s meeting, all councillors, staff and members of the public were required to wear face coverings throughout and use hand sanitiser prior to entry, and seating was spaced to ensure social distancing.
While Cllr Sandra Moorhouse, chairwoman of the resources committee, claimed the town council was “setting the trend” by meeting face-to-face again, she questioned when and whether the group’s HQ, at the Woodleigh building, on Scar Top would be open for members of the public to call in queries.
The town council leases Woodleigh from Durham County Council. In turn, the town council sub-lets offices within the building to Teesdale Day Clubs and Citizens Advice.
Town council clerk Martin Clark said it had been hoped the building would reopen to the public sometime in September.
That is not possible as equipment required to make the premises Covid-secure had not arrived, he added.
“We have had to take into account if we have our colleagues [the day clubs and Citizens Advice] in the building.
“They have not indicated their return at all, although one member of Teesdale Day Clubs has been in,” he said.
Mr Clark said there was also “some anxiety” among a member of the town council's staff about public access.
On that basis, he said he was unable to set a date for reopening.
Cllr Moorhouse said she did not believe the town council office needed to be open to the public as council members only visited the premises “when necessary”.
She urged members to “forget September” as far as reopening and continue to review the situation.
