Coronavirus update 17 February 2022
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A message from Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council
Hello,
Our Council House Building Programme includes a commitment to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and this week I was pleased to be able to see the work that is currently under way to convert former council offices into affordable and energy-efficient apartments.
The development at 117 Newbridge Hill, Bath, 9 is one of the first steps in our Council House Building Programme – which will provide 58 new council houses to rent to help meet the demand for affordable homes in the area. The low-energy homes will be designed, delivered and owned directly by the council.
New investment to deliver new council homes was in our 2022-23 budget, which was agreed at our budget-setting Full Council meeting this week, you can watch it on the council’s Youtube channel.
The budget we’ve passed includes new funding of £27.4 million to help us meet our climate emergency ambitions for the benefit of our local environment and for the sake of future generations. This investment includes the new Keynsham Recycling Hub ‒ a super energy-efficient facility which will enable more recycling. We are also investing in energy-efficient measures in our commercial estate and expanding our green vehicle fleet.
A further £11m will be invested over the course of the council’s five-year capital programme on schemes which include the Bath Riverline project ‒ a 10km walking/cycling connection between Newbridge and Batheaston/Bathampton, which will improve biodiversity, landscaping and green space.
As well as ensuring new investment meets our climate emergency ambitions, we are also committed to good access for everyone. It was great to see refurbishment work has been completed this week on a disability-compliant toilet at the entrance to Charlotte Street Car Park in Bath following a £12,000 investment. A further £12,000 has also been agreed to refurbish toilets at Ashton Way in Keynsham to provide a disability-compliant facility.
It is half term next week and I hope students and staff will enjoy their well-earned break after what has been a difficult seven weeks coping with the challenges that Covid-19 continues to bring. Please remember families can choose to wait to have their child vaccinated at their place of education, or they can book an appointment at an out-of-school vaccination centre. Extra sites will be carrying out vaccinations of 12 to 15-year-olds during the February half-term break, and these are listed on the National Booking System, which is available online at www.nhs.uk or over the phone by calling 119.
Finally, due to the Met Office red and amber weather warnings we have advised schools to close tomorrow and we are suspending our school transport service tomorrow. Please take care and only make essential journeys.
Have a good weekend.
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Met Office weather warning for Friday
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for Friday for our area with a rare Red weather warning for many other parts of the South West. Storm Eunice may cause significant disruption due to extremely strong winds on Friday, and people are advised to stay home and only make essential journeys. There is a good chance that flying debris could result in a danger to life.
We have advised schools to close and are suspending our school transport service. The Covid-19 testing van will also be closed on Friday and Saturday, as will Bath Racecourse vaccination centre on Friday. Those that have booked will be phoned directly and it will be closed to all walk-ins.
Please follow us on twitter for council updates and go to our website for service disruptions. |
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| These are the latest Covid case figures for B&NES – please play your part to drive the number down. |
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Pop-up vaccine clinics
Two pop-up, walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinics are taking place next week.
Both clinics are offering first doses, second doses and boosters for anyone 16+ and 12 to 15-year-olds at higher risk from Covid-19, or who live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system. First and second doses are available for all other 12-15 yr olds. You do not need to be registered with a GP to get your vaccine.
- 22 Feb – Salvation Army, Green Park, Bath, 11am–7pm
- 24 Feb – Bath City Football Club 11am–7pm
More information about vaccines and walk-in clinics is here. |
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Booster doses available for 16+
Everyone aged 16 and over is now eligible for a Covid-19 booster jab. Boosters can be given if you had your second dose at least 3 months ago.
You can get your vaccine in the following ways:
- Book an appointment on the National Booking System (You need to be registered with a GP surgery in England to use this service. You can register with a GP if you do not have one).
- If you cannot book appointments online, you can call 119 free of charge (lines are open 7am to 11pm). You can speak to a translator if you need to. If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use textphone 18001 119 or the NHS 119 BSL interpreter service.
- Get your vaccination at a walk-in clinic (no need to book or be registered with a GP). To find a walk-in clinic near you, please go to the NHS website. Bath Racecourse are currently offering walk-ins to those 12 and over, please visit the NHS website for more details.
If you’ve had a positive Covid-19 test, you need to wait before getting any dose of the vaccine. You need to:
- Aged 18 years-old or over: wait 4 weeks (28 days)
- Aged 12 to 17-years-old: wait 12 weeks (84 days)
- Aged 12 to 17-years-old and at high-risk from Covid-19: wait 4 weeks (28 days)
This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms.
