COVID-19 information

Message from the Chief Constable Ahead of the Easter Weekend

 

____Thames Valley Police Logo____________________________________
The Chief Constable said: “With Easter coming this weekend and the weather forecast to be fine, it is vitally important that the public continue to adhere to the Government restrictions. I appreciate that this is a time of year when we would usually be enjoying time with our families and friends, however these are unprecedented times and we must all do our part to protect each other and the vital services of the NHS.

“Thank you to the residents of the Thames Valley for complying with the Government’s measures. They are in place to protect us all, and I appreciate the effort that all of you are making to stay indoors and social distance when you have to leave the house for an essential reason.

“I know these restrictions will now be well-known by now, but let me remind you all that you can only leave your home to shop for basic necessities, for one form of exercise per day, for a medical or care need, and to travel to and from work, but only where you cannot work from home. If you are outside for these essential activities please ensure you are at least two meters from anyone who you do not live with.

“Please do not be tempted to go out for any other reason.

“As usual, our officers will be patrolling our communities during Easter. We will be engaging with the public to ensure they are complying with the Government directives. Where there is any misunderstanding about the measures, we will explain and encourage the public to follow the guidelines. However, when necessary we will enforce the new powers given to us by Parliament.

“Our frontline officers and staff have been given personal protection equipment (PPE) to use. You may therefore see our officers wearing gloves and masks when they are out this weekend, if they are not able to keep the required distance with the public. This is for your safety and theirs.

“This is an unprecedented public health emergency and an extraordinary national effort is required to fight this virus. I am proud that the public and my staff have been working together to help save lives. I thank you all and I wish you all a very happy Easter.”
Message Sent By
Emma Tarry (Police, Communications Officer, Thames Valley)

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COVID-19 information

COVID-19 SCAM AWARENESS REMINDER

Astonishing and outrageous to have to post scam awareness warnings when people are up against so much already! But, please be aware that at a time when communities are pulling together and doing amazing things to help each other out, there are still unscrupulous, dishonest people out to take advantage of the situation. OCC has a list of the most common scams but if any request or offer is made to you, take time to consider it, speak to someone else and don’t be afraid to say that you will get back to the person asking. If they are genuine they will not mind.
Scam Awareness Warning link

Covvid -19 scam alert image

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Advance Notice – Road Closure Hailey & Witney, Foxburrow Lane (Hailey Rd)

map showing diversion route Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice – S14 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
Temporary Road Closure and “No Waiting” restriction at – Hailey & Witney, Foxburrow Lane (Hailey Rd)

In the interests of public safety, it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close the road and impose a ‘No Waiting’ restriction as detailed above to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

A temporary Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate from 21/04/2020 (at 04:00hrs).
The anticipated completion date is 24/04/2020 (at 18:00hrs).
Each day from 04:00hrs to 18:00hrs.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and restriction and will operate on the days shown above.

Please note that Notices for urgent works can last up to 5 consecutive days only.

Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.

A copy of the drawing showing the extent of the closure and restriction and also the alternative route for traffic is attached.

Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Oxfordshire County Council on 0345 310 11 11

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COVID-19 information

COVID-19 COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION FROM from Robert Courts MP

Our MP has put together a comprehensive 4 page  COVID-19 information leaflet which contains the latest NHS guidance, contact information for our local councils, volunteer groups and helpful organisations, as well as important anti-scam advice.

COVID-19 Info Sheet – Robert Courts MP

You are also welcome to visit his website

(www.robertcourts/coronavirus) or contact him directly (robert@robertcourts.co.uk) if you have any particular queries which the leaflet does not address.

 

Image of Page 1 of the COVID19 information leaflet

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COVID19 – COMMUNITY ACTION – Community and local business support groups

Meanwhile, local businesses continue to make generous offers to help each other and members of the public on various sites.

The main one for Witney seems to be: Support your Witney community during the Covid-19 outbreak

Support your Witney community during the Covid-19 outbreak facebook page link

and there are others offering help in the surrounding towns and villages such as Carterton & Brize Coronavirus community assistance group- which offers “Advice, Resources and Kindness”

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COVID19 – COMMUNITY ACTION – Witney Land Army

There are lots of excellent Community Action and Business Resilience posts dotted around on Facebook. Many of you have one for your own village or area and they are great for keeping your fellow residents up to date with what is going on.
Witney Land Army are centrally organising volunteers through their page and you can sign up using this form. This will help co-ordinate all the offers of general help.

