Community

Coronavirus: Food parcels now available for those most vulnerable in Shropshire

Shropshire Council are providing food parcels to those most vulnerable and who don’t have family or friends, to help them not go hungry.

The scheme is in response to the Government letter sent to those who have been advised to be ‘shielding’ from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

1,500,000 people in England have been identified as being the most vulnerable. The process asks people on the most vulnerable list to identify themselves if they don’t have family or friends, to help them access food.

Shropshire Council is working to support these people, who because they are being ‘shielded’, cannot get out to go shopping. This will include putting people in touch with local organisations that will help them, as well as providing food where it is needed.

Food parcels are starting to be delivered to people this week; and more food parcels will continue over the next few weeks, to ensure they continue regularly to reach everyone on the Government’s list.

Food parcels will also be delivered to others who have been identified as needing support, outside of being on the ‘shielding’ list of the most vulnerable.

Shropshire Council are asking anyone who have either received the Government’s letter about being identified as one of the ‘most vulnerable who should be shielded’, or anyone else who is in need of support and cannot get access to food, to call the Coronavirus Helpline on 0345 678 9028.

Coronavirus: Help available for victims of domestic abuse across the county

Shropshire Council, along with other key partners across the county, are reassuring victims of domestic abuse that help and support remains available to them at this difficult time.

Shropshire Safeguarding Partnership has put together some contact numbers and resources for people living with, or worried about, domestic abuse at this difficult time.

The useful phone numbers and contacts are:

Shropshire Council First Point of Contact (FPOC)

  • Adult social care and safeguarding concerns – 0345 678 9044
  • Safeguarding children: access to Compass, children’s social care Front Door and targeted early help – 0345 678 9021
  • Housing – 0345 678 9005

Telford and Wrekin Family Connect – 01952 385385 (Family front door, including child protection referrals)

Out of hours Emergency Duty Teams:                        

If you suspect that an abuser is monitoring your Internet usage, find out how to hide your browser history at https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000510.htm

For help and support contact the Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service 0300 303 1191or email sdas@shropsdas.org.uk

E-library at your fingertips

Although Shropshire Libraries are currently closed, they are working hard to improve their online resources.

Shropshire Libraries have a great selection of e-resources readily available at your fingertips from e-books and e-audio to e-magazines, e-newspapers, Community Directory to even Shropshire Libraries Facebook Book Group.

If you aren’t a library member it’s easy to join online.

For more information, visit Shropshire Libraries website.

Happy Reading!

Coronavirus: MOTs for cars, vans and motorcycles due before 30 March 2020

What to do if your car, van or motorcycle’s MOT due date is up to and including 29 March 2020. From 30th March 2020, MOT due dates for cars, motorcycles and light vans will be extended by six months. This is being done to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

For more information, visit the link below. 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-mots-for-cars-vans-and-motorcycles-due-before-30-march-2020

Please note, there is separate guidance about what to do if your MOT due date is up to and including 29th March 2020.

You must NOT take your vehicle for its MOT if you or someone you live with have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you’re extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

Coronavirus: Council tax payment delay offer available for residents impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic

Shropshire Council is offering residents whose employment or income has been adversely impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic the opportunity to delay payment of any council tax until Monday 1 June 2020. For information, and to access the application form, please click the link here: –

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/council-tax/support-for-residents-impacted-by-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

Please ensure you provide an email address on the form, in order that an amended bill can be emailed to you, in order to reduce printing costs.  If you don’t have access to the Internet, please ring the revenues and benefits team on 0345 678 9002, and an officer will be happy to complete the form on your behalf.

If you pay by direct debit and your first instalment date is 1 April 2020, you will need to return the form before this Friday (27 March 2020) for us to amend your April instalment.

Shropshire Council would also like to remind residents worried about the impact of the coronavirus that other additional support may be available to them to help with council tax payments and payment of their rent through housing benefit.

Any residents whose employment situation or income has been adversely impacted by the Coronavirus should visit our benefits webpages for more information. You can also access our online application form from here.

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/benefits/apply-for-housing-benefit-or-council-tax-support/

Changes to Arriva bus timetables from Monday 23 March 2020

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Arriva have amended their local bus service timetables from Monday 23 March 2020 across the whole of their UK operation, including in Shropshire.

Arriva are having to take these steps in light of the unprecedented challenge to their business caused by coronavirus. They have had to adjust their business to the drastically reduced levels of demand whilst also trying to serve their customers as best they can whilst seeing an increased level of staff absence – and with more expected daily.

Route 64 will be operating a Saturday timetable.

Shrewsbury Park and Ride is to operate as per a normal timetable.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Shropshire Council has extended its concessionary bus travel for the elderly and vulnerable, to enable them to take advantage of the exclusive early morning shopping times being offered by some supermarkets and shops.

Until today concessionary bus passes couldn’t be used before 9.30am.

Under the new arrangement the passes can be used before 9.30am, with immediate effect and until further notice.

The change applies to all bus services operating in the Shropshire Council area.

There may be further adjustments in the coming days and weeks to reflect passenger demands and government advice.

Shropshire’s Great Outdoors annual public survey 2020

Shropshire’s Great Outdoors are asking for our feedback about rights of way, parks, play areas and countryside so they can understand what the barriers to participation are.

Resources are under increasing pressure and our responses will help to identify key areas for priority in the future.

If you use the rights of way, parks, play areas and countryside they would love to hear your feedback.

Even if you don’t use rights of way, parks, play areas or countryside sites, they would like to hear from you, so they can understand what the barriers to participation are.

The results will also help to identify those less valued areas of the service.

The survey is open until 9 May 2020 and you can complete it by following this link.

The survey should only take about ten minutes to complete depending on how much detail you give when answering the questions.

Hodnet Primary School closed for a deep clean

The Shropshire Star reports that Hodnet Primary School has closed for at least three days after a pupil showed symptoms of coronavirus.

It is stressed that this is not a confirmed case and the school is undertaking a precautionary deep clean and taking preventative steps to ensure the health and safety of all pupils and staff.

A link to the full Shropshire Star article, which includes a copy of the letter sent by the School to parents, can be found here:

Coronavirus: Shropshire school closes for deep clean as strict new powers planned – Shropshire Star

The School anticipates being open again from Thursday 19th March.