Author: Doug Allan

Hello and welcome to the 31st issue of this regular Sunday email. This week’s email had to be rewritten at the last minute to reflect the last minute announcement from Downing Street that from Thursday the whole country will again go into lockdown. Most people will consider this dramatic set of restrictions on our lives inevitable considering the medical advice and massive increase in infections and deaths. It will be difficult for us all, but for the vulnerable in particular. No doubt local communities will again respond to the pandemic and lockdown by organising to help those who need support. So watch out for more details in future Sunday emails.

I hope you find the contents interesting and informative. As usual, get in touch with me if you have any news or information that you think Topcliffe and Asenby residents might like to hear about.

Doug

07785 223707

Here we go again! Lockdown for four weeks

Last night the Prime Minister announced a new lockdown across the country starting at 00.01 on Thursday, 5 November and lasting until Wednesday, 2 December. The new restrictions in lockdown include:

• People must stay at home except for specific reasons. These include work which cannot be done from home, childcare or education, exercise outdoors, medical reasons, essential shopping, providing care for vulnerable people or for volunteering, and visiting members of your support bubble.
• Meeting indoors or in private gardens will not be allowed, but individuals can meet one other person from another household outside in a public place.
• Pubs, bars, restaurants will have to close, but can still provide takeaway and delivery, excluding takeaway of alcohol
• Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, such as gyms and swimming pools, will also close, along with entertainment venues and personal care facilities such as beauty salons.
• People will be allowed to exercise and socialise in public spaces outside with their household or one other person, but not indoors or in private gardens.
• Single-adult households will continue to be allowed to form a “support bubble” with one other household, and children can move between homes if their parents are separated.
• Unlike in the lockdown during the first wave of the pandemic, schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.
• Furlough payments at 80% are extended for the duration of the new restrictions.
• Those classed as clinically vulnerable will be told to take “extra precautions” but will not be formally asked to resume shielding.
• Overnight stays, staying in a second home, and holidays will not be allowed – including in the UK and abroad – although there are exceptions, such as work trips.
• People will be told to avoid all non-essential travel by private or public transport.
• Places of worship will close for services other than funerals (maximum 30 people, although it is advised that only close family members attend), but people can attend for individual prayer. Weddings are only allowed in “exceptional circumstances”.
• Job centres, courts, and civil registration offices will remain open.
• Construction sites and manufacturing workplaces can remain open.
• Elite sport will be allowed to continue behind closed doors.
• “Rapid turnaround tests” for coronavirus will be rolled out in “a matter of days”, and the Army will be brought in to help distribute the swabs, which could help partners attend labour wards.

Mr Johnson warned that Christmas could be “very different” this year, but offered a glimmer of hope that families may be able to be together after the lockdown. However, another Minister, Michael Gove, suggested that the four week lockdown could be extended if necessary.

The national picture – why the lockdown became inevitable

The government had been reluctant to reinstate a national lockdown – or even a lighter touch ‘circuit-breaker’ – but in the end the enormous pressure became intolerable and it had to rethink the matter.

This week we reached a tragic milestone as the UK recorded over a million confirmed cases of coronavirus and more than 46,000 deaths so far. These official figures include only people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus and other methods of calculation suggest the number of deaths is higher. Almost 11,000 people are now in hospital with Covid-19, including 978 on ventilators.

The three tier regional system had not worked effectively in reducing the numbers being infected with the virus. At the end of the week over eleven million people were living in areas where the tightest Tier 3 restrictions were in place and slowly but surely more areas were gravitating towards the highest level. The north has suffered much higher infection numbers over the last two months but it had become clear that other parts of the country were seeing significant increases. A major study last week suggested that nearly 100,000 people are catching coronavirus every day in England. The study, by Imperial College London, stated that the pace of the epidemic was accelerating out of control and estimated the number of people infected is doubling every nine days.

The current Covid situation in North Yorkshire

The number of Covid cases in North Yorkshire continues to increase. As of 25 October, there have been 7,047 positive tests since 3 March, with 1,716 new cases reported in the past two weeks. Last week, the average number of new cases was 121 cases per day. Until the lockdown decision sealed out fate, it had been intended that North Yorkshire would remain in the medium (Tier 1) alert level, but discussions between local and national health chiefs had been held to consider putting us up a level to Tier 2. All that’s now academic.

Until the lockdown is implemented on Thursday, North Yorkshire remains in Tier 1 and these restrictions apply:

• You may not meet in a group of more than six people, indoors or outdoors, unless you’re in a larger household or a support bubble.

• Pubs, bars and restaurants must close by 10pm.

• You can holiday anywhere in England that’s also in Tier 1.

• You can holiday with people from other households in private accommodation (as long as you socially distance), but only in groups of six and under (unless your own household or support bubble is bigger).

• You can stay in a hotel or B&B with another household, but you should avoid sharing rooms with people outside your household.

• You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or support bubble.

At the conclusion of the lockdown North Yorkshire will likely return to Tier 1 restrictions, although they are likely to be reviewed in the light of developments.

With the announcement of a four-week lockdown, community support organisations and their voluntary sector partners are preparing for a massive increase in demand for help. Not everyone has family, friends or neighbours to check on them. Community support organisations have been set up across North Yorkshire. If you or someone you know needs help they can call North Yorkshire County Council on: 01609 780780 every day between 8am and 5.30pm. You can also check out this website to search for local organisations: https://northyorkshireconnect.org.uk/

Book a Coronavirus test locally

Testing sites in North Yorkshire are operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care and private contractors employed by them. The Department is asking the public only to get a test if they are directed to do so by NHS Test and Trace or other NHS services – OR – if they have symptoms. This is important to ensure that those people who need tests the most can be prioritised.

Testing sites operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care will be running at the following locations over the coming days between 11am and 3pm:

• Sunday 1 November – Richmond – Round Howe Car Park, Reeth Road, Richmond, DL10 4TL
• Monday 2 November – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
• Monday 2 November – Northallerton – Newby Wiske Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 9HA
• Monday 2 November – Selby – South Entrance, DRAX Power Station, New Road, Selby, YO8 8PH
• Monday 2 November – Whitby – Whitby Park and Ride, Whitby, YO21 1TL
• Tuesday 3 November – Sherburn in Elmet – White Rose Sports Club, The Recreation Ground, Tadcaster Road, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 6EL
• Tuesday 3 November – Thornton Le Dale – National Trust Car Park, No.5. Chestnut Avenue, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7RR
• Wednesday 4 November – Scarborough – Scarborough Park and Ride, Seamer Road, Scarborough, YO12 4LW
• Wednesday 4 November – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
• Wednesday 4 November – Selby – South Entrance, DRAX Power Station, New Road, Selby, YO8 8PH
• Wednesday 4 November – Selby – Portholme Crescent Car Park, Selby Town, YO8 4QH
• Thursday 5 November – Whitby – Whitby Park and Ride, Whitby, YO21 1TL
• Thursday 5 November – Richmond – Round Howe Car Park, Reeth Road, Richmond, DL10 4TL
• Friday 6 November – Sherburn in Elmet – White Rose Sports Club, The Recreation Ground, Tadcaster Road, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 6EL
• Friday 6 November – Thornton Le Dale – National Trust Car Park, No.5. Chestnut Avenue, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7RR
• Friday 6 November – Northallerton – Newby Wiske Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 9HA

Before you attend you must book a test. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. To book a test visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

In certain cases, home test kits can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves and their family without leaving the house. There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Asenby’s Spooky News

Young Oliver Robertson has produced the third edition of his newsletter for Asenby residents. It was nice to see that he mentioned that he had featured on the front of the last Tattler. I particularly liked my portrait. Take a look at the attachment to read Oliver’s latest news. He’s definitely a journalist in the making.

