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Severn Park Updates

Severn Park car park has now re-opened for vehicular access following a recent closure due to Covid-19.

As guidelines have changed regarding driving to outdoor spaces, the gravel car park and grassed areas are now in use. By opening separate parking areas, this allows for people to practice social distancing in a wider area.

Please note, the play area and outdoor gym equipment remain cordoned off.

Car Park to be locked overnight and Parking Charges to be reinstated

During the early part of the current coronavirus pandemic Severn Park was closed to vehicles, in part to deter people from people travelling to it (from afar) in line with Government advice.  Changes in the government advice has been considered regularly the pandemic and last weekend we opened Severn Park fully to vehicles.   Starting from Friday 29^th May the entrance gate to Severn Park will be closed every evening and be unlocked every morning.  Any vehicles parked in Severn Park when the gates are due to close runs the risk of being locked in until the following morning.

As from Monday 1^st June normal charges will apply for those using the Car Park.  Various payment methods including by mobile phone are available however cash is not accepted.

We trust that people will take advantage of the availability of the green space yet have due regard for others safety by taking reasonable steps to maintain social distancing.

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Upcoming Road Closure – Bernards Hill, Bridgnorth

Shropshire Council have notified us of the following upcoming road closure:

Road Closure:  Bernards Hill, Bridgnorth

Start Date: 8th June 2020

End Date: 9th June 2020

Purpose: Road Closure: STW - Boundary box installation

Works Promoter:   Severn Trent Water

Works Promoter Ref: LB9141201/000012389465

Enforcement pattern for Bernards Hill, Bridgnorth:
Monday - Tuesday 09:30 - 15:30

 

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here:  https://one.network/?tm=116915107

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Quotations Sought to Upgrade Town Council Website

Bridgnorth Town Council is looking to upgrade its website before 1^st September 2020 and invites suitable companies / organisations or individuals to quote for the work in line with the following specification.

Bridgnorth Town Council Website Specification

Quotes will need to be submitted by Friday 29^th May.

For further information, please contact Ashley Kendrick on [email protected] 

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Community Support & Information

Bridgnorth Town Council has collated the following information for services and support available during the Coronavirus outbreak:

Community Support Groups

• Bridgnorth Covid-19 Mutual Aid - This is a community organising Facebook page, run by volunteers, to support the most vulnerable and isolated in our community during the Covid-19 outbreak. The idea is to co-ordinate so that they can help those who are self-isolating with errands, groceries, friendly phone calls, etc. If you need support or are looking to offer support, please visit www.facebook.com/groups/bridgnorthmutualaid where you can complete an online form.
  They can also be emailed on [email protected] or contacted by phone on 01746 802091.
• The League of Friends of Bridgnorth Hospital, along with Reverend Simon and Reverend Sarah Cawdell are offering both practical support and an opportunity for a chat or a friendly voice at the end of the phone for anyone in isolation.
  For practical support, please contact Tamsin on 07743 165247, www.facebook.com/League-of-Friends-of-Bridgnorth-Hospital or [email protected]
  For a chat, Rev'd Simon Cawdell or Rev'd Sarah Cawdell can be contacted on 01746 761573.
• Shropshire Council have formed a Community Reassurance Team for the Bridgnorth locality. This aims to match people who are approaching the council for support, to relevant volunteers who are based within the location of the individual. Residents are being asked to use the Helpline if they have any coronavirus-related issues or enquiries. The Helpline is 0345 678 9028, and is available from 8am to 6pm weekdays, and 9am to 1pm Saturdays. Each caller will be asked to explain their need and, if required, this information will be passed on to a Community Reassurance Team.
  The council’s new Helpline cannot provide coronavirus health advice or other health advice, and you will be directed to go onto NHS 111 online, as per Public Health England / Government advice, if this is what is needed. Further information can be found by using the following link https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/
  For other useful contact numbers please see below:

Services

With thanks to Love Bridgnorth, a live list of shops and services which remain open or are providing a delivery service can be found here

The Veolia Refuse Centre on Faraday Drive is currently closed. For updates, please visit https://www.veolia.co.uk/shropshire/recycle-shropshire/household-waste-recycling-centres