Don't forget, you can take the Park and Ride bus service (no. 31) from Milsom St (Bath City Centre) to Bath Racecourse. A free shuttle service continues to run from the Park & Ride on the hour and on the half hour to Bath Racecourse, returning from the Racecourse to the Park & Ride at quarter past and quarter to the hour. Most shuttles are wheelchair accessible, but we cannot guarantee this. Please check the Bath Racecourse shuttle timetable.
If you find it difficult to get to a Covid-19 vaccination site due to accessibility, please call the Community Wellbeing Hub on 0300 247 0050. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm. The Hub will be able to arrange for a community transport provider to pick you up, take you to the vaccination site, and drop you home afterwards. There may be a charge for this service.
If you have any questions about the booster, watch this helpful video featuring Uzo Ibechukwu, Chief Pharmacist at the RUH Bath, who explains the difference getting the booster will make to you. |
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Vaccines for 12 to 15-year-olds
Children aged 12-15 are still eligible to receive two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination. If your child needs a first dose you can still book an appointment through the National Booking Service. Second dose appointments are also now available, and this appointment needs to be 12 weeks after the first vaccine or 12 weeks after a positive Covid-19 test.
Booster doses are also available to those 12 to 15-year-olds who are at higher risk from Coivid-19 or who live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system.
The school aged immunisation service will be attending most schools in Bath and North East Somerset between February and April to vaccinate eligible children, where they have a positive consent.
In the meantime, if you would like to access vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds via your local vaccine centres, there is currently plenty of capacity outside of school hours. This can be booked via the National Booking System or by calling 119. Alternatively, all centres are offering a walk-in service when their centres are open, including weekends.
The full guidance is here. |
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 Changes to rapid testing programme
Due to the red and amber weather warning from the Met Office, the testing van will not be running on Friday and Saturday. The van is expected to run again from Sunday, but please check the website for further details.
Asymptomatic testing can still be accessed through existing universal routes. Home test kits can be accessed via the national route and can be ordered free-of-charge to your home via the online ordering system, or by calling 119, lines are open 7am – 11pm and support can be provided in 200 languages.
Test kits can also be collected from your local pharmacy. You can still collect test kits from community libraries. Find your nearest library here.
Don't forget to register your test results online. |
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Free school meals vouchers for February half term
Families whose children are eligible for income-related free school meals will be provided with supermarket vouchers worth £20 to cover the upcoming February half term by the council. |
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York Street public inquiry date set
A public inquiry into a Traffic Regulation Order for anti-terrorism purposes to close York Street, as part of Bath’s city centre security scheme, will be held on Tuesday April 26. |
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Works advance on first new social rent properties
Works to provide the first new socially rented properties built for Bath and North East Somerset Council in nearly three decades is advancing at Newbridge Hill in Bath. |
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Have your say on updated Bath Bike Park design
An updated design for the new mountain bike and activity park at the former Entry Hill Golf Course site in Bath has been unveiled today. |
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Reopening public toilet facilities in B&NES
Work has been completed on reopening a disability-compliant toilet at Charlotte Street in Bath this week following a £12,000 investment. |
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Our Best Prints at Victoria Art Gallery
From Hogarth to Hodgkin: Our Best Prints will open at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, on 5 March and run until 4 May. This wonderful exhibition will showcase the best of the Gallery’s diverse print collection, with works on display spanning 700 years. |
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Half-term library activities
This half term our libraries are running even more activities than usual. Why not pop down to your local library and join in the fun? Find out our opening hours. |
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Recycling & rubbish collections
Our service is under pressure, please help our crews by sorting your recycling to help speed up collections. Keep missed boxes out and we’ll get to them as soon as we can. Please be patient – our crews will get to you. Updates can be found here. |
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Council meeting calendar
Do you want to know about decisions being taken by the council and have your say? Please follow this link to the council’s calendar of meetings. |
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Latest Government guidance
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Follow us online
You can follow us on twitter, facebook and instagram; subscribe to us on YouTube, read the latest releases on our newsroom and if you sign up on nextdoor we are there too.
For updates on our services visit our website. |
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Employment and Skills Pod
Are you returning to work after a short or long break? Perhaps you are already in work and planning to change the direction of your career? The Employment & Skills Pod can help you find the right opportunities.
Call us now on 0300 247 0050 or email us on EmploymentSkills_Pod@bathnes.gov.uk. You can also find out more on the website. |
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Live Well B&NES: information for all
A web-based resource providing information, signposting and support to residents in Bath & North East Somerset has launched.
Live Well B&NES provides a wealth of useful information, signposting and resources for families, including Ofsted registered childcare, children and young people with additional needs (our SEND Local Offer) and adults needing care or support to live independently.
