CORSHAM AND CORONAVIRUS - LATEST INFORMATION

For the most up-to-date Town Council and community information, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/corshamtowncouncil/.

Do You Need Help?

Wiltshire Council has set up a dedicated hub to support the most vulnerable residents during the ongoing COVID-19 situation.The Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub is available to anyone who is struggling during this difficult time, such as people who are shielding or self-isolating and don't have a support network around them or know where to get help. Wiltshire Council's team can help provide support but also signpost you to where additional help is available in your local area (ie the Town Council) with hundreds of community groups set-up across the county providing invaluable assistance.

You can get in touch with the hub via email at wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk or by calling 0300 003 4576. It's available from 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.

If Wiltshire Council is unable to help, you can still call us on 01249 702130 and we will try and put you in touch with a local volunteer.

Corsham Foodbank

Corsham Foodbank is still open for business. They have changed their operation a little to try and distance clients from volunteers by making use of extra rooms at St Aldhelm’s.

Over the last few days they have had a lot of contact from families who are self-isolating. If the family meets the usual criteria for obtaining food from the Foodbank then they will continue to help but ask the family to arrange for a friend or relation to come and collect for them. Self-isolation on its own isn’t a reason to get help, though the Foodbank will always listen to the circumstances.

As far as food supplies are concerned, the things that the Foodbank need are listed below. Donations can be left at St Aldhelm’s Church (Pickwick Road, Corsham) from 10am- 11.30am on Tuesdays or 10am-12noon on Saturdays, or in the donation box at the Co-op.

If you have any questions please phone 07788 115095.

The items suggested are specific in order to meet the needs for the food boxes. Sizes are approximate and reflect the fact that they cater for single people, couples and families:

Fruit Juice (long life carton, 1 litre); Breakfast Cereal (small packets, 1kg packets, variety packs); Soup (tinned, 400g); Baked Beans (tinned, 400g and 200g); Tomatoes (tinned, 400g and 200g); Tinned Vegetables (assorted, 400g and 200g);Instant Mashed Potato; Meat (tinned, 400g and 200g); Fish (tinned, 100g); Fruit (tinned, 400g and 200g); Rice Pudding (tinned); UHT Milk (long life, 1 litre and 2 litre); Sponge Pudding (tinned, 400g and 200g); Pasta (various, 500g); Cooking Sauces (tins or packets); Sugar (500g); Tea Bags (40s,80s,160s); Biscuits (large packet, small packet); Snack Bars (e.g. cereal bars); Chocolate Bars (single bars or multipacks); Baby Foods (tinned, jarred).

The Foodbank is also happy to accept monetary donations which can be made by BACS: Account name: Corsham Churches Food Bank; Sort Code 40-17-17; Account no. 01547607. Thank you.

Corsham Shops

We're trying our best to keep an up-to-date list of our town centre shops, businesses and services and what they are doing during this time - many of the non-essential shops that are closed are still able to take orders and run deliveries. The most up-to-date version of the list will always be found on our Corsham Town Council Facebook page, but we will try to copy it here as well. (Those highlighted in blue have a Facebook page.)

Advice for Volunteers

Whether you've volunteered to look after your street, are taking care of a vulnerable neighbour or are just helping out friends and relations during this time, here's the latest government advice on how to help safely to protect them and you: https://www.gov.uk/…/coronav…/coronavirus-how-to-help-safely Wiltshire Council has also produced a Volunteer Pack, which you can download from their website at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/articles/volunteer-pack-published.

Wiltshire Council - FREE Parking

From today all Wiltshire Council car parks across the county are FREE to use, to support residents and key workers during the ongoing Coronavirus situation. There are no time restrictions or charges in car parks, on and off-street parking bays and permit bays.In addition, Wiltshire Council will also be relaxing restrictions in residential areas to maximise the parking spaces available to residents who might be self-isolating or working from home. Timed restrictions in residential areas will be lifted so that residents can park on the road all day. All valid parking permits and season tickets will be frozen at this time.

This will be reviewed after three weeks in line with government guidance on staying at home and social distancing.

The Town Council-funded one-hour free parking, launched earlier this month, will be back when charges are reinstated.

Wiltshire Council's parking enforcement service will focus primarily on serious contraventions to prevent incidents of obstructive or dangerous parking that could have a more significant impact on safety and access for emergency and essential services.