Big Thank You Awards

JPI Media – publishers of local newspapers including the Yorkshire Post, York Evening News and Harrogate Advertiser – has launched the inaugural “Big Thank You Awards” to recognise the heroic efforts of the key workers, neighbours, communities, families and friends who have helped to keep us safe and healthy during the months of the pandemic. These awards are an opportunity to say a big thank you to those that have done so much to help others. Anyone is eligible to win an award: It could be anyone who has inspired you – NHS staff, key workers, volunteers, local shops and neighbours who have set up and got involved in the uplifting and motivational initiatives in local communities. Nominations, which close 12 November 2020, can be made online at: https://bigthankyouawards.evessiocloud.com/bigthankyouawards2020/en/page/nominate

The awards event will take place as a virtual ceremony on Friday the 11 December at 7pm. Everyone in Yorkshire will be able to tune in and watch the Big Thank You winners get their awards live.

The Milk Churn Farm Shop

The return to lockdown will mean visits to our local farm shop will need to be undertaken in an even more Covid aware fashion than they have recently been. In order to keep customers and staff safe the number of people in the shop at any one time will be restricted to two. Owner Debbie Roberts says: “Please can I ask that we only have one customer in the front and one in the rear of the shop? Carers, of course, can accompany the person they are looking after but I regret I must restrict numbers in larger family bubbles. I understand it’s not ideal but the new rules require tighter controls. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.

“Customers, particularly those who are vulnerable and in isolation, may like to consider ordering their meat and veg boxes, as well as fresh bread, dairy products and fish, via the telephone and we can make arrangements for collections or deliveries to Topcliffe and Asenby households. We will be organising an easy process for people to order goods and would be grateful for a couple of days’ notice before food boxes are ready. In view of demand increasing, fruit and veg seasons changing, certain items may have to be exchange for something similar. We will start taking orders from Monday 2 November. Payment is preferred by BACs, but cash can be accepted if necessary. Ring 01845 400446 to order and talk through the payment steps. You can see what is on offer by visiting www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk

• Orders for Christmas are now being taken. This includes free range turkeys, turkey crowns, real Christmas trees, handmade wreaths by Lavender & Bee, plus everything for a full festive lunch or dinner. Examples of the Christmas puddings and Christmas cakes that can be ordered are now on display. Both have a gluten free option.

• Orders are now being taken for Christmas hampers from The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company, the Milk Churn’s sister company. There’s a fantastic range of hampers in a wide range of sizes and prices. Call in at the farm shop for more information or to place an order. Alternatively, check out the hamper website at www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk

Current opening times are Monday to Saturday 9-5pm, Thursday 9-1pm and Sunday closed.

The Halloween alternative – the Pumpkin Trail

Well done everyone who took the time to make the Halloween spooky pumpkin trail such a success last night. There was an amazing number of spooky pumpkins and other scary objects on display in both Topcliffe and Asenby and the kids appeared to be having a fantastic time, even though the normal Halloween trick or treat door knocking was abandoned. There was great community spirit during these difficult times.

St. Columba’s Church

Today’s Choral Evensong, with St Columba’s Choir, will be the last service until after lockdown. It will take celebrate the Feast of All Saints and will be led by Reverend Fiona Mayer-Jones, Area Dean and Vicar of All Saints Northallerton. The service starts at 6.30pm. Full Covid safety arrangements will be in place.

Remembrance Sunday

As local Remembrance Sunday parades are cancelled because of the lockdown it has been suggested that we might like to stand in silence on our doorsteps for two minutes at 11am on Wednesday 11 November as a mark of respect.

Air Ambulance clothes bank

The Auction Mart in Thirsk has installed a clothes and shoe bank to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The bank can accept any unwanted clothes and shoes. Please bag them before depositing. The mart car park is always open with lots of parking so nice and easy to drop stuff off. https://www.facebook.com/ThirskRuralBusinessCentre/

It’s great to offer support to this invaluable service which helps save lives across North Yorkshire and beyond, but please don’t forget that there’ll be another Bags2School event in the spring to raise cash for two local organisations – the Village Hall and Topcliffe 1st Scout troops. It’s hoped that residents will store bags of unwanted clothes and other textiles until then. Watch out for an announcement of time and date in due course.

Parish Council Meetings

Fortunately both forthcoming Parish Council meetings will be staged online so can still proceed despite the lockdown.

• Topcliffe – to be held online at 7pm on Thursday, 5 November. There’s a 10 minutes session at the beginning of the meeting set aside to receive questions and comments from members of the public. Any members of the public wishing to join this meeting electronically should contact the Parish Council Clerk for log in details. All enquiries to the Clerk by email at [email protected] or any Parish Councillor – details are available on the village website at www.topcliffe.org.uk

• Asenby – to be held online on at 7pm on Wednesday, 18 November. Information will be available before the meeting from the Parish Clerk via email on [email protected] and details will also be made available on the village website at www.asenby.net

The Angel at Topcliffe

The Angel will continue to operate a take away meal service throughout the lockdown – see their website- www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk – for more details. The Angel will be open until 10pm each day until it has to close at the close of play on the evening of Wednesday 4 November. IMPORTANT NOTE: 50p is being offered off cask ales until stocks last.

The Swan

The Swan will be open and serving food until Wednesday evening after which it will close for the duration of the lockdown. Telephone 01845 595185.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Recycling and green bins – Thursdays, 5 and 19 November

• Refuse – Mondays 9 and 23 November

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Refuse – Mondays, 2, 16 and 30 November

• Garden waste – Thursdays, 5 and 19 November

• Recycling – Mondays, 9 and 23 November

That’s all until next Sunday. Stay at home, keep safe and remain well.

ASE NBY5~ SPOEKY NEL S.pdf

Hello and welcome to the 30th issue of this regular Sunday email. I hope you find the contents interesting and informative.

As usual, get in touch with me if you have any news or information that you think Topcliffe and Asenby residents might like to hear about.

