Parish Notes available
The latest issue of the Parish Notes is now online (as well as in your letterbox).
You can find it via Your Community > Parish Notes.
Changes to waste collection
SODC’s waste collection service disruption plan is now in place as a result of Coronavirus.
Waste contractor, Biffa, has suffered some staff shortages due to illness and self-isolation but is managing this by redeploying staff and using agency drivers.
However, with new crew members unfamiliar with the routes and in some cases fewer staff, it’s likely that on occasions, crews might not be able to complete all of their daily rounds and so some bins might not be emptied on their usual collection day.
- The advice for residents is as follows: if the bins in your street are not emptied, please leave them out for up to three days (including weekends) and Biffa will try to catch up. If still not emptied, bring them back in and they will be emptied on the next planned collection day.
- SODC is working with Biffa to prioritise critical waste services. To help with this plan SODC has suspended some non-essential services, including new bulky waste bookings, new garden waste subscriptions and investigating abandoned vehicles.
- SODC is urging residents to sort their waste carefully – food in food waste bins, rubbish in black bins and clean, dry, loose recycling in their green recycling bins.
SODC will prioritise food, rubbish and clinical waste collections and some elements of street cleansing, including emptying litter bins.
It’s also possible that SODC may have to suspend garden waste services so it can focus on essential waste collections, as other councils have. If this is the case, SODC will let residents know through our social media sites and council websites.
Parish emergency documents
As we come to the end of the first week of the restrictions introduced to attempt to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, it is pleasing to see such a positive response from the community.
I would like to thank all those who are supporting parishioners who are self-isolating by shopping, collecting prescriptions, caring for pets, etc. The parish council has invoked the Emergency Plan which formalises some the work that has already taken place. In addition, the council is operating under special measures detailed in the High Consequence Infectious Disease Policy to allow decisions to be made without the need for the council to meet face to face.
We are looking at further measures that may assist parishioners. I have been in touch with Lloyds Pharmacy to explore the feasibility of setting up a scheme to allow the collection and delivery of prescriptions for those who are entitled to free health care. If we are able to achieve this, it will reduce the number of parishioners having to travel to Chinnor for prescriptions.
The documents noted above can be found via the menu bar above under Parish Council > Publications.
Peter Tinson
Aston Rowant Parish Council
Coronavirus – scam alert
Sadly there are those who will attempt to take advantage of the vulnerability of some – all in the name of helping them through Coronavirus.
There is but one message: Be alert for scams.
Never respond to any organisation asking you to move funds to a ‘safe place’ – no bank or police officer will ever ask you to do that.
If offered help with the inducement of a cash payment, be very cautious. All forms of official help can be found on the government website at https://www.gov.uk. (Look for the padlock symbol and the text ‘https’ in the web address). Don’t follow a link – go to https://www.gov.uk yourself.
If you are unsure about the veracity of a website, offer of help or a request, SEEK third party advice. If you receive an email or communication out of the blue offering money, bin it. If you get a caller at the door, close it. And if you receive an unsolicited call, put the phone down.
To prove the point, look at the image below that was forwarded to ARPC from district councillor Ian White. It’s a text that leads to a lookalike fake government website.
Please stay alert.
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Essential services in Chinnor
With Coronavirus in mind, parishioners may be interested to note the details relating to essential services – food, pharmacy and pet – in Chinnor.
Below is a downloadable document which features those businesses that are open, their hours and contact details.
Volunteer for the NHS
The government has issued an urgent call for a quarter of a million people to register as a volunteer for the NHS to help tackle the coronavirus crisis.
If you’re fit, healthy and currently have no coronavirus symptoms then you could be the perfect fit to join this “army” of volunteers.
There are a variety of jobs you could do to play your part in dealing with the pandemic.
Community Response volunteer: Collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home.
Patient Transport volunteer: Supporting the NHS by providing transport to patients who are medically fit for discharge, and ensuring that they are settled safely back in to their home.
NHS Transport volunteer: Transporting equipment, supplies and/or medication between NHS services and sites, it may also involve assisting pharmacies with medication delivery.
Check-in and Chat volunteer: This role provides short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation
It’s simple and easy to apply, all you need to do is visit https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS.
Coronavirus – ‘adopt’ a neighbour
Because Coronavirus is such a disruptive disease the Parish Council is asking parishioners to look out for their neighbours and anyone else in the locality that they know to be in a vulnerable position – the elderly, infirm, and those who are unwell or without transport.
Please check to see if they’re OK and whether you can assist with, for example, shopping. Please don’t assume that your neighbours are fine.
Below is a card you can download and print that can be given to those who you think may need assistance.
Coronavirus: Stay at home guidance from the government
The government, via Public Health England, has published guidance for those staying at home following an actual or potential case of coronavirus.
The guidance offers detail on the symptoms, the importance of staying at home, separation away from individuals, use of shared spaces and much more.
See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection for the detail.
Report street defects
Street defects such as potholes, faulty street lights, drains, flytipping and more can be reported online to Oxfordshire County Council (and if necessary, forwarded to South Oxfordshire District Council) via https://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk.
The service is also available via apps from the Apple or Google store.
Protecting the isolated and vulnerable – Covid 19 outbreak
You will all be aware of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Neighbourhood Watch exists to look out for communities across England and Wales and at a time like this we encourage you to consider ways to keep yourself, your loved ones and those in your community safe, particularly the isolated and vulnerable. We are following the advice from the government and encourage you to do the same: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
10 ways you can protect yourself, your loved ones and your community:
1. Meet with household members, other relatives, friends and neighbours to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.
2. If your neighbourhood has a website or social media page, consider joining it to maintain access to neighbours, information, and resources. Alternatively, share phone numbers and email addresses particularly with those who are isolated or vulnerable.
3. Consider establishing a ‘buddy’ system within your community to ensure everyone stays connected to COVID-19 related news, services and can receive support safely, such as essentials deliveries.
4. Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications.
5. Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy.
6. Learn how to self-isolate. Guidance can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/
7. Create a list of local organisations that you and your neighbours can contact in the event that one of you need access to information, healthcare services, support, or resources. Consider including organisations that provide mental health or counselling services, food, and other supplies.
8. Create an emergency contact list of family, friends, neighbours, healthcare providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other community resources.
9. Learn about the emergency operations plan at your child’s school or childcare facility, and your employer’s emergency operations plan.
10. Practice everyday preventive actions including regular hand washing.
The NHS provides guidance on how to wash hands: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/
The World Health Organisation provides guidance on basic protective measures: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidance on handwashing for families https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/handwashing-family.html
Some of the key points above have been sourced from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html .
The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention also published (14th February 2020) Interim Guidance for Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Homes and Residential Communities which you may find useful: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html .