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14 July 2020
Cabinet Question Time
As part of our efforts to reach and engage with more people, we’re holding our first ever online Cabinet Question Time on Thursday 16 July, from 7pm. You can quiz Hounslow's Cabinet on matters that are important to you. Ask your questions live when you tune in.
For more information including how to log onto the event please visit our website
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Stay safe on the high street
Anyone planning on heading out to the borough’s shops, pubs or restaurants this week should make sure they follow the guidance and stay #shopsafe.
Please continue to follow current social distancing guidance when travelling to or visiting our local shops.
The Government has announced that from 24 July people must wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth while inside shops or receive a fine of up to £100, unless you are exempt.
Exemptions include people who have trouble breathing, children under the age of eleven and anyone who finds it difficult to manage them correctly.
Advice on how to wear and make a face mask can be found on the Government's website.
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Got coronavirus symptoms? Get tested now
There is a range of local testing options available to you, including a Mobile Testing Site with a mixture of walk-through and drive-through appointments available on Wednesday 15 July at the Private Car Park on Hanworth Road, TW3 3TY. For more information, please click here.
NHS Test and Trace is an essential part of the Government’s response to stopping the spread of coronavirus and to save lives. Get tested and do your bit to protect your friends and family.
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COVID Summer Food Fund
Due to the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus outbreak and the increased pressure families will face on household budgets over the coming months the Government has launched a Covid Summer Food Fund.
This will enable children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to be supported over the summer holiday period.
Extra funding has also been provided to enable Further Education institutions to continue to provide free meal support for the 2020 summer holiday.
We encourage families to consider making choices that contribute to a healthy balanced diet.
For further information on how to apply for the voucher or claim them in supermarkets visit the Government's website.
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West London College 'Skills for Londoners' courses coming soon
In August, West London College will start delivering a wide range of ’Skills for Londoners’ courses, through a mixture of online learning and face to face teaching.
Courses include employment skills, a three week pre-employment course for those interested in a career in care work and a Construction Bootcamp.
The courses are designed to support anyone looking for a new career path, facing redundancy in their current job or wants to boost their confidence and skillset.
Register for courses here and for information email musharaf.malik@actionwestlondon.org.uk
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Indoor gyms and swimming pools to reopen from 25 July
Last week the Government outlined the measures that will allow indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities to reopen from 25 July.
The gyms and leisure centres in Hounslow will not be reopening pool facilities straight away as it will take a bit of time to reopen some facilities in line with this new Government guidance and to ensure the right measures are in place to maintain social distancing and safe use.
Some of the measures set out in the Government guidance include:
- Limiting the number of people using the facility at any one time, for example by using a timed booking system;
- Reducing class sizes and allowing sufficient time between each class to avoid groups waiting outside during changeover;
- Ensuring an appropriate number of people are in a swimming pool at any one time;
- Spacing out equipment or taking some out of service to maintain social distancing;
- Enhanced cleaning and providing hand sanitizer throughout venues;
- Considering how the way people walk through their venue could be adapted to reduce contact, with queue management or one-way systems;
- Customers and staff should be encouraged to shower and change at home wherever possible, although changing rooms will be available.
Residents should keep an eye on our website and social media channels to find out when the local leisure facilities in Hounslow will reopen.
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Beauty salons, nail bars and tattoo studios are able to provide some services again
Beauty salons, nail bars, tattoo, massage studios and physical therapy businesses across the borough are allowed to reopen from this week (Monday 13 July).
Only services that do not involve work in the highest risk zone – directly in front of the face – will be made available to clients. This means that treatments such as face waxing, eyelash treatments, make-up application and facial treatments, should not be provided until Government advice changes, due to the much greater risk of transmission.
Please check that these local businesses are open in the borough before you travel.
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Report any flouting of the rules
Although more premises are open and we are moving towards some sense of normality, we still need to be cautious, follow the rules and be considerate of others.
The Noise Enforcement team will be out and about on Saturday night from 10pm-2am. You can contact the team via this form or call 020 8583 2222.
For public disorder incidents, you can contact the police on 101. In an emergency always call 999.
There will be an increased presence of enforcement teams and the police across the borough to ensure that rules are being respected and they will be checking pubs and restaurants to make sure they’re compliant with the guidelines.
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Eat out to help out scheme
The Government’s new discount scheme will provide a fifty per cent reduction for sit-down meals in cafes, restaurants and pubs across the UK from Monday to Wednesday every week throughout August 2020.
Eligible establishments are those in which food is sold for immediate on-premises consumption.
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public houses that serve food
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restaurants and cafes within tourist attractions, holiday sites and leisure facilities
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dining rooms within members’ clubs
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workplace and school canteens
Local businesses that are eligible in the borough are being encouraged to register for this scheme. This scheme will incentivise customers to eat in restaurants or other eating establishment by giving them a discount which businesses can claim back from the Government.
Eligible businesses can now register for the scheme or find out more on the Government's website. Registration will close on 31 August.
