NEWS

As we approach the end of the second week of the lockdown, we just want to update you briefly on the success of the Felsted Support Group, established specifically to help with the corona virus crisis.

From our first call for volunteers we have been delighted but not surprised by the response. Over thirty local people have come forward and offered to help the elderly and those in self isolation with their shopping and collecting prescriptions.  Small but important acts of kindness.

We also don’t underestimate the importance of  those who are quietly doing their bit to help their friends and neighbours. We salute you all.

We have volunteers who have offered their entire family as helpers and others who are qualified counsellors willing to just have a chat with anyone who needs a friendly voice through these difficult times.  Several members of Felsted School teaching staff, including the Head, are volunteering and the school has provided access to its mini buses with a driver, also a Felsted resident.  So we can offer local transport and maintain social-distancing.

It’s early days and things will get tougher but we are confident that our community spirit is way stronger than the disease.

If you need help or you know of a neighbour who may need help, please call us on 07936 070732.

The Felsted Support Group helpline is operated by Felsted Parish Council for the people of Felsted.

Please see the following announcement from Linsell’s.

Please also note that Linsell’s is a valuable local resource and lifeline to many. The shop is operating a carefully thought out 2 queue system for the shop and Post Office. it will inevitable lead to  delays getting into the shop, but the precautions are there to protect you and the staff. Please follow the instructions given to you with grace and patience whilst Richard and his team do all they can to support our community.

Notice:

During the Coronavirus Outbreak we will be working with Felsted Parish Council to provide a FREE delivery service of food and essential items to any person in self isolation in the Parish of Felsted. Telephone Linsell’s on 01371 820255.

We can accept card payment over the phone.

Non-essential items, such as newspapers cannot be delivered on their own, but we will be working with the Council to identify volunteers local to you, who may be able to help with this. If you would like to volunteer to help people in isolation please contact the Parish Council Coronavirus Help Line on 07936 070732 or if you think you have a neighbour who is vulnerable, pop a note through their door.

We at Linsell’s are not immune to the virus and some of us are in the vulnerable category, so we will need to isolate ourselves. However, we are committed to keeping the Shop and Post Office open during this time, for as long as we can. To help us achieve this, please do not come into the shop if you are exhibiting cold or flu symptoms.

Take care of yourselves and those around you!

 Best wishes from all of us at Linsell’s.

******************************************************************************

With immediate effect and, until further notice, the Dispensary at Felsted Surgery will operate the following hours:

Mon / Tues / Fri: 9am-12pm & 4pm-6pm

Wed / Thurs: 9am-12pm

***********************************************************************************

Please see the following message from Richard Silcock regarding the opening hours for the Post Office.

To all the good people of Felsted, I would like to say a big thank you for your support and understanding over the last couple of weeks. It’s been really difficult for all of us but we’re all gradually getting used to living 2 metres apart!

As you may be aware, Dunmow and Takeley Post Offices have closed and Rayne Post Office is closed in the afternoons. This has put considerable pressure on our Post Office, which in turn has made it very difficult for our customers to use the shop. To help alleviate this, from tomorrow April 1st (no; it’s not a wind up) the new Post Office trading hours will be:

Monday to Friday: 1-00pm to 5-30pm

Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED

This will allow our customers better access to the shop in the mornings and at weekends.

As I type this, Gt Waltham, Gt Leighs, Thaxted and Rayne Post Offices are open in the mornings but this may change at short notice.

With best wishes

Richard

*************************************************************************************

This is a regular email bulletin aimed at keeping you up-to-date with how Uttlesford District Council and the district is responding to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

You can find details of changes to council services on our website – see www.uttlesford.gov.uk/coronavirus or click on the link below. On this page you’ll also find links to other trusted sources and guidance.

►Get council service updates

Help for residents and businesses

► Uttlesford Community Response helpline – we have set up a community helpline to direct you to services that can help during the coronavirus pandemic

► Council Tax and benefits – helpful information that may help you to claim support for paying your council tax or rent

► Guidance for businesses and employers – a wide range of resources to support businesses in response to the current situation

Community Shield – getting food and supplies to our most vulnerable

Bogus Lifeline equipment scam

Lifeline is a personal alarm service available to older or more vulnerable people who want to stay in their own homes.

We’ve had reports of elderly residents being contacted by individuals claiming to be a representative of the council checking Lifeline equipment. Please be advised that, due to the coronavirus situation, no one from the council’s Lifeline service is currently making any visits to check equipment, even if a prior appointment has been made.

► Steps you can take to protect yourself against bogus callers

How to get in touch with us

Whilst the council offices are closed to visitors, our service hours remain unchanged.

There are a number of ways in which you can access services or get in touch with us:

• Online (including to make a payment or report something): www.uttlesford.gov.uk
• Email: ku.vog.drofselttuobfsctd-2afb38@tcennocu
• Phone: 01799 510510
• Automated payments by telephone: 01799 510551 or 510552

*****************************************************************************************

Please see the following message from Essex County Council:

People across Essex are doing an amazing job supporting their family, friends and neighbours who at the most risk from coronavirus because they are older, vulnerable and have health conditions.

From now, public services across Essex are stepping up support for people who may not have help from their nearest and dearest.

Cllr David Finch, Leader of Essex County Council, said:

“The way Essex has rallied around the vulnerable across the County has been incredible and I would like to thank each and every person who is helping friends, neighbours and relatives stay home and stay safe. You are literally saving lives across our great County because you are protecting our NHS.

