New rules in place as Lambeth and London move into Tier 2 - HIGH ALERT

COVID-19 numbers are rising rapidly in Lambeth and across London. Since midnight on Friday the whole of London moved to ‘Level 2’ – HIGH restrictions, which means we must all follow extra rules to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

New restrictions are in place in Lambeth and London. The key new rules that affect us all include:

·         You must not socialise with anybody other than members of your household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place

·         Social mixing between households is not allowed indoors, including in homes, pubs or restaurants.

·         The ‘Rule of Six’ will continue to apply outdoors, including in private gardens.

·         Restaurants, cafes and pubs can remain open but must close by 10pm, and will need to follow the ban on households mixing indoors

·         Retail, schools, public transport and universities will remain open.

You can also also read the government guidance for more detail about the new restrictions.

What Tier 2 ‘High Alert’ Means

The Government has produced this infographic, which explains the practical changes and restrictions which being in this alert status means:

The new measures are in addition to the national rules and guidance so please continue to:

1. Keep your distance
2. Wash your hands
3. Wear a face covering
4. Self-isolate if you have symptoms while you arrange a test, or if you are advised to because you have been near to someone else who has tested positive

If you are worried about the impact of the new restrictions, or about self-isolating, there is support available. Whether you have a practical concern like how you will get groceries, a mental health issue like being alone, or how it will affect your finances there is help and advice available:

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/get-support-for-yourself-or-a-vulnerable-person

Lambeth’s Covid-19 Dashboard

Up-to-date data on the rates of Covid-19 infection in Lambeth are fully available on the council’s website here: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/covid-19-stats

NHS Covid-19 Testing

The Department of Health and Social Care have opened and are mobilising a number of local Covid-19 testing sites in the borough which are being run by G4S.

A site in Streatham is due to open from October 24th (tbc) at:

Streatham Common Car Park, SW16 3BX. This site will be open 7 days a week from 8am-8pm.

Testing is available by appointment only for those with coronavirus symptoms and anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test via the national portal at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. 

The new regulations: coronavirus (covid-19)

 It can be difficult to keep up with the new government regulations about covid-19.

Below is a re-cap from the government web site which can be found at this link:

 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-what-has-changed-22-september?medium=email&source=GovDelivery

It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:

• HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
• FACE - Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
• SPACE - Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place.

Face Coverings

• Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings (from 23 September).
• Customers in hospitality venues must wear face coverings, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Staff in hospitality and retail will now also be required to wear face coverings (from 24 September).
• People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.
• Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services will now become law (from 24 September).
• Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.

Working from home

To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk.

Businesses

• Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include takeaways, but delivery services can continue after 10pm (from 24 September).
• In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
• Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume on site (from 24 September).
• Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally (from 24 September).
• Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID Secure (from 28 September):
• A wider range of leisure and entertainment venues, services provided in community centres, and close contact services will be subject to the COVID-19 Secure requirements in law and fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
• Employers must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is being required to self-isolate to come to work.
• Businesses must remind people to wear face coverings where mandated.

Meeting people safely

• Support groups must be limited to a maximum of 15 people (from 24 September).
• Indoor organised sport for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people (from 24 September).
• There will be a new exemption in those areas of local intervention where household mixing is not allowed to permit friends and family to provide informal childcare for children under 14 (from 24 September).
• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30). Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals (from 28 September).

How long should I self-isolate?

Self-isolating means staying at home and not leaving it.

People who have symptoms of coronavirus should isolate themselves for 10 days and arrange to get tested. Symptoms include:

§  a new continuous cough

§  a high temperature

§  a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell

Other members of their household should isolate for 14 days and not leave their homes.

The Rule of Six (RoS)

When seeing friends and family you do not live with you should:

·         meet in groups of 6 or less

·         follow social distancing rules when you meet up

·         limit how many different people you see socially over a short period of time

·         meet people outdoors where practical: meeting people outdoors is safer than meeting people indoors because fresh air provides better ventilation

Limits on the number of people you can see socially have changed. When meeting friends and family you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with) you must not meet in a group of more than 6, indoors or outdoors. This is against the law and the police will have the powers to enforce these legal limits, including to issue fines (fixed penalty notices) of £200, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400.

