Dear Resident

As you are no doubt aware, the Prime Minister has announced a second national lockdown which will start from tomorrow, Thursday, subject to the MPs vote today.

This means that from tomorrow, we will all have to stay at home other than for a few very specific reasons. I recognise how difficult this is in so many different ways; the impact on our businesses that have worked so hard already to introduce COVID safe measures, the impact of being separated from friends and loved ones and the impact particularly on the vulnerable and the isolated.

We are currently talking with Government to confirm exactly what this means in terms of what activities are still allowed, which shops or building may remain open and what support will be available to our most vulnerable residents. We will do our best in the coming days and weeks to outline the kinds of support that will be available for anyone who is struggling, whatever their circumstances. I know our local businesses in particular will find this uncertainty worrying and we are seeking to confirm the level of support that will be available as soon as we are able to.

The situation in Buckinghamshire

This is a very quick update and as soon as more information is available, I will write again with a fuller update. We do know that all leisure centres in Buckinghamshire will close during this period but our Household Recycling Centres will remain open. We will also be able to update soon on libraries – they will all close from tomorrow but we are hopeful some will then reopen next week on a ‘click and collect’ basis i.e. to pick up pre ordered books or drop off returns and to provide computer access.

For now, please be aware that locally, cases have continued to rise at a very worrying pace, especially in the former South Bucks District area.

Overall in Buckinghamshire there are now 115 cases per 100,000 people. In the former South Bucks District area the case rate now stands at 200 cases per 100,000 people, up from 161 in a matter of a few days since I last wrote to you. And very alarmingly, we are seeing a very significant increase in cases in the over 60 years now, again, especially in the South Bucks area with a case rate of 181 cases per 100,000 people in that age group. Sadly, as we all know, this will almost inevitably lead to more hospital admissions and more people becoming seriously ill from this virus.

Please act now

In light of these figures I urge everyone to limit their movements ahead of the lockdown and to take great care if you do decide to head out. Now is not the time for a final ‘hurrah’ before things close. Please make sure you strictly adhere to the hands/face/space guidance, staying at least two metres/six feet from anyone you don’t live with unless you’re in a support or childcare bubble with them.

Testing

It’s essential that if you or anyone you live with develops symptoms of coronavirus, no matter how mild, that the whole household isolates immediately and that anyone with symptoms gets a test. We have significantly increased testing capacity in Bucks now with new walk-through centres available so you should be able to book a test if you need to.

I will write again soon with more detail as it comes through, in the meantime please keep checking our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and our website for any updates.

Stay safe and look after yourselves and each other,

Martin Tett,

Leader, Buckinghamshire Council

Dear Resident,

I know it’s only a week since I last wrote to you but, unfortunately, we are seeing a situation of increasing urgency here in Buckinghamshire, so I wanted to update you again. The last week has shown another rapid rise in the number of cases across the county; we now have 87 cases per 100,000 people in Buckinghamshire compared with the 22 cases per 100,000 that I wrote to you about last week.

This means our rates have increased dramatically, quadrupling in a little over seven days. These numbers are changing rapidly so please go to our website for our latest data in detail. You can also see the number of cases in your postcode area at this link too.

I know that overall, the number of cases here in Buckinghamshire is still lower than in some other parts of the UK and this is relatively good news. However, it’s the fast rate at which cases are growing here that is the cause for concern. We do not want to follow in the footsteps of areas in the north of England. This would mean potentially the further curtailment of our personal freedoms, reduced ability to meet with friends and loved ones, and a damaging impact on the local economy and jobs.

At present the infection is still predominantly in young people but this is beginning to change and we are seeing it more prevalent in older age categories too. In the north of England, they are seeing hospital beds and intensive care units again filling with COVID patients and we do not want to follow suit. I am aware that this paints a very gloomy picture but I want to be sure that we communicate the very latest information to you all as often as possible so that you can continue to make informed choices about your activities.

So, I am writing again today with a clear message. Please do what it takes to keep yourselves and your friends, your family and your local community safe. This means following the current guidance in place for Buckinghamshire at all times. We still have a chance to get the virus back under control here in Buckinghamshire so let’s do all we can to reverse the current trend of this rise in infections.