Doug

07785 223707

The current Covid situation in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire remains in the medium (Tier 1) Covid-19 alert level. The county has seen an overall increase in people testing positive for Covid-19 since the beginning of September. Although North Yorkshire rates are lower than those for England as a whole, rates have risen in all areas of the county and in all age groups. The numbers of cases is currently highest in the younger age groups, especially 18-29 year-olds, however rates of cases within this group are starting to steady. The number of cases within 30 year-old and over age groups are continuing to increase. The rates in each locality are very changeable and vary by the day. All residents are asked to remain vigilant and think of any further measures they can take to help slow the spread of the virus such as reducing social contacts where possible. The county council is working with the district councils and its partner organisations to manage a number of small outbreaks across the county, although most spread of Covid-19 is still linked to household and social settings.

Reminder of the three-tier system

The three tier system for dealing with local outbreaks has been in place for two weeks. It’s proving difficult to keep up with the rapidly changing situation with areas shifting from one tier to another – but always in the ‘wrong# direction. The government said this tiered arrangement would bring clarity and simplicity but in reality it has brought confusion and divisiveness across the country. The whole of North Yorkshire is currently in the lowest category – Tier 1 – which is classed as the medium alert level.

Tier 1 – Medium alert – fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 of population.

• You may not meet in a group of more than six people, indoors or outdoors, unless you’re in a larger household or a support bubble.

• Pubs, bars and restaurants must close by 10pm.

• You can holiday anywhere in England that’s also in Tier 1.

• You can holiday with people from other households in private accommodation (as long as you socially distance), but only in groups of six and under (unless your own household or support bubble is bigger).

• You can stay in a hotel or B&B with another household, but you should avoid sharing rooms with people outside your household.

• You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or support bubble.

There are key differences between the tiers and how the rules impact on individuals. Although we all live in a Tier 1 area, we potentially face a shift to Tier 2 as local authorities intensify the battle to tackle the increasing number of cases. And we are surrounded by Tier 2 area right now so many of us will be interacting with areas under different restrictions to our own…and need to know what is required if we visit these areas. So although the details were included in last week’s email, here is a repeat of the information for your guidance.

Tier 2 – High alert – above 100 per 100,000. (Teesside, Darlington, the North East, York, West Yorkshire, including Leeds). People visiting a Tier 2 area should follow the local Covid rules for that area.

• The rules for Tier 1 also apply in Tier 2. In addition, individuals cannot meet socially indoors with people they do not live with – this includes private homes, as well as pubs or restaurants.

• People in support bubbles can go on meeting as before and informal childcare may also be provided.

• People can still meet friends and family outdoors, but only in a group of up to six people.

• People should aim to "reduce the number of journeys they make where possible".

• People can go on holiday outside their local area as long as they don’t share accommodation with people they don’t live or bubble with, or socialise with them in any indoor setting.

Tier 3 – Very high alert – significantly higher rates of infection and they are put in a form of lockdown. Areas in tier 3 include the Liverpool city region, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Nottingham). People from Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas should avoid visiting or staying overnight in a Tier 3 area where possible, except for those who need to for work, education or caring responsibilities

• People are not allowed to meet socially with anybody who is not part of their household or their support bubble indoors or in certain outdoor locations.

• People cannot meet in private gardens or pub gardens, but can meet in parks, beaches, countryside or forests, as long as they are not in a group of more than six.

• Pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals – alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.

• People are being advised not to travel into or out of Tier 3 areas, other than for work, education, or because of caring responsibilities.

• People who live in a Tier 3 area should not visit or stay overnight in another part of the UK, whether in a second home, a private home or guest accommodation. They may travel to hotels and other guest

accommodation within their own area, but they should only do this with people in their household or support bubble.

Help prevent the spread of the virus

If you have the symptoms of coronavirus you must self-isolate and get a test. You must self-isolate and get a test if you have:

• a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
• a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly
• loss/change in your normal sense of smell or taste

There are two parts to the NHS test and trace service.

Part 1: for someone with symptoms of coronavirus

• isolate: as soon as you experience symptoms you must self-isolate for at least 10 days. Anyone else in your household must self-isolate for 14 days from when you started having symptoms.
• test: order a test immediately.
• results: if your test is positive, you must complete the remainder of your 10-day self-isolation. Anyone in your household must also complete self-isolation for 14 days from when you started having symptoms. If your test is negative, you and other household members no longer need to self-isolate.
• share contacts: if you test positive the NHS test and trace service will send you a text, email or call you with instructions of how to share details of people with whom you have had close, recent contact and places you have visited. It is important that you respond as soon as possible. You will be told to do this online via a secure website or you will be called by a contract tracer.

Part 2: if you are contacted by the NHS test and trace service because you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus

• alert: you will be alerted by the NHS test and trace service if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. The alert will usually come by text, email or phone call. You should then log on to the NHS test and trace website, which is normally the easiest way for you and the service to communicate with each other – but, if not, a trained call handler will talk you through what you must do. Under-18s will get a phone call and a parent or guardian will be asked to give permission for the call to continue.
• isolate: you will be told to begin self-isolation for 14 days from your last contact with the person who has tested positive. It’s really important to do this even if you don’t feel unwell because, if you have been infected, you could become infectious to others at any point up to 14 days. Your household doesn’t need to self-isolate with you, if you do not have symptoms, but they must take extra care to follow the guidance on social distancing and handwashing and avoid contact with you at home.
• test if needed: if you develop symptoms of coronavirus, other members of your household must self-isolate immediately at home for 14 days and you must book a test. If your test is positive, you must continue to stay at home for at least 7 days and you will be asked about your contacts since they must self-isolate. If your test is negative, you must still complete your 14-day self-isolation period because the virus may not be detectable yet – this is crucial to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.

Book a Coronavirus test locally

Testing sites in North Yorkshire are operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care and private contractors employed by them. The Department is asking the public only to get a test if they are directed to do so by NHS Test and Trace or other NHS services – OR – if they have symptoms. This is important to ensure that those people who need tests the most can be prioritised.

Testing sites operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care will be running at the following locations over the coming days between 11am and 3pm:

• Sunday 25 October – Richmond – Round Howe Car Park, Reeth Road, Richmond, DL10 4TL
• Monday 26 October – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
• Monday 26 October – Northallerton – Newby Wiske Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 9HA
• Monday 26 October – Selby – South Entrance, DRAX Power Station, New Road, Selby, YO8 8PH
• Monday 26 October – Whitby – Whitby Park and Ride, Whitby, YO21 1TL
• Tuesday 27 October – Sherburn in Elmet – White Rose Sports Club, The Recreation Ground, Tadcaster Road, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 6EL
• Tuesday 27 October – Thornton Le Dale – National Trust Car Park, No.5. Chestnut Avenue, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7RR
• Wednesday 28 October – Scarborough – Scarborough Park and Ride, Seamer Road, Scarborough, YO12 4LW
• Wednesday 28 October – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
• Wednesday 28 October – Selby – South Entrance, DRAX Power Station, New Road, Selby, YO8 8PH
• Wednesday 28 October – Selby – Portholme Crescent Car Park, Selby Town, YO8 4QH
• Thursday 29 October – Richmond – Round Howe Car Park, Reeth Road, Richmond, DL10 4TL
• Thursday 29 October – Whitby – Whitby Park and Ride, Whitby, YO21 1TL
• Friday 30 October – Sherburn in Elmet – White Rose Sports Club, The Recreation Ground, Tadcaster Road, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 6EL
• Friday 30 October – Thornton Le Dale – National Trust Car Park, No.5. Chestnut Avenue, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7RR
• Friday 30 October – Northallerton – Newby Wiske Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 9HA

Before you attend you must book a test. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. To book a test visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

In certain cases, home test kits can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves and their family without leaving the house. There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

How to protect yourself

Simple personal hygiene actions continue to be key to keeping safe and protecting yourself and those around you.

