ALTON Town Council has reduced the number of face-to-face meetings its councillors must attend over the next six weeks to cut the risk of spreading the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Remote council meetings have been banned since May. The public are still being asked to watch meetings online, but with Alton Town Hall currently closed to the public to protect staff they have no other option.

Town clerk Leah Coney felt prime minister Boris Johnson’s work-at-home directive made no difference to the council.

She said: “Town council office-based staff have been working a hybrid office/home working regime throughout 2021, so the latest announcements have not impacted staff adversely.

“We can, of course, be contacted by phone or email in the usual way.

“The grounds team, as they cannot work from home, continue to be based across the town council’s open spaces as usual, with Covid-safe measures in place.”