Author: Jennifer Coutts

From 4th July 2020, the Government announced that outdoor playgrounds can reopen. The Parish Council of Hockley Heath has taken the decision to reopen the children’s play area on a trial basis from Monday 6th July 2020. There are a number of restrictions in place and it is essential that all visitors maintain social distance and follow the Government advice to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Signage will be placed in and around the play area detailing the restrictions as detailed below, please read the instructions before you choose to use the play area.

Please only use the play area if you feel it is safe to do so for yourself and your children. You will need to bring hand sanitiser with you.

BE COVID-19 AWARE WHEN USING THIS PLAY AREA

HYGIENE

Scientific advice suggests that the virus can survive for up to several days on some hard surfaces. These risks are reduced when outdoors, where surfaces may be subject to UV light and/or rain. However, coronavirus could survive long enough on frequently used/touched outdoor surfaces to facilitate transmission.

We ask that you protect yourselves and the community by using hand sanitiser before you enter the park and regularly throughout your stay and on leaving the park. Wash your hands thoroughly when you get home for 20 seconds with soap and water. We also encourage you or any child in your care to:

● not touch your face

● cough/sneeze into a tissue then sanitise your hands, remember to dispose safely of your tissue

● not to put your mouth on any equipment or put your hands in your mouth

● not eat or drink in this play area

Please place all litter including cleaning equipment, tissues, gloves and masks in the bins provided. If these bins are full then please take your rubbish home with you.

As the Parish Council is unable to clean this play area daily, please only permit the children in your care to use the equipment if you feel it is safe to do so. You can help your community by wiping down touch points on equipment that your child will be using with suitable hand sanitiser/cleaning wipes that are safe to touch for children and adults.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Social distancing aims to reduce social interaction between people to minimise the opportunity for transmission of COVID-19. You should aim to keep 1m plus apart from anyone who is not a member of your household; 2m is preferred. This will mean that you need to:

● use the different entrance and exit points to the play area

● a maximum of 7 children in the play area at any one time, you may need to queue outside when busy

● during busy periods, play limited to ten minutes per family to allow others to use the play area (you may queue again to re-enter the play area)

● only have one adult supervising each family group – all children to be supervised

● wait at a distance until others have finished using the equipment – one family/household per individual equipment or bench

● choose equipment that allows for a minimum of 2m distance between users, such as leaving an empty swing between each child, unless they are members of the same household

● follow and adhere to all current government advice in addition to the above instructions

Thank you for your assistance during this difficult time, HHPC

UNFORTUNATELY, IF COVID-19 GUIDELINES TO REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS CANNOT BE FOLLOWED IN THE PLAY AREA IT MAY LEAD TO CLOSURE.

The following Govt. advice (click on link below) was updated on 17th April 2020 and includes a list of people with conditions that are clinically extremely vulnerable. If you have one of the conditions listed but have not been contacted, contact your GP or hospital clinician.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

The Government is currently advising people that are clinically extremely vulnerable to shield until the end of June and is regularly monitoring this position. Shielding involves:

1. Do not leave your house.

2. Do not attend any gatherings. This includes gatherings of friends and families in private spaces, for example, family homes, weddings and religious services.

3. Strictly avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough.

During periods when the Parish Council is not able to publicly meet, planning consultations will be posted on the website and Facebook page.

If you have any comments on the planning application below please contact the Parish Clerk. You can also reply directly to SMBC via their planning portal if your prefer.

Application: PL/2020/00804/TPO

Location: 41 Lindhurst Drive

Expiry date: 11th May 2020

Works requested: Reduce canopy branches back by 25%, remove ivy growth and dead/rotten branches on 1 No. oak tree (T1 in TPO 873). Canopy is extending towards house, over drive and pedestrian access to property, causing concern in high winds. Base of tree has an exposed area believed due to Ivy growth. The tree therefore needs to be managed to reduce possibility of danger.

Just a reminder, if you wish to donate any items to the Hockley Heath Food Bank you can do so today (Saturday 18th April) between 4pm – 5pm at the Pavilion. Please respect social distancing.

Food, in date, in jars, packets, boxes and tins is perfect, along with any hygiene items.

We know that some residents will have seen a reduction in income due to the restrictions in place to contain the Coronavirus and we would like anyone that is struggling to buy food to contact the Parish Council for assistance. We aim to provide an emergency food parcel for three days, to enable residents to access other services available. We also have some hygiene items and baby products available too.

