Wereham News August 2020

WEREHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Next Meeting Date - Tuesday 8 September 2020 at 7.00 pm

Agenda items must be received before the end of the month prior to each meeting, items received after this time will not be possible to discuss. Please send to the Parish Clerk at werehampc@gmail.com. The Agendas for meetings are always published on the Wereham Village Notice Board three clear days before the meeting, and notified via the Wereham Parish Council Facebook Page and on the website www.werehamparishcouncil.co.uk You will also find minutes of all meetings here too. Please contact the Clerk should you wish to attend virtually once the agenda is public for joining instructions. The Council are meeting via Zoom virtually until further notice and in following guidance issued to it by authority bodies, invitation information and how to attend is placed on each meeting agenda.

One Vacancy on Wereham Parish Council Interested in being a Parish Councillor? Want to Get Involved and make a difference in Wereham?

Parish Councillors need no specific qualifications experience, just a passion for doing the best for your local community. Don't feel you can't do it - there is always help, training and guidance available. Help to make a difference!. Please contact the Clerk for further information.

Qualifications to be a Councillor: A person is qualified to be elected and to be a councillor if they are a British, Commonwealth or European Union citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, and on the day of their nomination they are 18 or over. In addition, the person must meet at least one of the following criteria:- (1) be registered as a local government elector for the area, and give their electoral number, or (2) have during the whole of the twelve months before the day on which they are nominated occupied as owner or tenant any land or premises in the parish, or (3) during the whole of the twelve months before the day on which they are nominated have their principal or only place of work in the area of the parish, or (4) during the whole of the twelve months before the day on which they are nominated have resided in the parish or within 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) of it.

Coronavirus – Covid-19 - Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives (As at 07.06.20)

Re-Opening of Play Area The play area was reopened on 4th July in line with Government Guidance, a risk assessment took place and additional signage has been added to the play area. Users are advised to sanitise their hands before and after use; use disinfectant wipes or spray prior to use on the equipment in high traffic areas; do not eat within the play area and most importantly social distance from others within the play area. At this time due to flowing activity at the play area that the Council do not need to monitor usage or put usage restrictions in place. Please all follow this guidance. Anyone concerned should contact the Parish Clerk by telephone or email in the first instance.

Volunteers and Assistance with Shopping If there are volunteers that could help other residents in the village with essential shopping please contact the Parish Clerk who will add you to a register that is being kept. If there are residents that need help with essential shopping or doctors prescriptions with no family or friends network please also get in touch with the Parish Clerk who will be able to discuss options available for helping you.

For the latest Government Advice view the following websites: The HSE have now created a dedicated Coronavirus page for businesses here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/coronavirus.htm This should be used in conjunction with the NHS information here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Dog Walkers There continues to been instances of dog waste not being removed from outside people’s properties and pathways in the village by dog walkers. There are five dog bins available at the playing field; off Cavenham Road, Lamas Lane; End of the Row/Wretton Row and on Church Road. So this is plenty of points to deposit their waste plus the option to take it home. Please respect the village and clean up after your dog.

Wereham Cemetery – Memorials Next of Kin Please could any members of the public known to be the next of kin for memorials within the Wereham Cemetery please contact the Parish Clerk to agree to share their contact details. We need to ensure that our contact database for the purposes of contacting next of kin, where we need to discuss memorials is as up to date as possible. Memorials that have been laid down for safety reasons can be reinstated by commissioning a stone mason to install what is called a NAAM bar.

Highways – Paths and Roads – Defects Please report anything that you see verges, trees, pot holes, main holes, drains to Norfolk County Council Highways via their defects page of their website. You need to set up a login, and once on the site you can easily report issues and upload pictures of the issue. They will then arrange inspection. You are also able to track the report. Should a report not be resolved as you wish please then contact the Parish Council. The Parish Council will report issues that it finds, but if residents do this also we can increase the repairs that we notice need doing. https://apps.norfolk.gov.uk/HighwaysDefect/

Helen Richardson Wereham Parish Clerk and Finance Responsible Person Email werehampc@gmail.com or Phone/Text: 0779 500 6811

WEREHAM VILLAGE HALL

In light of the most recent government guidelines in respect of the use of community facilities such as village halls we are currently planning a phased reopening of Wereham Village Hall, and the reintroduction of a range of activities and events there, commencing on Monday 13 July.

