Category: Sunday Email

Hello and welcome to the 44th issue of this regular Sunday email.

First, I would like to mention the death of Captain Sir Tom Moore, a Yorkshire legend, who captured the hearts of the nation. He raised over £33 million for NHS charities and also motivated many others to do likewise and to inspire people to find a way through these toughest of times. What a hero!

I hope you find this email’s contents interesting and informative. As usual, do 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 week’s Covid statistics

• 4,511,079 Coronavirus tests were conducted last week. On average on a daily basis over the week, 18,262 people tested positive for Coronavirus. Almost 133,800 people tested positive over the

seven-days. The number of new cases of Coronavirus has fallen by 25% in the last week.

• 2,460 people were admitted to hospital on a daily basis (18,619 in the week). Hospital admissions remain high though the number admitted week on week is dropping.

• The R number – which takes into account cases, hospitalisations and deaths – as last week, continues to be between 0.7 and 1.1.

• Around 11.5 million people have now had a first dose vaccination. So far, 510,000 second doses have been administered.

• Yesterday 828 UK deaths were reported. There were 6,521 in the seven-day period to Saturday. This represents a 20% drop on the previous week. The total number of UK deaths is now 112,000. The

number of deaths in North Yorkshire is now close to 1,000. Worldwide, the number of deaths is now over 2.3 million.

South African variant

There are now more than 100 cases of the South Africa variant identified in the UK .Last week the first confirmed cases of the South African variant of Covid-19 here in North Yorkshire were announced. The news was announced t by our Director of Public Health, Louise Wallace, who said: “I can confirm that North Yorkshire has its first confirmed cases of the South African variant of Covid-19. This involves two cases in the Scarborough area linked to international travel. The people involved have done all of the right things since returning home from abroad and self-isolated in line with the guidance. As such, there is not considered to be any community risk associated with them. There are a number of variants of the virus in circulation and by their nature viruses evolve, so it is absolutely vital that everyone continues to stick to the national lockdown rules. We must all stay at home, make essential journeys only, maintain social distancing at all times and wear face coverings where advised. Please keep playing your part.”

Vaccinations

The vaccination programme is advancing well and gives us real hope for the future.According to government figures, 11.5 million people have received their first injection. That means only 2.5 million more people need to get the jab in the next week if the government is to meet its mid-February target of vaccinating the 14 million most vulnerable people. Here in North Yorkshire almost all people over 80 and all care home residents have already had, or been offered, a first dose vaccination. Better still, a huge number of over 70s have also had their first jab and the government is suggesting that all over 50s will be vaccinated by early May. Nationally, about 90% of people over the age of 75 have been vaccinated. Given that three-quarters of Covid deaths have been in this group, that should soon start having an impact on serious illness and deaths. But challenges do remain. There are signs that uptake in certain communities, particularly ethnic minorities, may be lower. And from the start of March, large numbers of people will start needing their second dose, which presumably will result in a slowdown in the rate of people being vaccinated, unless supply increases.

GPs are being incentivised to vaccinate the most vulnerable who cannot leave their home. They’ll be paid an additional £10 by the NHS for every housebound patient and those who are shielding that they vaccinate against Covid-19. The move comes as a study suggests that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is less effective at preventing against mild disease caused by the South African variant – though the firm remains confident vaccine can protect better against severe disease. The study is due to be published tomorrow.

Last week it was announced that a major trial has been launched by Oxford University to see if giving people different Covid vaccines for their first and second doses works as well as the current approach of using the same type of vaccine twice. The idea is to provide more flexibility with vaccine rollout and help deal with any potential disruption to supplies. Scientists say mixing jabs could also possibly give even better protection. Regardless of the outcome, no changes will be made to the UK’s current approach until at least the summer.

Large-scale manufacturing of a potential new coronavirus vaccine has begun in Scotland. French biotech company Valneva has started production of the jab at its plant in Livingston, West Lothian, in a boost to the UK’s mass-vaccination efforts. The promising new vaccine is still undergoing clinical trials but, if approved, the UK would receive up to 60 million doses by the end of this year.

Remember, the NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS or your doctor’s surgery for a vaccination before then. Topcliffe and Asenby patients will either be contacted by letter, text or telephone call from the surgery.

A ray of hope?

Lockdown restrictions could be almost entirely lifted by summer if Covid vaccines are found to significantly block transmission, a government scientific adviser has suggested. Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of one of SAGE’s subgroups said that if jabs are 70 to 80 per cent effective at blocking the spread of coronavirus, life could be “close to normal” in just a few months’ time. He explained that although scientists believe vaccines can block transmission of the virus, it is not yet known by how much. He said: “If we think optimistically, if we follow the trajectory of the rollout of the vaccine… then hopefully we can be easing out of these controls that we’ve got in place sometime in March.” However, Dr Tildesley stressed that the relaxation of restrictions would need to be done “relatively gradually”. Asked if vaccines needed to 100 per cent block transmission, he said: “I think probably not quite close to 100 per cent, but I think if we have, say, 70 to 80 per cent, then probably we’re in a good place. Vaccines are not 100 per cent protective and we must remember that some people have not yet had the vaccine and others will refuse to have it at all. A gradual easing of restrictions, combined with significant uptake of vaccine, is really what’s needed.”

The government will review the existing restrictions on 15 February and will afterwards set out a ‘roadmap’ showing how we will get back to normality.

Police crackdown!

North Yorkshire Police are cracking down on people who are not abiding by the restrictions during lockdown. The police have made it clear they will enforce the regulations and stated that they are increasing their visibility in areas of the county where people are still leaving home without a good reason and even hosting parties indoors in some cases. Last weekend 143 fixed penalty notices were issued, that’s up significantly on the previous weekend. As many as 86 of those were issued to residents and 57 were issued to visitors. So, it’s clear that those who put others at risk by failing to follow the rules will feel the force of the law.

Book a coronavirus test locally

These are government operated ‘every day’ sites close to where we live. They operate 8am to 8pm. The full list of other sites operating in North Yorkshire can be viewed on the county council’s website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test

• Every day – Harrogate – Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB

• Every day – Northallerton – The Forum, Bullamore Road, Northallerton, DL6 1LP

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/ There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Latest on schools

The government has said that it hopes that schools will be able to start reopening from 8 March, though it has also suggested that it cannot guarantee any re-openings before Easter! Allowing all pupils back in schools depends on many factors including the rate of vaccination amongst priority groups. Teachers and parents have been promised they will get at least a fortnight’s notice on when schools are required to start lessons again.

Reboot North Yorkshire

That’s the name of a new campaign launched by the county council to collect unwanted laptops and get them to families most in need to help them with studies or simply getting them connected. There is a shortage of laptops nationally so reusing all and any with life left in them will be a big help to youngsters studying at home. The campaign organisers will collect unwanted laptops, smart phones, tablets or iPads that you no longer need they’ll wipe them clean and revamp them for new use. You can find out more about it here – https://rebootny.co.uk/

Free and low-cost resources for home schooling

Schools are shut till at least early March and this has left many parents potentially struggling to juggle work and home-schooling commitments. So, attached is a list of mostly free resources may be of help.

Telecoms firms are helping during lockdown

With many people still working from home and parents providing home schooling for their children, having the right technology is proving essential for work, learning and entertainment. But millions of households around the country are struggling financially and the extra burden is proving difficult to manage. As a result, many broadband firms are offering support to their customers to help them, including offering free access to learning resources sites and free data for vulnerable customers. There’s too much information to include all the offers in this email but parents can check out the financial site ‘This is Money’ to find out what help broadband companies are offering their customers. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-9138483/How-telecom-firms-helping-customers-lockdown.html

Thirsk Community Library

If you can’t get out or haven’t time to visit the library why not have the library come to you? Thirsk Community Library’s volunteers can deliver books, jigsaws audiobooks, music and DVDs. Just email library or ring 01609 534589 to discuss what’s available.

Topcliffe Parish Council

The Parish Council will be meeting remotely this Thursday 4 February at 7pm. Any members of the public wishing to join this online meeting should contact the clerk for log in details – topcliffeparishcouncil@gmail.com 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.

Staying safe online – this Tuesday!

Last chance to book a place on the ‘Ask the Experts’ online discussion about scammers and the problems they cause us all. It’s happening as part of Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 9 February between 7 and 9pm. It’s being organised by North Yorkshire Police who aim to offer some insight into the tricks scammers use to manipulate their victims. With more people working from home and children now having their school lessons online, the need to use the internet more safely and securely has never been greater. The event will be conducted using Microsoft Teams and those registering to take part will be emailed a link prior to the date. You do not need to have Microsoft Teams installed on your computer to participate, just a good internet link. To register for the event please click on this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internet-safety-day-ask-the-experts-north-yorkshire-police-tickets-135979661829

Local traders

• Tea Time Yorkshire – Rosa Fothergill’s café in Thirsk is offering Valentine’s Afternoon Teas and Treat boxes for delivery on the weekend of 13 and 14 February. Full Afternoon Tea for two £36 and

Valentine’s Treat Box for two £24, including delivery. Please order online by Sunday 7 February. https://www.teatimeyorkshire.co.uk/valentinesafternoontea

• Fish and Chips – The Fish & Chip van is back in action Fridays between 4 and 7pm.