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work.
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available’
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze’
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards.
• avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus.
• use phone, online services, or apps to contact your GP surgery or other NHS services.
• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.

Did you remember? Clocks went back this morning

Don’t forget to adjust your time pieces. Clocks went back by one hour at 2am this morning.

Dalton Bridge roadworks

Most residents will have noticed the road closure signs and barriers at Dalton Lane end They relate to works to put right a problem identified after earlier flood relief works. The project, jointly funded by North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton District Council, aims to deal with some contributory causes of flooding that were not apparent when the original improvement scheme was implemented. The unprecedented flooding which was caused by back to back storms in February this year highlighted the need for further works to ensure the scheme performs as intended. Following an extensive investigation by the County Council, work to raise part of Dalton Lane is being undertaken, which will involve infilling between the flood embankments close to the A168 and the reconstruction of the road. The road will be closed until 6am on November 2. By this stage in the project the road level will have been raised and it is then anticipated that a further overnight closure will be required for the final surfacing, the date of which is to be confirmed. Diversion signage is in place. Vehicle access may be restricted to properties and land but contractors will try to assist where possible during the working day. The whole project should be finished by 27 November.

The Milk Churn Farm Shop

Last call for pumpkins! Halloween is next Saturday, 31 October. If you haven’t purchased your pumpkin yet please visit us soon as supplies are limited. And don’t forget that the Farm Shop is organising a Pumpkin Carving Competition as part of its Halloween celebrations. To enter, share your spooky carving or display on Facebook and tag the shop – @milkchurnfarmshop – and please make sure your post is public so it can be seen. The winner will be chosen later week and will receive a prize full of tricks and treats.

Latest news:

• The gift shop on the first floor is now open with a wide range of beautiful handmade gifts from local and independent suppliers. and quite soon the rear conservatory will open for the sale of a fabulous selection of artisan Christmas decorations.
• The shop is taking orders for Christmas including free range turkeys, turkey crowns, real Christmas trees, handmade wreaths by Lavender & Bee, plus everything for a full Christmas lunch. Examples of the Christmas puddings and Christmas cakes that can be ordered will be going on display soon. Both have a gluten free option.
• Our sister company, The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company, is now putting together a fantastic range of hampers suitable as gifts for Christmas. They come in a wide range of sizes and prices and cater for a host of tastes to suit all palates. Check out the website at www.thelittle Yorkshire hampercompany.co.uk or call in at the farm shop for more information or to place an order.

Anyone self-isolating in Topcliffe and Asenby can have the vegetable and meat boxes delivered to their door. Preferably money should be transferred by BACs, but cash can be accepted if necessary. Ring 01845 400446 to order and talk through payment steps. You can see what is on offer by visiting www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk Current opening times are Monday to Saturday 9-5pm, Thursday 9-1pm and Sunday closed.

The Halloween alternative – the Pumpkin Trail

The Halloween spooky pumpkin trail will take place next Saturday in our two villages. Lots of residents have indicated they’ll be putting a carved pumpkin on their doorstep. The idea of a pumpkin trail is an imaginative and safer alternative to the traditional trick or treat arrangement, which because of the Coronavirus won’t be happening this year. There’s still time to have a go at some pumpkin carving so that you can put them on display outside your home.

St. Columba’s Church

The final service this month will be Holy Communion this morning at 10.45am.

In early November the following services are planned:

• Choral Evensong at 6.30pm on Sunday, 1 November, celebrating the Feast of All Saints.
• Remembrance Sunday, on 8 November – there’ll be Holy Communion at 10.45am, which will include an Act of Remembrance at 11 o’clock.

It is anticipated that numbers at the Remembrance Service might need to be limited to meet the necessary Covid safety arrangements, which give a maximum attendance of around 30. So it will be necessary for people to reserve a place if they would like to come. Names can be left on forms available in church, or by contacting John Phillips at 01845 577034 or [email protected] If you intend to come as a family ‘bubble’ that can sit together, please let us know as this will help to maximise the places available.

At all services full Covid safety arrangements will be in place. These should be followed at all times. Optimum safety is achieved by keeping the church well ventilated throughout each service. As winter approaches the church will be kept heated for services. Due to the size of the building this is not always easy, but with the extra ventilation it may well be that the church will be colder than usual, so please dress accordingly!

Remembrance Sunday

As local Remembrance Sunday parades are cancelled because of Coronavirus it has been suggested that we might like to stand in silence on our doorsteps for two minutes at 11am on Wednesday 11 November as a mark of respect.

Parish Council Meetings

• Topcliffe – to be held online at 7pm on Thursday, 5 November. There’s a 10 minutes session at the beginning of the meeting set aside to receive questions and comments from members of the public. Any members of the public wishing to join this meeting electronically should contact the Parish Council Clerk for log in details. All enquiries to the Clerk by email at [email protected] or any Parish Councillor – details are available on the village website at www.topcliffe.org.uk
• Asenby – to be held online on at 7pm on Wednesday, 18 November. Information will be available before the meeting from the Parish Clerk via email on [email protected] and details will also be made available on the village website at www.asenby.net

The Angel at Topcliffe

The Angel is now operating a take away meal service – see their website- www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk – for more details. The Angel currently closes at 10pm each evening.

The Swan

The Swan serves food every day of the week at socially distanced tables and reservations are necessary. Takeaway meals to order. Times are: 5 to 8:30pm Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday. Telephone 01845 595185. The Swan also closes at 10pm.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Refuse – Mondays 26 October and 9 November

• Recycling and green bins – Thursdays, 5 and 19 November

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Recycling – Mondays, 26 October and 9 November

• Refuse – Mondays, 2 and 16 November

• Garden waste – Thursdays, 5 and 19 November

That’s all until next Sunday. Stay alert, keep safe and keep well.

Hello and welcome to the 29th issue of this regular Sunday email.

I hope you find the contents interesting and informative. As usual, get in touch with me if you have any news or information that you think Topcliffe and Asenby residents might like to hear about.