If you need to access the food bank please contact the Parish Clerk between 9am – 1pm Monday to Friday at hhpc2009@hotmail.com or on 07591 954002. The Parish Clerk will need to take a few details from you and will then discuss collection of the items, either from the Pavilion or through Street Watch if you are unable to leave your home.

The Pavilion will be used as a distribution centre but food is stored in a more secure location offsite.

HHPC

The Parish Council of Hockley Heath has set up a temporary food bank to assist residents during this very difficult time. We know that some residents will have seen a reduction in income due to the restrictions in place to contain the Coronavirus and we would like anyone that is struggling to buy food to contact the Parish Council for assistance. We aim to provide an emergency food parcel for three days, to enable residents to access other services available. We also have some hygiene items and baby products available too.

If you need to access the food bank please contact the Parish Clerk between 9am – 1pm Monday to Friday at hhpc2009@hotmail.com or on 07591 954002. The Parish Clerk will need to take a few details from you and will then discuss collection of the items, either from the Pavilion or through Street Watch if you are unable to leave your home.

The Pavilion will be used as a distribution centre but food is stored in a more secure location offsite.

HHPC

Planning applications are published on the monthly Parish Council agenda, however as the Parish Council will not be meeting in April 2020, planning applications will be published online to allow residents to comment directly to Solihull MBC. The following application has been received and can be viewed in more detail on SMBC’s website – Planning Portal.

Reference: PL/2020/00602/TPO

Location: Hockley Heath Park, Adjacent To 63 Meadow Close, Hockley Heath, Solihull

Works: Prune 1 No. Oak tree (tree T3 of Order No. 56) by 2m to clear the building fabric.

Consultation expires: 17 April 2020

As with all planning consultations, any member of the public can comment and SMBC only write to the households/businesses immediately impacted by any works.

The Parish Council of Hockley Heath will be setting up a temporary food bank during the current Coronavirus crisis. The Parish Council will endeavour to provide an emergency food package to individuals/families struggling to cover the cost of food.

Whilst a number of items have been sourced by the Parish Council, and nappies and baby wipes have been donated, further donations of tinned or dried non-perishable foods, along with person hygiene items would be appreciated to top up supplies.

If you would like to donate any items please drop them off at the Pavilion on Sunday 29th March 2020 between 4-5pm. A social distancing policy will be in place and you can place food/toiletries on a table.

Suitable non-perishable long life items would be tinned meats and fish, tinned vegetables, pasta, rice, pulses, sauces, tinned and dried fruit, cereals, juices, tea, coffee, biscuits, baby food and toiletries.

The Pavilion will act as a donation and distribution centre but the food bank will be stored off site for security reasons. Further details will be communicated next week when the food bank is able to receive requests.

Thank you
Hockley Heath Parish Council

Dear resident,

On Monday evening the Government announced new guidance to combat the spread of coronavirus. This now means that, unless you are a key worker, the most important thing you can do is stay at home. By staying home you are saving lives. The government guidance is as follows: You must stay at home and you should only leave the house for one of the following four reasons:

1) Shopping for basic necessities (for example for food and medicine, which must be infrequent as possible)

2) One form of exercise a day (for example a run, walk or cycle – alone with members of your household)

3) Any medical need or to provide care to help a vulnerable person.

4) Travelling to and from work (but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home)

If you are a business affected by the Government measures, I know that you will be concerned not just about the virus but about paying bills, paying staff and being able to operate once all this is over. You are vital to our economy and our community, and I will be doing what I can to support you over the coming months.

Although we cannot take face-to-face contact, my office will remain open and operational during this time. The weeks ahead are going to be challenging. I know that we can rise to it. I will be doing whatever I can to keep residents informed and speak up for you where I can. Keep safe and stay home. Look after your family, keep active, and if you know anyone who is living alone, pick up the phone and find out how they are.

Best wishes,

Saqib Bhatti

The Parish Council are scheduled to meet on Thursday 19th March 2020, 7pm in the Pavilion, to discuss how best to support members of our community that need assistance during this very difficult time. We have contacted other organisations within the village and we hope to be able to assist in a co-ordinated response. In the meantime please contact the Clerk at hhpc2009@hotmail.com or 07591 954002 if you have any specific concerns or require help.
Regards HHPC