• Topcliffe Post Office – The opening hours are: weekdays 7.30am – 3:30pm for the shop and 8:30am – 3.30pm for the post office counter. Saturdays – 8.30 – 11.30am. Sunday closed.

• The Elm Gallery – The gallery remains closed. Liz and Dave will continue to promote items on the gallery’s Facebook page and website. Collection of purchases at the gallery door can be arranged.

More information can be found on their website at www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk and they can be contacted on 01845 577316 or 07709 223920.

• The Milk Churn Farm Shop – Customers are asked to come prepared in warm clothes in case they have to stand outside during the current cold spell. Debbie Roberts said: We have noticed

that some potential customers, on seeing that there’s already a customer in the shop, are leaving as they don’t want to queue. We want everyone to know that we are serving customers as quickly as

we can.” She added: “During lockdown the shop has been very quiet after lunch, so we are adjusting our opening hours. Until the lockdown restrictions end, we will close at 3pm on Mondays,

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays and Saturdays we will close at 1pm. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to returning to full opening hours once the

lockdown has lifted.” Debbie is keen to promote the farm shop’s home delivery service. She said: “We are more than happy to drop shopping to the home of anyone in Topcliffe, Asenby or Cundall

who is isolating. We are also making free deliveries to Dalton, Sessay and Husthwaite every Tuesday and to Rainton, Dishforth and Ripon areas every Wednesday (£10 minimum order applies). Ring

01845 400446 to arrange a delivery. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/

• The Angel – The Angel ‘Dine at Home’ takeaway service has a new menu. Take away times are Wednesday to Saturday, 4.30-8pm, with orders taken from 3.30pm and Sundays 12-6pm, with orders

taken from 11am. Call 01845 578000 to place an order or book a time slot in advance. Check out the details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk

• The Swan – The Swan is closed until further notice.

St. Columba’s Church

There’ll be an Evensong service tonight at 6.30pm. A great deal of work has been done on risk assessments for services and strict measures will be in place for wearing of face masks, hand sanitisation before and after each service, and social distancing. Please observe spaced time of arrival and departure to avoid mingling. Everyone is required to confirm, when signing in for track and trace purposes, that they are not to their knowledge exhibiting any Covid symptoms.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Recycling – Thursday 11 and 25 February

• Refuse – Mondays 15 February and 1 March

• Green waste – collections start again Thursday 25 February

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Refuse – Mondays 8 and 22 February

• Recycling – Mondays 15 February and 1 March

• Green waste – suspended until mid-March

Green waste licence renewal

• A Hambleton licence for the year 2021-22 will cost £40 per licence per bin. To subscribe or for further information please visit www.hambleton.gov.uk/newbins
• A licence from Harrogate for 2021-22 will cost £41 per bin. To subscribe or for more information please visit https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/garden-waste-subscription-service

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Free and low cost school resources.docx

Hello and welcome to the 43rd issue of this regular Sunday email. I hope you find its contents interesting and informative. As usual, do 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 week’s Covid statistics

• There have been more than 3.7 million Coronavirus cases so far in the UK.

• 4,190,584 virus tests were conducted last week.

• On Saturday, 23,275 people tested positive for Coronavirus. Almost 178,630 people tested positive over the seven-days. However, new cases of Coronavirus have again fallen in the last week.

• 3,117 people were admitted to hospital on a daily basis (23,212 in the week). Hospital admissions have remained high although appear to have plateaued but it continues to be the case that the

number of patients being discharged is at a much slower rate than the number being admitted.

• The R number – which takes into account cases, hospitalisations and deaths – is estimated to be between 0.7 and 1.1, compared with 1.2 and 1.3 last week. That’s a great improvement.

• Over 8.4 million people have now had a first dose vaccination. So far, 480,400 second doses have been administered.

• Last week the total number of UK deaths surpassed the 100,000 mark. Yesterday 1,200 UK deaths were reported. There were 8,242 in the seven-day period to Saturday.

• Worldwide, the number of deaths is now over 2.1 million.

Richard Flinton, Chief Executive, North Yorkshire County Council on the latest position locally

In North Yorkshire in the last 12 months, 917 people have lost their lives to Covid. We have come on a very long and difficult journey since the first two people in the UK were reported with the virus in York last January. But there is light in the darkness growing ever brighter as the nation pushes ahead with the vaccination programme and lockdown brings the infection rate down. Here in North Yorkshire and York, more than 126,000 of our most vulnerable residents, those aged over 80 and in care homes as well as care home staff, have now been vaccinated – one sixth of the population. Residents and staff in all of the county’s 235 residential care settings, apart from those settings with outbreaks and individuals with Covid or recovering from the virus, have been offered the vaccine. There are new mass vaccination sites coming on stream over the course of the coming week, including one at Ripon racecourse. Despite reports of vaccines being diverted from Yorkshire to other areas in the country and despite concerning reports about a block on vaccine exports from Europe, North Yorkshire’s roll-out programme remains on track. This is a huge achievement and sincere thanks are due to our NHS colleagues, social care teams and all our volunteers across the county who have worked so hard to make this happen and continue to work hard as the vaccination programme progresses.

The North Yorkshire rate for people infected with Covid per 100,000 population is 208 – significantly below the England average of 369. Compared to summer months these rates are still high and this is no time for complacency. The death toll is a grim reminder that we must stick to the rules of staying home, wearing face masks, keeping a social distance and washing hands regularly. The rate for Covid is still comparatively high and it is too soon to say that we have turned a corner. With the highly transmissible variant of the virus now in every part of North Yorkshire, it would not take much for infection rates to shoot back up again. The vast majority of our population is still susceptible to contracting Covid.

We must not forget that while infection rates are falling now, the death rate continues to rise and our hospitals and clinical staff remain under enormous pressure. There are 504 patients with Covid in the four hospitals for York and North Yorkshire, an increase of 33 from last week and the highest we have ever had. As many as 61 are in intensive care. And we still have one or more cases of Covid in 87 of our care settings, not as high as last spring, but 11 up on last week.

I must thank the vast majority of people who have complied with lockdown rules as the infection rate shows signs of falling. There is evidence from North Yorkshire Police that more people are complying, though there are still those who do not think the rules apply to them, like the couple who travelled more than 100 miles for a roast dinner. Last week, the police issued 87 fixed penalty notices, compared to 134 the week before.

Vaccinations

Since the vaccines were first rolled out on 8 December, 8.4 million people have received their first injection, according to government figures. That means around 6 million more people need to get the jab in the coming weeks if the government is to meet its mid-February target. And to reach that milestone, the government has reinforced its pledge to vaccine 2 million people per week. It says this will be made possible by "the rapid expansion of the programme" of locations where people can get the jab, including 206 hospital sites, 50 national vaccination centres and around 1,200 local primary care facilities.

The UK has certainly made a good start on its mass vaccination programme. With almost 8 million jabs given, only Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have vaccinated more. But the supply chain remains fragile. Pfizer has announced a slowdown in manufacturing for the next couple of weeks so it can upgrade its facilities and ramp up production in the spring. However, the UK is less reliant on the Pfizer vaccine than other countries, as we manufacture the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine here.

Remember, the NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS or your doctor’s surgery for a vaccination before then. Topcliffe and Asenby patients will either be contacted by letter, text or telephone call from the surgery.

More vaccines on the horizon

• Novavax, a US company that will produce its vaccine on Teesside, announced their jab was 89% effective overall against all UK variants and 60% against the South Africa strain. The government has said doses won’t be available until the middle of the year.
• A new single-dose vaccine has shown to be 66% effective against Covid-19 and offers complete protection against hospitalisation and death in trials. However, there are signs the jab, made by Belgian pharmaceutical firm Janssen, is less effective against the new variant spreading in South Africa. The Johnson & Johnson-owned company is looking at whether two doses will give stronger or longer-lasting protection. It aims to make one billion doses this year. The UK has ordered 30 million doses, the US 100 million and Canada 38 million.
• Both these new vaccines will need to be reviewed by regulators before they can be used.

Covid deaths among those of working age

Last week the Office of National Statistics (ONS) published figure showing the impact of Covid-19 on the working population. They announced that so far 7,961 deaths occurred among those aged 20 to 64 years between 9 March and 28 December 2020. Within that figure, there were 469 deaths from those in the care sector, with three quarters of those being care workers or home carers. The largest number of deaths came from those in elementary jobs, which are generally the lowest paid occupations. Out of the 5,128 male deaths, 699 deaths had elementary jobs. Furthermore, nurses had statistically significantly higher rates of death.

A spokesperson at the ONS said: “This analysis shows that jobs with regular exposure to Covid-19 and those working in close proximity to others continue to have higher death rates when compared with the rest of the working age population. Men continue to have higher rates of death than women, making up nearly two thirds of these deaths. As the pandemic has progressed, we have learnt more about the disease and the communities it impacts most. There is a complex combination of factors that influence the risk of death; from your age and your ethnicity, where you live and who you live with, to pre-existing health conditions.”