Doug

07785 223707

Three-tier alerts system proves quite divisive

Last week the government introduced a new three tier system for dealing with local outbreaks and said it would bring clarity and simplicity to the arrangements across the country. What a hope! The fact is, it has brought greater confusion, heightened discontent, plus national and political disagreement, which is proving extremely “damaging to public health and the country’s ability to respond”. But it is what it is and we just have to follow the rules. Here’s a reminder of the key differences between the tiers and how they impact individuals:

Tier 1 – Medium alert – fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 of population. Hambleton and Harrogate areas are currently on medium alert.

• You may not meet in a group of more than six people, indoors or outdoors, unless you’re in a larger household or a support bubble.
• Pubs, bars and restaurants must close by 10pm. You can holiday anywhere in England that’s also in Tier 1.
• You can holiday with people from other households in private accommodation (as long as you socially distance), but only in groups of six and under (unless your own household or support bubble is bigger).
• You can stay in a hotel or B&B with another household, but you should avoid sharing rooms with people outside your household.
• You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or support bubble.

Tier 2 – High alert – above 100 per 100,000.

• The rules for Tier 1 also apply in Tier 2. In addition, individuals cannot meet socially indoors with people they do not live with – this includes private homes, as well as pubs or restaurants.
• People in support bubbles can go on meeting as before and informal childcare may also be provided.
• People can still meet friends and family outdoors, but only in a group of up to six people.
• People should aim to "reduce the number of journeys they make where possible".
• People can go on holiday outside their local area as long as they don’t share accommodation with people they don’t live or bubble with, or socialise with them in any indoor setting.
• People visiting a Tier 2 area should follow the local Covid rules for that area.

Tier 3 – Very high alert – significantly higher rates of infection and they are put in a form of lockdown.

• People are not allowed to meet socially with anybody who is not part of their household or their support bubble indoors or in certain outdoor locations.
• People cannot meet in private gardens or pub gardens, but can meet in parks, beaches, countryside or forests, as long as they are not in a group of more than six.
• Pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals – alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.
• People are being advised not to travel into or out of Tier 3 areas, other than for work, education, or because of caring responsibilities.
• People who live in a Tier 3 area should not visit or stay overnight in another part of the UK, whether in a second home, a private home or guest accommodation. They may travel to hotels and other guest accommodation within their own area, but they should only do this with people in their household or support bubble
• People from Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas should avoid visiting or staying overnight in a Tier 3 area where possible, except for those who need to for work, education or caring responsibilities

Advice about shielding

When lockdown began last March, certain people were advised to take extra steps – or shield – to avoid contracting Covid-19, because they were considered more at risk of needing hospital treatment. As the rate of infection eased over the summer the risk of exposure reduced significantly and so shielding was paused. Although rates of new Covid cases are now going up again the government states there is still no need to recommend people stay at home and shield, although they are advised to take particular care when outside, and to maintain strict social distancing. That’s because, unlike in March, there are other protective measures in place – such as the rule of six and the wearing of face coverings in shops – to help reduce the spread.

Shielding was never compulsory and it is still your choice to decide what you are comfortable about doing – for example you may still want to spend a lot of time at home. Experts strongly advise people with serious underlying health conditions to follow social distancing recommendations – keep 2m away from other people outside your home and, whenever possible, limit the number of people you meet, shops you visit, and non-essential journeys.

The government guidance offers tips on how people can protect themselves in their everyday lives while retaining as much normality as possible. Follow this link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Book a Coronavirus test locally

Testing sites in North Yorkshire are operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care and private contractors employed by them. The Department is asking the public only to get a test if they are directed to do so by NHS Test and Trace or other NHS services – OR – if they have symptoms. This is important to ensure that those people who need tests the most can be prioritised.

Testing sites operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care will be running at the following locations over the coming days between 11am and 3pm:

• Sunday 18 October – Scarborough – Scarborough Park & Ride, Seamer Road, Scarborough YO12 4LW
• Sunday 18 October – Northallerton – Newby Wiske Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 9HA
• Sunday 18 October – Richmond – Round Howe Car Park, Reeth Road, Richmond, DL10 4TL
• Sunday 18 October – Harrogate – Harrogate High School, Ainsty Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 4AP
• Monday 19 October – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
• Monday 19 October – Northallerton – Newby Wiske Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 9HA
• Monday 19 October – Whitby – Whitby Park and Ride, Whitby, YO21 1TL
• Tuesday 20 October – Sherburn in Elmet – White Rose Sports Club, The Recreation Ground, Tadcaster Road, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 6EL
• Tuesday 20 October – Thornton Le Dale – National Trust Car Park, No.5. Chestnut Avenue, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7RR

Before you attend you must book a test. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. To book a test visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

In certain cases, home test kits can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves and their family without leaving the house. There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Clocks go back an hour next Sunday

Just a reminder that clocks go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October.

The Milk Churn Farm Shop

• The gift shop has now opened in the upstairs rooms and quite soon the rear conservatory will open for the sale of a fabulous selection of artisan Christmas decorations.

• Vegetable, fruit and salad boxes are now available for £15 or £20. These can be delivered locally. Please order on a Monday for delivery or collection on a Wednesday.

• Meat boxes at £20, £40 and £60 are also now available. All the meat retailed through the farm shop originates from Thompson’s Butchers in Northallerton. All meat is fresh, bought local and any cut or joint can be ordered if you cannot find it in the shop’s fridges. Two working days are needed to prepare orders.

• Pumpkins from Yorkshire Pumpkins at Cundall are now out on display at the front of the shop ready for Halloween.

• For Christmas the shop is taking orders for free range turkeys, turkey crowns, real Christmas trees, handmade wreaths by Lavender & Bee, plus everything for a full Christmas lunch. The shop’s Christmas puddings and Christmas cakes both have a gluten free option.

Anyone self-isolating in Topcliffe and Asenby can have the boxes delivered to their door and this is all done following strict sanitising procedures. Preferably money should be transferred by BACs, but cash can be accepted if necessary. Ring 01845 400446 to order and talk through payment steps. You can see what is on offer by visiting www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk The shop is not open on Sundays – but this will be reviewed nearer Christmas. Current opening times are Monday to Saturday 9-5pm, Thursday 9-1pm and Sunday closed.

The Milk Churn Farm Shop is organising a Pumpkin Carving Competition as part of its Halloween celebrations. To enter, share your spooky carving or display on Facebook and tag the shop – @milkchurnfarmshop – and please make sure your post is public so it can be seen. The winner will be chosen Halloween week and will receive a prize full of tricks and treats.

Apples Galore!

It has been a great season for most fruit and for apples in particular. So if you have an orchard with loads of trees it can be a real problem what to do with the abundance of fruit…and such a shame if it is likely to go to waste. That’s the position Catie from Anchor Dykes on Station Road finds herself in right now. And it’s why she is inviting anyone who would like to pick some fruit do so free of charge this afternoon. Just turn up with a bag!

