COVID-19

We live in unprecedented times.

The spread of the Coronavirus is causing upheaval and uncertainty in all corners of society and Rishworth Palace is no exception. We have fielded queries from concerned residents about a number of aspects of the day-to-day operation of the mill and felt it important to communicate our position on these to you.

• Deep cleaning of all public spaces on a rolling basis in the mill is logistically and financially unsustainable. We will, however, endeavour to continue to keep the mill to its usual standard of cleanliness.

• Even when deep cleaning occurs in public spaces, contamination can creep back in almost immediately due to regular footfall and poor personal hygiene habits. Deep cleaning, therefore, is no guarantee of defence against any form of bacteria or virus.

• The only reliable and sustainable defence against bacteria and viruses in public spaces is to follow the government's advice with regard to washing hands, not touching faces, sneezing into your arm/elbow and disposing of tissues in a bin. We therefore ask that you make maintaining high standards of personal hygiene a priority to complement our normal cleaning schedule in the mill.

• Responding to government advice, we have closed the gym until further notice given the potential for transmission of the virus in a closed, humid environment. We realise this will be a disappointment to many residents but feel it is an essential step to take and ask for your patience and understanding in this respect

• Please be aware of neighbours who may be forced to self-isolate due to government recommendations and, if possible, offer to support them with shopping and other day-to-day needs. We are a close-knit community and will pull through this together!

We will update this page with more information as and when matters evolve. If you have any queries, please contact the Chair of Directors using the address provided on the Contact page or via the Directors Pigeon Hole in the main entrance.

The government has just announced the reopening of indoor gyms from the 25th of July. We are aware that many residents will be keen to resume use of the Palace's gym facilities and have reviewed the government's advice carefully.

Whilst we recognise the many benefits to be gained from reopening the gym, we do not feel it is possible to do so until a complete return to normality. Putting aside the relatively small amount of space, the need for regular deep cleaning and the cleaning of machinery after each and every use, the biggest obstacle is the lack of ventilation.

"Ventilation is an important part of mitigating against the transmission of COVID-19. Ventilation into the building should be optimised to ensure a fresh air supply is provided to all areas of the facility and increased wherever possible. Particular attention should be given to areas where high intensity exercise activity takes place."

There is no ventilation system in place in the gym and no access to fresh air. We do not believe that opening the gym doors is a reasonable step given they are fire doors, circulation will still be poor and residents in close proximity to the gym will not appreciate gym air and noise passing freely through the communal space and into their apartments.

We realise this decision will come as a disappointment to many residents but do not see another viable option at this moment in time. We will continue to monitor the situation and update this page accordingly.

In response to residents' queries, we have liaised with HSE and Environmental Health on the matter of the continued closure of the gym. Whilst neither body is able to endorse a decision a company makes in relation to COVID guidelines, both advised that the guidance be followed in gym settings, commercial or otherwise, to minimise the risk of transmission. The gym will therefore need to remain closed until the guidance changes or we can improve ventilation.

The gym is the property of the landlord and residents have their permission to use it as per the lease. The company is required to maintain it, which it has done for many years. We find ourselves at an unexpected juncture where transformational investment is required to meet new (hopefully temporary) guidelines, which is financially unviable in the short-term. The matter of gym ventilation will be tabled at the next board meeting with a view to exploring options for the long-term.