Latest on schools

The government has said that it hopes that schools will be able to start reopening from 8 March, though it has also suggested that it cannot guarantee any re-openings before Easter! Allowing all pupils back in schools depends on many factors including the rate of vaccination amongst priority groups. Teachers and parents have been promised they will get at least a fortnight’s notice on when schools are required to start lessons again.

Schools across North Yorkshire remain open for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers, with attendance overall at 18 per cent of pupils. Quick swab tests are being introduced to schools to allow teaching staff and secondary pupils to receive regular, voluntary tests for coronavirus.

Covid rapid flow tests are being introduced to allow staff teaching in primary and secondary schools, colleges and maintained nurseries to test themselves. Young people in Year 7 and above will also be able to receive the tests before returning to school. Primary schools and maintained nurseries in North Yorkshire have been provided with the rapid flow tests in order to begin their testing regime and allow staff to test themselves at home twice a week, using the kits which provide results within 30 minutes. Secondary schools have begun their testing regimes, providing tests for children of key workers and vulnerable students in school, as well as teachers in school. Rapid testing is designed to limit the spread of the virus by helping identify asymptomatic cases. Almost a third of all cases of coronavirus include people without symptoms. The tests will be in addition to existing safety measures already in place in schools, such as teaching children in bubbles, good ventilation, social distancing and frequent hand washing. Each school has its own detailed risk assessment which is regularly updated and takes into account each school’s unique circumstances such as building layouts and pupil numbers. Tests are voluntary for adults and young people and no child or young person will be tested without informed consent from the appropriate adult or carer. Pupils will not be prevented from receiving face-to-face education if they are not tested.

Study finds that Covid-19 can lead to mental illness

According to research undertaken by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, one in eight people who get coronavirus also have a psychiatric or neurological illness within six months of testing positive for the virus. This adds weight to an emerging body of evidence that stresses the toll of the virus on mental health and brain disorders cannot be ignored. The analysis – which is still to be peer-reviewed – also found that those figures rose to one in three when patients with a previous history of psychiatric or neurological illnesses were included. The whole article from The Guardian newspaper can be read here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/25/covid-linked-to-risk-of-mental-illness-and-brain-disorder-study-suggests?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Book a coronavirus test locally

These are government operated ‘every day’ sites close to where we live. They operate 8am to 8pm. The full list of other sites operating in North Yorkshire can be viewed on the county council’s website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test

• Every day – Harrogate – Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB

• Every day – Northallerton – The Forum, Bullamore Road, Northallerton, DL6 1LP

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/ There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Be aware! There’s another Covid vaccination phishing email flying about

Scammers are relentless in their quest to try and trick people out of their money. A few weeks ago the Sunday Email contained a warning about a scam that was doing the rounds as the vaccine programme got underway. Now there’s a new phishing email scam which has landed in many people’s inboxes this past week It’s much more sophisticated than many, though there are elements of it that should be an immediate warning that it is fake! The scam email is designed to appear as if it is from the NHS and asks the recipient to follow a link to book their vaccination which involves filling out extensive personal details. if you receive an email like this – see attached – do not click on any links. Best thing is to delete it straightaway. Remember Covid vaccinations are free of charge. You don‘t need to apply for one and you certainly don’t need to share bank details to confirm your identity.

New service station on Thirsk outskirts

Regular readers of the Sunday Email will recall that last year a planning application to construct a new service centre at the A168/A19 roundabout in Thirsk was presented to Hambleton District Council. Well, that application has now been approved, though some conditions were applied. The construction will be on land currently used for grazing and arable farming. Thirsk and Sowerby parish councils supported the development, while Bagby and Balk Parish Council objected. There were 65 objections from the public, including from the Campaign to Protect Rural England and only one letter of support. The service centre will have a BP petrol filling station with associated Marks & Spencer retail kiosk, a drive-through McDonalds restaurant, a drive-through coffee shop and HGV parking.

Topcliffe Parish Council

The Parish Council will be meeting remotely on Thursday 4 February at 7pm. Any members of the public wishing to join this online meeting should contact the clerk for log in details – topcliffeparishcouncil@gmail.com 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.

Staying safe online

Don’t forget the ‘Ask the Experts’ online about scammers and the problems they cause us all. It’s happening as part of Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 9 February between 7 and 9pm. It’s been organised by North Yorkshire Police who aim to offer some insight into the tricks scammers use to manipulate their victims. With more people working from home and children now having their school lessons online, the need to use the internet more safely and securely has never been greater. The event will be conducted using Microsoft Teams and those registering to take part will be emailed a link prior to the date. You do not need to have Microsoft Teams installed on your computer to participate, just a good internet link. To register for the event please click on this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internet-safety-day-ask-the-experts-north-yorkshire-police-tickets-135979661829

Lambert to take on a new role

The former Lambert Hospital in Thirsk will soon become a new home for the charity Herriot Hospice Homecare. Hambleton District Council purchased the old NHS building and handed it over to the charity to create a community hub for people living with terminal illness and bereavement in Hambleton and Richmondshire. There will be a new four-bed inpatient unit, bereavement counselling rooms, an education centre, café and community hub facility with meeting space and IT facilities. The building will also become the home for a range of other activities provided by Herriot Hospice Homecare, including the

end-of-life care home service and sitting, befriending and driving services.

Local traders

• Tea Time Yorkshire – Rosa Fothergill, who runs Tea Time Yorkshire café in Thirsk, is offering Valentine’s Afternoon Teas and Treat boxes for delivery on the weekend of 13 and 14 February. Full Afternoon Tea for two £36 and Valentine’s Treat Box for two £24, including delivery. Please order online by Sunday 7 February. https://www.teatimeyorkshire.co.uk/valentinesafternoontea
• Fish and Chips – The Fish & Chip van is back in action Fridays between 4 and 7pm.
• Topcliffe Post Office – The opening hours are: weekdays 7.30am – 3:30pm for the shop and 8:30am – 3.30pm for the post office counter. Saturdays – 8.30 – 11.30am. Sunday closed.
• News from The Elm Gallery – The gallery remains closed. Liz and Dave will continue to promote items on the gallery’s Facebook page and website. Collection of purchases at the gallery door can be arranged. More information can be found on their website at www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk and they can be contacted on 01845 577316 or 07709 223920.
• The Milk Churn Farm Shop – The farm shop is open but no takeaway drinks are being served during lockdown. Fresh bread arrives daily. Customers can only enter the shop one at a time, they must wear a mask and are asked not to handle products they don’t intend to buy. For their part, the staff will clean the baskets, door handles and other surfaces on a regular basis. Meat, fruit and vegetable baskets can be delivered to any Topcliffe and Asenby residents who are isolating or collected in person by arrangement. Telephone 01845 400446 to order and agree a time. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/
• The Angel – The Angel at Home takeaway service is operating with a new menu and reduced prices. Take away times are Wednesday to Saturday, 4.30-8pm, with orders taken from 3.30pm and Sundays 12-6pm, with orders taken from 11am. Call 01845 578000 to place an order or book a time slot in advance. Check out the details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk
• The Swan – The Swan is closed until further notice…hopefully, not too long!

St. Columba’s Church

Topcliffe St Columba’s PCC has agreed that the following service will be held:

• No services will be held today (31 January).

• Sunday, 7 February – Evensong at 6.30pm.

A great deal of work has been done on risk assessments for services and strict measures will be in place for wearing of face masks, hand sanitisation before and after each service, and social distancing. Please observe spaced time of arrival and departure to avoid mingling. Everyone is required to confirm, when signing in for track and trace purposes, that they are not to their knowledge exhibiting any Covid symptoms. Any changes in the rules or legislation regarding church opening and services will be included in a future email.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Refuse – Mondays 1 and 15 February

• Recycling – Thursday 11 and 25 February

• Green waste – collections start again Thursday 25 February

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Recycling – Mondays 1 and 15 February

• Refuse – Mondays 8 and 22 February

• Green waste – suspended until mid-March

Green waste licence renewal

Subscriptions for new licences from both councils for 2021-22 are now being taken.

Subscriptions for a new Hambleton licence for the year 2021-22 will cost £40 per licence per bin. To subscribe or for further information please visit www.hambleton.gov.uk/newbins

Subscriptions for a new licence from Harrogate Borough Council for 2021-22 will cost £41 per bin. You will receive nineteen fortnightly collections – that’s around £2 per collection. To subscribe or for more information please visit https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/garden-waste-subscription-service

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Scammers email message.docx

Hello and welcome to the 42nd issue of this regular Sunday email. I hope you find its contents interesting and informative. As usual, do 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 week’s Covid statistics

• 33,552 people in the UK tested positive for Coronavirus yesterday. Almost 260,000 people tested positive over a seven-day period. New cases of Coronavirus have again fallen by 25% in the last week.

• 665,330 virus tests were conducted on a daily basis, with 3,947,000 undertaken during the week to Saturday.

• 4,125 people were admitted to hospital on a daily basis (27,721 in the week). Hospital admissions have remained high, but experts are predicting a reduction starting this coming week.

• The R number – which takes into account cases, hospitalisations and deaths – is estimated to be between 0.8 and 1, compared with 1.2 and 1.3 last week. That’s a great improvement.

