The works, which involve the re-building of the main entrance to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, will commence on Saturday 26 February.

For the most part, the main door will still be in use, but the entrance will be narrower making it extremely difficult for large prams and pushchairs to be admitted to the property. There will also be a period of approximately one week, in the middle of the building works, when the front entrance will require to be closed and access will be from a side-door at 77 John Street.

The period when the John Street entrance is being used will lead to an additional difficulty with service users being required to climb stairs to reach the main offices for the registration of births and deaths. However, arrangements will be put in place to ensure that registrations can continue.

The Council would like to apologise, in advance, to anyone who is inconvenienced by the need to restrict and close the main entrance on Martha Street. However, short of completely closing the registration office for a period of time, there is no other way of carrying out this necessary work.

The advice to anyone coming into Martha Street to register births and deaths, or for the preliminary paperwork associated with marriages, is to, if possible, leave any large prams or pushchairs at home.

Staff will do all that they can to help anyone who experiences particular problems when visiting Martha Street over the period of these construction works.