Wiltshire Council - Latest Coronavirus News, Help and Advice

For Wiltshire Council's response to the crisis, and the changes they've made to services, etc, visit the coronavirus section on their website: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavirus. You can also sign up for updates here too.

Coronavirus Statement from Corsham Town Council

Many people in Corsham have been asking for advice about Coronavirus and what to do if people have to self-isolate. Many others have been stepping forward to volunteer with shopping and other help and support for vulnerable people. The community spirit being shown is fantastic, but there are a number of things to be considered and Corsham Town Council would like to offer some suggestions that might avoid problems.

Council officers and Councillors have met to discuss the best steps to help support individuals affected by this emergency and will work with county and national government, local doctors, pharmacists and community groups to help with this.

Regularly updated information is available from these main sources the Government – www.gov.uk

Department of Health and Social care - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/depart...

Public Health England - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public...

NHS UK - https://www.nhs.uk

For social media users, the following Twitter accounts will be regularly posting the latest advice Department of Health and Social Care - @DHSCgovuk Public Health England - @PHE_UK NHS England - @NHSEngland

Wiltshire Council has prepared a helpful Covid-19 web page with useful advice at this link: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavi....

There are already groups and individuals in Corsham who are offering to provide support to vulnerable people and people who have had to self-isolate. We encourage such measures and suggest that support is best provided, where possible, by near-neighbours known to the person being supported.

It would be helpful if any groups and individuals giving support, or planning to do so, could let the Town Council know so as to avoid unnecessary duplication and other potential difficulties that may arise. Doing so would also mean that we will be able to advise isolated or vulnerable people who contact us of the nearest support group or individual.

Corsham is a great community and it’s heartening to see so many people stepping forward. Let’s work together to get through this situation and get to know our neighbours better.

Please note that the Town Council is taking its own measures to try to avoid spreading or contracting the virus. We have closed the Town Hall to the public for the time being so if you need to contact us please email, , or telephone 01249 702130. Alternatively, you can drop a letter through the letterbox on the north (phone box) side of the Town Hall.

We have also cancelled or postponed all face-to-face meetings and hall bookings for the time being. This includes the Corsham Celebrates/Annual Town Meeting event planned for 23 April.

Above all, please make sure you practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary proximity to each other and keep an eye on your neighbours and vulnerable people to help keep our community as safe as we can.

Councillor Steve Abbott (Chairman) and David Martin (Chief Executive)

Allotment Advice

Here's the latest advice for allotment holders about visiting your plot:

https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/?utm_source=Members&utm_campaign=0a46e036bf-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_06_08_03_15_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_206970988f-0a46e036bf-323645929&mc_cid=0a46e036bf&mc_eid=cd9bed5614

Corsham Play Parks

In the interests of all our health and keeping in mind Government advice on the importance of social distancing at this time, Corsham Town Council has made the decision to close, with immediate effect, all its children’s play areas until further notice. This includes:

Springfield: Skate Park, BMX Track, Parkour, Youth Shelter and Outdoor Gym

Dicketts Road Play Area

Meriton Avenue Play Area

Neston: Neston Play Area and Westwells Play Area

Gastard: Coppershell Play Area

All other Corsham Town Council managed general open spaces remain open for the time being.Thank you for your patience and understanding. Stay safe!

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Corsham Cycling Strategy - Consultation

Our vision, as stated in our Strategic Plan 2018-2022, is to make Corsham ‘a place where people want to be’. A guiding principle of delivering this vision is the strong desire to create a sustainable community, enjoyed by present and future generations, that balances environmental, social, cultural and economic needs. Cycling has huge potential to contribute towards our vision.

We have a fantastic cycling community in Corsham. The Corsham Cycling Strategy is being produced to build on what we have, enabling more and more people to gain from the wide range of benefits that cycling brings. This means encouraging everyone to cycle on an improved cycle network. We want the Cycling Strategy to be owned by existing and future cyclists, supported by the Town Council, in order to drive the changes required. We believe that, by working together, we can achieve improvements in our health, wellbeing and environment – including reducing the carbon footprint of our community.

Whether you are a regular cyclist, occasional cyclist or non-cyclist, we welcome your input into this draft Strategy and help to develop an Action Plan. Please have a read, fill in the consultation form and return it to us, either by post or email - all the details are at the end of the form - by Friday 15 May. (The form will open in Dropbox. Click on 'Open' at the top right of your screen and then 'Download' in the dropdown menu for a Word version to fill in direct, rather than having to print it off.)