There are exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people. These include:

·         for work, or the provision of voluntary or charitable services

·         registered childcare, education or training

·         supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care, youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups

·         providing support to a vulnerable person

·         providing emergency assistance, and to avoid injury or illness or to escape risk of harm

·         for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents

·         fulfilling a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service

·         elite sporting competition and training

·         wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions – up to 15 people

·         funerals – up to 30 people. This does not include wakes, other than for religious ceremonial purposes

·         exercise classes, organised outdoor sport or licensed outdoor physical activity, and supervised sporting activity (indoors or outdoors) for under-18s

·         indoor organised team sports for disabled people

·         support groups of up to 15 participants – formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. This includes support to victims of crime, recovering addicts, new parents, people with long-term illnesses, those facing issues relating to their sexuality or gender, and those who have suffered bereavement.

·         protests – if organised in compliance with COVID-19 Secure guidance. All individuals must be socially distanced

Where a group includes someone covered by such an exception (for example, someone who is working), they are not counted as part of the gatherings limit. This means, for example, a tradesperson can go into a household of six without breaching the limit, if they are there for work.

Government has announced an initial £60 million to support additional enforcement activity by local authorities and the police.

The spread of the virus is also affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibition halls and large sporting events, so we will not be able to do this from 1 October.

The government’s expectation is the measures described above will need to remain in place until March.

Act now to keep a voice for St Leonard’s ward and Streatham on Lambeth Council

The Local Government Boundaries Commission for England (LGBCE) is reviewing the number of Councillors in Lambeth and how the borough should be divided up into wards. Lambeth council have submitted a plan to the LGBCE which will reduce Streatham’s Councillors from 12 to 11 by shrinking the size of St Leonard’s ward and reducing representation from three Councillors to two. 

You can read the Labour proposal here:

https://bit.ly/3kduPPb

Ward boundaries in Lambeth were last reviewed in 1999 - that’s when our current Streatham wards were established (St Leonard’s, Streatham Hill, Streatham Wells and Streatham South).   

We believe that St. Leonard's ward should maintain its 3 Councillors to ensure we are properly represented.

Is it a coincidence that St Leonard’s happens to be home to three of the six non-Labour Councillors in Lambeth? All are Green Party representatives and have been very successful in fighting St Leonard’s and Streatham’s corner on so many issues to make Streatham a safer, cleaner, greener and fairer place to live, work and thrive. 

When it comes to holding Labour to account, following the money and standing up for their constituents, people can see what a difference such strong opposition is making. We need that to continue, as we know how hard it is to make Streatham’s voice heard in the council and we are often neglected in favour of the north of the borough - a prime example being the Lambeth Transport Strategy (2016-2036) that didn’t mention Streatham at all.

Regardless of your political persuasion, we believe that effective opposition on the council (from anywhere on the political spectrum) is essential to ensure that it functions fairly and democratically and stops complacency...

The Green Party response

Our proposal retains 3 Councillors in St. Leonard's ward

What You Can Do

Ø  To make your views known, please go to: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/have-your-say/21383

Ø  Please forward the link to this blog to any friends, family or groups you think may be interested.

Ø  Please follow and Retweet @GreenPartyScott - use the hashtag #savestleonards

Ø  Visit the Streatham Green party Facebook page

Ø Email streathamgreenparty@gmail.com with your reasons why St. Leonard's ward should remain intact

                        Whatever you do, please be quick!

The deadline for comments on these changes is 

Monday 21st September.

 

Councillor Scott Ainslie 17^th September 2020

Covid-19 Advice from the Streathan Safer Neighbourhood Team

Please ensure you follow the latest Government guidelines.  This will help the NHS and other key workers stay as safe as possible so they can continue their amazing work to keep us safe.

Due to Neighbourhood Teams being unable to do Community Contact sessions (Cupper with a Copper), they have compiled a survey for all Streatham Residents.   This can be accessed by the following link:  https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/D6IZTI/

Continue to follow Government guidance and take precautions to protect yourselves and others:

 

1        wash your hands – keep washing your hands regularly or use hand sanitiser if you cannot do this.

2        cover your face - wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in shops, on public transport and anywhere else where social distancing is difficult.

3        make space - follow social distancing rules (2 metres distance from anyone outside your household, and, where this is not possible, at least 1 metre).

4        get a test - if you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of coronavirus, get a test.  If you have a positive test result, isolate immediately with members of your household for 10 days.  Visit the NHS website to book a test or alternatively call 111 for advice.