“Now Councils, the NHS and all our public and voluntary sector partners are stepping up to try and make sure no-one who needs help is missed out. It has been a huge effort, involving round-the-clock work. I am very proud of what is being put into place to shield our most vulnerable residents.”

Essex County Council is supporting the national effort to get food and supplies to the County’s most vulnerable residents.

How will it work

The Essex Resilience Forum (ERF) made up of all the county public sector organisations, is tasked with ensuring that people with the most serious health conditions across Essex, Southend and Thurrock, are shielded from social contact for 12 weeks during the peak of the epidemic. These people have been written to directly by the Government and told to expect food packages to be delivered to them.

A distribution hub has been set up by Essex County Council in Witham in central Essex, with two other hubs set up by Southend and Thurrock Councils. From this weekend, food packages will begin to be dispatched to vulnerable residents.

Given the importance of social distancing and the most at risk being able to stay in their homes, ERF members and the voluntary sector are also mobilising resources across the county to provide assistance to a larger group. These are residents who are also vulnerable during the peak of the epidemic, and includes people over the age of 70 or pregnant women, who do not have the support of friends, family or neighbours.

Councils across the county are working with supermarkets, delivery companies and other organisations on developing supply lines to people.

District Councils will also use their local hubs, which have been established in every district, borough and city council area, using volunteer support.

How will they be contacted

These residents will be contacted by the NHS, or their GP surgeries, starting from early next week, week commencing Monday 30 March.

The message will set out the instructions for those people who do not have the support of friends, families and neighbours, to register with the Essex Welfare Service (EWS) (part of PROVIDE, a health and social care provider), should they need food deliveries.

They will be able to contact the EWS via essexwelfareservice.org and by calling 0300 303 9988, Monday to Friday between 8am to 7pm, and Saturday to Sunday between 10am to 2pm.

We recognise not all of residents identified will need support, and many will have organised their own arrangements already. However, Community Shield’s aim is to ensure that no-one slips through the net. If you need support and have not received a message, please contact the EWS directly.

More information

Updates will be posted on the Essex County Council website and via social media.

Please sign up to volunteer in your local area.

The latest advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) is available on the Public Health England (PHE) and NHS websites.

The first issue of Felsted Focus is now available at a number of collection points around the village for you to pick up, if and when it is safe for you to do so within the government guidelines for movement outside of your homes.

1. Outside village shop
2. Opposite the Primary School (next to bus pull in)
3. On the Braintree Road at Gransmore Green (next to the bus stop)
4. On the Rayne Road at the junction with Bernstie Road (in Bannister Green)
5. Outside the Memorial Hall (they have a notice board on the wall outside).
6. In the former red telephone “book box” in Garnets Lane.
7. By the temp. notice board in Chelmsford Road adjacent to the old telephone exchange
8. On the grassy triangle at the end of Mill Road
9. By the Felsted school main gates in Stebbing Road
10. Outside the Crix Green Mission
11. Hollow Road J/w Mole Hill Green
12. Abbeyfields delivered (20 copies)
13. Willows Green Main Road JW Evelyn Road

*****************************************************************************************

Please be aware that the scammers are now focussing on Coronavirus.

There are a number of scams claiming to offer free data packs or routes to treatment. These will download a virus to your PC or phone. BEWARE, the common sense rules apply. Don’t click on links or download PDFs etc unless you are 100% sure of the content. Remember, scammers can clone your mother’s email and send you a message with a virus.

Fraudsters are even knocking on doors offering ‘free temperature checks’ to gain entry to your house

The latest of these scams is an email or text, claiming to be from the government, saying that you have been seen outside, against the Coronavirus rules, and must pay a fine. The message provides a link for you to pay the fine.

THIS IS A SCAM.

First of all, ‘the government’ will never contact you like this. How could they know your email or phone number from having ‘seen you outside’?

If you click on the link and pay, at best you will lose £35, at worst some require bank details and they will empty your account.

If you are fined for breaking Coronavirus restrictions on movement then you will know about it because a Police Officer will directly charge you, face to face. There will be no emails or text messages.

These scammers are the lowest of the low. Don’t fall for the scam and don’t let your neighbours fall for it.

********************************************************************************

The following information and advice has been received from Uttlesford District Council regarding waste services:

Bin – waste and recycling collections: Waste collections are continuing as normal at this time. We do have contingency plans in place and will communicate those if/when those plans kick-in.

Bins – garden waste collections: We have suspended our garden waste service.

Bins – missed bins: We are unable to return for any missed bins. You can place any side waste out in bags next to your bin ready for your next scheduled collection. Additional waste placed next to your Green recycling bin must be in clear bags, carrier bags, white bags or cardboard boxes only, as we will not accept black sacks.

Bulky household waste: We will no longer be offering a bulky household waste collection service. This is to minimise non-essential contact and to free up resources to ensure waste (black bin) and recycling (green and brown bin) collections can run as normal.

Replacement bins: We will no longer be able to deliver replacement or additional bins. We will still be delivering bins to new build properties.

Garden waste weekend skip service: We have suspended the garden waste weekend skip service until further notice.

Recycling centres closures

How to get rid of your waste if you are self-isolating or confirmed to have coronavirus

Anyone who asked to self-isolate, either as a precaution or because they are confirmed to have coronavirus, should follow the Love Essex advice to get rid of their household waste to ensure the virus is not spread via personal waste.

*****************************************************************************************