You can also register on the Government website if you have a medical condition that makes you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. For example, you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential supplies like food. To register, please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

Advice from Trading Standards

Trading Standards have also released some advice to keep safe when making online purchases, door to door visitors offering services and phone/email services. The document can be viewed here

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Upcoming Road Closure – B4555, Bridgnorth (B4363 junction to Halfway House Lane junction)

Shropshire Council have notified us of the following upcoming road closure:

Road Closure:  B4555, Bridgnorth (B4363 junction to Halfway House Lane junction)

Start Date: 4th June 2020

End Date: 4th July 2020

Purpose: Surface dressing to include: stud removal 04-07/06/20 20:00-05:00, surface dressing 13-17/06/20 09:30-16:00, studs and lining 24-26/06/20 09:30-16:00

Please note: Due to the nature of this work these dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances or inclement weather

Works Promoter:   Kier on behalf of Shropshire Council

Works Promoter Ref: UJ214SD-855467

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here:  https://one.network/?tm=117083562

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Bridgnorth celebrates the National Health Service & Key Workers

From Thursday 30th April, the Town Council has arranged for the Town Hall and the Northgate to be lit up in the evenings to show the Town's appreciation for the National Health Service and the many Key Workers who are contributing so much in these strangest of times.

The blue lights will go on for the first time this evening (30th April) in time for the Nation's "Clap for our Carers" and will illuminate the buildings from 7.55pm - midnight each night thereafter.

Special thanks should be made to our electrical contractor Lightwire Electrical and in particular the Managing Director / Owner Richard Stoker who has made this possible.

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Castle Grounds, Bridgnorth to Re-open to the Public

In light of further recent Government advice the Town Council will open up Castle Grounds from Thursday 30^th April.  The Park will be open:

Mon-Fri: 7:30am to 8:30 pm

Sat-Sun: 8:30am to 8:30pm

Bridgnorth Town Council has reviewed its recent decision to close the Castle Grounds in the heart of Bridgnorth to the general Public.

The Park was closed to the general public in response to Government guidance and to assist with social distancing.

In reaching a decision the Council was mindful of the competing demands of the need for residents to be able to access green space in relative close proximity to where they live and the chance that opening the Castle Grounds might undo much of the good work done by residents in obeying social distancing advice.

The decision, to open, had been delayed due to a number of factors.  Part of the Castle Walk has been closed off to undertake repair work on the retaining wall by Shropshire Council. This has resulted in some limited access to the Park and was considered likely to funnel residents into fewer areas and potentially make social distancing that little bit more difficult.  Furthermore, the lockdown has required a reconfiguration of the Council work force: to protect them; accommodate absences as a result of self-isolating and implementing practicable social distancing measures that minimise the likelihood of spreading the virus.

While the park will now be open as normal, Town Council staff will be tending to the grounds much less regularly than they might normally do.  It is considered that the availability of the green space for locals to use outweighed the need for it to be well-manicured and we trust that the public would appreciate that; its availability might take the pressure off other green and open spaces.

We ask that the good folk of Bridgnorth continue to observe the social distancing advice and avoid remaining in the park for lengthy periods, stopping unnecessarily or begin to gather there.

We will monitor irregularly the use of the Castle Grounds and will continue to keep it open while residents use it responsibly.

Stay Safe

Councillor Ron Whittle
Town Mayor

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Guidance for Litter Picking during the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Town Council has been approached by a small number of residents who been out litter picking and gathering up discarded items of rubbish around town as part of their daily exercise routine, to ask how they might dispose of their bagged rubbish and other items.

