Bere Mill Butchery
Whitchurch Welfare Trust
Defibrillators
Two Rivers Medical Partnership
Rising Fives seeks funding
The very popular Rising Fives Pre-School is seeking funds to help it get through the Covid-19 crisis.
At the time of publication they are heading towards their target of £1000Rising Fives is part of our Whitchurch Community and has help so many local children in their development.Perhaps that £1000 can even be beaten?
Rising Fives say:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rising Fives Pre-School had to temporarily close.
We have since re-opened, operating at a significantly reduced capacity. Throughout the crisis so far, we have received government funding for the children claiming free hours and have used this to cover our basic running costs.
The Early Years Sector was already struggling financially and in a ‘normal’ year we have to fundraise a minimum of £3000 to pay for setting improvements and resources for the children. Unfortunately, due to the current crisis, we have had to cancel several of our big fundraising events resulting in our funds being significantly depleted.
We really need help to raise much needed funds to secure the future of our wonderful community Pre-School.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DONATIONS HERE. JUST GIVING – RISING FIVES
Rising Fives is a registered charity. Charity number 270065.
You can read more about the Pre-School here:RISING FIVES PRE-SCHOOL
More infoBusinesses are opening up
Notice passed to Town website for information:
From 15th June, all non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics, plus tailors, auction houses, photography studios, and indoor markets, will be able to reopen if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines.
Every business will be required to complete a risk assessment. Whitchurch Town Council have partnered with Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council to facilitate seven businesses either reviewing or completing their risk assessments today (12th June).Using the right paperwork is essential.
Guidance is available at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches
Guidance for restaurants/cafes doing takeaways:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery
Guidance for shops and branches:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches
Downloadable signage for businesses:https://basingstoketogether.co.uk/basingstoke-together/news/social-distancing-graphics-pack/
Do you need help?If you need advice and support with your risk assessment, please email business@basingstoke.gov.uk
AssistanceWhitchurch Town Council are able to co-ordinate your appointments for risk assessments and help with information.Please contact: cllr.woodruff@whitchurch-hampshire-tc.gov.uk
Safety In WhitchurchAdditional Signage will appear in shops and in the Town Centre to help guide shoppers how to access shops, queue safely and where to stand on pavements in congested areas. In addition there will be 2 mobile sanitiser units for the public to use.
Opportunities for Independent BusinessesA new e-commerce platform to support independent businesses in the borough is being developed. It gives the opportunity to local businesses to have an on-line shop, to sell their products and services on-line and to access a wider pool of customers.If you’d like to find out more about this great opportunity, please business@basingstoke.gov.uk
If you would like to receive information on business news and events in the borough, you sign up to the BasingstokeBiz newsletter at https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/business-newsletter-subscription
More infoAnti-5G: Booby Traps – Danger may lurk
BEWAREIt has been reported that anti-5G activists may be setting booby traps that could cause serious injury.
“It’s been brought to our attention today that ‘anti-5G’ protesters have been sticking posters on various street furniture including telephone infrastructure, electricity cabinets and lamp posts.
Some of these posters have blades or other ‘sharps’ placed behind them, in a deliberate attempt to injure anyone who attempts to remove them.
If any one finds any anti-5G posters attached to footpath posts, stiles, HCC path signs etc etc they are being asked to alert the North Hampshire Access Team (via Hampshire County Council) and either leave them alone, or if they do remove them, to be extra vigilant.”
Anyone seeing any Anti-5G posters should treat them with extreme caution.
The controversy in brief:5G developers have estimated speeds of 100 times current internet speed and that this will enable wireless communication uses to be massively extended.
However, campaigners have been protesting against 5G holding demonstrations throughout the world.
Many, who claim to be ‘experts’, say the frequencies can be seriously damaging to health due to an increase in radiation. Other opponents take an altogether different line of protest, alleging that the involvement of backdoor surveillance could be incorporated due to the involvement of certain countries in the development.
Conspiracy theories also abound even including linking it to Coronavirus. It is more than contentious.
TAKE CARE
More infoSupport for Whitchurch Businesses
Re-opening of non-essential Businesses in Whitchurch Town Centre
Following the government’s announcement that non-essential retail will be able to open again from 15 June, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council are offering smaller town and village centres their support to understand if there are any specific needs that they can provide help with.Some of the measures they can support Whitchurch town centre with include:
Production of signage reminding people to keep apart and to respect social distancing.
Markings on the ground to show two-metre distances and enable safe queuing outside shops.
Support to retailers with understanding and applying the guidance as well as completing risk assessments – we could organise one-to-one visits to businesses.