Businesses who are taking part in the scheme can download promotional materials, including posters and images to display in their premises on the Government's website
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All London buses now taking payments and temporary capacity limits increased
Following the temporary changes made to protect drivers and passengers from coronavirus, most buses have returned to front door boarding and passengers are now required to touch in with Oyster, contactless and concessionary cards on all buses when they board.
Passenger capacity limits have now also been increased in line with the Government’s latest guidance, double-decker buses can now carry 30 passengers, while single-deckers, depending on size, can carry either 11 or 14 passengers.
If you do need to use public transport, please continue to avoid travelling during the peak times on weekdays of 5.45 - 8.15am and 4 - 5.30pm if you can.
You must wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth for your entire journey, including in stations, unless you are exempt.
Exemptions include people who have trouble breathing, children under the age of eleven and anyone who finds it difficult to manage them correctly. Face coverings should also be worn by everyone in taxi and private hire vehicles for the duration of your journey.
To support people who are exempt from wearing a face covering, TfL has introduced an exemption card that can be printed off and carried with you, or displayed on your phone, which you can show if you are asked why you aren’t wearing a face covering.
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Feltham Lodge reopens for ceremonies, notices and birth registrations
Ceremonies for marriages, civil partnerships, and reaffirmations restarted at Feltham Lodge on Saturday 11 July. Starting yesterday residents will now also be able to give notice of their marriages and civil partnerships in pre-booked appointments.
To help ensure the safety of visitors to Feltham House, stringent social distancing measures have been implemented. Residents will only be able to enter the building if they have an appointment, and appointments are being staggered to reduce the number of people in the building.
Hounslow Council is also encouraging parents to book appointments for birth registrations if their baby was born in February, March or April. Staff are working through a large backlog of registrations created during lockdown when Feltham Lodge was closed to the public.
Further details about ceremonies at Feltham Lodge can be found on the Council website.
Please also see the latest updates for birth registrations.
For all bookings, notices and registrations please telephone Feltham House on 0208 583 2090 or email registeroffice@hounslow.gov.uk
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Know Your Plastic
Hounslow Council has partnered up with London Recycles to help deliver on our commitment to make recycling easier for residents through a new campaign called ‘Know Your Plastic.’ The campaign launched on 13 July 2020, aims to remind residents of how to recycle all the various types of plastic household items and even highlights the items that can often cause the most confusion.
Our Top Tips include:
- Rinse packaging- leftover food residue can ruin your recycling. A quick rinse will do
- Leave labels on but remove plastic film and chuck in your rubbish bin
- Separate cardboard and paper from plastic packaging and pop in the recycling separately
- Your crisps may be ready salted, but unlike spray bottles and yogurt pots they aren’t ready to be recycled at home
- Deciding what to eat can be a challenge but knowing what to recycle isn’t. Plastic bottles and trays? Yes. Polystyrene? No
- Brush up on your recycling know-how. Squeezable tubes are a no-no, while rinsed plastic bottles are a big yes-yes
- Wash your hands of bad recycling. Plastic bottles can be recycled – but sweet wrappers, foil pouches and soap pumps can’t be
- Face the facts. Disposable gloves and masks belong in the rubbish. Empty bottles of hand sanitiser belong in the recycling
For more information, please visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/knowyourplastic
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Updated travel corridors list
The Foreign and Commonwealth Offices continues to update the list of countries and territories from where you can return to England and may not have to self-isolate
The Government will continue to review its travel advice based on the latest medical advice.
If you have future travel plans, you should speak to your travel operator, or the travel company you booked with, for further advice.
The full list of countries that do not require you to self-isolate can be found on the Government’s website along with more useful travel information.
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Online resources for health, education and wellbeing
New for adults, young people, children and families;
NHS Active 10 10 minutes of brisk walking is an achievable way to add more activity into your day. Brisk walking is simply walking quicker than usual, at a pace that gets your heart pumping. It's a great way to get outside and improve your health.
Couch to 5k is a weekly running programme designed by the NHS for complete beginners. The Couch to 5K app gives you a choice of coaches and helps you track your progress.
Positive Movement runs 3 weekly online sessions as part of the Model City programme in Bedfont, Feltham & Hanworth. The project aims to improve mental well-being and combat social isolation in the community through fitness and sport.
OurParks are running 10 online classes per day via Facebook Live and Youtube Live. New lunchtime sessions have also been added so you can access a range of sessions at any time of the day.
Hounslow1-2-1 Cycling Sessions in conjunction with Bikeworks, are for anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough. Free ‘Dr Bike’ bike servicing is also available, click here for the schedule.
NHS Fitness Studio has some great new workout routines that you can do anytime, anywhere including, aerobics, belly dancing, pilates and yoga.
Outside Inside is a new local project that will use the natural world to inspire, to encourage new skills and old interests, and to bring people together remotely and safely to share their experiences. You will find 10 nature-based activities on the Lets Go Outside and Learn website, these will be added to over the next few months.
Latest information and advice
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