The Halloween alternative – the Pumpkin Trail

There seems to be some support for the idea of a pumpkin trail this Halloween rather than the more traditional trick or treat arrangement. Parents appear to have concluded it would be a better, safer way of providing something to entertain children. Obviously householders can’t be welcoming children and handing them sweets this year so an alternative, socially distanced plan seems very sensible. So on Saturday 31 October are you interested in tackling some pumpkin carving and putting it on display outside your home? Instead of knocking on doors, consider some other way of rewarding your children, maybe by giving them a sweet for each pumpkin they spot. Any parents interested should communicate via the Facebook pages of Asenby Institute Community Space or Top Residents.

St. Columba’s Church

A service of Sung Matins will be held today at 10.45am and the final service for this month will be Holy Communion next Sunday, 25 October at 10.45 am. Looking forward to next month, there will be a Choral Evensong at 6.30pm on Sunday, 1 November, celebrating the Feast of All Saints. On 8 November, Remembrance Sunday, there will be Holy Communion at 10.45am, which will include an Act of Remembrance at 11 o’clock. It is anticipated that numbers at this service might need to be limited to meet the necessary Covid safety arrangements, which give a maximum attendance of around 30. So it will be necessary for people to reserve a place if they would like to come. Names can be left on forms available in church at services over the next three Sundays, or by contacting John Phillips at 01845 577034 or [email protected] If you intend to come as a family ‘bubble’ that can sit together, please let us know as this will help to maximise the places available.

At all services full Covid safety arrangements will be in place. These should be followed at all times. Optimum safety is achieved by keeping the church well ventilated throughout each service. As winter approaches the church will be kept heated for services. Due to the size of the building this is not always easy, but with the extra ventilation it may well be that the church will be colder than usual, so please dress accordingly!

Remembrance Sunday

Apparently most gatherings and parades to mark Remembrance Sunday are going to be cancelled this November because of oronavirus. There’s a suggestion flying about on Facebook that we should all stand in silence on our doorsteps for two minutes at 11am on Wednesday 11 November as a mark of respect. Sounds like a good idea.

Curries and table cloths

That’s an odd title but it accurately reflects two matters that Karen Morley asked me to raise this week. She tells me that all the curries originally made for the postponed Race Night (last April) that were stored in her freezer have now gone to good homes. Some recipients insisted on making a donation and Karen has passed on £25 to the jennyruth charity in Ripon. The reference to table cloths is a reference to the fact that another villager has now responded to the village hall committee’s appeal for white table cloths. Thanks go to Asenby resident Rita Simmerson for her kind donation.

TV appearance for Margaret

Many villagers will remember Margaret Whitaker who was the school secretary at Topcliffe School for some years but moved to Seaton Carew near Hartlepool after her retirement. Sadly, Margaret died a year ago but in the months before her death she participated in a number of auditions for the ITV quiz show Tipping Point. In June 2019 she travelled to the TV studios in Bristol to record an episode and it is scheduled to be broadcast at 4pm on Friday, 30 October.

Work to start soon on new crematorium

Work on constructing Hambleton’s new crematorium is expected to begin in November. The facility will be built on a 21 acre site near Busby Stoop. When completed it will include offices, a family room, waiting room, service area, flower court, café and wake facility, woodland for ash scattering, memorial gardens and meadows. There will also be parking for 160 cars allowing it to cater for large funeral services.

Topcliffe Parish Council

The next meeting will be held online Thursday 5 November at 7pm. There is a period of 10 minutes at the beginning of each meeting set aside to receive questions and comments from members of the public. Any members of the public wishing to join this meeting electronically should contact the Parish Council Clerk for log in details. If you have any queries regarding the meeting please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk by email at [email protected] or any Parish Councillor – details are available on the village website at www.topcliffe.org.uk

Asenby Parish Council

The next meeting will be held online on Wednesday, 18 November. Information will be available before the meeting from the Parish Clerk via email on [email protected] and details will also be made available on the village website at www.asenby.net

The Angel at Topcliffe

The Angel is introducing a take away meal service from this Wednesday, 21 October. See the attached poster and menu for more details.

The Angel’s usual traditional festive party nights are being replaced with some festive comedy cheer. You can now get a three course meal followed by on stage performance comedy with Silky and a guest for a great price of just £32.95 per person – see poster attached or visit http://www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk/festive-comedy-cheer.html These evenings will all be organised in a strict Covid compliant way. A festive two or three course menu will also be available in the restaurant (bookings only) – http://www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk/festive-menu-events.html

The Angel currently closes at 10pm each evening.

The Swan

The Swan serves food every day of the week at socially distanced tables and reservations are necessary. Takeaway meals to order. Times are: 5 to 8:30pm Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday. Telephone 01845 595185. The Swan also closes at 10pm.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Recycling and green bins – Thursdays, 22 October and 5 November

• Refuse – Mondays 26 October and 9 November

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Refuse – Mondays, 19 October and 2 November

• Garden waste – Thursdays, 22 October and 5 November

• Recycling – Mondays, 26 October and 9 November

That’s all until next Sunday. Stay alert, keep safe and keep well.

Hello and welcome to the 27th issue of this regular Sunday email.

In the week that President and Mrs Trump announced that they had both contracted coronavirus and a Scottish MP ignored the rules about isolating even though she knew she had tested positive to the virus, our own Prime Minister, in a televised briefing, issued a stark warning: “Things are heading in the wrong direction, leaving the UK at a critical point”. He added: “There can be no doubt the second wave is now well and truly here. What remains to be seen is just how bad it will be.” Very worryingly, the number of confirmed infections last Thursday alone was 12,872, the highest daily figure since testing began. We can’t say we weren’t warned.

I hope you find the contents interesting and informative. As usual, get in touch with me if you have any news or information that you think Topcliffe and Asenby residents might like to hear about.

Doug

07785 223707

Coronavirus national update

A couple of weeks ago the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, floated the idea that the UK could face 50,000 cases a day by mid-October if the rises seen in late August and September carried on. It was based on cases doubling every seven days. But it is already clear we are not on that trajectory, although the picture is somewhat muddied by the continued problems people have accessing testing. The idea that we may be seeing relatively slow growth is re-enforced by the results of the latest ‘React’ study, which is part of the government’s wider surveillance programme. These suggest the R number – a measure of how fast infections are spreading – may have actually fallen. However, what is providing most concern is the local peaks in the north-west and north-east of England, where there are much higher rates of infection. Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle have close to 10 times the level of infection than average and Hartlepool and Middlesbrough have now been added to the list of North East local authority areas covered by stronger restrictions.

Given the problems with testing, hospital admissions are arguably a much better measure than cases as they are crucially a measure of people who become seriously ill. The fact is that most people only have mild symptoms. The trajectory of admissions is certainly upwards, but not sharply, and the numbers are nowhere near where they were at the peak of the pandemic. Interestingly, over the past week the numbers of people being admitted to hospital have dropped, though that is not to say they won’t start rising again. The experience of France, where cases started increasing earlier than in the UK, gives us some idea of what to expect: a gradual upward trend.