Information, services and groups are regularly added to Live Well B&NES. If you work with, support, provide services or run groups for children and young people or for adults needing care or support (such as older people, adults with physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments, people living with mental ill health), and haven’t already registered - make sure you’re included! It’s free and takes less than five minutes to register.
Find out more:
https://livewell.bathnes.gov.uk/
www.facebook.com/livewellbathnes
www.instagram.com/Youth_Info_Bathnes |
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Future Bright
Do you know someone who is in work and wants to take the next step in their career? Future Bright offers FREE careers coaching, support and access to training. Future Bright Careers Coaches work with local residents to develop the skills and confidence needed to improve their work and pay. Check out the Future Bright newsletter to read about those who have already benefitted from the project.
For more information go to www.futurebright.org.uk or give us a call 01225 395555. |
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Specialised dementia groups in B&NES
Age UK Bath & North East Somerset are starting two new specialised Dementia Groups, which are now running weekly in Midsomer Norton & Bath.
These groups are a safe, fun environment for people to come for activities and friendship. Staff are trained in Maintenance Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which helps concentration, confidence, memory and wellbeing.
You can find out more here or call 01225 466135. |
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Do you look after someone else?
If you support someone who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction or who needs extra help as they grow older, Bath and North East Somerset Carers’ Centre is here for you.
Their friendly team will listen to any concerns you have, offer practical advice and access to free wellbeing activities to ensure you’re happy and healthy in your caring role. Contact our freephone support line: 0800 038 8885 or email us. We’re available 9am-1pm, every weekday.
Look out for Young Carers Action Day on March 16 a national awareness day raising awareness of children who provide care to someone in their family. The theme this year is about ‘tackling isolation’ ‒ read here for more information. |
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Support available from the Community Wellbeing Hub
Anybody who is a resident of Bath and North East Somerset can benefit from support from the Community Wellbeing Hub, including those people who are isolating due to testing positive for Covid-19 or being in contact with someone who has Covid-19.
A collaboration between Bath & North East Somerset Council; HCRG Care Group; the 3SG; Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group; and other third sector organisation representatives. The team can offer a range of support services such as mental health, returning home from hospital, income, housing and benefits advice, emergency food, as well as lifestyle services for help with stopping smoking, getting active or losing weight.
To contact the Hub:
Phone: 0300 247 0050.
Email: cwhbanes@hcrgcaregroup.com
Website: http://communitywellbeinghub.co.uk
Text: 07870 868368
Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 9am until 5pm
If you need to contact the council about its services please ring Council Connect on 01225 394041 or email Council_connect@bathnes.gov.uk |
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Domestic abuse
Southside provides help to people who live in Bath & North East Somerset who are at risk of domestic violence and abuse. The working hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Thursday, and 9am-4pm Fridays. Local support services can be found here. |
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Sight loss support
Sight Support West of England provides emotional and practical support to help people adjust to living with sight loss. Since lockdown this has been either online or over the phone. Now following careful planning, some Covid-secure face-to-face support sessions are resuming on an appointment only basis.
Your Community Sight Loss Adviser will be available at Manvers Street Baptist Church, Bath on the first Wednesday each month and at Midsomer Norton Town Hall on the 4th Thursday each month.
To find out more, or make an appointment please call 0117 3224885 or email For more information on the full range of services visit www.sightsupportwest.org.uk
For more useful information visit the RNIB website: www.rnib.org.uk/ |
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Local agencies and useful links
We have been working closely with local agencies and if you would like to find out more about their work please look on their website: RUH, Avon and Somerset Police, Curo, and Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG.
- Public Health England updates a daily dashboard: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/ It includes deaths that have occurred in all settings where there has been a positive Covid-19 test, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.
- Latest information on coronavirus: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
NHS information on coronavirus: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ |
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Tune in
Local radio is a great way of keeping up to date with essential information, if you don’t already you should tune into BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Somerset or BBC Radio Wiltshire. |
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Somer Valley FM covers Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Westfield and surrounding villages including Farrington, Paulton, Peasedown, Coleford and Stratton.
Broadcast online and on 97.5fm you can contact at studio@somervalleyfm.co.uk or call 01761 411 755 |
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| Bath Radio is a community radio station which has been operating as a hospital radio station for the past 50 years. It now broadcasts to the wider Bath community. Listen online. |
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| Radio Bath provides local news and information, promotes the city and supports its businesses, charities and community organisations. |
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Keynsham’s KTCRfm 105.8FM is now broadcasting 24/7.
KTCRfm covers Keynsham, Saltford, Hanham, Bitton, Warmley, Clutton, Timsbury, the Chew Valley and as far south as Temple Cloud. East to the eastern edge of Bath. North across South Gloucestershire to the M4 corridor and west into many parts of Bristol. |
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