• Over 5,861,000 people have now had a first dose vaccination. So far, 468,600 second doses have been administered.

• On Saturday 1,348 UK deaths were reported. There were 8,739 in the seven-day period to Saturday. Both these figures are increases on the previous week. So far during the pandemic, close to

97,329 deaths have been recorded.

• Worldwide, the number of deaths is now over 2,130,000.

Infected people failing to follow rules on self-isolation

Government checks have revealed some worrying information about how people are dealing with infections during the pandemic:

• Only 17% of people with symptoms are putting themselves forward for testing.
• Just 25% comply with rules to self-isolate for 10 days after testing positive.
• 15% continue to go to work as normal.

These shocking statistics come despite the fact that experts are clear that compliance with self-isolation orders is needed to bring down Covid-19 transmission levels. Acknowledging the findings of the survey, the Prime Minister urged people to obey the current restrictions in what is unquestionably going to be a tough few weeks ahead. Asked whether lockdown might be lifted in the spring or summer, Mr Johnson said: "I think it’s too early to say when we’ll be able to lift any of the restrictions.”

Follow this link to read all about the government’s stay at home and isolation guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Vaccinations

Three bits of good news on vaccinations this week. First, the number of people to receive their first jab has now reached 5.8million and nearly half a million people have had the second vaccination. Secondly, the vaccination process has been going so well that those over 70 years of age have started to receive an invitation for their jab. Thirdly, with the opening of the ‘hub’ at Askham Bar in York, we now have the chance of being invited to one of two locations for our jabs – York or Northallerton.

The bad news – though there is considerable confusion In government communication about this – is that the North East and Yorkshire region has been told its vaccine supply to primary care vaccine centres (like The Forum at Northallerton) will be halved next week. Apparently, this is because our region is ahead of other areas in vaccinating its eligible population. Only 100,000 doses will be made available next week, down from around 200,000 this last week. So, because we have vaccinated a greater percentage of our residents, including very many of the over 80s and are quickly moving on to groups under 80, we are being penalised. Data published a week ago indicated 46 per cent of over 80s had received a first dose, compared to 29 per cent in the East of England and 31 per cent in London. Changing the level of supply to our region is obviously a major frustration, especially as it had set up the capacity to administer tens of thousands more jabs than they will now be able to. We’ve all heard about suggested manufacture and delivery difficulties, but it is difficult to see the logic of a decision to curb a successful administering process. If this is true, it how does this fit in with the declared hope of giving more than two million doses each week?

I’m not sure whether this next point is good or bad news, but we’ll be able to decide in the next week or so. The government decided to delay the date of second Pfizer-BioNTech jabs so that more people could have a first vaccination. Against manufacturer’s advice they extended to 12 weeks the period between injections. Prof Chris Whitty said extending the maximum wait from three to 12 weeks was a "public health decision" to get the first jab to more people across the UK. Not everyone was happy about this and there have been concerns expressed that the delay may impact the value of the vaccination. Now senior doctors at the British Medical Association are calling on England’s chief medical officer to cut the gap between the first and second doses stating the delay is "difficult to justify" and should be changed to six weeks. The World Health Organisation has also waded in and suggested the delay should be no more than four weeks.

Finally, on vaccinations, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer has now confirmed that people who have received a Covid-19 vaccine could still pass the virus on to others and should continue following lockdown rules. Prof Jonathan Van-Tam stressed that scientists "do not yet know the impact of the vaccine on transmission".

Remember, the NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS or your doctor’s surgery for a vaccination before then. Topcliffe patients will either be contacted by letter or telephone call from the surgery.

Some reluctance to vaccination

New research by the Office of National Statistics suggests the older a person is, the more likely they are to intend to take up a coronavirus vaccine.

• 81% of people aged 16-29 said they would be very likely or fairly likely to take up an offered vaccine.
• 98% of adults aged 70 and over would take up the offer.
• 89% -of all respondents said they would be very likely or fairly likely to have the vaccine if offered.
• Around one in 20 (5%) are very or fairly unlikely to accept the vaccine. Most of those reluctant to get the jab said they were worried about potential long-term health effects.

The research also suggests there has been a slight gradual increase in positive attitudes towards getting vaccinated.

The mystery of being asymptomatic and a silent virus spreader

When chatting with a Sunday Email reader the other day the word asymptomatic came into the conversation and my friend admitted he was unsure what the word meant and why it was so important in discussions about Covid-19 and the spread of the disease. That got me wondering if others might have difficulty with the term, one that is used regularly by government spokespeople, medical professionals and in news reports. So, what does asymptomatic mean and what is the issue?

As the Coronavirus crisis unfolded, scientists discovered evidence about a strange and worrying feature of the disease. While many people who become infected develop the classic symptoms – a cough, fever and loss of taste and smell – others have no symptoms at all and never realise they’re carrying Covid-19. We can all understand and come to terms with the idea that people can be infectious before their symptoms show, but it’s quite another matter when they become infected but never have any sign of it. And that’s where the term ‘silent spreaders’ originates – these people have no symptoms but are infected and can transmit the disease to anyone they come in to contact with. There are many stories about how asymptomatic people spread the virus in the early days of the pandemic, but the problem is still with us and we all know how easy it is for the virus to be passed around via droplets in our breath, coughs and sneezes. It’s thought that 1 in 3 people have Coronavirus without displaying symptoms and that’s why the government has recently launched Lateral Flow testing (see below) for key-workers without symptoms. This testing will identify more positive cases of Covid-19 and ensure those infected can be isolated. But as far as I am aware no asymptomatic testing sites have yet been set up In North Yorkshire. If I hear differently, I’ll include details in a future email.

Lateral Flow Test

These new tests are much quicker, giving a result in less than an hour, because they don’t have to be sent to a lab to be processed. The test involves a swab of the nose and throat to collect a sample, which is then inserted into a tube of liquid for a short time. Drops of liquid are added to the test strip and after about half an hour a result will be shown. These tests can help identify people who have high levels of the virus who do not have symptoms and would not otherwise be coming forward for a test. Experts admit they don’t yet know for sure how effective these tests are for detecting the virus in people who are in the early stages of the disease, but everyone agrees that getting results quicker is really important in speeding up the response to the virus.

Online supermarket shopping…and good hygiene practice

My friends and neighbours have been brilliant giving me support with shopping during the pandemic and I am really grateful for the help they have given me. Last week, for the first time ever, I ordered my groceries online and it was a doddle. Online ordering was so easy to do and although I imagined it would be difficult to get a delivery date, to my surprise there was plenty of availability at the store I chose – Morrisons. The delivery arrived a little later than planned but that wasn’t too much of a problem and the very pleasant driver cancelled the cost of plastic bags to compensate me. It wasn’t much but it was a good customer relations ploy, which I appreciated.

In organising my first delivery of groceries I recalled the media discussion in the first lockdown about the safety aspects of having stuff delivered to your home during the pandemic and it struck me that I hadn’t heard anything along these lines in recent times. You might have thought that with each lockdown, as online delivery requests increase, there’d be loads of information made available to the public to guide them and ensure their safety. But a quick search of the internet produced very little recent information, leaving me to wonder if the dangers had been dismissed or if people had simply become blasé about the practice and potential dangers.

Eventually, however, I found some sensible advice that although quite old, seems to still have some resonance. According to the World Health Organisation, the risk of catching Covid-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperatures is very low. Despite the low risk of contamination, they suggest that anyone who feels in anyway anxious about the possibility of the virus spreading on food packaging, should use antibacterial wipes, diluted bleach or disinfectant spray before storing them away in the cupboards or fridge. For unwrapped fresh goods, which could have been handled by anyone, the advice is to wash thoroughly under running water and leave to dry. Alternatively, you can store products for 72 hours before using them but that seems a bit of a pain and wouldn’t work for fresh foods.

For those concerned about takeaway food packaging, the advice is clear: empty the contents into a clean dish, dispose of the packaging into a refuse bag, and eat the food with a knife and fork – not your fingers.

Finally, it is also important to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water after handling any packaging…and that goes for letter and parcel deliveries as well.

Book a coronavirus test locally

These are government operated ‘every day’ sites close to where we live. They operate 8am to 8pm. The full list of other sites operating in North Yorkshire can be viewed on the county council’s website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test

• Every day – Harrogate – Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB

• Every day – Northallerton – The Forum, Bullamore Road, Northallerton, DL6 1LP

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/ There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Dorothy ‘Dot’ Arkley

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Dot Arkley of Jamesville Way, Asenby. Dot, aged 79, passed away in The Friarage Hospital on 13 January from complications stemming from cancer that she had suffered from for around eight years. Dot and her husband, Mel, have lived in Asenby for 18 years and before that lived in Dalton for 24 years. Dot and Mel have two sons, Timothy and Richard, both of whom have travelled home (one from Berkshire and the other from the USA) to be with their father at this sad time. Dot was a great supporter of the Topcliffe & Asenby Produce Show and she regularly entered embroidery, tapestry, jams and baking. For many years Dot was treasurer of the Topcliffe Carpet Bowls Club, which plays in the village hall. The funeral will be held at Harrogate Crematorium on Thursday 4 February. Because of the Covid restrictions it will be immediate family only. Please do not send flowers. If anyone would like to make a donation to Cancer Research or Macmillan Nurses, that would be very much appreciated. Mel would like to thank everyone who has sent a card and their good wishes. There’ll be more about Dot in the next edition of The Tattler in March.

