Wyredin - Monday 6 July 2020

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wyred in - news from wyre forest district council

July 2020

Welcome to the latest edition of our online newsletter for residents.

open for business

District open for business!

 

With the reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers at the weekend, Wyre Forest is now well and truly open for business.

Our staff have been working closely with shops and local businesses to help them out of lockdown and do everything we can to keep our residents and visitors safe in what has become the "new norm".

We have been following guidance provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and working with partners such as the Kidderminster BID, town councils, shopping centre operators and businesses.

Please play your part in preventing the spread of Covid-19 by washing hands regularly, keeping your distance from others and following Government advice. Click on the link below to check you know what you can and can't now do.

Covid-19 restrictions

Keep your distance poster

Stay local, shop local

 

As more shops and hospitality businesses begin to re-open, we’re working to help keep people safe and able to maintain physical distancing.

Check out our website - it has lots of useful information for businesses, shoppers and visitors.

 

More information

 

Town centre ambassadors

Town Centre Recovery Business Support Officers

 

Meet the team who will be helping you keep safe while visiting our town centres.

The team will be working with shoppers, visitors, local businesses and shops offering support on social distancing.

They are, from left to right, Imogen, Luchia, Beverley and Megan.

 

Coronavirus 1

District council services

 

The majority of our district services continued throughout the pandemic, although some facilities, such as public toilets and play areas did have to close for a time.

We have introduced more rigorous and frequent cleaning regimes for public toilets and car parks which are now all fully open.

And we are in the process of employing extra staff to increase the cleaning of play equipment ready for the reopening of play areas on Saturday 18 July. Look out for further announcements about this on social media. 

Keep up to date with all service information by visiting our website via the link below.

Advice and information

Bewdley parking scheme poster

Bewdley parking payback scheme

 

If you shop in Bewdley you can get a discount on your purchases in July, thanks to a scheme organised by Wyre Forest District Council with independent retailers in the town.

The July Parking Payback scheme will run until Friday 31 July giving shoppers a discount of £2 - equivalent to two hours parking - when they spend at least £5.00 in participating shops.

All you need to do to get your discount is to produce your car parking ticket or proof of paid parking when you pay for your goods in shops displaying the poster.

Ticket machines will issue two tickets, display one in your vehicle and take the other one shopping with you!

Read more

My Wyre Forest splashscreen

My Wyre Forest

 

Reporting flytipping, missed bin collections and so much more has become even easier with Wyre Forest District Council’s new app and online portal.

The free My Wyre Forest mobile app and online self-service platform is now available from all major app stores for mobile users and on the council’s website at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/mywyreforest,

My Wyre Forest gives you another way to contact us, report a range of issues, read the latest news and pay for a number of services quickly and easily.

Find out more

Stock photograph of remote meeting

Watch our meetings live

 

We have continued to hold council meetings throughout the pandemic by moving them online.

You can watch all of our meetings live on our website or catch up later at a time to suit you.

The next will be a meeting of the Cabinet tomorrow (Tuesday 7 July) at 6pm.

Watch our meetings

Flooding Stourport

Inquiry into floods

 

Were you affected by the flooding caused by Storms Ciara and Dennis in February?

We are carrying out an inquiry into the floods which affected more than 300 homes and businesses in the district,  looking at the events which led up to the flooding and the response of all the agencies. The committee will make recommendations to guide our future response to flooding emergencies.

Any residents and businesses affected by flooding are invited to share their experiences at a meeting on Thursday 3 September.

Requests must be submitted to the council’s democratic services team before midday on Wednesday 19 August.  Email us via the link below.

Email us.

Coontaminated recycling bin

Please take extra care recycling

 

Recycling rates across Worcestershire have increased by 12% over the lockdown period.

District councils across the county collected 11,200 tonnes of recyclable rubbish during April and May - up 1,190 tonnes on the same period last year.

However here in Wyre Forest there has also been a rise in the number of non-recyclable materials placed in green bins.  If they are not spotted before being emptied, the whole lorry load of material cannot be recycled and will go to the energy from waste plant but this is not the best result for those things in recycling bins that would otherwise be recycled!

So please help us prevent that happening and only place recyclable items in your green bin. Did you know plastic carrier bags are NOT recyclable?

Check out our website for what can be recycled.

Recycling guide

Woman and man doorstep survey

Job opportunity

 

The Office for National Statistics will be launching a nationwide recruitment drive this week for people to help with the census in 2021 this week.

The census is a survey that gives us information about all the households in England and Wales. 

They will be hiring more than 30,000 field staff across England and Wales including a census engagement manager  to cover Wyre Forest, Malvern Hills, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Worcester and Wychavon. Check out the job description.

Details of how to apply will be on the Census 2021 website from tomorrow (Tuesday 7 July).

Census 2021

 

Books

Kidderminster Library re-opens

 

Worcestershire County Council re-opened Kidderminster Library on Saturday (4 July).

You can visit to return books, pick up a reserve and collect order and use a computer if you have a pre-booked session.

Find out more

Drive through photo no text

Test and trace

 

The NHS test and trace service ensures that anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can quickly be tested to find out if they have the virus.

It helps trace close recent contacts of anyone who tests positive for coronavirus and, if necessary, notifies them that they must self-isolate at home to help stop the spread of the virus

Test and trace

Test and trace scam

Action fraud

 

Sadly criminals will exploit every opportunity they can to defraud innocent people of their money, or steal their personal details.

Scammers are already using the Government's Test and Trace system to get personal information and money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Catch up with latest advice so you don't fall victim.

Find out more

Covid home test