NEWS

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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ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1)

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 14th 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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Whilst it was not possible for the many VE Day Celebrations on 8th May to take place as planned, we could rely on the residents and businesses around Felsted to make sure this important day did not pass without being marked for all to see.

On behalf of the people of Felsted we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the entire Second World War generation, from British, Commonwealth and Allied Forces to evacuees and those who served on the home front

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Please see the following update from Uttlesford District Council regarding service availability:

UDC has:

• Reinstated and promoted the return of the bulky waste collections and online booking process:

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/bulkywaste

• Put together a resource page of information for self-employed people:

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/article/6657/Self-employed-support-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

• From resources supplied by Essex County Council, signposted and built a section for bereavement support and local contacts specifically targeted at resources in the West Essex CC area (covering Uttlesford):

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/article/6668/Bereavement-support-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

• Put together and promoted a page for Essex Youth Service to promote their daily ‘Zoom’ activities for young people in lockdown:

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/article/6660/Activities-for-young-people

• Added a page on grants information for charities and other sectors:

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/article/6645/Coronavirus-COVID-19-sports-and-arts-organisations-grant-funds

• Compiled a resource area of links, maps and information promoting local walking and cycling in Uttlesford during the outbreak:

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/article/6658/Walking-and-cycling-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

• Put up an online version of ‘Taxi Chat’ to provide up to date and topical information for the local taxi and private hire trades:

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/taxi-chat

Community hub

See email and infographic attached.

Support for businesses

As of 24 April, we have given out £14.1m in cash grants to 1,150 local businesses. There are currently about 470 grants to process.

However, about 300 businesses spread across the district which are eligible to receive a business support grant have not yet registered. We are therefore urging all businesses to check the eligibility criteria and to register for the grant funding. Our team is keen to process all the submitted forms as quickly as possible. Details of the grants and the criteria can be found at www.uttlesford.gov.uk/covid19-business-grants-fund. The online application form is available at www.uttlesford.gov.uk/business-grant-fund-application-form.

It would be appreciated if you could help to spread the details of the grant funding schemes as widely as possible within your parish. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact ku.vog.drofselttuobfsctd-7b27cb@ssenisub.

State of Life survey

We have been asked to share the details of a tracker survey being conducted by Active Essex and the University of Essex. The survey aims to find out how life has changed during the Covid-19 pandemic, who is most affected and why. The results will be compared to other national surveys and used to figure out what support is needed in communities during and after lockdown. The project organisers would like as many people as possible, over the age of 16, to sign up and complete it regularly.

The survey can be accessed here: www.stateoflife.org/2020tracker.

Please see the following message regarding a 5 day closure of Bartholomew Green Lane, through Bartholomew Green.

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1)

Temporary Traffic Regulation Order of Bartholomew Green Lane, Felsted

Please click on the following link https://one.network/?tm=117025500 to find details of the intended closure of Bartholomew Green Lane, due to commence on 27th April 2020 for 5 days. The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while County Broadband LTD undertakes Installation of fibre optic cables in the area for fibre optic broadband.

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Dear Volunteers,

Just a brief note on behalf of all the members of Felsted Parish Council to thank all who have volunteered for the Felsted Support Line.

The response from the community has been tremendous. We now have over 50 volunteers, including whole families who have offered support to those who are elderly or have had to self-isolate.  We are very pleased to say that demand for help has so far been easily manageable. Consequently, we may not yet have had to call on you personally:  we hope we never have to.  However, knowing that you are all out there, ready and willing reassures the Parish Council that we are ready and able to help meet any challenge and to support the most vulnerable in our community in the very difficult days ahead.

Thank you again.

Graham Harvey
Chairman, Felsted Parish Council

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Essex County Council has established the Essex Welfare Services as part of PROVIDE (a health and social care service). EWS has been set up to assist the most vulnerable in the community to allow them to access shopping, medicine and other support.

This week and going forwards, GP surgeries will be calling, sending out SMS text messages or posting letters to those who are 70 or older or are offered a flu jab due to pre-existing medical conditions. This is because these people are identified as being vulnerable and having to self-isolate for prolonged periods of time and therefore potentially require additional support.

You may potentially receive a call from the National Shielding Helpline on 0333 3050466 – this is NOT a scam. However, the phoneline is not live and you may receive a message saying they will try again soon.

When they call back, the caller may ask for some details such as your name and NHS number to confirm they are speaking to someone who is deemed as vulnerable, but they will never ask you for details such as you National Insurance Number or bank details.

There are concerns that this service has not been widely publicised and therefore people are leaving reviews on trust sites saying that this is a scam due to the caller asking whether the person is vulnerable or not. It is important that this misinformation is not spread as it could lead to vulnerable individuals missing out on essential support.

For more information, or to refer someone to EWS, please click here.

If you or someone you know is vulnerable and has been a victim of fraud, please call Essex Police on 101.

Report fraud or attempted fraud by contacting Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Stay safe,

Angi Greneski

Community Safety Officer

Uttlesford District Council

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Please note that, due to the Coronavirus situation, future meetings will, until further notice, be held virtually, either by telephone conference call or video conferencing.

Any members of the public who wish to ‘attend’ either Committee Meetings or full Council meetings should contact the Assistant Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting start time to obtain an access code and joining instructions.

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