Helping people get their jab - new free bus service to Bath Racecourse

With the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme rapidly expanding, a new free temporary bus service is being introduced to make it easier for people to get to Bath Racecourse to have their jab. The service will run every hour from Bath Abbey bus stop to Bath Racecourse from 09.00am, with the last bus leaving the Racecourse at 18.20pm. It will run on the following days: Mon 20 Dec – Thurs 23 Dec Wed 29 and Thurs 30 Dec Tues 4 Jan – Fri 7 Jan The shuttle service from the Park and Ride at Lansdown is still running Mon – Fri, however there will be no service from Thursday 23 Dec - Tuesday 28 Dec. The full timetable can be viewed at: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-information-and-advice/get-your-covid-19-vaccine Becky Reynolds, Director of Public Health for Bath & North East Somerset said: “The new temporary bus service will make it easier for people to get to our major vaccination centre and get boosted. Four out of ten people in B&NES have already had their third dose and our vaccination teams are working tirelessly to ensure all those eligible for a booster get it as soon as possible. “With the first cases of the Omicron variant now confirmed in our area it’s vital we work together to limit its transmission and protect ourselves and each other. That means reducing our close contact with others, wearing a face covering, self-isolating and getting a test if symptomatic, working from home if we can, keeping spaces well ventilated, getting vaccinated and having the booster jab.” You are eligible for a booster dose three months after your second dose if: you are aged 18 and over you are aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from Covid-19, or are a main carer for someone at high risk from Covid-19 From Monday 20 December, children aged 12-15 can book in for a second jab. If you haven’t had your first or second vaccination yet, it’s never too late. You can book anytime by calling 119 or by visiting the National Booking Service. If you’re booking online and find yourself in a long queue, or if there’s no availability in the near future, please be patient and keep on trying – additional appointments are added regularly. There have also been important changes to national guidance on what people need to do if they are identified as contacts of someone with Covid-19: Fully vaccinated adults who are identified as a contact of someone with Covid-19 – whether Omicron or not – do not need to self-isolate but should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 days Close contacts aged 5 years to 18 years and 6 months do not need to self-isolate but should also take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 days Those who test positive or develop symptoms will need to self-isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test Unvaccinated adults identified as contacts must continue to self-isolate for 10 days NHS, social care and education settings will continue to have their own requirements.

Improving Peoples lives

Changes to the way you receive free school meal vouchers in B&NES this Christmas Families whose children are eligible for benefit related free school meals will have more choice over where to spend their vouchers this Christmas thanks to a new way the scheme will be administered. Bath & North East Somerset Council is continuing to provide families with children who receive income-related free school meals with a £20 voucher per child per week, totalling £40 for the upcoming school holidays. However, the council is trialling a different voucher provider which will allow families to spend the voucher total at more than one supermarket of their choice. Households will receive ‘Select’ codes with a web link to the new supplier, Hawk Incentives, which will take them to a page where they will be presented with a selection of supermarkets to choose from and a reward total which can be split between different supermarkets. Codes can be added for each qualifying child to increase the reward total. Once parents have selected their supermarket, they can checkout their vouchers via the shopping basket. After entering their name and email address, vouchers will be emailed to them within 72 hours. Households who received voucher links at the previous half term period will not need to make a new application, however anyone who did miss out will need to reapply using this web form on the council’s website. This new system for administering the vouchers will give families more flexibility over where they spend the money. At a time of financial hardship for many people, I hope this will support families further in making ends meet this Christmas. “Don’t forget that if you’re on a low income and receive certain benefits, you can also apply for a £250 grant to pay energy bills from our Household Support Fund. The Select codes for free school meal vouchers will be valid for three months once issued, but once a supermarket is selected the normal terms and conditions of that store apply, which range from 12 months to two years. Applications for the Household Support Fund should be made via the council’s website here. Residents who have questions about the new process for accessing Free School Meal vouchers or the Household Support Fund can contact the Benefits team on 01225 477777 (option 4). All applicants will need to provide evidence of their eligibility.

Christmas Waste & Recycling information

Please see details below of rubbish and recycling collection dates. Please put you receptacles outside on the correct dates to avoid  blocking pavements or items being blown down the street.

There is also the option to have your real Christmas tree collected by Dorothy House, however, you do need to go on-line and book this.

Green Waste collections will start again from mid-January, however, there is a change to how this operates.  If you have a pre-paid green wheelie bin, you should put this out on your normal day, if you want to use the paper sacks, you will now have to book a collection slot either via the BANES website or council connect (01225 394041).  You can find more information about he booking service from any place you purchase the brown sacks.

More Roads to be resurfaced in Twerton

We have just had confirmation that more roads in Twerton are scheduled to be resurfaced in February as shown below:

BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL
(THTTC2733 WEDGEWOOD ROAD / POOLEMEAD ROAD, WHITEWAY, BATH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF USE BY VEHICLES) ORDER 2022
Notice is given that Bath and North East Somerset Council in exercise of its powers under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 intends to make an order to the effect of which will be to temporarily introduce a road closure in the length of Wedgewood Road, Whiteway, Bath for its entire length, and Poolemead Road, Whiteway, Bath from its junction of Wedgewood Road extending to its junction of Garrick Road. USRN: 47901427 USRN: 47901227
This order is required because works are being or are proposed to be executed on or near the road for resurfacing and associated works by Bath and North East Somerset Council on the 1st February 2022 for a maximum period of 12 months. The road will only be restricted as and when traffic signs are in position and may not be effected for the whole of the period but only for so long as is necessary to execute the works. This is anticipated to be for ONE WEEK.      ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: Kelston View – Haycombe Drive – The Hollow - Whiteway Road – Newton Road – Shaws Way – Poolemead Road.   Link to One.network: https://one.network/?tm=126047167   Applicant Details: Highway Maintenance Telephone: Volker Highways 07384908937 Email: Highways@bathnes.gov.uk
	Dated: 13th January 2022   Traffic Management Team Lewis House Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG	Chris Major Director of Place Management

We will confirm exact dates when these are known as this is subject to weather conditions.