Asenby Bus Stop Library

Message from the organisers, David and Heather Allon: The two existing bookcases are now overflowing and the library is taking up all of its allocated space – we must of course leave sufficient space for bus passengers. Recently someone kindly left six black bags of books, which we will sort to extract new titles to replace the older ones on the shelves, and the remainder will be disposed of. We cannot cope with huge volumes of books, so in future it would help if library users would only leave books if there is room on the bookcase shelves.

Hambleton Heroes

Hambleton District Council has launched Hambleton Heroes 2020. This is an opportunity for anyone to nominate an individual or an organisation who has gone above and beyond to help other people during the pandemic and lockdown. Please see the link to the webpage with a short and easy to complete nomination form.

https://www.hambleton.gov.uk/community-action/hambleton-heroes

Flood defences hold

Anyone who saw the photographs on the Top Residents Facebook site this week will realise just how close Swaleside Holiday Park came to being flooded and how hard lots of people worked to keep the river from inundating the site. It was touch and go for quite awhile, but everyone’s efforts saved the day. Park Managers Amanda Kenny and Andrew Balderson (yes, they’re still on site but due to move fairly soon) applied their long-earned knowledge and experience of the park and the river to plan and coordinate defence against the rising river levels. Afterwards, as the water still lapped at the sandbags but the real danger was over, the couple sang the praises of all those involved. They said: “We’d like to give heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped at Swaleside Holiday Park on Thursday. In particular to Josh Barningham, Adam Lowe, Chris from Half Moon House, Tim and Phil Brierley, Mark Fairweather… and to the Milk Churn Farm Shop for hot chocolate and cakes when the team needed them most! And a big thank you to Topcliffe Parish Council and to Parish Councillors Malc Morley and Jamie Moores for coming to the rescue with additional sandbags. Thank you Topcliffe.

Topcliffe Parish Council

The Parish Council will be meeting remotely on Thursday 4 February at 7pm. Any members of the public wishing to join this online meeting should contact the clerk for log in details – topcliffeparishcouncil@gmail.com 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.

RSPB’s annual bird watch

There’s only a week to go. If you want to participate in the RSPB’s annual bird watch don’t forget to make a note on your calendar – it will take place between 29 and 31 January. 375,000 people have already signed up to take part. Anyone can join in and all you have to do is pick an hour during which you will monitor and count the birds in your own garden. All you have to do is count the birds that land in your garden…but you should ignore any birds that are still in flight. The results can be submitted online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch from 29 January until 19 February. Every count is important so, even if you don’t see anything you are asked to tell the RSPB. Apparently, finding out which birds don’t visit your area is as important as understanding those which do!

Safer Internet Day – 9 February

To mark Safer Internet Day, North Yorkshire Police will be hosting another of the popular online ’Ask the Experts’ evenings, this time to offer some insight into the tricks scammers use to manipulate their victims. The event will be conducted using Microsoft Teams and those registering to take part will be emailed a link prior to the date. You do not need to have Microsoft Teams installed on your computer to participate, just a good internet link. To register for the event please click on this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internet-safety-day-ask-the-experts-north-yorkshire-police-tickets-135979661829

Local traders

• Tea Time Yorkshire – Rosa Fothergill, who runs Tea Time Yorkshire café in Thirsk, is offering Valentine’s Afternoon Teas and Treat boxes for delivery on the weekend of 13 and 14 February. Full Afternoon Tea for two £36 and Valentine’s Treat Box for two £24, including delivery. Please order online by Sunday 7 February. https://www.teatimeyorkshire.co.uk/valentinesafternoontea
• Fish and Chips – The Fish & Chip van is back in action Fridays between 4 and 7pm.
• Topcliffe Post Office – The opening hours are: weekdays 7.30am – 3:30pm for the shop and 8:30am – 3.30pm for the post office counter. Saturdays – 8.30 – 11.30am. Sunday closed.
• News from The Elm Gallery – The gallery remains closed. Liz and Dave will continue to promote items on the gallery’s Facebook page and website. Collection of purchases at the gallery door can be arranged. More information can be found on their website at www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk and they can be contacted on 01845 577316 or 07709 223920.
• The Milk Churn Farm Shop – The farm shop is open but no takeaway drinks are being served during lockdown. Fresh bread arrives daily. Customers can only enter the shop one at a time, they must wear a mask and are asked not to handle products they don’t intend to buy. For their part, the staff will clean the baskets, door handles and other surfaces on a regular basis. Meat, fruit and vegetable baskets can be delivered to any Topcliffe and Asenby residents who are isolating or collected in person by arrangement. Telephone 01845 400446 to order and agree a time. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/
• The Angel – Because of the lockdown The Angel has had to close its doors. The Angel at Home takeaway service is operating with a new menu and reduced prices. Take away times are Wednesday to Saturday, 4.30-8pm, with orders taken from 3.30pm and Sundays 12-6pm, with orders taken from 11am. Call 01845 578000 to place an order or book a time slot in advance. Check out the details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk
• The Swan – The Swan is closed until further notice…hopefully, not too long!

St. Columba’s Church

Topcliffe St Columba’s PCC has agreed that the following service will be held:

• Evensong at 6.30pm on Sunday, 7 February at St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe.

• No services will be held on Sunday 24 January or Sunday 31 January.

A great deal of work has been done on risk assessments for these services and strict measures will be in place for wearing of face masks, hand sanitisation before and after each service, and social distancing. Please observe spaced time of arrival and departure to avoid mingling. Any changes in the rules or legislation regarding church opening and services will be included in a future email.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Recycling – Thursday 28 January and 11 February 2021

• Refuse – Mondays 1 and 15 February 2021.

• Green waste – collections recommence Thursday 25 February 2021

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Recycling – Mondays 1 and 15 February

• Refuse – Mondays 25 January and 8 February 2021 (sorry about missing out the times and dates of refuse collection in last week’s message)

• Green waste – suspended until mid-March

Green waste licence renewal

Subscriptions for new licences from both councils for 2021-22 are now being taken.

Subscriptions for a new Hambleton licence for the year 2021-22 will cost £40 per licence per bin. To subscribe or for further information please visit www.hambleton.gov.uk/newbins

Subscriptions for a new licence from Harrogate District Council for 2021-22 will cost £41 per bin. You will receive nineteen fortnightly collections – that’s around £2 per collection. To subscribe or for more information please visit

https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/garden-waste-subscription-service

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Hello and welcome to the 41st issue of this regular Sunday email. I hope you find its contents interesting and informative. As usual, do 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 week’s Covid statistics (Saturday 16 January)

• 41,346 people in the UK tested positive for Coronavirus. Almost 340,000 people tested positive over a seven-day period. Both figures are significantly lower than the previous week.
• Last week 4,532 people a day were admitted to hospital (29,412 in the week). There’s a record 37,500 Coronavirus patients in hospital. These figures show an increase on the previous week. The peak in admissions is expected in a seven to ten days’ time.
• The R number – which takes into account cases, hospitalisations and deaths – is estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.3, compared with 1 and 1.4 last week.
• Coronavirus patients are now regularly being moved from areas where there is a strain on hospitals to hospitals in other parts of the country, including the north east and Yorkshire.
• 695,000 Coronavirus tests were undertaken on 15 January and 4,178,802 during a seven-day period to 15 January.
• On Saturday 1,295 UK deaths were announced. There were 7,722 in the seven-day period to Saturday. Both these figures are increases on the previous week. So far during the pandemic, close to 88,600 deaths have been recorded.
• Worldwide, the number of deaths passed the two million mark – 2,000,905.
• From tomorrow, special air travel corridors will close and everyone arriving in the UK will have to present a negative Covid-19 test before they board a plane, train or boat bound for the UK. The test will need to have been taken within 72 hours of the start of the journey. All travellers will have to quarantine for 10 days, unless they test negative after 5 days.
• Also, from Monday, all flights from South America and Portugal to the UK have been halted in an attempt to stop a particularly virulent strain of the Brazilian Covid from arriving here.

Vaccinations proceed at a pace

Over 3.5 million people have had the first dose vaccination. Locally, Topcliffe Surgery is working with seven other surgeries in the Hambleton to run the centre at The Forum in Northallerton. The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS or Topcliffe Surgery for a vaccination before then. Topcliffe patients will either be contacted by letter or telephone call from the surgery.

Experts have warned that some people may still get Covid despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe. It may take a week or two for your body to build up some protection from the first dose of vaccine. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so you should continue to take recommended precautions – practice social distancing, wear a face mask, wash your hands carefully and frequently, as well as follow local restrictions – to avoid infection and protect those around you.

