Y● ou● r ● S MERSET In this edition Mendip Winter 2020 Improving Lives h e a l t h Become a 'Covid Champion', see page 3 Getting tough on climate change, see page 7 Need help? See page 14 Stay safe She natioonal lockmdown might ebe over, buts the et! need to stick to the government guidance tTo keep us all safe continues. That’s the message from Somerset County Council's Director of Public Health, Trudi Grant. Our county continues to have lower “Somerset residents, we continue to levels of coronavirus infections than work hard to keep infection rates as others around us and that is a huge low as possible. We have put a tribute to every single one of you request into Government to take playing your part. an increased role in contact tracing, following our success in reaching But restrictions remain in place and more local people over the past we all have a role to play to keep this three months. virus at bay, to protect our vulnerable residents and to protect our NHS “It’s great news that we might be hospitals. able to spend some much-needed time with our friends and families Trudi says: “I want to over the festive period. But let’s thank everyone who make it a safe and enjoyable Feeding families this has stepped up to the Christmas. challenge, and in “Remember - if you increase your Christmas – it’s a team effort! particular our amazing volunteers We want to make sure no family ever goes risk of coronavirus, then you increase and community groups – you’ve the risk of all those you spend time hungry. See our feature on pages 4 and 5. done a brilliant job – but please with. To help protect your loved ones, keep it up, it’s not over yet. it’s really important in the run up to “Since March, here in Somerset Christmas and over the festive period we’ve had around 5,000 confirmed that we all stick to the rules. cases of coronavirus and managed “Please remember – Hands – Face – over 600 outbreaks and situations Space. It is vital to help control the across the county. With the help of virus and it really does save lives.” ‘’ P U O L Somerset Latest updates! U L Waste How to waste less this Christmas and your T Partnership handy guide to recycling. See centre pages. 2 - In the News Your Somerset » Winter 2020 Contact us ne s merset Visit Government considering www.somerset.gov.uk one Somerset proposals Ambitious plans to improve public services in David Fothergill ‘In my opinion...’ Somerset by replacing the five existing councils with If you can’t find one new single council are now being considered by what you need Council Leader the Government. At Somerset County Council we’re backing One on our website: Somerset – an improved model of local government, GooD neWS - which will end confusion, give greater powers to local Phone 0300 123 2224 Christmas has not communities and free up millions of pounds to be Phone lines are open Monday reinvested in vital public services. to Friday, 8:30 until 5:30pm. been cancelled! The final ’One Somerset’ business case has been Write to us at few weeks ago it was looking really submitted to the Secretary of State and will now be Somerset County Council, unlikely that we would be able to celebrate considered alongside any other business cases from County Hall, Taunton, Christmas with rising coronavirus infection other councils. Somerset, TA1 1DY Arates, difficult, but vital restrictions in place, and no prospect of family and friends being able to For all coronavirus - The next steps will be determined by the related support, phone gather around the dining table or in front of the telly watching elf or the Polar express...again! Government, but there are expected to be further 0300 790 6275, seven days updates and public consultation early next year. a week, 8am until 6pm. So, my personal thanks to all those who followed “ our campaign #MakeLockdownCount. You kept Please phone the numbers We’ll keep you posted on developments in Your below for the following services: to the rules, kept social distancing, washing hands Somerset – or you can follow @one1Somerset on and wearing face coverings as required – YOU Twitter or @oneSomerset on Facebook. To read the Fostering enquiries have made lockdown count and we can all enjoy 0800 587 9900 One Somerset business case, or to find out more our traditional celebrations because of you all. Adopt South West about local government reform, visit BUT let’s not let our guard down, let’s keep to the www.onesomerset.org.uk 0345 155 1076 guidelines and rules until it is safe. Somerset Heritage Centre (01823) 278805 I also would also like to say a special thank you to Somerset Road Safety all our NHS staff, my own Council staff and all the (01823) 423430 key workers who have gone above and beyond in Somerset Waste Parnership their role to help vulnerable