Community Association

Latest update from Bucks Council Leader Martin Tett

~ BAACA

Dear Resident,

I’m sure we are all pleased to see January behind us. Our local NHS services have been under enormous and unprecedented pressure since Christmas due to Covid. However, while the situation remains very serious, we are now at last seeing reducing infection rates in Buckinghamshire. I would like to thank every one of you for playing your part in helping to achieve this. Nevertheless, our rates still remain very high compared to as recently as November. Also, in neighbouring Hertfordshire and Surrey there have been reported cases of the new South African virus strain. Therefore, it is far too soon to think that this virus is beaten. You can find up to date information about local case numbers on our COVID-19 dashboard and on the Government’s website.

We must keep on doing everything we can to keep suppressing the virus and get it fully under control. So please, continue to do your bit, follow the rules, and stay at home unless your journey is essential. If you develop coronavirus symptoms then book a test and isolate along with everyone else you live with too. We are supporting the national contact tracing programme so if you do test positive for COVID-19 then we may contact you to offer support with self-isolating and to ask who you’ve been in close contact with. If you get a call from 01296 585 167 that’ll be our team so please do pick up. We are here to support and to help in the effort to stop the virus spreading. And remember – you may qualify for a self-isolation payment if you have to miss work due to isolating if you’re on a low income and can’t work from home.

COVID-19 vaccine roll out

Our local COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to speed forward and I’m really pleased to be able to let you know that local capacity is expanding even more in the days and weeks ahead. Subject to final sign off, we have a new large vaccination site opening in Buckinghamshire next week. We also have a vaccine site in Chesham and a hospital hub vaccine site for health and social care workers opening in Amersham. Every GP surgery in the county is linked in to one of our nine GP-led sites which are giving many vaccines every day. There have been a few pockets of areas where supply has been slower but the majority of residents aged 80 and over have now been invited for their first vaccine. Our NHS colleagues remain on target to offer everyone aged 70 and over and the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable a vaccine appointment by the middle of this month.

Nearly 190,000 residents have now been vaccinated in our region (Bucks, Oxon and Berks), of which around 70,000 are Bucks residents.

You can read more about the COVID-19 vaccine and the roll out on the Buckinghamshire Council website too, including the answers to many of the frequently asked questions.

How you’ll get your COVID-19 vaccine appointment

When it’s your turn you will get a letter from the NHS and/or you GP will contact you direct as the national programme is running alongside the GP led programme. If you book an appointment through the national system but then decide to get your vaccine through your GP please call 119 to cancel the national appointment and so avoid vaccine wastage. If you get an NHS letter but are offered an appointment some distance away that you don’t want, do hold onto the letter and keep checking back as new local sites are opening so you might get an appointment closer to home. Also, make sure you’re registered with a GP and that the contact details they have for you are up to date.

If you haven’t heard about your appointment and are expecting to, then rest assured you will get news from your own doctor or the NHS national programme soon. It’s the NHS that is co-ordinating the vaccine roll out so while I cannot give personal assurances on their behalf, I am confident from their updates that we are in a very positive position.

Vaccinating health and social care staff

We’ve made great strides vaccinating our health and social care staff in Buckinghamshire, which is fantastic news both for residents who work in this sector and the vulnerable people they care for.

If you work in health and social care and haven’t had your vaccination yet, please contact your employer. If you are a self-employed worker in health and social care and haven’t had your vaccination, please contact the Allocation Bureau: COVIDvaccination@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Think before you share

There’s a lot of information about the vaccines available online and we all have a responsibility to ‘think before sharing’ any vaccine posts. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, it does not contain animal products or egg and has been declared halal by Imams.

There is a lot of misinformation circulating on social media so please think before you choose to share any posts; take five seconds to consider:

  • Is this a rumour?
  • Is the info from a reliable source?
  • How does the person who’s sent this know it’s true?

Of course, having the vaccine is a personal choice but it’s critical that we all do our bit to avoid a situation where someone refuses a vaccine as they’re read misinformation about it online. If you do want to find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine then make sure anything you read about the vaccine comes from a reliable source such as the NHS or Government’s websites.