The Town Council would firstly like to reassure residents that litter picking and waste bin emptying of all Town Council owned properties is still being carried out albeit with somewhat depleted work force. We would also like to point out that due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and social distancing and the need to temporally restructure our teams, that we do not currently have the resources to take on the added responsibility of managing an organised litter pick. That said, if residents are continuing to carry out this function of their own free will and abiding by the governments social distancing policies and only going out once a day as part of their daily exercise routine, then we at the Town Council and Shropshire Council will arrange to collect your rubbish so long as you follow the guidelines and precautions listed below:

• All litter is bagged and tied and any items too big to bag are placed loose next to a bag collection area.
• Shropshire Council has agreed to collect bagged and associated items if they are placed next to rubbish bins in any of the Shropshire Council owned car parks in town; Severn Street, Innage Lane, Sainsbury’s and Listley Street.
• Shropshire Council should be informed of the number of bags or bulky items of litter left at each collection point by calling Shropshire Council Street Scene using contact number 0345 678 9006.
• Any items collected on Severn Park can be left at the bin area on the stone car park, although we strongly advise that no one should be collecting rubbish close to the River Severn. Debris washed down from recent flooding should be left in place until our specially trained labour force can deal with it.
• Protective gloves should be worn at all times and litter should only be collected using a suitably designed litter pickers.
• Drug paraphernalia and in particular, hypodermic needles should be left where they are and inform Shropshire Council of the exact location.

As a final word of precaution, we cannot reiterate enough the dangers of the River Severn and also the likelihood of contracting a serious disease should you come into direct contact with contaminated wastes and so suitable strong footwear, protective gloves and litter pickers should be the bear minimum for your own safety.

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New Urgent Treatment Centre at Bridgnorth Minor Injuries Unit

The NHS is currently facing an unprecedented situation regarding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Health services in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin are taking measures to provide the safest care and best possible experience for patients during this time.

From Thursday 16 April, Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) will temporarily relocate to the Minor Injury Units (MIUs) in Whitchurch and Bridgnorth to form two Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs).

People with major injuries and illnesses, such as head injuries and breathing difficulties should still attend A&E. The Emergency Departments at PRH and RSH remain open and fully operational 24-hours-a-day, however, these changes will allow us to free up capacity to support those with more serious illnesses and injuries who need the level of care offered at hospital.

The two new UTCs will provide treatment for patients where their care needs are urgent, but non-life threatening. In Bridgnorth, the UTC will be open from 9am to 9pm, seven-days-a-week and be staffed by a rota of GPs and doctors and nurses from SaTH. There will be a GP-led service for minor illnesses and injuries including minor cuts, dislocations and back pain. An enhanced service will also be offered in Whitchurch, with opening hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The county’s other two MIUs, at Ludlow and Oswestry, remain open for minor injuries and illnesses. The opening hours of these units can be found at www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/miu. The two MIUs and the new look UTCs at Bridgnorth and Whitchurch offer a walk-in service and do not require appointments or referral. The MIU in Welshpool is currently appointment only and contact details can be found on the Powys Teaching Health Board website.

Dr Arne Rose, Medical Director at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs RSH and PRH, said: “The safety and wellbeing of all of our patients is our priority. These temporary changes will make sure we are looking after patients who need our care for urgent but non-life threatening situations, minor injuries and illnesses, and also those that need more specialist care in our A&E departments.

“We know some patients have expressed concern about taking up the time of our doctors and nurses in our hospitals at this difficult time and we are very grateful for their support. It is very important that people continue to access urgent care when they need it and we hope the availability of the Urgent Treatment Centres encourage them to do so.”

Jane Povey, Medical Director at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said: “We would like to thank people in advance for their understanding and reassure them that these changes are temporary. They are being managed in a planned way with the best interests of local people and our staff in mind.”

Patients with coronavirus symptoms should follow the government advice by staying at home and using the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do. NHS111 will direct those people with symptoms requiring healthcare support to attend the emergency departments at either of the two hospitals.

Anyone requiring medical assistance outside of the opening hours of the two UTCs and two MIUs should call NHS 111 and in an emergency, 999.

Among other measures taken by SaTH to help reduce the spread of coronavirus are the suspension of visiting at both hospitals and a restriction in the number of entrances open to the public at the two hospitals.

You can play your part by following the Government’s advice:

• Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home
• Do not meet others, even friends or family that do not live with you

Please remember that you can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

For the full press release, please click here

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Emergency Closure – Castle Walk

Shropshire Council have notified us of the following emergency closure:

Road Closure: Castle Hill Walk Bridgnorth
Start Date: 14th April 2020
End Date: 28th April 2020
Purpose: Emergency Closure to complete repair works to Castle Walk

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