children and adults in (01823) 625700 Somerset. You are absolute stars and we are all incredibly proud and grateful for the compassion Other useful numbers and care you continue to show. Citizens Advice Consumer Service Helpline 03454 04 05 06 Thank you Street Lighting Faults 0845 601 0939 There are of course many people who continue to (office hours) and work through the holiday period, keeping children 0845 795 9639 (for out of hours emergencies) safe in our child protection services, supporting very elderly and vulnerable people in our adult ne c uncil Student Finance Direct social care teams, keeping our roads safe in our (Higher Education Students highways team and helping residents with only) 0845 607 7577 questions and support through our contact Wellington Community office centre – and again my thanks to you all. (01823) 667279 To those communities and volunteers who have EDITOR’S INFO District Councils done so much and continue to do so much, a Mendip District Council massive shout out to you all – we can’t do it To get in contact with Your Somerset or to advertise in this without you and I am so proud of the way 0300 303 8588 publication, contact the Communications Team on (01823) Somerset has pulled together. It is a massive One Sedgemoor District Council 355020, or email [email protected] Somerset – One Team effort and I thank you all. 0300 303 7800 We all have a big part to play as vaccinations are We gratefully acknowledge the support of organisations that South Somerset District Council planned, testing is operated and contact tracing advertise in Your Somerset , but Somerset County Council can (01935) 462462 continues – there is a long way to go, but we now accept no responsibility for the products or services Somerset West and Taunton have hope that the pandemic WILL come to an advertised. We advise readers to make their own enquires Counci l end. Perhaps that is the greatest Christmas before purchasing products or services. 0300 304 8000 present we could all have wished for. Please recycle Pssst.. .Your Somerset costs 6p per copy to produce. Your Somerset » Winter 2020 Coronavirus latest news - 3 CoRonAvIRuS LATeST neWS ‘Let them know!’ If you want to help people to stay safe If you test positive for Covid-19, during this pandemic, then join our growing group of ‘Covid Champions’, please make sure you tell anyone and help your community keep up-to- you have been in close contact date with all the latest information with straight away. about staying safe and healthy. It’s so important to ‘let them Spark Somerset is working in partnership with SASP (Somerset know!’ This will massively help Activity and Sports Partnership) to set-up the Covid Community the nHS and our own tracing Champions Network. You will need to do a short online training service to act quickly. course, then you’ll be able to help your family, friends and your wider community understand the latest guidance around coronavirus, and A close contact is anyone you signpost them to other health and wellbeing support. have been: This can all be done very informally – for example, talking to work ● In close face-to-face contact colleagues, challenging something you see online, or simply with (less than one metre chatting to people when you’re out and about (government apart) for any length of time, restrictions permitting of course!) To sign up or find out more about this includes talking to them becoming a Covid Champion, visit www.sparksomerset.org.uk/ or coughing on or near them projects/covid-community-champions ● Within one to two metres of for more than 15 minutes, including in a car ● Spending lots of time with in your home, for example, a carer, cleaner or maintenance person #stayhomeforsomerset Your close contacts must then self-isolate and get a test. You can everyone who got book a test online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by A big thank you to ho they stayed phoning 119. in touch to tell us w home for last month, including Somerset County Cricket Club’s Captain, Tom Abell. Covid survey – your results are in... Thanks to everyone who took pa rt in our Somerset Covid-19 Survey. We had great feedback about how over 1,200 responses, which gave us some we can help you with any issues or barriers you’ve faced when it comes to coronavirus. Catching coronavirus Stay connected Please follow the guidance We asked: We asked: We asked: Do you feel that people are in general What is your What is your main concern biggest adhering to the guidance? of contracting concern of Covid-19? isolating at You said: Nearly half suggested that they home due to You said: Covid-19? thought people weren’t Nearly 70 per always following the cent said, ‘passing it to others You said: Over 80 per cent guidance as strictly as they should be.