Statement from Richard Flintoff, Chief Executive of North Yorkshire County Council (13 January)

The number of people we have lost In North Yorkshire to Covid-19 since the pandemic began is 841. That’s 841 families who have lost a person they loved – a mum or dad, brother or sister, a son or daughter, a grandparent, a best friend. More than 30 people have died here in the last week alone. In a personal and professional capacity, I share the sense of grief and determination to drive this virus out of our county and today I am asking you to show that team spirit and resolve like never before to help that happen. North Yorkshire’s frontline NHS staff are now treating 85 more patients in the hospitals which serve our residents than in the first wave. Thirty more people who need hospital care have been admitted over the last 48 hours alone. Our NHS colleagues are using words we hoped not to hear. They are facing ‘unprecedented demand’: they are in ‘a dangerous place’. The new variant, which we know is much easier to catch than the original strain, is widespread across North Yorkshire and York and doing its best to drive infection still further here. And even though we are seeing the first small reductions in the rates of infections across the county there is a delay of around 10 to 14 days between someone testing positive for Covid and developing the more serious symptoms, which may require hospital treatment. Therefore, a reduction in rates now will not translate into any relief for NHS staff for some time to come. Only by acting collectively and consistently and making the right decision every day can we make the difference that will turn the tide on this and see us edge towards a better place.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who continue to do the right thing and who are staying at home. For the tiny minority who think it’s OK to have a birthday party at home with friends or drive unreasonable distances to take their daily exercise I would warn that they should expect a word from our colleagues at North Yorkshire Police. Because whilst officers have been incredibly patient in explaining the rules to people, they are equally clear that those choosing to flout them deliberately can expect a fine.

Exercising and meeting other people

The argument continues about the clarity or otherwise of government rules relating to leaving our homes for exercise. The media has regularly reported apparent breaches of the regulations and there were accusations that even the Prime Minister travelled too far from home for exercise purposes. Fortunately, the two Derbyshire ladies fined for being out walking at a beauty spot whilst drinking coffees have had their £200 fines cancelled. And in the section above, North Yorkshire County Council’s CEO warns that the county’s police are on the lookout for anyone flouting the rules. So, what are the rules? The government maintains the following guidelines should be sufficient for us all to make sensible decisions.

The main point is that you should minimise time spent outside your home. It is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble. You can only leave your home to exercise, and not for the purpose of recreation or leisure (e.g. a picnic or a social meeting). This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

You can exercise in a public outdoor place:

• by yourself
• with the people you live with
• with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
• in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
• or, when on your own, with one person from another household.

Public outdoor places include:

• parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
• public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
• the grounds of a heritage site
• playgrounds.

But be prepared for changes to these rules. At the end of last week the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said the government could not rule out further measures being announced any time soon. It is thought ministers are considering measures like requiring the wearing of masks outside and allowing people to exercise only with people from the same household.

Think carefully when going shopping

There’s been much in the news this last week about peoples’ concerns about going shopping in supermarkets…and the big chains have reacted quickly to reintroduce firmer safety rules governing the wearing of masks, one-way routes and numbers allowed in the shop at any one time. So, what is the best advice for those of us that must continue to do the shopping?

First, we have to remember that Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets – packed with the virus – into the air. These can cause an infection if they are breathed in, or potentially if you touch a surface they have landed on. So, going shopping and mixing with other people does carry a risk. That is why social distancing – keeping at least 2m (about 6ft) from others – is so important. The experts agree that supermarkets can provide an ideal setting for virus transfer. They recognise that many people are touching and replacing items, as well as touching checkout belts, baskets, trolleys, cash cards, car park ticket machine buttons, ATM buttons and paper receipts. Not to mention being in the proximity of lots of other people.

There are ways to offset these risks:

• Shop at quieter times when fewer shoppers are about.
• Make use of any priority shopping arrangements on offer, for example if you qualify to use special slots NHS workers and those for vulnerable people.
• Always wear your mask…and consider wearing gloves.
• Make use of sanitisation materials supplied at entrances.
• Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand sanitiser before and after shopping.
• Treat surfaces as if they may be contaminated, meaning you avoid touching your face after handling anything mentioned above.
• Use contactless payment methods.

There’s always the option of shopping online with home deliveries. There’s high demand for slots but look around and there’ll be availability at one or other main supermarkets. And don’t forget that the Milk Churm Farm Shop in Topcliffe can provide veg, fruit and fresh meat boxes…and deliver them vulnerable villagers in Topcliffe and Asenby.

Book a coronavirus test locally

These are government operated ‘every day’ sites close to where we live. They operate 8am to 8pm. The full list of other sites operating in North Yorkshire can be viewed on the county council’s website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test

• Every day – Harrogate – Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB

• Every day – Northallerton – The Forum, Bullamore Road, Northallerton, DL6 1LP

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/ There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Asenby Parish Council

Just a reminder that Asenby Parish Council will meet remotely on Wednesday 20 January. The meeting is at 7.30pm. Residents wishing to join this meeting should email the Parish Clerk at asenbypc@gmail.com for log in details.

Fish and Chips

The Fish & Chip van will be back in action between 4 and 7pm on Friday 22 January.

Topcliffe Post Office

Here’s a reminder of the current opening hours: weekdays 7.30am – 3:30pm for the shop and 8:30am – 3.30pm for the post office counter. Saturdays – 8.30 – 11.30am. Sunday closed.

Stamp collection

Topcliffe resident Samantha Key is taking up philately but she won’t be sticking the stamps she has into an album…instead she is collecting used stamps to support her favourite charity. She is supporting Support Dogs for Autism, for Epilepsy and for Disability, a registered national charity dedicated to increasing independence and quality of life for people with various medical conditions. It provides, trains and supports specialist assistance dogs to achieve this. Sam is prepared to act as a ‘stamp collector’ for Topcliffe and Asenby and is hoping villagers will support her by collecting any stamps – UK or international. They just need to be cut out with about a 1cm of envelope left around the edge. Anyone willing to help can collect stamps at home and at convenient times, when passing, drop them through the letterbox at Cliff House, Long Street (next door to The Angel).

Topcliffe Surgery – Round-Up

• Text Messaging – The recently launched text messaging service is proving to be very popular. The service enables surgery staff to provide patients with test results and other important information by text to your mobile. This includes being able to let you know when your medication is ready to collect. For this service to run well, it is important that the surgery has the correct contact details for all patients. If any of your contact details have changed recently please let the surgery know.
• Advice on weight gain and fitness- In January many of us start to think about the changes we’d like to make in the coming months. With almost a year of social distancing and restrictions, some of us have got fitter and lost weight. For others, they’ve lost fitness or gained weight. Lockdown places new limits on what we can do, but if you’d like to do something about it, why not consider the NHS weight loss plan? It’s a free 12-week plan, and with over 7 million downloads, you’ll be in good company. Additionally, surgery staff advise that if you’re trying to lose weight, a low-fat diet could help you. Fat is higher in calories than protein or carbohydrate per gram, so changing what you eat can make a big difference over time. If you have Type 2 Diabetes, losing weight can make a huge difference to your overall health. Restrictions have meant that many of us haven’t exercised how and where we normally would. If you’re missing out on the gym, the NHS has a brilliant suite of fitness videos for you to follow at home. From aerobic to strength training, there’s something for everyone.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/start-the-nhs-weight-loss-plan/

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/low-fat-diet.html

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/

• Dry January – If you think you might be drinking a bit more alcohol than you should, you might want to consider some of the tips the NHS has to offer to help you cut down. Alcohol can have a negative impact on your health and well-being. For others, just cutting down won’t be enough. You might have decided to cut alcohol out of your life completely. For some people, it’s not a lifestyle choice: it’s a necessity. ‘Drink Aware’ has advice about removing alcohol from your life safely. This is particularly important if you’re drinking heavily on a regular basis. If you think you might be dependent on alcohol and could use some support, please ask to speak to one of the GPs at the surgery. They’re always there to help support positive changes. If you think a temporary change in alcohol consumption might be just the ticket as a reset after the festive season, take a look at Alcohol Change UK’s ‘Dry January’ website. We might be halfway through the month but it’s never too late to consider a change in drinking habits. Participants report a wide range of benefits such as saving money and improved sleep.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/tips-on-cutting-down-alcohol/

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice…nking/how-to-stop-drinking-alcoholcompletely

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january

• Brew-up to support The Samaritans – For many of us, 2020 was a long, challenging year! Now in the midst of winter we are experiencing shorter, darker days. These things can have a negative impact on mental health and resilience. Sometimes just hearing a friendly voice is all you need when you’re feeling down. That’s why The Samaritans are asking us to reach out to relatives, friends and neighbours who might be finding things difficult. Even if we can’t meet easily for a cuppa, we can arrange to have a virtual cuppa and put the world to rights together. After all, they do say that a problem shared is a problem halved. The surgery is supporting a brew-up on Monday 20 January and it’s hoped that lots of us will take part and help raise a few pounds for the charity. For more information about how to get involved and contribute go to: https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/brew-monday/
• Flu vaccination for patients aged 50 to 65 years – the surgery still has some flu vaccines available for patients in this age group. It is important that those who are eligible for the jab make an appointment to receive it. If you have not had your flu vaccination yet, please call 01845 577297 to make an appointment.