Access to some downloadable and printable signage that has been produced by the Basingstoke Together Business Improvement District and which can be found at: SOCIAL DISTANCING GRAPHICS PACK
Provision of mobile hand-sanitising units so that people can clean their hands while shopping.
Messaging around “keeping left” so that an organic one-way system can be put in place.
WTC are helping by facilitating this and future meetings, information and actions. Attendance at this Zoom meeting is very welcome.
Meeting Details: Zoom Meeting at 6pm, June 10thMeeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2917617776
Meeting Host is:Daniel GarnierEconomy and Culture ManagerBasingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Email Cllr Woodruff if you have any questions and please share this information with other businesses.
More infoYour ideas for Social Distancing in Whitchurch
What could help Social Distancing in Whitchurch?You can add your own suggestions for Whitchurch on the Covid Travel Map.You can also see suggestions already made.
A range of temporary changes are being made across Hampshire to provide more road space for people walking and cycling – keeping a safe social distance as they begin to go back to work and school after the Coronavirus lockdown.
Further schemes are in development to support retail spaces which mean taking traffic and parking out of our town centres to create space.
Hants Covid Travel Map
Hants Covid Travel Map is a campaign to help people stay safe and help communities thrive during COVID-19.Make your own suggestions on the Map – it is easy.This one simple site is where you can make suggestions and also see what other ideas have been raised too.Add your suggestions:Hants Covid Travel Map
Things the County Council are considering include:
widening footways, especially on high streets, to ensure that those walking and queuing for essential goods are able to keep two metres from each other;installing measures to restrict through traffic from using residential streets to ensure that physical distancing can occur on residential streets, especially in locations that form an access route to a local amenity;installing temporary cycle lanes and temporary cycle parking.
Full details are here:Hampshire County Council – hantscovidtravel
More infoBus Pass Covid-19 concessions to end
From Hampshire County Council who administer the Bus passes:
The temporary changes to our concessionary travel scheme are coming to an end on Monday 15 June. The week-day start time for free travel for bus pass holders will revert to the normal 9.30am.
This is to help manage demand, particularly earlier in the mornings, as more people return to work and with social distancing in place at bus stops and on board.
Cllr Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment said:
As the country eases out of travel restrictions set in March to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, we can expect busy travel times to start to get back to more traditional peak periods.With capacity on public transport limited due to social distancing requirements, it seems the right time to revert to the usual operating hours for bus passes, helping to ensure space on buses earlier in the mornings for those going to work.I’d like to thank Hampshire’s bus operators for making the changes needed so quickly in March which allowed older people to travel for free when they could access supermarkets at quieter times, keeping themselves as safe as possible from the spread of COVID-19.
Face MasksAs from June 15th Face Masks will also be required when using public transport in England:See:FACE MASKS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT
More infoWhitchurch Skatepark re-opened
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, who manage the Whitchurch Skatepark in Daniel Road, have announced that they have re-opening the facility.
SKATEPARKSRE-OPENED
Basingstoke say:We have reopened borough council owned skateparks following the latest government guidance and with advice from Skateboard England.
The outdoor skate facilities at the War Memorial Park, Rooksdown, Daniel Road in Whitchurch, Chineham Park and Loddon Valley open space are now open to use following the change in government advice allowing up to six people to meet outside, while observing social distancing.
Social DistancingSignage has been placed at all locations reminding users to observe social distancing and follow Skateboard England guidelines on keeping safe while using the skateparks. We will continue to closely monitor these sites.
More infoNational Volunteers Week – A Thank You from Hampshire Countryside Services
A message of thanks from Hampshire Countryside Services to all the volunteers that help to maintain our Public Rights of Way.
“We couldn’t do it without you! Thank you to all our volunteers helping to improve access on Hampshire’s Rights of Way network. Whether it’s working as a group work party, or as an individual path warden, your contribution has been invaluable so hats off to you”.Hampshire Countryside Service
Jackie & Barry the co-ordinators for Whitchurch Walkers are Welcome would also like to join Hampshire Countryside Services in saying thank you to our footpath and litter picking volunteers for all their hard work on the 364 km of paths in Whitchurch Parish.
Unfortunately government social distancing guidelines has pretty much curtailed all organised volunteering activities on the local public rights of way, but since the easing of lockdown we have been out assessing the local paths and liaising with the North Area Community Ranger in readiness for when we can restart maintenance activities.
Hopefully we will be able to get cracking again soon; judging by the explosion in vegetation, I think we’re going to be busy!
More info