Support for you

None of us is alone in this and I know most of us will be facing challenges in some way, whether that’s combining home schooling and working, caring for someone, money worries, or running a business that’s struggling:

  • If you do have a business and need to access support, we’ve got a new round of grants open – please look at the details on our website.
  • Please take the opportunity of your daily exercise and keep in touch with loved ones – it’s more important than ever that we all take time to do the things that will protect our physical and mental health, especially as winter takes its toll.
  • It’s Time to Talk day this Thursday – a reminder to us all that it’s good to talk honestly and openly about how we are feeling. Their website is well worth a read and if you do need some support please check the ‘Health and Wellbeing Bucks’ website as there are lots of organisations that can help.

Show some love to our key workers

The dedication and sacrifices of all key workers during the last year has been incredible. Shop workers, teachers and school staff, childcare workers, street cleaners, delivery drivers, everyone working for the NHS and care services – they and the many other key workers have all kept on going.

So why not join in our special Valentine’s #ShowSomeLove campaign. Between now and Valentine’s Day put some hearts in your window to say ‘thank you’ to these fantastic people who are keeping life’s essential services going for us all. Find out more about the campaign on our website and keep an eye out for #ShowSomeLove on our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

Look after yourselves and each other,

Martin Tett

Leader of Buckinghamshire Council                 

Update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council

~ BAACA

Dear Resident

You will almost certainly have seen, heard or read about Saturday’s announcement by the Prime Minister that Buckinghamshire has been placed under even tighter ‘Tier 4’ restrictions, along with many other parts of east and south east England. These new rules took effect at one minute past midnight yesterday morning and replace the Tier 3 restrictions we previously had been put into.

These new rules for Buckinghamshire also mean that, very sadly, ‘Christmas bubbles’ are now not allowed and people in Bucks should spend Christmas within their own household or support bubble only. Non-essential retail is also closed.

This development is a shock to us all and is certainly a nasty sting in the tail at the end of a terrible year. Frankly, I did not expect this, although the figures I see regularly were clearly heading in the wrong direction across the whole council area, in all former District Council areas. I had thought that we might have additional restrictions after Christmas but did not expect the problem to escalate so rapidly. It’s clear that the pandemic has, unfortunately, entered a new phase especially due to the risk posed by the new variant strain of the COVID-19 virus, which government scientists tell us makes the coronavirus spread more easily.

Because we have seen the number of cases in Buckinghamshire increase rapidly in recent weeks, the situation is one of urgency as we try to contain the spread of the virus. You can see our latest data on the Council’s website via our COVID-19 dashboard and via information published by the Government. The Government also has an interactive map where you can find the latest case numbers in your postcode area.

I am aware from emails I receive that some people are not supportive of the new Tier 4 restrictions. I fully understand that. Personally, I am very concerned for our Buckinghamshire businesses and the real threat to their future and the jobs they create. Nevertheless, whatever one’s own private opinions, this is now the law and we should follow the new rules. If we do not, we risk spreading the new Covid strain further across the UK.

On a positive note, this past week saw our first vaccination centre open and next week should hopefully see two more open. I am also expecting more sites either before or just after New Year. These are run by the NHS and they will contact people to advise them when and where to attend. Please wait to be contacted, although I understand that can be frustrating. 2020 has been a horrible year but there is hope on the horizon and we need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe until then.

The new ‘Tier 4’ rules for Buckinghamshire

These are the main rules now in place. Please carefully read the link at the bottom which gives the full Government advice.

·         You must stay at home other than for the following essential reasons:

§  Exercise with people you live with or who are in your support bubble

§  Shopping for essential supplies like food and medicine

§  Work and volunteering that you cannot do at home

§  Education during term time and childcare

§  To visit some public outdoor spaces such as parks and the countryside for exercise or recreation

§  Medical reasons, including to get a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms

§  Communal worship within the guidelines for places of worship

§  For one person to meet one other person separately in a permitted outdoor place

·         You should work from home if possible and in agreement with your employer

·         You should not travel outside your Tier 4 area unless for work or another legally permitted reason

·         You cannot stay away from home unless permitted by law

·         You cannot form a ‘Christmas bubble’ and must spend Christmas within your own household or support bubble

·         Non-essential retail is closed

·         Pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants are closed other than for takeaway/click and collect

·         Leisure centres and gyms must close; outdoor gyms can remain open

·         Hotels and other accommodation must close

·         Personal care like hairdressers, barbers and nail salons must close

·         Community Centres and halls must close except for a limited number of exempt activities

·         Our libraries will close from now and over Christmas and some sites will reopen from Monday 28 Dec for essential IT access and click and collect services only

·         Household Recycling Centres remain open

This is a short summary of the main points of the Tier 4 restrictions but it’s impossible to include all the detail plus the exemptions, so please read the Tier 4 guidance in full on the Government’s website.