Yarnbombers in action in Topcliffe

Mystery yarnbombers have been leaving knitted momentos around Topcliffe this past week or so. Lovely little messages attached to knitted flowers, rainbows and owls have mysteriously appeared in all sort of places for anyone to find and take home. Of course, you’re not allowed to know whodunit! That’s secret and the names of yarnbombers are rarely revealed.

Thirsk Community Library

The library has launched a new jigsaw loan scheme. This is operating alongside the popular Library at Home and Click and Collect book, audiobooks, music and DVDs borrowing services. You can choose the type of jigsaw picture and the number of pieces either by telephone 01609 534589 or by email library@thirskcommunitylibrary.org.uk . It’s £1 for a four-week loan or 50p for children’s jigsaws.

Thirsk-based charity Community Works is doing the home deliveries of library books as well as shopping and prescription deliveries if anyone is in need of assistance. Queries about any of these services or helping with volunteering to drive people for their vaccinations or doctor’s appointments, can be made to Helen Ashworth on helen@communityworks.uk

RSPB’s annual birdwatch

If you want to participate in the RSPB’s annual bird watch don’t forget to make a note on your calendar – it will take place between 29 and 31 January. 375,000 people have already signed up to take part. Anyone can join in and all you have to do is pick an hour during which you will monitor and count the birds in your own garden. All you have to do is count the birds that land in your garden…but you should ignore any birds that are still in flight. The results can be submitted online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch from 29 January until 19 February. Every count is important so, even if you don’t see anything you are asked to tell the RSPB. Apparently, finding out which birds don’t visit your area is as important as understanding those which do!

Safer Internet Day – 9 February

To mark Safer Internet Day, North Yorkshire Police will be hosting another of the popular online ’Ask the Experts’ evenings, this time to offer some insight into the tricks scammers use to manipulate their victims. The event will be conducted using Microsoft Teams and those registering to take part will be emailed a link prior to the date. You do not need to have Microsoft Teams installed on your computer to participate, just a good internet link.

To register for the event please click on this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internet-safety-day-ask-the-experts-north-yorkshire-police-tickets-135979661829

News from The Elm Gallery

The gallery remains closed. Liz and Dave will continue to promote items on the gallery’s Facebook page and website. Collection of purchases at the gallery door can be arranged. More information can be found on their website at www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk and they can be contacted on 01845 577316 or 07709 223920.

The Milk Churn Farm Shop

The farm shop is open but no takeaway drinks are being served during lockdown. Fresh bread arrives daily. Customers can only enter the shop one at a time, they must wear a mask and are asked not to handle products they don’t intend to buy. For their part, the staff will clean the baskets, door handles and other surfaces on a regular basis. Meat, fruit and vegetable baskets can be delivered to any Topcliffe and Asenby residents who are isolating or collected in person by arrangement. Telephone 01845 400446 to order and agree a time. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/

St. Columba’s Church

Following a recent online meeting of Topcliffe St Columba’s PCC it has been agreed that the following services will be held:

• Matins today at 10.30am.
• Evensong at 6.30pm on Sunday, 7 February at St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe.
• No services will be held on Sunday 24 January or Sunday 31 January.

A great deal of work has been done on risk assessments for these services and strict measures will be in place for wearing of face masks, hand sanitisation before and after each service, and social distancing. Please observe spaced time of arrival and departure to avoid mingling. Any changes in the rules or legislation regarding church opening and services will be included in a future email.

The Angel

Because of the lockdown The Angel has had to close its doors. The Angel at Home takeaway service is operating with a new menu and reduced prices. Take away times are Wednesday to Saturday, 4.30-8pm, with orders taken from 3.30pm and Sundays 12-6pm, with orders taken from 11am. Call 01845 578000 to place an order or book a time slot in advance. Check out the details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk

The Swan

The Swan is closed until further notice…hopefully, not too long!

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Refuse – Mondays 18 January and 1 February 2021.

• Recycling – Thursday 28 January 2021

• Green waste – collections recommence Thursday 22 February 2021

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Recycling – Mondays 18 January and 1 February (subject to weather conditions)

• Refuse –

• Green waste – suspended until mid-March

Green waste licence renewal

Subscriptions for new licences from both councils for 2021-22 are now being taken

The Hambleton licence expires on 26 March 2021. Subscriptions for a new licence will cost £40 per licence per bin. The 2021-22 service runs from 29 March 2021 to 25 March 2022. To subscribe or for further information please visit www.hambleton.gov.uk/newbins

Subscriptions for a new licence from Harrogate District Council will cost £41 per bin. The 2021-22 service runs from mid-March 2021 to November 2021. This year we have held the price of a garden waste licence at £41. You will receive nineteen fortnightly collections – great value at around £2 per collection. To subscribe or for more information please visit https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/garden-waste-subscription-service

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Hello and welcome to the 40th issue of this regular Sunday email. As one avid reader pointed out, it is the ruby edition!

I hope you find its contents interesting and informative. As usual, do 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

Covid situation round-up

It has been a truly awful week with the number of infections, hospitalisations and deaths massively increasing – and the situation proving worse than at the height of the spring 2020 lockdown. The post-Christmas spike that was predicted is now coming into play and the new UK variant is hugely increasing the rate of transmission in almost every part of the country. Here are a few other statistics and snippets that sum up the situation:

• The Office for National Statistics reckons that nearly half the households in the UK formed a Christmas bubble, whether they were allowed to or not.

• On Friday last, 68,053 people in the UK tested positive for coronavirus. Over 415,000 tested positive over a seven-day period to Friday.

• Last week it was announced that one in 50 people were infectious…and in some areas as many as one in 20.

• Around 3,870 people a day last week were admitted to hospital (23,400 in the week).

• 620,000 coronavirus tests were undertaken on 7 January and 3,403,714 during a seven-day period to 7 January.

• On Friday 1,325 deaths were announced. There were almost 5,700 in the seven-day period to Friday. So far during the pandemic, close to 80,000 deaths have been recorded.

• Two types of vaccine are now being used. They are being given to the most vulnerable first, as set out in a list of nine high-priority groups, covering around 30 million people in the UK. Around 1.5 million people in the UK have had at least one dose of Covid vaccine so far. That includes almost a quarter of those aged over 80 in England.

• A third Covid vaccine has been approved for use in the UK. It is made by the company Moderna and works in a similar way to the Pfizer one that is already being offered on the NHS. However, supplies of the new jab are not expected to be available until the spring. The UK has now pre-ordered 17 million doses.

• From next week, all international arrivals, including UK citizens, will have to present a negative Covid-19 test before they board a plane, train or boat bound for the UK. The test will need to have been taken within 72 hours of the start of the journey. People arriving from countries which are not on the government’s ‘Travel Corridor list’ will still have to self-isolate for ten days, regardless of their test result.

Local restrictions

As North Yorkshire is in a national lockdown we must now stay at home and follow the restrictions to limit the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS and to save lives. We must not leave or be outside of our homes except when we have a reasonable excuse. You can leave home to/for:

• Work – where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home

• Volunteer – to provide voluntary or charitable services.

• Essential activities – to buy things at shops or obtain services. You may also do these things on behalf of a disabled or vulnerable person or someone self-isolating.

• Education and childcare – for education, registered childcare and supervised activities for children where they are eligible to attend.

• Meeting others and care – to visit people in your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one), to provide informal childcare for children under 14 as part of a childcare bubble, or for respite care where that care is being provided to a vulnerable person or a person with a disability, or for a short break in respect of a looked-after child.

• Exercise – to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area. You should maintain social distancing.

• Medical reasons – including to get a Covid-19 test, for medical appointments and emergencies.

• Harm and compassionate visits – to be with someone who is giving birth, to avoid injury or illness or to escape risk of harm (such as domestic abuse). You can also leave home to visit someone who is dying or someone in a care home (if permitted under care home guidance), hospice, or hospital, or to accompany them to a medical appointment.

• Animal welfare reasons – such as to attend veterinary services for advice or treatment.

• Communal worship and life events – to attend or visit a place of worship for communal worship, a funeral or event related to a death, a burial ground or a remembrance garden, or to attend a wedding ceremony. You should follow the guidance on the safe use of places of worship and must not mingle with anyone outside of your household or support bubble when attending a place of worship. Weddings, funerals and religious, belief-based or commemorative events linked to someone’s death are all subject to limits on the numbers that can attend, and weddings and civil ceremonies may only take place in exceptional circumstances.

Book a coronavirus test locally

These are government operated ‘every day’ sites close to where we live. They operate 8am to 8pm. The full list of other sites operating in North Yorkshire can be viewed on the county council’s website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test

• Every day – Harrogate – Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB

• Every day – Northallerton – The Forum, Bullamore Road, Northallerton, DL6 1LP

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/ There’s a link on the North Yorkshire County Council website to request a home test – https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/home-testing

Note from Topcliffe Surgery

Please see the attached communication from the team at Topcliffe Surgery.