Coronavirus local update

The number of cases of Covid-19 in North Yorkshire continues to increase. At 27 September, there had been 3,630 positive tests since 3 March. There have been 519 new cases reported in the past two weeks. The weekly rolling average of new cases is 36 cases per day, but may be as high as 45 cases per day, allowing for incomplete data in recent days. Scarborough and Selby Districts remain on the Public Health England Watch List as ‘areas of concern’, but all districts are being closely watched.

The county’s care homes and supported living schemes have been advised to limit routine visiting during October to protect residents as Covid-19 infection rates rise. Families and friends will still be able to visit loved ones who are at the end of their lives and essential visits by NHS and social care practitioners will still take place as long as national rules around hand-washing, face masks, PPE, distancing and other requirements are followed. Care homes will be encouraged to allow window visits for all residents so that family members, friends and residents can still see each other, alongside greater use of remote contact by telephone and other technology.

Actions to stop the spread of the virus

It continues to be very important that we all do what we can to reduce the risk of ourselves or other people getting ill with coronavirus. To stop the virus from spreading, we are all advised to avoid close contact with anyone we do not live with. And it’s important to remember that any one of us can spread the virus even if we do not have symptoms ourselves.

✔ – try to stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from anyone you do not live with (or anyone not in your support bubble)

✔ – wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds

✔ – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

✔ – wash your hands as soon as you get home

✔ – cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

✔ – put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

✕ – do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Book a Coronavirus test locally

Testing sites in North Yorkshire are operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care and private contractors employed by them. The Department is asking the public only to get a test if they are directed to do so by NHS Test and Trace or other NHS services – OR – if they have symptoms. This is important to ensure that those people who need tests the most can be prioritised.

Testing sites operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care will be running at the following locations over the coming days between 11am and 3pm:

• Monday 5 October – Selby – South Entrance, Drax Power Station, New Road, Selby, YO8 8PH
• Monday 5 October – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
• Monday 5 October – Whitby – Whitby Park and Ride, Whitby, YO21 1TL
• Tuesday 6 October – Harrogate – Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB
• Tuesday 6 October – Thornton Le Dale – National Trust Car Park, No.5. Chestnut Avenue, Pickering, YO18 7RR
• Wednesday 7 October – Selby – South Entrance, Drax Power Station, New Road, Selby, YO8 8PH
• Wednesday 7 October – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
• Wednesday 7 October – Scarborough – Scarborough Park & Ride, Seamer Road, Scarborough YO12 4LW

Before you attend you must book a test. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. To book a test visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

In certain cases, home test kits can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves and their family without leaving the house. There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Low income benefit for workers required to self-isolate

The new self-isolation coronavirus grant for people in work on low incomes will be in place a week tomorrow – Monday 12 October 2020. Individuals on a low income are able to claim a £500 lump sum payment if they cannot work from home and are required to self-isolate. This payment is aimed at helping make up for any lost income people face due to having to stay at home. To be eligible for the grant, you must be:

• Told by NHS Test and Trace that you must self-isolate

• Employed or self-employed

• Unable to work from home and will lose income as a result

• Currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income-Based Employment and Support Allowance, Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

Locally the scheme will be administered by Hambleton Council. Anyone told to self-isolate since 28 September will be entitled to backdated payments. This financial support comes as the government places a legal requirement on people to self-isolate when instructed to by NHS Test and Trace and introduces tougher fines for breaking the rules.

The NHS Covid app

Over fourteen million people downloaded the new NHS Covid app in the first week it was available. By downloading and using the app, you’ll be helping protect those around you – friends, family, colleagues and local communities. The app features a postcode-based risk-level checker, symptoms-reporter tool, advice on staying in self-isolation and the means to order a coronavirus test. Download the app from Google Play or the Apple Store.

Parish Council meeting

The Parish Council will be meeting remotely on Thursday 5 November at 7pm. There is a period of 10 minutes at the beginning of each meeting set aside to receive questions and comments from members of the public.

Any members of the public wishing to join this meeting electronically should contact the Parish Council Clerk for log in details. If you have any queries regarding the meeting please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk by email at [email protected] or any Parish Councillor – details are available on the village website at www.topcliffe.org.uk

The Milk Churn Farm Shop

The team at the recently opened Milk Churn Farm Shop in Topcliffe have asked to use today’s email to say a huge thank you to everyone who is supporting them. They say that they have customers coming from Sessay, Dalton, Sandhutton, Asenby and, of course, Topcliffe and everyone has been amazing. The reality of the ongoing Covid pandemic is hitting home again so the shop is launching a range of veg, fruit and salad boxes – for £15 or £20. Anyone self-isolating in Topcliffe and Asenby can have the boxes delivered to your door and this is all done following strict sanitising procedures. Preferably money should be transferred by BACs, but cash can be accepted if necessary. Ring 01845 400446 to order and talk through payment steps. Please order on a Monday for delivery or collection on a Wednesday. You can see what is on offer by visiting www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk

Meat boxes at £20, £40 and £60 are also now available. All the meat retailed through the farm shop originates from Thompson’s Butchers in Northallerton. All meat is fresh, bought local and any cut or joint can be ordered if you cannot find it in the shop’s fridges. Two working days are needed to prepare orders. Orders and payment as above.

Halloween is nearly here and the Milk Churn has received a delivery of pumpkins from Yorkshire Pumpkins at Cundall. They will be out on display at the front of the shop this next week. Bring your wheel barrow, there are some big ones!

Looking further ahead, the team are starting to arrange Christmas stock. You’ll be able to order free range turkeys or a turkey crown, real Christmas trees, handmade wreaths by Lavender & Bee, plus everything for a full Christmas lunch. The shop’s Christmas puddings and Christmas cakes both have a gluten free option. The rear conservatory will be opened soon to display a fabulous selection of artisan Christmas decorations…and the gift shop upstairs will be opened at the end of this week.

The Milk Churn farm shop is located at 81 Long Street, and its opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday – 9am to 5pm. Thursday 9am to -1pm (half day closing) and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Remembrance Day 2020

While this Remembrance Day 2020 is likely to be very different to past years, we shouldn’t allow the pandemic to prevent us from recognising the achievements of our veterans. With the number of remembrance events being scaled back and because some older ex-service men and women may not wish to attend a ceremony in person, Community First Yorkshire wants to help people show their gratitude in another way. Using funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, the organisation is offering a free gift box on a first come, first served basis to 150 North Yorkshire veterans aged 65 and over. Each box will include a collection of items, most with either a military or Yorkshire theme, and will be delivered free of charge in early November, arriving in time for Remembrance Sunday. (Packs are suitable for both men and women.) To be eligible for a pack, veterans must be aged 65 or over, have served in HM Armed Forces (including National Service) or have seen active service as part of the Merchant Navy and live in the districts of Hambleton or Harrogate. If you meet these criteria, or you know an older veteran who does, please email [email protected] or call 01904 704177 to request a gift box. Please note that stocks are limited and packs will only be sent to the first 150 veterans, with a maximum of one pack to each address. Should stocks run out before the closing date (18 October), Community First Yorkshire will advise you at the point of order and a notice will be posted on their website at https://communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk/remembrance-day-2020/

