LIBRARIES and museums are to reopen their doors across west Cheshire as part of Covid lockdown measures easing.

Following announcements relating to the Government's roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s libraries, museums and the Cheshire Record Office will begin to reopen throughout April.

From April 12, Storyhouse will reopen with normal hours and Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Neston, Lache, Upton, Frodsham and Winsford libraries on reduced hours for browsing and public computer access.

An Order and Collect service will also be available from Ellesmere Port, Neston, Northwich, Storyhouse and Winsford Libraries.

The Council’s head of communities, culture and libraries, Rachel Foster said: “Staff will be working hard to ensure everyone’s safety.

"Our museums, libraries and the Cheshire Record Office have tested processes in place to ensure that all spaces are cleaned on a regular basis and visitors adhere to social distancing guidelines.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors back. Look out in the press and on social media for details of activities taking place at a museum near you and online in the coming months with West Cheshire Libraries.”

The borough’s museums will begin to open from late April. To ensure the safety of staff and visitors revised opening times and pre-booking has been introduced for all museums.

For more information, visit http://westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/ . Opening times and booking procedures may change at short notice.

For further information and details of library opening hours, visit www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/libraries.

The Home Library Service will resume where volunteers and clients are able to, supported by council library staff. Some library services are available 24/7 online, including the new BorrowBox service.

Any library member can download the new BorrowBox app to their digital devices and access thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks free of charge at any time.

Reservations will resume on April 12 and loan periods will be extended until May 17.

Libraries are also fine-free for under 13s now. Children aged 0 to 12 years will no longer be charged for any overdue items and any pre-existing late charges will be removed from their accounts. Check items on loan by logging in to your account.

Covid-19 home testing kits can also be collected from Northwich, Neston and Frodsham libraries on specified days and times, as well as at some Mobile Library locations under the Community Collect scheme.

Cheshire Record Office will reopen the public searchroom on April 13, then open on an appointment basis from 10am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Requests to view archives must be made in advance by email at recordoffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk. Opening arrangements will be reviewed again in May.

Enquiries and digitisation requests continue to be responded to and are unaffected. Further information can be found at http://www.cheshirearchives.org.uk.

Grosvenor Museum will reopen on May 17. The museum and shop will be open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

The Lion Saltworks Museum will reopen its open outdoor play area and butterfly garden only on Tuesdays-Thursdays from April 26. From May 17, the museum and shop will be open, possibly the café also with limited capacity, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10.30am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5pm.

Weaver Hall Museum will reopen on May 17. The museum, shop and café will be open with limited capacity, Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 10.30am-1.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm, and on Saturdays, 2pm-4.30pm.

Stretton Water Mill's reopening date is to be confirmed.

All sites will operate on a system of pre-booked timed entries to cap numbers and to aid social distancing.