Pictured: Cllr Jane Cooper, Cllr Ian Lewer and Cllr Steffi Sutters
Welcome to Your Essential West Putney Update: April 2020
Dear Resident,
We hope you are keeping well and for those of you who are not shielding, making full use of the lovely weather and the open spaces we have in West Putney for your daily exercise.
There are some heart-warming initiatives coming forward now to help us along the way such as the Covent Garden wholesalers who will deliver fabulous fruit and veg boxes to local residents and only this morning we saw local author, Katie Blackburn (Where the Wild Mums Are, Where the Wild Dads Went) giving away books on her garden wall.
We love hearing how our community are coming together so please do write to us with your news or if there is an initiative you wish to publicise locally. We are also keeping in touch with residents associations, who are often our eyes and ears on the ground, and if we haven’t been in touch with you yet and you run an RA, please do contact us with any help and support needs.
We know that this is a challenging time for all of us and that this Easter, despite the glorious weather, has been difficult for many being absent from family, loved ones and friends. However it is heartening to see how many people in Putney along with the vast majority in Wandsworth and across the UK have heeded the Government’s advice and there is some evidence that this is now delivering results.
Wandsworth Council staff have been working tirelessly over this time to ensure that during this time, the most important local services are maintained and ensuring that the key functions, such as collecting refuse and maintaining the cleanliness of our streets and public places are maintained. The Council has established a Community Hub for those who need assistance across the Borough, do call if you or a friend or family member needs support. You can contact the Hub on 0208 871 6555 or [email protected]
Your local West Putney Councillors remain committed to assisting anyone who needs our help and please do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything we can help with in this difficult time. This can be anything from simple matters such as you have run out of recycling sacks (and we have helped many of you who have) to more complex matters where council guidance is needed.
Finally remember to Stay Safe, Protect the NHS and Save Lives.
Stay safe and best wishes
Jane, Ian and Steffi.
Stay at Home – Protect the NHS – Save Lives
The expert advice is clear, we all need to stay at home and minimise our social interaction for the next few weeks in order to reduce the spread of the virus. The Government has said people should only leave the house for one of four reasons.
- Shopping for basic necessities for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
- Any medical need or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- Travelling to and from work but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
Helping Vulnerable People
The Council has created a Community Hub for residents, particularly those people who are elderly and/or vulnerable without support networks, who need support to access medical/care services and food supplies. It is designed to help those most in need to stay safe and well while they self-isolate at home.
You can call our Community Hub on 020 8871 6555 or click here to e-mail our Community Hub.
You can see a short video of the Council’s work with Wandsworth's AgeUK to deliver food parcels across the borough here.
You can find support for the voluntary and community sector by clicking here.
If you want to help
If you are an individual, business or organisation that is interested in helping, we would encourage you to visit our webpage and complete our online form in the ‘how your organisation can help’ section.
If you are an existing voluntary or community group in the borough, or one who has been formed in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, you can contact the Wandsworth Voluntary Sector Co-ordination Project (part of the Care Alliance) to liaise with the Council.
Helping Businesses, Employees, and the Self-Employed
In response to the economic impact of the virus, the Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of financial measures. The measures include business rate relief, grants and loans to keep businesses and the economy going during these difficult times.
Details of the schemes and how to apply can be found by here.
The Council has already paid out over £20 million of grants, helping hundreds of local businesses. So please do visit the website and see what your business can apply for.
Update on Council Services
The Council has had to reduce or change a number of services across the borough as part of the emergency response, here are some of services that are affected:
- All libraries and leisure centres are currently closed.
- Parks and green spaces remain open but signs have been placed on playgrounds and equipment reminding residents of the need to maintain social distancing measures.
- Rubbish and Recycling collections are running to schedule.
But we have had to postpone the collection of garden waste and we urge people not to dispose of bulky items at this time. The waste crews are doing a tremendous job keeping the service running with reduced staffing levels due to the virus. We have also had to close the tip at Smugglers Way for the time being.
Schools and Children
- School attendance in Wandsworth has been very low, which means local people are staying home to protect the NHS.
- We know it’s difficult having children unable to go out during the Easter holidays. The Council has put together a page with fun digital activities for young people, including yoga, audiobooks, boxing and cooking. There’s a section specifically on SEND, too: https://shar.es/aHhRZG
- Many Wandsworth schools are staying open during Easter for children of key workers and vulnerable children. A few have made alternative arrangements with nearby schools; you can contact your headteacher for details.
- Some key workers have been in touch because they need to work but their children’s private nurseries have closed. If you need help, please contact your ward councillors, who will try to help you find a place.
You can find the latest updates on the Council’s website.
Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter by clicking here.
To join our circulation list, please e-mail us by clicking here.
This will ensure you receive the latest information on combatting COVID-19 and any changes to Council services like waste and recycling, libraries, schools, and leisure centres as part of the emergency response.
We hope you find this e-bulletin useful. Please do feel free to share it with your friends, neighbourhood and community groups.