Kirklees museums and galleries to close – and events in public buildings cancelled
Museums and galleries in Kirklees will close from tomorrow and events in all council buildings will be cancelled.
We are responding to the latest government advice on Coronavirus (covid-19), by making the decision to close museums and galleries until further notice.
All events planned in council buildings – including town halls and libraries – during this period will be cancelled or postponed until further notice. Events planned in council-owned public spaces and parks will also no longer be going ahead. Oakwell Country Park will remain open.
Will libraries and town halls remain open?
All libraries and town halls across the borough will remain open at this time.
At this time, the registration service based in Huddersfield and Dewsbury Town Halls will remain open but all the necessary precautions to limit the risk of spreading Covid-19 will be in place.
We are contacting anyone who has hired a hall or booked an event in any of our venues or parks to let them know about these changes.
We will work with couples who have booked weddings during this period to see how we can support them to include social distancing measures or to postpone should they wish.
Will I receive a refund if I’ve bought a ticket for a show or event?
Anyone who has bought a ticket for a show or event will be reimbursed to the card they used for the transaction, and we are contacting people who paid cash to arrange a refund.
Will funerals continue to take place?
Funerals will continue to take place at our cemeteries and crematoria, however live streamed services will be offered to help with social distancing and to protect the vulnerable and over 70s.
Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, said:
“We are working hard and doing everything we can to keep you as safe as possible. Public health and the wellbeing of all our residents is my top priority.
These really are once in a lifetime challenges and the most important thing for us all to do is pull together and look out for each other.
This is a decision we have now had to make in our efforts to contain the spread of the virus and keep our staff and residents safe.
The challenge we all face is much bigger than Kirklees Council, it’s a real community effort. As I have said before, our strength is in our togetherness and that is more important now than ever.
The community spirit we are already seeing is truly inspiring with local people volunteering their time to help others. We will continue to do what we do best – work together and help those that need us most.”
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Hi Phil, we understand your frustration, however, as part of the current rules on social distancing, the government has stopped all weddings in all public buildings. When we are able to carry out marriages those who have been postponed will be served on a priority basis. Kind Regards^ CP
What gives you the right to cancel all events in public buildings in Kirklees?,this is far too arbritary .For example with appropriate social distancing, where’s the risk in a civil wedding with a registrar and 2 witnesses. By cancelling my appointment ‘ to give notice of intending to marry appointment’ , you are in effect breaching my right as a British Citizen to marry freely with propper notice in my own country .Government guidelines are not ‘law’ .and here they have been interpreted as to discriminate, terrible practice by a Labour Council.As a same sex couple our right to marry has bee effectively usurped ,as we are bound to use registry offices to marry .Church weddings can still go ahead .total discrimination ,and illegal under the law of the land ( marriages act )