Blue Cross Week 5 – 11 October

The charity’s biggest fundraising week of the year takes place all of next week. It’s a time when the charity’s motto ‘Seven days to change a life’ takes on special and significant meaning. The team at Topcliffe have a wide range of activities planned for the week to raise funds for the pets in the centre. On Saturday, 10 October, a small team will join up with the Wombles of Hambleton for a sponsored litter pick along the verges from Busby Stoop to Topcliffe village. Volunteer Co-ordinator Jenny Day said: “This year it’s even more important to raise funds as many of our annual events have had to be cancelled. We love that we’ll be helping the environment and pets at the same time. We are not seeking volunteers to join the litter pick as a team has already been put together and we can’t have too many people active along this busy stretch of road. But we do need sponsors and every penny donated will be very much appreciated. All details and updates are on the fundraising page at https://givepenny.com/blue-cross-week-2020-team-thirsk

Congratulations to Carole Ford

The month of September held a big challenge for Asenby resident Carole Ford who decided to undertake a challenge outside her comfort zone and walk 30 miles to fundraise for Dementia UK. Well, she set her self a target of raising £150 but amazingly managed to raise £440…and walk a creditable 54 miles… by the end of the month. Well done Carole. Dementia UK is a national charity committed to improving the quality of life for all people affected by dementia. The organisation provides mental health nurses – named Admiral Nurses – specialising in dementia care. Carole’s husband is a sufferer and she was keen to do what she could to help support the charity.

The Halloween alternative – the Pumpkin Trail

A message on the Asenby Institute Community Space Facebook page last week raised the idea of an Asenby Pumpkin Trail as a safer way of celebrating Halloween this year. The idea seems a better, safer way of providing something to entertain children rather than the more traditional trick and treating, which obviously is a bit of a non-runner this year. Siobhan Gifford said: “We can’t be handing out sweets to children who knock on the door this year but that doesn’t mean we can’t have an Asenby Pumpkin Trail on Saturday 31 October. Who’s up for a spot of pumpkin carving or even a window decoration (like we did with rainbows and teddy bears)?Adults who accompany their children might choose to hand out a sweet for every pumpkin spotted! Great idea Siobhan, but let’s see if it can be an idea that is launched in both Topcliffe and Asenby. Any parents interested should communicate via the Facebook pages of Asenby Institute Community Space or Top Residents.

Pumpkin Festival

Spilmans pick your own pumpkin festival started yesterday. They have 30,000 pumpkins and squashes of lots of different sizes, shapes and colours. During the festival there’ll be tractor rides, maize maze, corn cannon, bale mountain, pumpkin carving barn and lots of great food to eat. Check out their website – www.spilmans.co.uk – to book your car arrival time slot for £10 and receive a voucher for £10 to spend anywhere on the farm. Only pay for what you pick or do. Spilmans are located at Church Farm, Sessay, Thirsk, YO73NB.

St. Columba’s Church

Services have recommenced at St Columba’s after a six months break. The first Holy Communion Service was held last Sunday and similar services will be held at the same time on the 11th and 25th of October. The choir will sing Evensong tonight at 6.30pm. Matins is planned for 10.45 am on Sunday, 18 October. There’ll be full Covid safety arrangements in place. All this, of course, is subject to any further changes in Covid restrictions.

Village Hall Committee & AGM

The Village Hall AGM (for 2019/20) and ordinary committee meeting were held online last Thursday, 1 October. The minutes of both meetings are available on the village website – www.topcliffe.org.uk

Your village hall needs you!

The two youngest members on the committee of Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall are appealing for more young residents to volunteer to become involved in running the hall. Emily Collard and Jenny Bumby are by far the youngest committee members and they are keen to have more younger people join them to manage the hall, which is the social hub serving our two villages. Emily says: “Without wanting to be disrespectful to the other members of the committee the fact is that they are all quite a bit older than Jenny and me, they have served their community for many years and it is recognised that new blood is required to ensure that this important community building is retained and maintained.” Jenny added: “It is only the willingness of volunteers to give up a little of their free time now and again that ensures that the village hall is available for everyone’s use and enjoyment. The hall is closed at present because of Covid-19, but it is anticipated that it will reopen in the New Year so that regular activities and events can again get going. Now is a good time to get involved and see what is involved in running the hall. It’s not at all arduous and can be extremely rewarding.” If you would like to chat about putting your name forward to join the committee, feel free to call Emily on 07843 274604 or Jenny on 01845 577483. Alternatively talk to committee chairman Andrew Eckersley on 01845 577648.

Have your say on council budget

Hambleton District Council is consulting on its budget and the services it provides for next year (2021-22). To help shape the budget proposals, the council is inviting you to have your say. Contributions must be made by

30 October 2020. The council states that your opinions, views and ideas matter, so let them know what you think. https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=159957835025

Libraries Week

Book lovers across North Yorkshire are invited to take part in a variety of events and activities to celebrate Libraries Week (October 5 to 10). This builds on the huge efforts during the pandemic of the County Council’s library service and the many volunteers supporting community-run libraries to keep in touch with customers virtually during lockdown and to reopen safely as restrictions eased. Around 3,000 people joined the library service over the lockdown period and there was a big increase in the number of e-books and e-audio books borrowed. During Libraries Week, the service is hosting story times and rhyme times for young readers in library branches. These will also be available on its Facebook pages. Please contact your local library, follow them on Facebook or ring 01609 533878 for full details of the times and locations of story times, and to register for the virtual readings. The service has made changes to the layout of libraries and measures are in place to ensure that it is safe for people to return. Numbers allowed into buildings at any one time have been restricted to ensure that social distancing can be maintained and facemasks must be worn. https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/article/north-yorkshire-prepares-celebrate-libraries-week

The Angel at Topcliffe

Booking a table in the restaurant is highly recommended any day of the week as it has been very busy, especially at weekends. Track & Trace on arrival is now easier with the NHS app but don’t worry if you do not have a smart phone, you can just leave your name and number. To book email [email protected] or call 01845 578000. Bookings are now being taken for Christmas meals and for a New Year’s Eve event to raise cash for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (this event is subject to the Covid-19 restrictions). Check out the website at http://www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk/christmas-2020.html The Angel closes at 10pm each evening.

The Swan

The Swan serves food every day of the week at socially distanced tables and reservations are necessary. Takeaway meals to order. Times are: 5 to 8:30pm Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday. Telephone 01845 595185. The Swan also closes at 10pm.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Recycling and green bins – Thursdays, 8 and 22 October.

• Refuse – Mondays 12 October and 26 October

Harrogate (Asenby)

• Refuse – Mondays, 5 and 19 October.

• Garden waste – Thursdays, 8 and 22 October.

• Recycling – Mondays, 12 and 26 October.

That’s all until next Sunday. Stay alert, keep safe and keep well.