COVID-19 header

Thursday 23 April 2020

Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we will now be providing regular email updates for residents to let you know about the latest information we have and any changes to local services that may be affected.

If you do not wish to receive these updates please click on “unsubscribe” at the bottom of the page.

You can check the latest information on our website at any time by going to https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/coronavirus.


£30 million aid for Rotherham firms – help us support more

More than 2,700 Rotherham businesses have received Covid-19 financial support worth over £30 million in the last few weeks alone, but we know many more companies entitled to help have not yet made a claim.

To help us get the support to businesses as soon as possible, we are asking all businesses who meet the eligibility criteria for the reliefs or grants to complete a simple claim form.

Businesses can check if they are eligible on our website.

If you know someone who owns a business, or work for one of the companies eligible for support, we’d really appreciate it if you could share this information.

Together we can:

⚠️ Protect livelihoods
⚠️ Save jobs
⚠️ Help our local economy recover.


Businesses punished for flouting lockdown restrictions

Seven Rotherham businesses have been served with Prohibition Notices by Rotherham Council for breaching coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

The businesses are:

  • Swinton – Cafe Sport/Roxys Bar and Gym
  • Wath – Red Lion Public House
  • West Melton- WMC (Westville)  Public  House
  • North Anston – Cutlers Public House
  • Eastwood – Ideal Rooms furniture store
  • Masbrough- Jays Hand Car Wash
  • Town Centre – 104 Westgate Rotherham Barbers Shop

All had been investigated by our officers after we received reports from members of the public. On every occasion a warning was issued in the first instance, but Prohibition Notices were subsequently served after these were ignored.

If these notices are breached, a fixed penalty notice of £60 will be issued (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days). However, for each subsequent breach thereafter, the fixed penalty will be doubled, up to a maximum of £960.

Further proceedings for an offence under these Regulations may be brought by the Crown Prosecution Service and any person designated by the Secretary of State. If prosecuted, businesses are liable for a maximum £5000 fine, with further punishments for continuation of the offence.

Click the button below for details of how to report any concerns about businesses breaching the regulations.

Report businesses in breach of restrictions


Cemeteries open but social distancing must be observed

All Rotherham Council run cemeteries and burial grounds are now re-open but visitors are being reminded that they must observe social distancing guidance at all times to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Only the Crematorium building itself at East Herringthorpe remains closed, except for funeral services.

The reopening of all Rotherham Council run cemeteries follows a change to the national Public Health regulations

The rules previously said that crematoria and burial grounds are closed to members of the public. However, that has now been clarified to say that it does not apply to the grounds surrounding a crematorium, including any burial ground.

The initial regulations relating to the closure of cemeteries and crematoria caused confusion across the country. We joined a number of other authorities in lobbying Government to get the position clarified and for a review of the decision.

Thank you to everyone for their patience during this difficult time.

It is vital though that people continue to respect social distancing when visiting local cemeteries.

Strict national guidance for funeral services remains in place, including a limit of 10 mourners being in attendance. Click the button below to read the updated guidance.

Read the full guidance


Yorkshire Day & Women’s Euros are put back

Women's Euros

We are sorry to announce that the planned Yorkshire Day Celebration, which we were due to host in Rotherham on Saturday 1 August has been cancelled.

In the meantime a smaller programme for this year’s celebrations is being prepared designed for you to enjoy in your own home. Following discussion with the Yorkshire Society, Rotherham will still host the official Yorkshire Day celebration in the future, with a new date to be announced shortly.

Meanwhile, UEFA has announced that the 2021 Women’s European Football Championships in England will now to be played a year later than scheduled, taking place between 6-31 July 2022.

As you may be aware, Rotherham was one of the host venues for the 2021 tournament and we remain committed to hosting the tournament in 2022. We are working closely with organisers on overcoming any challenges this postponement will have on the delivery of matches.


Rotherham Director of Public Health’s weekly message

Terrie Roche, Director of Public Health

Rotherham’s Director of Public Health, Teresa Roche, has thanked local people for observing coronavirus restrictions by staying at home and supporting the national effort to protect the NHS.

Speaking in her weekly update, she said:

“We are starting to see the rate of transmission in the community reducing and the last thing we want to do is sacrifice all the good work we have done so far.

“Together we can beat Coronavirus but we need everyone to continue to work together to curb the spread of the virus.”

She also highlights additional support available for people coping with bereavement, how people suffering from Domestic Abuse can get help and the importance of continuing to use health services for other conditions, not just Covid-19.

DPH weekly message in full


Support for cancer patients at Macmillan hub

MacMillan Cancer Support 2

Macmillan Cancer Support is providing an online coronavirus information hub to provide guidance, advice and support about coronavirus for people living with cancer, their family and their carers.

Since the outbreak of the virus, Macmillan has seen a stark increase in the number of people contacting their Support Services about coronavirus.

People living with cancer are rightly concerned about how coronavirus will affect their health, their treatment and care, and their work and finances.

Please share this web link with anyone you know who is affected by cancer.

www.macmillan.org.uk/coronavirus