Unfortunately, due to covid related issues, Centrebus have advised that they will have to temporarily amend the service 12 (operating between Stamford and Uppingham via Tinwell, Ketton, Edith Weston, North Luffenham, South Luffenham, Barrowden, Morcott and Glaston)  with effect from Thursday 14^th January 2021.  A copy of the revised timetable is attached for your information.

As before, it is requested that passengers only make essential journeys and to be especially mindful of travelling between different tiers.  It is also advised that passengers contact their bus operator in the first instance to get the very latest information regarding bus journeys and availability:

Centrebus tel: 0844 351 1120

CallConnect tel: 0345 263 8153

Centrebus are also having to temporarily suspend the service 47 from 14^th January until further notice.

We will also be checking the bus stops to make sure current information is being displayed and if anyone has any queries or concerns then please contact transport@rutland.gov.uk or call 01572 758138.

Dear resident,

I had hoped not to have to write another newsletter, let alone so soon after my last!  But coronavirus cases continue to rise and the NHS is very stretched.  Some people have asked me why we can’t simply open more Nightingale hospitals.  We could, of course, but they have to be staffed and NHS staff are like the rest of us; they get ill, they come into contact with coronavirus and have to self-isolate for a period and they have positive tests, albeit with no symptoms, so again have to self-isolate.  This all reduces the number of people available to be deployed and whilst we might be able to put up a new building almost overnight it takes a few years to train medical staff!  Add to that the increased number of people requiring intensive care –and the additional staff levels associated with that—it is not surprising the system is under strain and the Government’s full lockdown response.

I am also being asked about vaccines, and why some people who have had their first vaccine are having their appointments for the second, follow up, vaccination cancelled.  You can find the answer here https://www.rutlandhealth.co.uk/covid-19-vaccination-programme-rutland-patient-update/

I am sure we are all worried about businesses locally.  The Government has recognised the strain on businesses and is introducing additional help.  If you are a business your first port of call is RCC as many of the grants are administered by the Council https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/health-and-nhs/health-and-support-services/coronavirus/covid-business-grants/ . And do support your local pub if it is offering a take-away service.

If you have children and don’t have access to the resources you need to access your child’s school’s home learning offer contact the school who should help.  Children without IT or a space to learn are entitled to be in school.   If you have any problems regarding your children’s education at this time let me know.

Lockdown is difficult for everyone.  But, as I write, there are almost 300 positive coronavirus cases per 100,000 population in Rutland and the increase is in all age groups, including the over 60s. It is important we all abide by the law to get the case numbers down.  Full details can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home but in brief:

• Stay at home unless you have absolutely no choice but to go out to work
• Stay at home unless you need to go out for essential shopping such as food and then shop as infrequently as possible and on your own
• Stay at home unless you have to go out for a medical appointment/to collect a prescription
• Stay at home unless you are taking your once a day exercise when you should “stay local” (see below for the Government’s definition of “stay local”)

 “If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local – unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work. Stay local means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live.”

The only people you should be mixing with are the people you live with or the people you have contact with through work.  There are exceptions, the “bubbles” we have all heard about, but these have legal definitions and the definition changed on 2 December 2020.  You can find out the current law here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household#what-a-support-bubble-is

Local advice and sources of help, whether you are an individual or a family, can be found here https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/health-and-nhs/health-and-support-services/coronavirus/

Remember HANDS FACE SPACE!

Gale Waller

County Councillor, Normanton Ward

gwaller@rutland.gov.uk

Dear resident,

First may I wish you all a Happy New Year.  It may not seem, with Rutland moving into tier 3, that it will be happy 2021 but this pandemic will not last forever and with the second vaccine having been approved the end is in sight.  Everyone has done really well to keep Rutland as safe as we are and I’d like to thank all the volunteers who have supported their neighbours, and supported strangers through the likes of Rutland Foodbank, during these strange times.

However, to stop Rutland being moved into tier 4 it is important to stick to the rules to continue to keep our covid levels comparatively low.   The general rules of wearing a face covering, keeping two meters away from others (except in your own home, of course) and washing your hands regularly are still good ways of slowing the spread. In addition, in a tier 3 area:

• No socialising with anyone indoors, in your garden or an outside public venue unless you live with them or they are in your official support bubble (i.e. you ordinarily live on your own and have set up a support bubble according to these rules https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household#what-a-support-bubble-is)
• No socialising outside with more than 6 people
• No going on holiday as hotels and holiday lets in tier 3 must close and if you live in a tier 3 area you must stick to tier 3 rules
• Local pubs and restaurants must close except for take-aways –do support your local business where you can as they need your support to survive

There are exceptions, for example weddings and funerals can still go ahead.  Full details can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-3-very-high-alert

Travel outside tier 3 is discouraged, even for food shopping.  The Government states “Where possible, you should stay local and avoid travelling outside your local area, meaning your village or town, or part of a city. People should continue to travel for reasons such as work, education, medical attention or if they have caring responsibilities.”  