 

You can read about all the latest changes to guidance that may have taken place this week on the UK Government coronavirus web pages

 

The contact details for the four Streatham Safer Neighbourhood Teams are below:

 

Team	Telephone	Email	Twitter
Streatham Wells	0750 098 2773	streathamwells.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStreathamWells
St Leonards	0792 023 3841	stleonards.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStLeonards
Streatham South	0792 023 3834	streathamsouth.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStreathamSth
Streatham Hill	0792 023 3842	streathamhill.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStreathamHill

 

Helping local families to stretch budgets further during the summer

 

The West Norwood Community Shop on Vale Street is offering a free £15 food voucher, per child, per week, for the equivalent of six weeks. This totals £90 to spend on food and products of your choice, all of which are up to 50% off the usual retail price. Additionally, this can be backdated, meaning whenever you redeem the vouchers during the summer holidays, they will cover the full 6 weeks. ​

This scheme is open to families with children in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) or any mean tested benefit. All you need to do is head down to your local store and show proof of FSM or Government support, and then you can redeem your vouchers and shop. 

The shop's full address is Community Shop West Norwood, Vale Street, Gipsy Hill, London, SE27 9PA.

 

If you have any questions, please email:

communications@companyshopgroup.org.uk 

Introduce a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in the north of St. Leonard's ward

 

Councillors are working with residents in the north of St.Leonard's ward to urgently ask for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood to be implemented in our local roads. There has been a dangerous increase in the level of traffic and resulting pollution since the lock down with more and more vehicles using these residential roads as rat runs and short cuts. We need the council to act now to introduce traffic calming measures which prioritise residents, visitors and delivery vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Call on the council to introduce a 'Streatham Woods' * Low Traffic Neighbourhood to stop drivers using our residential roads in the north of St. Leonard's ward as 'short cuts' and 'rat runs'.

* Streatham Woods is the name of the bit of Tooting Common between the railway line and Garrad's Road.

During the recent lock-down as a result of covid-19 we were able to enjoy quiet, virtually car and pollution free streets. But more recently speeding cars and aggressive drivers have returned in greater numbers than ever before.

Our local residential roads (bounded by Garrad's Road, Tooting Bec Gardens, Drewstead Road and Streatham High Road) have been increasingly used by drivers as 'rat runs' and 'short cuts' for years, endangering residents and contributing to our already dangerously high air pollution levels.

Wandsworth Council and TfL are introducing road closures and traffic restrictions to nearby roads in Balham and Tooting that are already having a devastating impact on our neighbourhood as even more drivers are driving through Streatham. Our roads, many narrow and residential, are getting even busier at a time when we are being discouraged from using public transport and to walk, cycle or travel by car instead.

We urgently call upon Lambeth Council to bring forward plans to introduce a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in our 'Streatham Woods' area, before there is a very serious accident.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods provide access only roads that prioritise walking and cycling - creating a peaceful, safe and people-friendly environment. One suggestion, outlined in the map above, is that Prentis Road, Becmead Avenue, Woodbourne Avenue, Woodfield Avenue and Abbotswood Road are all made access-only from Garrad's Road, with camera enforcement at the junctions with Streatham High Road.

That way, nothing would change for local residents but the 90% of through-traffic looking to rat-run their way to the Streatham High Road will be made to stick to the main roads.

More information on LTN's can be found here: 

o    https://londonlivingstreets.com/low-traffic-liveable-neighbourhoods/

o    http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2020/06/railton-road-area-in-brixton-herne-hill-gets-low-traffic-neighbourhood-in-june-2020/

o https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/co-lambeth-transport-strategy-consultation-draft-mobile-version.pdf

Please use the link below to sign the petition:

https://www.change.org/p/lambeth-council-end-rat-running-and-short-cutting-in-our-local-roads

Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) update

We have had a few questions from residents, asking for an update on the council's proposed timetable for the introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in St Leonard's Ward.

As a result of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, all schemes requiring permanent traffic orders were paused.  However, a Government announcement on 25 June 2020 means that councils are now again able to make and publish permanent  traffic orders.

We expect a formal announcement soon from the council as to the exact timetable for proceeding with the CPZ.   We would expect that residents and businesses will receive consultation newsletters in the Autumn.  If this happened, then implementation could commence in the first few months of next year, with the CPZ being operational by Easter 2021.

This is however subject to confirmation, and we will provide an update when the council publishes a formal timetable.