Remember – Hands, Face, Space

We must all remember the main defences we have against this virus are the basics:

·         Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly

·         Keep a distance from people you don’t live with or who you’re not in a support bubble with

·         Wear a face covering where required

If you or anyone you live with develops symptoms of coronavirus your whole household must isolate and anyone with symptoms must book a test either online, via the NHS COVID-19 app or by calling 119.

Outdoor events

Unfortunately, any planned outdoor events such as carol singing should not take place in Buckinghamshire and should be cancelled, as these aren’t classed as a ‘reasonable reason’ to leave home in a Tier 4 area.

Support for businesses

I know this news brings fresh misery for our local businesses already struggling after this awful year. Government support remains available via the furlough and other schemes. Locally we offer the Local Restrictions Support Grant. In addition, we have been urgently working over the weekend on a new scheme to support businesses impacted by the changes and hope to release details within the next few days. The finances available for this are limited but our aim is to support as many businesses as possible impacted by the new restrictions. Please keep checking the ‘support for businesses’ section of our website and the information for businesses on the Government’s website. (Please note some of these pages are still being updated to reflect the new Tier 4 restrictions, so please keep checking back for the latest information).

People who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable

The ‘shielding’ programme will come back into effect for areas in Tier 4, including Buckinghamshire. This means there is special advice for people who are classed as ‘Clinically Extremely Vulnerable’. This is the same advice as was applied during the national November lockdown. Please note, the guidance is not the same as it was back in the spring during the first lockdown. As before, people who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable will get letters and texts and emails where the national programme has their contact details. Please call us on 01296 395 000 if you have any questions about the ‘shielding’ programme.

Our NHS

Our colleagues in the NHS are facing high demand on their services now, caused by the usual winter illnesses and rising COVID cases. These services are there for you if you need them urgently and the best thing we can do to support our frontline workers is to stay at home and reduce the spread of the virus.

Stay safe, protect Bucks

At the end of an incredibly difficult year, these latest developments hurt us all, especially with so many of us now having to change plans for Christmas at the last minute. It is undoubtedly a testing time and if you’re struggling, please reach out as our local support services are ready to help. You can find out more via the ‘Health and Wellbeing Bucks’ website which has details of all the organisations that can help you if you need.  

This makes us all feel more vulnerable and comes at a difficult time of year for many so let’s check in on each other in a safe way, maybe just by picking up the phone or dropping our friends and neighbours a text message to see if they’re ok and whether they need anything.

I am so proud of our strong communities here in Buckinghamshire and my main message today is to remember those strengths, and how much stronger we are together. If we all take collective responsibility, following the rules as individuals, we can turn this situation around together. I know it’s hard, but this year is nearly behind us and while we face a very serious immediate challenge in the present, the future will be better and we will get through this.

Stay at home, stay safe, and protect Bucks and each other,

Martin Tett,

Leader, 

Buckinghamshire Council

Santa’s visit to Bellingdon & Asheridge tomorrow CANCELLED

~ BAACA

**Chief Medical Elf responsible for Santa Self Isolation Shock**

Unfortunately Santa has been in touch to let us know that he won’t be able to come around Bellingdon & Asheridge tomorrow afternoon as planned to see all the children. He’s having to self isolate for a few more days on the advice of the Chief Medical Elf to make sure he can deliver everyone’s presents safely when the time comes. (You can track him here on the night!)

As you can see below though, he’ll definitely still be able to deliver on Christmas Eve. Prime Minister Boris Johnson reassured us of that in late November, in response to a letter from Monti, an 8 year old from Cumbria.