Local advice and sources of help, whether you are an individual or a family, can be found here https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/health-and-nhs/health-and-support-services/coronavirus/

The current Covid crisis is having a major impact on the NHS.  Everyone is being encouraged to contact NHS111 rather than their GP if there is a medical problem.  Either ‘phone 111 or go online at https://111.nhs.uk/  The NHS locally tell us “Patients contacting NHS 111 will be clinically assessed so that they can be referred to an emergency department, an NHS Urgent Treatment Centre, a Minor Injuries Unit, pharmacy, GP or advised to self-care where appropriate. They will also be provided with a time that they should attend.”  I have been assured that the 111 system will refer Rutland residents to geographically appropriate services and not send us to the other side of Leicester!

Gale Waller

County Councillor, Normanton Ward gwaller@rutland.gov.uk

Rutland Covid Vaccination Programme

If you are registered with a surgery in Rutland, they will be sending booking details for the Covid Vaccination Programme to your mobile phone, if you have one, over the next few weeks and month. If you are aged over 70 and have not yet received an SMS message (text message) about the Covid Vaccination Programme then they may not have your mobile phone number. 

If you have a mobile phone please let your practice know the number by writing to your practice or emailing rutlandhealth.cvp@nhs.net. Please do not phone your practice. If you do not have a mobile phone then they will contact you by other means.

Message sent on behalf of Rutland Health Primary Care Network (rutlandhealth.co.uk)

Dear Villagers,  

The Rutland Foodbank is extremely thankful for all the donations that have been given in the past  year. The collection point at the telephone box in North Luffenham will continue in use for the  foreseeable future.  

Please use the plastic box to leave donations as it is rodent safe. The shelves are for the jigsaw  exchange only. 

 The box is emptied regularly and goods are taken to Oakham on a weekly basis. 

Please do not give mince pies (they have a short shelf life ) or Christmas puddings.  A list of the latest shortages is updated regularly on Rutland Foodbank’s Facebook site.

 Many thanks 

St Georges Barracks, airfield will be CLOSED to the public for the beginning of the new year. This is for training purposes.

The airfield will be out of bounds to the public from 16th Jan 2021 straight through to 22nd March 2021.

With the exception of the following weekends:

30-31st January 2021

6-7th February 2021

27-28th February 2021

6-7th March 2021

13-14th March 2021.

Please note that the grey bin collection this week will be on Monday 21st. The following week the black bin collection (no green bin) will be as normal on a Tuesday (29th).

Sunday 20^th December 6pm on The Oval

“Come & Sing Carols by Starlight”

30 minutes of Carols & Readings

Do dress warmly, bring chairs, torches & refreshments! 

The songsheet for the Carols can be downloaded by clicking on this link: https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5f19ade9a5895/content/pages/documents/1607361575.pdf

Christmas Day in church 9.30am

Family Communion 

We may not sing but will have live music! Both events will be conducted strictly in line with current Covid guidelines – please be thoughtful & observe social distancing

Please click on this link for the poster:

The UK Government has today confirmed that Rutland will remain a Tier 2 area (High Risk) as part of England’s local COVID-19 restrictions.

Under current guidance, anyone living in a Tier 2 area must:

*Not mix with other households indoors
*Only meet people outdoors in groups of six or less
*Work from home if possible
*Reduce the number of journeys they make

This is in addition to washing hands regularly, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and staying at least two metres apart from other people – or one metre with a face covering or other precautions.

Full details of what you can and cannot do if you live or work in a Tier 2 area can be found online at: www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-2-high-alert <https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Ftier-2-high-alert&data=04%7C01%7CGWaller%40rutland.gov.uk%7Cf694c3067a174717b1b108d8a2b25c4c%7C60a080bbbc0f4d9399c183748e10674d%7C1%7C0%7C637438234219626872%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=qb8m1giTQJhFHS%2F%2BfSDwaTRM%2BR0eAK6qOL7aFxhXF2c%3D&reserved=0> .

From 23 to 27 December 2020, there are different Christmas rules for meeting friends and family: www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-the-christmas-period <https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fguidance-for-the-christmas-period&data=04%7C01%7CGWaller%40rutland.gov.uk%7Cf694c3067a174717b1b108d8a2b25c4c%7C60a080bbbc0f4d9399c183748e10674d%7C1%7C0%7C637438234219636830%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ipjlUMVDT7ogPJwh4Dmo7zYUNNu0ibDTTfp7hfHEdlE%3D&reserved=0> .

We saw a promising decline in Rutland’s COVID-19 figures during the second national lockdown. These numbers have risen again in recent weeks, which is why we remain a Tier 2 area.

It is incredibly important that we continue to follow the guidance for our area, particularly as the government has committed to relaxing some of its COVID restrictions over Christmas.

This is positive news for families who have been kept apart during the pandemic but, equally, comes with risks and we must all act responsibly. Those who choose to form a ‘Christmas bubble’ can do so between 23 and 27 December, with people from no more than three households. However, it must be stressed that this is a limit, not a target, and that meeting fewer people will mean families are less likely to catch or spread the virus.”


Best Wishes,
Gale Waller
Councillor, Normanton Ward
Rutland County Council

Please find attached details of a road closure concerning Moor Lane, North Luffenham on the 11th January 2021

In the Community Centre 

(Please note that the venue has been changed from The Fox)

When: Tuesday 8th December.

Time: 6pm. Somebody will be on hand to answer your questions

and

Thursday 10th December (help on queries from 3pm)

We will take note of everything you have to say. 

Post it notes will also be available for your comments.