Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) will close all council-run community centres in the borough to help combat the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus it announced today (Wednesday, March 18).

Starting on Friday (March 20) at 4.30pm, all community centres in the borough will close indefinitely as councillors seek enforce the government's advice for all UK residents to socially distance from each other and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"Following the Prime Minister’s statement of 16 March, we have taken the decision to close our centres for the community.

"These centres are based at Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames, Thames Ditton, Hersham, Cobham, Claygate and Molesey and support older and vulnerable people in our community.

"From 4.30pm on Friday 20 March these Centres will close for the foreseeable future. The Thames Ditton Centre will close at 4.30pm on Thursday 19 March," a spokesperson for EBC said.

The council added that it was committed to continuing its support for residents who relied on the community centres directly, and would help facilitate volunteers hoping to do the same:

"We remain committed to supporting those who rely on our centres. We are contacting each centre user to ask if they would like a meals-on-wheels delivery and/or a ‘check-in call’ once a week.

"If you would like to volunteer to support our meals-on-wheels effort please contact us on 01372 474 552 or email commservices@elmbridge.gov.uk. All meals-on-wheels volunteers must have their own car."

A number of community events in the borough were cancelled until further notice, EBC said, including:

  • Healthy Walks and Cycle Rides
  • Children and Family events (including countryside and museum events)
  • Royston Pike lectures
  • Surrey Youth Games training sessions