Customers who have a Mansfield District Council enquiry that can’t be dealt with online or over the phone will be able to book an appointment to visit the Civic Centre.

A limited number of appointments were booked on a trial basis on Wednesday, 12th August and for Friday, 14th August for customers with Right to Buy applications. As this is a trial week, all available appointments have already been booked and no more are available.

From Monday, 17th August, pre-bookable appointments will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 10am to 2pm, for help with any council-related enquiry that requires face-to-face contact.

The Civic Centre will not be open to walk-in customers who don’t have an appointment so members of the public are asked not to visit.

Customers should continue to contact the council through its website, on social media, or by phone or email in the first instance as appointments will only be available by pre-booking.

James Biddlestone, head of people and transformation, said: “Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have encouraged customers to take a digital-first approach and we ask that this continues in future to keep our customers and officers safe and resilient.

“Online services have worked really well so far and we want to keep this going to meet our transformation objectives.”

During the Covid response, visits to the council’s website increased by 79% and many services that used to be done by visiting the customer service counters are now being processed through a combination of web forms, email and telephone with documents being issued and returned by post.

The council’s first port of call is the website www.mansfield.gov.uk where more than 300 forms, reports and applications can be accessed online through the self-service portal.

The main contact centre number is available on week days on 01623 463463, customers can also email [email protected] and send private messages to the Customer Services team via Facebook @MyMansfieldUk and on Twitter @MDC_News.

All customers visiting the Civic Centre will be contacted in advance of their appointment to undertake a coronavirus health check and only named customers will be able to access the building. All visitors will be asked to wear a face covering unless they are exempt from wearing one.

Access to the Civic Centre for pre-booked council appointments will be via the car park entrance. Visitors are asked to follow the signage that is in place, use the hand sanitiser provided and follow any guidance that is given when booking an appointment and when on site.