Volunteer for Witney Land army link to sign up form

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ROAD CLOSURE A40 EAST

ROAD CLOSURE – A40 EAST

MAP SHOWING ROAD CLOSURE ON A40 FROM CURBRIDGE TO EASTBOUND WITNEY SLIP ROAD

Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice – S14 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
Temporary Road Closure and “No Waiting” restriction at Witney, A40 Witney Bypass (Eastbound only)

In the interests of public safety, it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close the road and impose a ‘No Waiting’ restriction as detailed above to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

A temporary Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate 31 March 2020 up to and including 03 April 2020. This will operate between 20:00 and 06:00.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and restriction and will operate on the days shown above.

Please note that Notices for urgent works can last up to 5 consecutive days only.

Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.

A copy of the drawing showing the extent of the closure and restriction and also the alternative route for traffic is attached.

Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Oxfordshire County Council on 0345 310 11 11.

T7712/AC

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Spending Time Outdoors, safely

#StayhomeStaySafe is the advice but if you are spending time outside in our green spaces – new guidelines were issued by the government on 23 March and you may see posters reminding you of these.

  • observe social distancing by keeping at least 2 metres/6 foot away from other people
  • keep dogs on a lead to avoid unnecessary contact with other space users
  • encourage people to wash their hands before leaving home and as soon as they return from being outside.

Poster reminding people to maintain 2m distance, keep dogs on a lead and wash hands before coming out and on returning home       Poster reminding people to maintain 2m distance, keep dogs on a lead and wash hands before coming out and on returning home

poster asking members of the public maintain the social distancing guidelines for the burials team

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PICNICKING IN OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES

The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. That is why the government has introduced three new measures.

Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes.

Closing certain businesses and venues.

Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public.

Every person in the UK must comply with these new measures, which came into effect on Monday 23 March. The relevant authorities, including the police, have been given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

You will have seen signs going up around the town reminding residents of the new guidelines we should follow to keep ourselves and others safe and protected while outside,
issued by the UK government on 23rd March. There are signs in the parks and green spaces including the cemeteries. We are publishing them here to serve as a reminder.

Taking into account the third measure on the list we have been asked by the Police to remind you that picnicking constitutes a gathering and is therefore prohibited at this time. The government continues to review the measures in place and will keep us updated if things change.

In the meantime we thank you for your co-operation.

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Covid-19 focused Scam awareness and safety online

At a time when we are not in as much contact with our elderly or vulnerable relatives as usual please give them a call and just talk through how to avoid losing money to scammers. Unbelievably even now there are people coming up with new ways to deceive people and take money from them in big or small amounts, by phone, by text, online and even on the doorstep.
There are lots around covering a number of topics from free school meals to emergency payouts from the government.Ask them to show you anything they are thinking of responding to that is offering something free or offering cash, doing their shopping, asking them to have a virus test or purchase s cure or vaccination.

Some of them look very convincing – others have bad spelling or other errors but at a quick glance may look genuine.

 

You can find out more here at Trading Standards and Oxfordshire County Council

Trading Standards beware of covid-19 scams/

Oxfordshire County Council Scam awareness

There is a link here to cybercrime and keeping yourself or your business protected online.

South East employers online safety and cybercrime awareness

 

 

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Message from Lower Windrush Valley Project

PLEASE NOTE – THE BIRD HIDES ARE NOW CLOSED

As many of you will be aware, all LWVP volunteering sessions and events have been postponed until further notice. At a time when we are all being asked to restrict our movements and social contact with others, it is important to remember the huge physical and mental wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature, whether that be in your garden, walking through the countryside or at a local nature reserve or park.

We hope that the attached leaflets might provide some inspiration for getting outdoors in the local area.

Discover the Lower Windrush Valley – Walks and Leisure Leaflet
Rushy Common and Tar Lakes Leaflet
Witney Lake and Country Park Leaflet

Please remember to:

follow government advice on social distancing – do not meet in groups and wash your hands frequently
keep to public Rights of Way or permissive routes (details of which can be found on the Discover the Lower Windrush Valley leaflet)

If you’re looking for nature themed activities to keep the children entertained, here are a few ideas:
Making a recycled bird feeder: https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-recycled-bird-feeder/

Making a nature bracelet (instructions attached)

Make a Nature Bracelet instructions

The Trees for Schools website is very good. Loads to do and you can search for activities based on links to the KS1 and KS2 curriculums: http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/categorymenu/?cat=activities

Finally, if anybody is finding themselves wondering what to do with all this extra time at home – we have a back log of wildlife records from our bird hides that need entering in to Excel. Please get in touch if you think you can help with this.

Best wishes and keep well,

Lucy and Rachel

Lower Windrush Valley Project

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