NEWS

If there is one thing that helps some colour into these difficult times it is the sign of summer approaching and the simple beauty from summer blooms.

In Felsted every year we have David Dempsey and his band of hard working volunteers to thank for planting up the multitude of tubs around the Parish.

With David and his team practicing safe distancing, they have once again planted up the flower tubs ready for us to all enjoy in the coming weeks.

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Please see the following message from Uttlesford District Council regarding the NHS Track and Trace system:

With the development of Track and Trace, many people have been asking for advice around how this works.

Please find below the official advice from the GOV.UK website on how the system works and advice on how to avoid being the victim of any possible scams as a result of the implementation of this system.

When we contact you

If the NHS test and trace service contacts you, the service will use text messages, email or phone.

All texts or emails will ask you to sign into the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website.

If NHS test and trace calls you by phone, the service will be using a single phone number: 0300 013 5000.

All information you provide to the NHS test and trace service is held in strict confidence and will only be kept and used in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.

Contact tracers will:

• call you from 0300 013 5000
• send you text messages from ‘NHS’
• ask for your full name and date of birth to confirm your identity, and postcode to offer support while self-isolating
• ask if you are experiencing any coronavirus symptoms
• provide advice on what you must do as you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus

Contact tracers will never:

• ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to us (for example, those starting 09 or 087)
• ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product of any kind
• ask for any details about your bank account
• ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts
• ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone
• disclose any of your personal or medical information to your contacts
• provide medical advice on the treatment of any potential coronavirus symptoms
• ask you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else
• ask you to access any website that does not belong to the government or NHS

For the full guidance/information please check the GOV.UK website – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

Remember our advice

If in doubt use the A, B, C of scam awareness:

A- Never Assume a caller, email or text is genuine.

B- Never Believe a caller, email or text is genuine.

C- Always Confirm by contacting a trusted number, family member, friend, your bank’s fraud department or the police to check if it’s genuine.

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Felsted Parish Council has objected to an application on our Parish boundary with Rayne, for 150 new houses. 19/01326/OUT.

Our concern centres on the traffic impact, particularly on Willows Green, from both construction traffic, for which Willows Green is the most likely access route for large lorries, and ongoing traffic congestion, for which a Highways Assessment has not been completed.

The application was refused by Braintree District Council, but has now gone to appeal.

We thank Rayne PC for helping us in providing the following information.

In light of the Covid 19 outbreak, the Planning Inspectorate has advised that the appeal is still going ahead. However, it will now be heard by Inspector Frances Mahoney via a virtual planning inquiry starting 15th June 2020 and will proceed possibly for a further 7 days. A timetable of events will be released and shared soon.

MS Teams will be the online platform used and residents will be able to watch proceedings via this method, IF they have registered a request to do so. We will share details of how to do this here, once this information is available.

Rayne Parish Council will be represented at most if not all of these virtual sessions. Felsted Parish Council will be represented at key sessions. The Inspector has given us the right to question the Appellant on matters that concern us and our Village. To keep ‘the flow’ of the inquiry and to prevent many people stating the  same thing over and over again, the Inspector has asked the Parish Council to coordinate the gathering of residents’ views, as they would like them expressed and that a representative of the parish council then delivers those expressed views during the hearing (whether it be in objection or support of the development).

If you wish to state your views regarding the proposed development please send them to Cllr Bennett (ab.felstedpc@gmail.com), no later than 5th June.

The appeal documents can be found on BDC’s planning portal: https://www.braintree.gov.uk/ search for 20/00022/NONDET

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We are very pleased to advise that UDC has arranged to re-start the weekly Green Waste collection from Bannister Green this coming Sunday 31 May, between 9-10am as usual.

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ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1)

Temporary Traffic Regulation Order of Station Road, Felsted

Please click on the following link https://one.network/?tm=116693312 to find details of the intended closure of Station Road, due to commence on 3rd June 2020 for 4 days. The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while Essex County Council undertakes Surface Dressing 2020-21, Closure in place between 0800-1700hrs.

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Vacancy to lock and unlock the Car Park and Public Conveniences in Felsted

Are you looking for a part time role, and are available 7 days a week, morning and evening, to unlock and lock the public conveniences and the car park gate at the main playing field in the centre of Felsted?

If the answer to these questions is ‘YES’ then we could have the role for you.

The Council is looking to employ someone to unlock the toilets and car park gate every morning at 8am and lock them again at 8pm (or at dusk if earlier during the winter months). The role is 7 days a week. Cover can be provided for holidays etc.

We also need someone to keep the public conveniences clean, replenish the consumables and generally monitor the area and report any problems to the Clerk. This would involve 2 or 3 visits per week (times and days to be agreed).

If you are interested in taking on either, or both, of these paid roles please contact the Clerk, Diane Smith, on 01371 823071 or at ku.vog.cp-detslefobfsctd-850936@krelc  for further details.

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Please see the following news from Linsells about a new pop-up Post Office:

To all our customers I would like to say a big thank you for your patience, support and understanding over the last couple of months. It is a difficult time for all of us as we get used to the “New Normal”!

Please accept my apologies for the reduced service we have offered in the Post Office recently. As you may recall, we had to reduce the opening hours of the Post Office to help us maintain social distancing, because we were being swamped by people from the surrounding area, due to Post Offices such as Dunmow and Takeley being closed.

As and when Dunmow and other Post Offices start to re-open, thus reducing pressure on us, I hope to be able start increasing the opening hours of Felsted Post Office. In the meantime, the British Legion have kindly offered to let us use part of their building in the centre of the village to set up a temporary Pop Up Post Office. Unfortunately, we will not be able to process cash transactions in the Pop Up Post Office but we will be able to provide all services that can be completed by card, which includes a full Post Service.

The temporary Pop Up Post Office will be available in the British Legion from Wednesday 27^th May.

From Tuesday 26^th May, Felsted Post Office will be open as detailed below:

Post Office (Linsells)

Tuesday    1-00pm to 5-00pm

Thursday 1-00pm to 5-00pm

Saturday & Sunday           Closed

Pop Up Post Office

(Located in the British Legion – Card Payments Only)

Mon, Wed & Fri        12-00pm to 4-00pm

We look forward to welcoming you in the British Legion.

Best wishes – Richard

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In line with Government Guidelines, the main car park for the playing field has been re-opened for public use (8am to 8pm 7 days a week).

The Children’s Play Area and Public Toilets do however remain closed.

Please follow the 2m social distancing rules at all times both when using this car park and the playing field.

 Diane Smith

Clerk    01371 823071

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Uttlesford Citizens Advice has produced a leaflet giving details of the range of services on offer which may help people during this difficult time.  This includes a new ‘Listening Line’ service, which aims to provide a friendly ear for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or who may like a regular call to combat loneliness.

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