NEW FITNESS EQUIPMENT AT WESTHILL
We are delighted to advise that work will be starting on Monday 1st June on the new running track and outdoor gym equipment at Westhill Recreation Ground.
There will be considerable fencing around the grounds for a few weeks, but then we’ll have a fully operational outdoor fitness area for all to use – once the social distancing rules are relaxed of course!
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LATEST ADVICE AND USEFUL LINKS ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Government response
B&NES Council daily updates https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus
Age UK B&NES – help for elderly people that need support whilst self-isolating. 01225 466135
Sustainable Food Partnership – On here, you will find local businesses which have adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic to provide food delivery, hot meals and takeaway services to Bath and North East Somerset residents.
Royal British Legion, support for serving military personnel, ex-service men and women and their dependents in Westfield. Call 07858 576597
Compassionate Community You can call 0300247 0050 for assistance with shopping, medication collection or just want someone to talk to.
If you would like to offer to help in any way B&NES Volunteers network 3SG and The Cooperative Alliance has set up an online form at Compassionate Community You can also follow B&NES 3SG on Facebook. You can contact them if you are in need of someone to help you, for example if you are self isolating and need someone to do some shopping for you.
The Parish Council is following advice for local councils via the National Association for Local Councils.
We hope that you are managing during these challenging times.
You will no doubt be familiar with Bath Mind – your local, independent mental health charity providing crucial mental health services across the whole of B&NES.
At Bath Mind, we put people at the heart of everything we do, and we would like to make your parish aware of the changes to our services as a result of the coronavirus.
As well as working as a lead in the Compassionate Community Hub, this week Bath Mind opened their new service “Breathing Space” providing a vital evening support line for those in crisis.
You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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STAFF WORKING FROM HOME
The Parish Council office is closed to visitors until further notice.
Staff are working from home so any queries can still be sent in by email and will be answered during normal office hours.
Parish Council meetings will be cancelled in the boardroom until further notice, but Council business will continue as normal over remote links. Residents are welcome to join meetings as they would do normally. See the link for information on remote meetings.
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DON’T DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL HELP BECAUSE OF CORONA VIRUS
People living in Bath and North East Somerset are being advised not to let worries about coronavirus stop them asking for medical help for themselves or their children if they become ill, have a serious accident or have a concern about their health.
They are also being warned that not seeking medical help for symptoms that could be the early warning signs of serious conditions such as cancer could be putting lives at risk.
The warning comes as new data shows a considerable drop in the number of people coming forward to ask their GP for help and advice during the coronavirus outbreak.
Recent statistics show that, in Bath alone, the total number of weekly referrals from GPs to the Royal United Hospital have fallen from around 2,000 at the beginning of March to 300 at the end of April.
Dr Ruth Grabham, Medical Director at BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG, said the statistics made for worrying reading because the drop in numbers “is not because people are not experiencing symptoms.”
“While it may seem that coronavirus has put a stop to most aspects of everyday life, the one thing it hasn’t stopped is what’s going on inside our bodies,” she says. “Now more than ever, we need to pay attention to anything that isn’t normal and seek help early on.
“For example, if you notice blood when going to the toilet, or if you’ve found a lump that wasn’t there previously, or if you’ve just noticed something odd that is causing you to worry, you need to speak to your GP.
“Should the symptom be the early warning sign of something serious like cancer, that delay in seeking help could have serious implications for how successful possible treatments may be.”
Although GP practices across the region have adopted new ways of working, such as establishing isolated clinics for potential coronavirus patients, the practices themselves are still open to offer care, treatment, advice and peace-of-mind.
The same also goes for emergency departments at the three hospitals in Bath, Swindon and Salisbury, all of which continue to be open 24 hours a day for people with a genuine and life-threatening health concern.
Additionally, all healthcare facilities in the region, as well as those elsewhere in the country, have put in place stringent infection control measures to ensure that the risk of contracting coronavirus while visiting a hospital or GP surgery remains low.
· Details of which services continue to open, as well as how to get in contact, can be found online by visiting www.bswccg.nhs.uk
· For information about services at the Royal United Hospitals visit https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/
· Further information on how to stay well throughout the coronavirus outbreak can be found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/
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FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE FRONT GARDEN COMPETITION
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FREE E-BIKES FOR KEY WORKERS
| Bath & North East Somerset Council has loaned free e-bikes to key workers at Bath’s RUH to help them travel easily on essential journeys during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The ten bikes are part of a fleet of 35 that are being offered to employers of key workers to help them travel quickly and sustainably at a time when public transport has had to be reduced. The council’s public loan service has been temporarily suspended to ensure that the fleet supports key workers to provide essential services instead. The council is now calling for other employers of key workers to come forward and borrow the remaining 25 bikes that are available. Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “We are delighted to be able to support key workers to make essential journeys at this critical time by providing access to our fleet of electric bikes. Public transport is running on a reduced timetable, so to help staff reach their workplace in a healthy and sustainable manner can only be a benefit. It’s great to see that the RUH is already making use of the bikes, but we’re urging other employers of key workers to get in touch with us and take up our offer too.” The e-bikes are fitted with lights, locks and a pannier bag and have regular checks to ensure they are roadworthy. Cris Fletcher, Sustainable Travel Co-ordinator at the RUH, said: “The e-bike loan scheme has proved to be a great help for our colleagues needing to get to the RUH to continue their fantastic work during this crisis. The e-bikes provide a brilliant alternative mode of transport allowing key workers to move around the city freely, as well as easily overcoming the hills surrounding our city.” Employers wishing to enquire about borrowing e-bikes should email paul_thompson@bathnes.gov.uk Updates on council services can be found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus |
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PLAYGROUNDS CLOSED
Further to Government instruction Westfield Parish Council has closed its playgrounds at Westhill and Norton Hill Recreation Grounds, and the tennis court at Norton Hill. Please do not use them. Please help us to delay the spread of this virus in Westfield
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EVENT CANCELLATIONS
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WESTFIELD PARISH COUNCIL – QUALITY STATUS
We are delighted to announce that we have achieved, once more, the Quality status awarded by the National Association of Local Councils. This is indicative of our deep commitment to improve the local community
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GREEN AND OPEN SPACES IN WESTFIELD
Do you use the green and open spaces of Westfield?
Perhaps you are a dog walker who enjoys Waterside Valley, or you may take your family to the play areas and cycle paths of Westfield. Possibly you belong to a group which goes on nature walks or runs in our green spaces. Whatever your background, if you use the green and open spaces of Westfield you may like to take part in the Westfield Green and Open Spaces Group.
This group is set up to protect and enhance the green open spaces of Westfield, including their accessibility. Helping to prioritise the use of funding from developer contributions designated for green open spaces in Westfield forms part of their work.
Your input can be as little or large as you like. You might like simply to receive the minutes of the group and email some thoughts. Or you might like to come along to meetings, put forward your suggestions and work towards seeing them come to fruition. Input at all levels is welcome.
We hope to hear from you. Please contact the Westfield Parish Clerk on council@westfieldparishcouncil.co.uk or call 01761 410669 or look at the website to monitor the progress of the group www.westfieldparishcouncil.co.uk
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DON’T FEED THE GULLS
Please see the following notice from BaNES:
