Residents are being reminded there are lots of ways to contact Dudley Council online despite limited essential face services opening up at the customer contact centre.

Dudley Council Plus is open for people to have limited face to face visits.

It is part of easing measures at the council in line with the government’s gradual lifting of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Online contact with the council has soared in recent months as the centre shut its doors temporarily as the country went into lockdown.

But the council is working hard to keep services going and has maintained customer contact via email, over the phone, website, mobile app and social media.

More than 100,000 people a month have been visiting the council’s website to get the latest news, help and advice since lockdown began in March. Dudley Council Plus has also dealt with 7,000 emails, online forms, social media enquiries and requests via the mobile app and DigiTV. More than 80,000 calls have been made to the centre.

Now, Dudley Council Plus, in Castle Street, Dudley, is open from 10am-3pm, Monday to Friday to offer people essential face-to-face contact with a limited number of staff.

Measures are in place at the centre to force social distancing and people are being asked to wear facemasks or coverings in line with the latest government advice.

Face-to-face services include scanning and receiving evidence, right to buy housing applications, returning keys, tenancy terminations, emergency homelessness and others which cannot be done via any other means. Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member responsible for Dudley Council Plus, said:

“In line with the government’s easing of lockdown we are starting to open Dudley Council Plus for limited essential face to face visits only.

”There are many other ways people can contact the council about a range of services, which have proven extremely popular while they have been running throughout lockdown. This includes email, telephone, online forms, the council app, social media and many more.

“A small number of staff are available to speak to people face to face in essential circumstances, and a range of measures are being put in place to allow us and members of the public to maintain crucial social distancing.

“Ultimately, the safest way for people to contact us is either online or over the phone – this not only helps us continue to operate hundreds of services, but also keeps staff and the public safe.”

Payment kiosks, public access computers, specialist council tax and benefits consultations and services which are available in other ways, will not be available in the centre.

For more information on contacting Dudley Council Plus visit dudley.gov.uk.