This decision has only been reached after very careful consideration and extensive discussion to ensure the safety of all of our staff and customers. We have carried out a full risk assessment and have consulted closely with current users of the building and other members of the local community.

Some activities will commence in July, whilst others are not planned to restart until August or September. In line with current government regulations regular groups, clubs and societies will be able to meet again at the Hall. However, at this stage we cannot allow any activities that would normally take place in a gym or fitness or dance studio. Additionally, at the moment we are unable to accept private party bookings or to stage any indoor performances. However, monthly cinema shows will take place, albeit with reduced seating capacity. For further details you are advised to contact the individual group organiser and/or check the Village Hall website and facebook page

We are introducing a number of measures to facilitate customers’ use of the building whilst ensuring their safety and wellbeing. These include:

• Extra staff training • A self completed register for all users on entering the building • Clearly defined entry and exit points • Strict control of numbers in order to maintain social distancing and to avoid congestion • The provision of hand sanitiser at designated points • Regular cleaning of all contact points within the building (handles, switches, tables, chairs etc) • A “one in one out” system for the toilets, with cleaning wipes and hand washing facilities for customer use • Reduced seating capacities • The cafe will only be open for specific events and will operate on a “take-away” basis, with single use items such as sugar sachets and disposable cups

It will be the responsibility of all group leaders to provide their own risk assessment, to maintain accurate records of all attendees and to retain a register of users, as well as taking responsibility for their members adherence to the safe use of the building, with provision for them to carry out surface cleaning before and after their activity

We are certain that by working together and respecting each other, we can provide a safe environment for everyone at Wereham Village Hall. After a period of several months closure, this is clearly a new phase for us. We will be doing everything that we can to ensure that we can welcome everyone back to the Village Hall in a safe, secure and healthy way. However, if you have any concerns, or ideas on how we can serve you better, please let us know by email - villagehallwereham@gmail.com or phone 01366 502214. We will be updating information regularly. Please keep checking our website and facebook pages for the latest news.

We value your continued support and look forward to seeing you again soon

WEREHAM CRAFT GROUP. After the long shut down due to Covid 19 Corona virus we are having a closed meeting for existing members and we will be open to welcome new members on September 8th at 10.30am and thereafter on the second Tuesday of every month. SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL APPLY AT ALL TIMES, For further details please contact Rosemary on 01366 501330 or 07749240606, e-mail rosemary.pease@btinternet.com.

WEREHAM SHORT MAT BOWLS. Short mat bowls will start again on Thursday 6th August 7pm until 9pm. SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL APPLY AT ALL TIMES along with HAND CLEANSING, all equipment will be cleaned before and after each session. For further details please contact Philip on 01366 501330, or 07759033492, e-Mail rosemary.pease@btinternet.com.

WEREHAM CAR BOOT AND CAFE. Car boot and cafe will resume on Sunday August 30th.SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL APPLY AT ALL TIMES, along with HAND CLEANSING. A one way system will be in operation and MUST be adhered to at all times. The cafe will be open for Bacon, Sausage or Egg Baps, Toasted Tea cakes or Toast with Butter and Jam. Tea and Coffee always available. Please come and support our stall holders and the village hall. For Further Details please contact Philip on , 01366 501330, or 07759033492, e-mail rosemary.pease@btinternet.com. MOBILE POST OFFICE will park near the village pond on the following days/times, Monday and Thursday 14.00 – 14.15 Tuesday and Wednesday 12.25 -12.55

CINEMA NIGHT

MILITARY WIVES Friday 7th August, 6.45pm. See community advert for booking details.