Annual Town Meeting
Please note due to the current Covid-19 Government Guidance, the Annual Town Meeting has been postponed.
| Bonfires - Please Consider Your Neighbours and Be Safe |
After what was a long wet winter we have now seen an upturn in the weather and there has been very little rain over the last few weeks, so gardens, open spaces and heathland is drying up rapidly. At this time of year it is usual to see an increase in wildfires.
Dorset and Wilts Fire and Rescue (DWFRS) are therefore asking the public not to undertake prescribed or controlled burns unless it is absolutely necessary. For information and advice, please see their website DWFRS.
Many people will now be spending more time tidying up their gardens, but with the closure of council tips and the suspension of garden waste collection services, there may be a temptation to have bonfire instead. Bonfires can very quickly get out of control and DWFRS has seen an increase in calls as a result.
Not only that, bonfires can cause a nuisance to neighbours, especially for those who are at present unable to go outside of the perimeters of their property, so the only opportunity they have for fresh air is within the confines of their garden, so please consider your neighbours and whether it is really necessary to have a bonfire.
Both Dorset and BCP Councils have produced advice on their websites for dealing with garden waste whilst the kerbside collections are suspended, so please follow link for advice.
Dorset and Christchurch
| | | As our waste services begin to feel the pressure from coronavirus (COVID-19)-related employee absence and the need to introduce new safety measures to protect our workforce, we are asking residents to help us by changing the way they deal with their bins, litter and recycling. We are now implementing the next stage of our plan to keep essential collections going.
You do not need to do anything differently on your collection day. Please put the appropriate bins out as you usually would, but note the following: - - We will no longer return to empty any missed bins until your next regular collection day. If your bins are missed, please bring them back in. Store your waste safely and put it out on your next appropriate collection day
- We will pick up extra black bin rubbish only if your previous rubbish collection was missed. We will continue to pick up food waste weekly. You can also put out extra recycling provided it is separated correctly
- Do not try to report missed collections to us. Visit our service disruption pages online to check if you are in an affected area
- Remember to crush and flatten items (not glass) before throwing away, as this will help create space in your bins and our collection vehicles. Put your glass box out when it is full
- Please continue to observe public health guidance on handling your waste. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, please double bag your waste and store for 72 hours before placing in your bin or blue sack.
- Wash your hands both before putting your bins out and after taking them back in
- We recommend rinsing dirty rubbish and recycling items before placing in bins to reduce unpleasant odours.
As we have had to redeploy employees to higher-priority services, our street-cleansing, household recycling centres and recycling banks in car parks have also been suspended. Therefore: - - If you go out to exercise, take your litter home with you, especially dog waste. Street and dog bins are not being emptied on a regular basis. NEVER place household waste in a street litter bin
- Do not travel to a household recycling centre (HRC, or ‘the tip’) or any recycling bank in a car park as these are all now closed and are no longer being serviced. Any items left at these sites will not be cleared away and will be considered as fly-tipping.
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Covid-19 and Sturminster Newton Town Council
· Council meetings – All Town Council meetings have been cancelled until further notice, this includes the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for 9th April 2020.
· The Town Council Office – The office is closed to the public but the team will be available via email and telephone Monday to Friday between 09.30 and 12.30 please call 01258 475413
· Open spaces - Following the advice issued by the Government on Monday 23rd March 2020 all play areas, outdoor gym equipment and the Skatepark will be closed until further notice.
· For the latest government Covid-19 advice please follow the link below
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Are you self-isolating - or do you know of someone who is?
The Sturminster Newton Action Team can help, click on the link for details; Sturminster Newton Covid 19 Action Team
Government information links
Coronavirus - what you need to know https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Travel advice - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
Business support
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
Update 24th March COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses
Sick pay https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay
Corona Virus
The advice for anyone in any setting is to follow these main guidelines.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. If you have these symptoms, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or after being in public areas where other people are doing so. Use hand sanitiser if that’s all you have access to.
To reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or your sleeve (not your hands) if you don’t have a tissue, and throw the tissue away immediately. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitising gel.
Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.
At the current time and based on our understanding of what is known of COVID-19 and other similar respiratory viruses, it is likely that older people and those with chronic medical conditions may be vulnerable to severe disease. As more information emerges, recommendations may change.
Sturminster Newton is a small market town in the heart of the Blackmore Vale steeped in history and tradition. The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book and some residents can trace their ancestors back for centuries. The last fifteen years have witnessed considerable changes. The closure of the well-established cattle market and the loss of the creamery caused much sadness and dismay but led to regeneration of the town centre and large new housing developments. Thanks to the vision and efforts of its residents and business community, the town retains its character and vibrancy and remains a friendly and popular place to live, work and visit.
In this site, you will find further information about how the Council works, more details about Council services and how to access them, contact details for the Council and other local information. Please let us know if you have any question or comment about the work of the Council or the content of this site; we are here to serve you and want to hear from you.
To contact the Town Council telephone: 01258 475136, e-mail: admin@sturminsternewton-tc.gov.uk or use our Comments Form