Now as we all know, Covid has meant a lot of things have had to change this year, and it may be that Father Christmas won’t be able to deliver exactly what you have asked for, but he and his elves will do their best.

In the meantime, Santa has suggested that you enjoy this extra time with your family, go for lots of walks if the weather allows, play boardgames and maybe think of writing letters to elderly relatives or neighbours or to old peoples’ homes to help them not be lonely.

If mummy or daddy know of anyone who will be on their own now for Christmas in our villages, please ask them to contact Emma and we’ll see if we can help out at all.

Finally, Father Christmas was going to be raising money for some fantastic local charities. If anyone would like to still donate to these charities they can do so, or find out more, here.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,

Bellingdon & Asheridge Community Association

Gigabit Broadband Internet Access for rural* Bellingdon

~ BAACA

Dear Resident,

The Government recently announced a fund of £5bn to subsidise the installation of Gigabit Broadband to Rural Communities.

This will hugely improve broadband speeds – up to 1 gigabit per second compared to the current 30-40 Mb per second – enabling improved working from home, and better streaming & downloading of music & films and other services.

Confused by all the letters and numbers? The main point is, its a lot faster. Its also not the same as “superfast broadband” or “fibre to cabinet” which most of us already have. This involves upgrading the individual connection to each and every house that signs up.

We are able to take advantage of this fund to pay for installation under the Rural Gigabit Voucher scheme (up to £1,500 per household installation).

Tony Orr (a Bellingdon resident) has been coordinating activities to date and recently asked home owners in Bellingdon (via the Cholesbury Grapevine, bellingdon.com website and BAACA monthly email) whether they wanted to sign up for the new service. Many of you did – thank you.

Please let us know if you’re interested by filling in this short form as soon as possible so we can gauge numbers.

What happens now?

The next step is that Openreach will send us a contract with all the addresses included in the project and costs. Once we’ve signed and sent back the contract, Openreach will transfer the addresses onto the voucher website portal.

At this point we will send you a link to the voucher portal website and each household will need to agree terms and request the voucher. Each household has to sign up for a 12-month minimum term to a service provider of their choosing.

Once Openreach have enough vouchers they will commence the rollout. Not everyone has to sign up but they haven’t told us what the minimum requirement is yet.

Questions?

Please drop us an email to contact@bellingdon.com and we will look to answer them. Some FAQs are provided below.

*****

FAQs

Q. What if we don’t want to take advantage of the current scheme?
A. There is no guarantee of future monies being available. If homes do not wish to take advantage they may have to pay directly in future if they (or future house owners) wish to take up the option. Currently Openreach are estimating a cost in excess of £1,000 per property for installation.

Q. Will this service add value to my property?
A. This cannot be guaranteed but bearing in mind the increase in internet demand (working from home, streaming music & films and other services) and that there is no guarantee of future government subsidy a Gigabit connection could be seen as positive selling point.

Q. How much will this commitment cost each property?
A. There is a requirement that each household will sign up for a 12-month minimum term to a service provider of their choosing. This might sound alarming, however the costs of gigabit fibre are comparable to the existing broadband they already have. For example, Vodafone are charging £21.50 a month for 35mb versus £25 a month for 100Mb, including line rental.

Q. Do I need to commit to more than 12 months?
A. No, each home is only asked to commit to a 12-month contract (with their chosen internet provider) After this time there is no need for further commitment.

Q. How many homes need to sign up to ensure the rollout?
A. We don’t know, Openreach don’t need 100% take up however they haven’t yet/won’t share what the minimum requirement is. We suspect that it would be in excess of 50% of the properties will be required to sign up before the rollout will commence.

Q. What about Asheridge?
A. Asheridge is covered by a separate project that will follow later.

*Q. Does this cover all homes in Bellingdon?
A. No, it only covers properties covered by the Rural Gigabit Voucher scheme i.e. those classified by Government / BT as rural. This covers properties from Savecroft Farm northwards to Bellingdon End Farm. Properties south of Savecroft Farm will have fibre provided by BT as part of the national roll out and will not have to apply for the rural scheme.

If you have any further questions please do let us know at contact@bellingdon.com and we’ll try to answer them.