Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do
STAY AT HOME
Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (where this absolutely cannot be done from home)
Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people
Wash your hands as soon as you get home.
Anyone can spread the virus
Full guidance on staying at home and away from others see below:
A group of village volunteers has formed to support the elderly and those who are confined to their homes during the corona virus outbreak.
Binfield Heath Covid-19 Mutual Aid has been set up for Binfield Heath and the surrounding areas, to provide volunteer help for those who are self-isolating or quarantined, or in a vulnerable category, due to Cover-19.Villagers will contact people who might need help and offer to collect shopping, prescriptions or just to be a voice on the end of a phone during the period of enforced isolation. The group currently operates via a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/binfieldheath/
Please visit the page and sign up for information or to offer help or ask for support. Lots of brilliant individuals are doing their bit to help local people, including Binfield Heath Stores.
There are also support groups in Dunsden, Shiplake and Henley. To see the full list of available help click below.
Binfield Heath Round Up 22 03 2020C2
Playground closure
We have been advised under the latest government regulations that, regretfully, the playground and recreation ground must be closed. This is to prevent people from gathering together and also because we cannot currently maintain the equipment. We understand how annoying this will be for parents caring for small children but hope that you will bear with us at this time.
Allotments
Allotments can still be visited as they provide food and exercise but social distancing should be observed. Guidance from the National Allotment Society is available at https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/ Any plot-holder who is self-isolating because a household member is ill with coronavirus should not be visiting the site.
Avoid on-line fraud
Action Fraud has received reports of Covid19-related scams. The majority of reports are related to online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser and other products, which have never arrived. Other frauds being reported include ticket fraud, romance fraud, charity fraud and lender loan fraud Detailed counter fraud advice is available online, including from Scamsmart, ActionFraud, CIFAS, TakeFive, Citizens Advice, Trading Standards and the National Cyber Security Centre. Reporting to Action Fraud can be done online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. To report offers of financial assistance from HMRC contact phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
Temporary suspension of meetings
No meetings of Binfield Heath Parish Council will take place during the period of the coronavirus outb. reak.
An Extraordinary Meeting of the council, chaired by the clerk on March 18, it was resolved to form a committee delegated to handle day-to-day business, urgent and planning issues. No major decisions can be taken until the full PC is back in action.
The committee consists of Paul Rollason, Lis Ransom, Hugh Lacey and Sue Summerland, who will work mainly by email and phone.
Work towards getting started on a neighbourhood plan for the parish is on hold until we are able to hold a public meeting to discuss it.
No further parish council meetings are planned, although hopefully by late May the situation may be different.
All queries continue to be managed by our clerk, Mandy Sermon, on msermon@btinternet.com
We will keep in touch with the parish via the website www.binfieldheath.org.uk and via the village newsletter.
Bhpc Draft Minutes Of Extraordinary Meeting And Reports March 2020
Representatives of ten South Oxfordshire parish councils agreed a motion regarding the proposed Third Reading Bridge at an informal meeting in Sonning Common on 31 January.
Representatives attended from Binfield Heath, Eye & Dunsden, Harpsden, Highmoor, Ipsden, Kidmore End, Rotherfield Greys, Rotherfield Peppard, Shiplake, and Sonning Common.
Click below to read the resolution.
Parish Councillors have been urged to write to their MP, both individually and collectively as councils, with their views. Parishes are also asked to suggest any options (such as a park and ride scheme at Playhatch) that do not involve a bridge.
If you have any views or suggestions please let us have them!
Village tree saved!
You may have heard that our much-loved tree in the centre of the village has been the subject of debate with the county’s tree officers. It was condemned as being diseased and not thriving and for a while we feared it might have to be felled and replaced with a sapling. But the old chestnut did not lose a twig during the recent storms and is now again in full bud. Following further discussions, the county tree team has agreed to leave it in place for a few years more and rather than cut it down, prune it vigorously instead. Good news for once!
Litter collection
A big thank you to everyone who turned out and helped at the annual litter pick – as usual, familiar faces.
The day’s treasures included a wc cistern, four tyres (all in different locations), most of a car (scattered), a large container of something or other and a plastic bin of paint, plus the usual endless bottles and cans flung from passing cars and vans.
The medal goes to the Howland family who tackled the appalling verges of Emmer Green Road and were the ones to point out the cistern…
We hugely appreciated the email we received from Caversham cyclists who passed us during the litter pick: " A big shout out to those residents that were litter picking this morning. Thank you for keeping Binfield Heath so nice. Thank you for sparing the time."
And thank you from us too!
PARISH COUNCIL INFORMATION
The Scout Hut
The scout hut, damaged in an arson fire, is now being repaired. For more info or if you would like to make a donation, contact erniepovey@yahoo.co.uk.
Drug-driving in Binfield Heath
Youngsters smoking pot have been spotted round the village, often in the recreation ground at night, or in cars nearby clearly smoking weed. The police are aware but if you see anything, do report it.
Parish Council meetings
These have been suspended temporarily owing to corona virus. If you have any issues to report or need any information please contact the clerk Mandy Sermon at msermon@btinternet.com. Parish council responsibilities will be handled by a delegated committee of councillors consisting of Paul Rollason (chair), Elisabeth Ransom (vice chair), Hugh Lacey and Susan Summerland.
Village newsletter
Marina Hart would like to hear from anyone with news or information of interest to local residents, on marina.hart@virgin.net. Most of the newsletters are emailed to save printing and delivery, so do let her have your contact details if you would like to receive one. Privacy information is available from her and on this website. Newsletters are uploaded to this site. We hope you enjoy reading them and find them useful - and please do contact her with contributions for the next one if you have any news to share.
Reporting issues round the parish
Fly-tipped rubbish continues to be a problem locally and has to be collected by District Council contractors at considerable extra cost to the taxpayer. If you see fly-tipping - or the results of it - please report it online to admin.southoxford@biffa.co.uk Similarly, potholes have been a big problem this year. If you are aware of one locally please contact fixmystreet.com and tell them the area, address if possible and postcode. It's the fastest way to get results.
Security
Do make sure your home and outbuildings are securely locked and tell your neighbours if you are going away. Report anything suspicious to Thames Valley Police on 101 or in an emergency call 999.
Keep up to date
From this page you can see diary events in the village at a glance, with a link to more information if you need it. Check which bin is going out this week and look up the bus timetable or report potholes in our roads. You can comment on planning applications direct with SODC at the click of a button, without knowing the application number. Receiving occasional news mail-outs from the Parish Council on matters that affect you is the fastest and most efficient way to find out what's going on in your parish. If you change your email address just sign up again with the new one - you don't have to delete the old one. If you no longer wish to hear news from us in this form please let us know and we will delete your email details. Visit the village Facebook page to connect with friends and neighbours and join in the chat. If you would like to contact the Parish Council direct send a mail to info@binfieldheath.org.uk or write to the parish clerk, Mandy Sermon at msermon@btinternet.com
Data protection
Regulations concerning data protection have changed. The Parish Council has prepared documents which reflect and clarify these alterations and how they affect you. Please look at the information, on the Parish Council page, which explains how the council uses and stores any information concerning you. (See also Parish Council minutes May, June and July 2018.)