Reducing the risk

I cannot stress this enough: we all need to play our part. We are at our most vulnerable as we enter the cold wet weather of late autumn and winter. The virus is most easily transmitted ‘person to person’ indoors. Our best defences against this virus at the moment are distancing and hygiene. The virus passes extremely easily between people so please avoid close contact with people you don’t live with. Follow the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance at all times and protect other people by self-isolating immediately if you, or someone you live with, has symptoms:

• Keep at least 2 metres/6 feet from anyone you don’t live with
• The fewer people we see, the less chance we have of catching and spreading coronavirus, so please think hard about how you prioritise meeting up with others
• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds
• Wear a face covering where required unless you’re exempt
• Isolate if you or someone you live with develops coronavirus symptoms
• Book a test for anyone in the household with symptoms (call 119 if you can’t do it online)

READ THE REST OF MARTIN TETT’S MESSAGE HERE:

https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/5438-9SCO-AEB64353262F872430E0F6076B6295718710D1/cr.aspx

And find information on help and support available: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/

The Volunteer Matching Service, which is run by Community Impact Bucks in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council and The Clare Foundation, matches registered volunteers to roles where they are most needed in the county.

In Spring 2020, more than 1,800 local residents signed up to volunteer via the Buckinghamshire Council’s website to support local communities during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the recovery period and any local outbreaks that may arise. Since then, the Volunteer Matching Service has been placing volunteers with groups and organisations needing help to support our communities.

While many volunteers have stepped forward to help, a number have had a change in circumstances and are no longer available. We are now looking for more volunteers from across Buckinghamshire, and particularly in certain areas of the county to carry out a range of roles from short term or one-off tasks, to ongoing positions providing essential support.

As of Autumn 2020, we are particularly keen to receive volunteer registrations from the High Wycombe, Missendens and Chesham areas.

More information here: https://communityimpactbucks.org.uk/buckinghamshire-volunteer-matching-service/

The Chilterns Conservation Board is launching a packed programme of nature-based events, walks and activities designed to inspire families, young people and adults to discover and enjoy the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Chiltern Hills.

The ‘season of celebration’ will provide people with the opportunity to connect with nature, improve their health and wellbeing, meet new people, find out more about the landscape that’s on their doorstep, learn new skills and help support communities and businesses following the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is going to be plenty to do throughout October with a fantastic programme of events including the brand-new Chilterns Celebration and the ever-popular Chilterns Walking Festival.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Project team has joined forces with community groups and organisations to provide a whole month of activities and online resources and events to celebrate the Chilterns.

From October 1-31, they will be running events to extend the season for local businesses and bring communities together, as well as having TV presenter, Chris Packham as a keynote speaker at the first ever ‘Chilterns Champions’ conference, where Citizen Science will be up for discussion and how you can get involved.

Find the full schedule of events and details on how to book your place here.

There is also the 16-day Chilterns Walking Festival on offer which has over fifty guided walks, activities and events to take part in, and it has been designed to appeal to different age groups, interests and levels of fitness.

The walks provide opportunities to meet countryside rangers, farmers, archaeologists, historians, food producers and storytellers. Each walk is guided by an experienced walk leader who will bring their story to life.

The Chilterns Conservation Board’s people & society officer, Annette Venters, said: “We are delighted to be offering lots of new walks that showcase the best of our stunning landscapes, wildlife and local producers. The walks will appeal to all ages and abilities. There are still plenty of challenging hikes, but we’ve included a greater number of shorter walks too, with the emphasis on learning and discovery, meeting the people and producers of the Chilterns, and spending time in our inspirational landscape.”

You can view details and book your walk online here.

The ‘season of celebration’ will also support the campaign to extend the visitor season from October right through to spring 2021, with a regular programme of events planned to encourage people to support their local pubs, shops and attractions, all whilst staying Covid-19 secure.

The Chilterns Conservation Board’s chief executive, Dr Elaine King said: “The Chilterns is a very special landscape with so much to offer, and we are delighted to be holding this celebration that will help people connect with nature, improve their health and wellbeing and celebrate our local heritage and landscapes.”

The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covers 324 square miles of countryside, stretching from the River Thames in southern Oxfordshire up through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

By Vicki Pearce. Image credit: Livi Gosling.