Woodbridge Town Council
Whilst we will continue to update this page with the latest news and announcements, please also visit our standalone information and support website
KEY LINKS FOR COVID-19 DAILY UPDATES
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/latest-information/
Suffolk Association of Local Councils
National Association of Local Councils
VISUAL/ STATISTICAL UPDATES
John Hoskins University - Coronavirus Resource Center
BBC - Coronavirus: A visual guide to the pandemic
Online statistics - UK Coronavirus/COVID-19 Figures
21.5.20 - Woodbridge Mayor’s Charity 2019-20 - a hair-raising matter!
18.5.20 - Green bin collections will begin again in East Suffolk from May 25th. Some collection days may be different from the usual bin collection day, so please use the East Suffolk Council website to find out which days your green bin will be collected. Woodbridge looks to be on a Saturday! :)
13.5.20 - The WTC Emergency Response Group has updated it's guidance document, which now takes into account the primary advice within the publication Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government's COVID -19 Recovery Strategy.
WOODBRIDGE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GROUP GUIDANCE - CURRENT PUBLISHED ADVICE
21.04.20 - As well as delivering prescriptions to hundreds of local residents, shopping for & sending food parcels to others, and opening a food bank, the Woodbridge Emergency Research Group offers a phone-up service for people in shielding, self-isolation or lock-down, who need a chat or more significant support.
https://www.woodbridgecovidinfo.co.uk/someone-to-talk-to/
08.04.20 - Easter pharmacy opening times;
06.04.20 - Woodbridge Library are offering the following services during the current lockdown period;
06.04.20 - Our friends at Woodbridge Art Club have still been working hard during lockdown; take a look at their Facebook and website for some fantastic drawings and paintings!
03.04.20 - Woodbridge Town Council publish Covid-19 Facebook page
02.04.20 - Woodbridge Town Council ERG volunteers are now delivering prescriptions and food parcels across the town and beyond. In order to identify themselves they will be wearing WTC branded hi-vis jackets, as modelled below by the Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor Patrick Gillard! :)
31.03.20 - The National Allotment Society has issued useful guidance on how to manage allotments in accordance with government regulations.
31.03.20 - Update from the Suffolk Association of Local Councils
SCAMS – please be aware there has been a huge increase in coronavirus-related frauds. We recommend you register as a consumer champion here to receive the latest information and share this with your community.
National events cancelled – eg: VE day celebrations and British Spring Clean.
Public Works Loan Board – clarification is being sought on whether repayments would be subject to deferral in keeping with other measures announced regarding mortgages and loans.
AGAR – PKF Littlejohn instructions delayed pending clarity over coronavirus implications – we have forwarded a communication from PKF Littlejohn to all local councils. To read this in full follow this link to their website.
GDPR – Information Commission’s Office blog to help community groups – go to their website here.
Guidance on closing business premises and venues, including playgrounds – use this link to go to the official Government page
NALC is engaging with government and other stakeholders including the Local Government Association and Public Health England on how local councils are responding to the current health crisis and raising issues regarding any impact on the operation of local councils.
Fast-tracked Coronavirus Bill has now received Royal Assent and is an Act of Parliament. Provisions of particular relevance are on the postponement of local elections and local authority meetings. NALC is pressing the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to work with them on any subsequent legislation. There is no timeframe for those regulations at present.
30.03.20 - Citizens Advice Leiston, Saxmundham and District remains open.
30.03.20 - Woodbridge children's cookery school to launch a community focused 'Batch and Deliver' scheme.
The times we all find ourselves in are very sad. Rather than continue to be downhearted about the possibility of postponing the children's cookery school I have worked so hard to launch for next month, I would like to help those in the community instead.
I am batch cooking meals and freezing in single portions. These are available to all vulnerable residents of Woodbridge, Suffolk, and anyone who is willing to collect.
All I ask is a £2 donation to cover the cost of ingredients, packaging and cooking costs. If you would like to donate more than £2 I would be incredibly grateful and this profit will be split between a local charity supporting vulnerable people and the cookery school start-up fund.
https://www.tokcookery.com/batch-deliver
30.03.20 - The use of Personal Protective Equipment in minimising your chance of infection 'The spread of infection is like a chain; to stop the spread, break the chain'. Click here for large print.
27.03.20 - WTC launch a stand alone website and Instagram to provide further support and information on COVID-19.
26.03.20 - East Suffolk Council announce that garden waste collections are suspended.
24.03.20 - Here is a list of Choose Woodbridge members who are providing delivery services for essential items during this time. All order and payments are taken over the phone. Home delivery list
23.03.20 - Councillor Jewers has put together a database which details the businesses in town offering delivery services, as well as their contact details. Business delivery list
19.03.20 - Our friends at Choose Woodbridge have put together a wonderful guide to those shops in town which are offering a delivery system for those unable to attend to shops in the current climate - please see the link below. Choose Woodbridge guide
From the Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor Patrick Gillard.
You are all aware of the rapidly-developing problems caused by the COVID-19 virus. Woodbridge Town Council have suspended all public meetings of the council for the time being to protect the residents of Woodbridge, however we want to continuing serving you as best we can in this time of national concern.
We in Woodbridge pride ourselves on our sense of community. Woodbridge Town Council are therefore looking for people with or without a DBS certificate to join the ‘Emergency Response Group’, a database of volunteers willing to help;
If you are forced to stay indoors due to Coronavirus, we can help YOU with:
• Picking up shopping and medication which has been ordered and paid for
• Posting mail
• A friendly phone call
• Answering questions
• Walking the dog
We are looking for volunteers to help our community, can YOU:
• Deliver shopping
• Make a friendly phone call
• Answer practical questions
If you need help, or if you want to be added to our database of volunteers, phone us on 01394 383599, option 1, or contact us via our emergency email; emergency@woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk
To view the Emergency Response Group leaflet please click here
With so much information being shared on the COVID-19 coronavirus we should all be using government advice to inform decisions and be checking that advice regularly. Please refer to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus for official guidance.
We will endeavour to update this page with important information from government agencies to keep you all updated as possible with the official guidance.
National Joint Council for Local Government Services
Facebook;
There are a number of excellent Community Groups on Facebook which have begun offering help for those in need (registration/ approval may be required), which we hope to work alongside to co-ordinate an efficient response for our wonderful town.
Woodbridge anti-loo roll brigade
Nextdoor Woodbridge (Registration required)
Please note that Parish and Town Councils are being guided by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) who are engaging with government on the situation and will also keep us updated on any developments. The business of the Town Council is carrying on as usual wherever appropriate, however we are prepared for this to change at any time.
National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC)
Please submit any websites, document etc which you feel would be of benefit to the community to the Deputy Town Clerk via email
Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.
Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.
As a minimum, please ensure that you are following the Public Health England (PHE) recommendations for general cold and flu precautions to help prevent people from catching and spreading COVID-19:
As government advice is updated, we will reassess and communicate as soon as possible.