Help available to anyone who needs it

Many residents will be shielding again as part of the national lockdown but no-one in either of our villages should ever be alone or without help. In most cases neighbours are happy to provide essential support with such things as shopping, collecting prescriptions or just to have a chat. But if a more formal approach is preferred North Yorkshire County Council can assist. Since the beginning of the pandemic the authority has been working alongside district councils and in partnership with community organisations to coordinate volunteer support hubs. These hubs are a single point of contact within the community that can provide a safety net of support for people during this latest lockdown. More than 1,500 volunteers have helped thousands of people each week with shopping, hot meals and prescriptions, as well as checking on people’s health and wellbeing. If you don’t have anyone you can turn to for help give them a call and they will get you the support you need. Call 01609 780780 between 8am and 5.30pm seven days a week.

Clap for Heroes

Did you take part in the first Clap for Heroes last Thursday evening? The weekly doorstep applause for NHS and care workers that was so popular in the early days of Covid has returned under a new name and to thank a wider range of deserving workers who have kept going throughout the pandemic. By all accounts the public didn’t respond to this fresh call for applause in the way they did last year, but maybe the idea will gather momentum in the weeks to come. The plan is to have doorstep applause each Thursday evening at 8pm.

Asenby Parish Council

Just a reminder that Asenby Parish Council will be meeting remotely on Wednesday 20 January 2021. The meeting is at 7.30pm – not 7pm as suggested last week. Residents wishing to join this meeting electronically should email the Parish Clerk at asenbypc@gmail.com for log in details.

Topcliffe Parish Council

The Parish Council met remotely last Thursday. The Minutes will be published online at www.topcliffe.org.uk

Margaret’s Tipping Point

Last October (Issue 29 of the Sunday Email) I mentioned that former Topcliffe resident Margaret Whitaker was due to make an appearance on the ITV quiz programme Tipping Point that week. Well, it didn’t happen! But the recorded appearance is due to be broadcast at 4pm this Friday (15 January). Margaret, who was the school secretary at Topcliffe School for some years but moved to Seaton Carew after her retirement, sadly died not long after the programme was recorded.

Fish and Chips

Both Karen and her dad Paul have recently had operations and I’m pleased to report both are recovering well. It’s anticipated that the Fish & Chip van will be back in action between 4 and 7pm on Friday 22 January. The time and date will be confirmed or otherwise in next week’s email.

Ice treatment

We’ve had some pretty severe weather over the last few weeks and our drives and paths have been treacherous to walk on. So, it’s timely that Josh Barningham is selling bags of white rock salt to treat surfaces. The 25kg bags are available at £6 (reduced from £10). He can deliver to both villages. Telephone 07716 334211.

Post Office opening times have changed

Topcliffe Post Office has announced that it is reducing its opening times during the current lockdown. Until further notice it will close at 3:30pm. The opening times are now 7.30am – 3:30pm for the shop and 7:30am – 3.30pm for the post office counter.

RSPB’s annual birdwatch

The RSPB’s annual bird watch will take place between 29 and 31 January. Anyone can take part and all you have to do is pick an hour during which you will monitor and count the birds in your own garden. In other years you could select another location such as a park or allotment, but during lockdown it’s best to stick to your own garden. You can be an early bird checking out what goes on before most of us are out of bed or a night owl if you think there’s any nocturnal activity where you live. All you have to do is count the birds that land in your garden…but you should ignore any birds that are still in flight. To avoid double-counting, just record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not a running total. The results can be submitted online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch from 29 January until 19 February. Every count is important so, even if you don’t see anything you are asked to tell the RSPB. Apparently, finding out which birds don’t visit your area is as important as understanding those which do!

Police, Fire & Crime budget and council tax bill

There’s still a few days to tell Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan about your thoughts on the size of the budget allocated for services she oversees and the impact on your council tax bill next year. The consultation closes Wednesday 13 January. The survey can be completed at www.telljulia.info

Census 2021 will provide a snapshot of modern society

Households across North Yorkshire will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021. Census day will be on March 21. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. This census will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter in early March with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets. It’s important for everyone to take part as the information gathered is used to ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed. This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. Although this year’s census is principally an online affair, there will be paper questionnaires for those that need them. There’ll be more about the census in future Sunday emails and the spring Tattler.

Scammers try it on with vaccines

It doesn’t take long for scammers to catch on to the latest opportunities to try and defraud us. Neighbourhood Watch this week warned about a new scam that is doing the rounds using a genuine looking website. It starts with a text seemingly from the NHS inviting the intended target to apply for the new vaccine. If you click on the link you are redirected to a website that looks believable and asks for a load of personal information. But it’s all a con and alarm bells should ring because, as we all know, the vaccine is free. Follow the usual advice and do not click on links in unknown texts or emails and never give out your personal details.

Safer Internet Day – 9 February

With more people working from home and children now having their school lessons online, the need to use the internet more safely and securely has never been greater. To mark Safer Internet Day, North Yorkshire Police will be hosting another of the popular online ’Ask the Experts’ evenings. There’ll be presentations from the Cyber Crime Unit and Online Abuse & Safeguarding Units, and an insight will be given into the tricks scammers use to manipulate their victims. As usual there will be the opportunity to ask questions of our panel of experts. This event will be conducted using Microsoft Teams and those registering to take part will be emailed a link prior to the date. You do not need to have Microsoft Teams installed on your computer to participate, just a good internet link. To register for the event please click on this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internet-safety-day-ask-the-experts-north-yorkshire-police-tickets-135979661829

News from The Elm Gallery

The gallery remains closed. The gallery didn’t have to close, but Liz and Dave decided they would now feel much safer if it did. They will continue to post things on the gallery Facebook page and, just as they did during the last lockdown, collection of purchases at the gallery door can be arranged. More information can be found on their website at www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk and they can be contacted on 01845 577316 or 07709 223920. The gallery will re-open when infection rates fall and/or when Liz and Dave have had their vaccinations.

The Milk Churn Farm Shop

Debbie and her team would like to thank all of their customers for accepting the changes they have had to make due to the Covid lockdown.

The farm shop is now open again after a well-deserved extended festive break, but no takeaway drinks are being served. The shop is well-stocked with fresh food and drink. If there is a specific vegetable, fruit or meat product that any customer wants, the staff are more than happy to order it from their suppliers. They are getting fresh bread daily but unfortunately are unable to get sourdough throughout lockdown. Because of the lockdown restrictions and worrying high numbers of infections in Hambleton, customers will be required to be in the shop one at a time, to wear their mask and not to handle products they don’t intend to buy – the names and prices are all clearly presented. For their part, the staff will clean the baskets, door handles and other surfaces on a regular basis. Meat, fruit and vegetable baskets can be delivered to any Topcliffe and Asenby residents who are isolating or collected in person by arrangement. Telephone 01845 400446 to order and agree a time. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/

St. Columba’s Church

The Communion Service scheduled for today (10 January) will not take place as the Rev’d Terry Dyer has decided not to continue with services under the present circumstances. The congregation offers its heartfelt thanks to Rev’d Dyer and Churchwarden, Chris Hewlett, for their dedication and professionalism in supporting church activities to date. The possibility of holding future services will be risk assessed under the Covid regulations and a further announcement made in due course.

The Angel

Because of the tier lockdown The Angel has had to close its doors. However, Greg and his team are keeping positive and look forward to a brighter spring. In the meantime, the Angel at Home takeaway service is operating with a new menu and reduced prices. Take away times are Wednesday to Saturday, 4.30-8pm, with orders taken from 3.30pm and Sundays 12-6pm, with orders taken from 11am. Call 01845 578000 to place an order or book a time slot in advance. Check out the details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk

The Swan

The Swan is closed until further notice…hopefully, not too long! George and Jane would like to thank everyone who has supported them throughout the recent difficult and confusing times and they look forward to the time when customers can again visit for drinks and meals.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Recycling – Thursdays 14 and 28 January 2021

• Green Waste – 14 January – this special collection is for subscribing members only. It’s primarily for Christmas trees, which must be cut up and placed completely inside the bin. Other green waste can also be included. The current 2020/21 licences expire 26 March 2021. Subscriptions for the Hambleton 2021-22 garden waste service can now be purchased. Subscriptions cost £40 per licence per bin. The 2021-22 service runs 29 March 2021 to 25 March 2022. To subscribe or for further information please visit www.hambleton.gov.uk/newbins Residents who don’t subscribe to the green waste collection services can take trees to the Recycling Centre in Sowerby. It’s open from 8.30am until 4pm but closed every Wednesday.

• Refuse – Mondays 18 January and 1 February 2021.

Important Note from Hambleton Council: Low temperatures and continuous spells of wintry weather have resulted in ice remaining on many roads and paved surfaces. Conditions are expected to continue in some area across the district for some time. Whilst additional vehicles and staff have been deployed to assist with collections, the conditions in some areas have not improved enough to allow safe access and collection teams may not be able to work as normal. If this is the case, additional waste to the equivalent of one missed collection will be collected with your next scheduled collection – waste must be left in black sacks.

Harrogate (Asenby):

Due to the current weather conditions, collections this coming week will be a day later than planned. This schedule may change if the adverse weather continues.

• Collections due on Monday 11 January will now be collected on Tuesday 12 January

• Recycling – Mondays 18 January and 1 February (subject to weather conditions)

• Green waste – currently suspended. Subscriptions for 2021-22 open this month. To subscribe or for more information please visit https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/garden-waste-subscription-service

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Topcliffe Surgery Update.pdf