Some of you may be wondering where the physical version of the Spring Parish Magazine is and have probably already guessed that it’s something to do with the current situation. We believe we have approximately 1000 copies of the magazine at the printers, but having been unable to contact them since the lock-down started, we have resigned ourselves to not distributing it. In many ways this is no bad thing since it was compiled before the lock-down and the information within it, though relevant in the normal course of events, has become less significant in the current circumstance. However, given that you are reading this, I would commend to you the electronic version of the Spring Parish Magazine and if you are able, you might wish to highlight this to those in the community that you know normally read it, but may not be aware that it is available online. Equally, if you know someone who is not able to get online and is a regular reader, you might wish to print it off for them.
So, what is your Parish Council doing during the lock-down? In answer, largely a co-ordination role, ensuring that the various types of support on offer is co-ordinated and the right people are in contact. Mark Badger, the vicar of St James Church in Norton (and the churches in Severn Stoke and Kempsey) rallied resources to create Severnside COVID19 Support (SCS) – many of you will have had an information card through your door. The idea is to offer welfare phone calls, help with essential practical tasks, help with urgent supplies and help with prescription collection. The Parish Council has been involved in extending this support to include our Parish and wholeheartedly supports what it is doing.
We have also promoted the WCC Here2Help service (http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/here2help) via our website and FB page, with this offering support to those in need and an opportunity for volunteers to help. Quite separately, some of the 750,000 that have volunteered to assist the NHS are located in the Parish, my son being one of them. As an NHS Volunteer Responder, James, and others like him, receive a text from the NHS asking them to offer assistance to people in their locality, his most recent call out being to conduct shopping for a vulnerable couple located in the Parish. Another layer of assistance are the volunteers co-ordinating with the Pershore based medical practices to ensure delivery of prescriptions within the Parish. There are nominated volunteers covering each area of the Parish in order to deliver prescriptions as requested by the pharmacies attached to the medical practices. Still further is the very local support provided by neighbours and friends within the same street, road, avenue, etc…., doing shopping, collecting prescriptions, walking dogs, etc….. Given these various layers of support, there is no reason why anyone should not feel supported during this situation, but I would ask you all to consider whether those in your vicinity are aware of the assistance available and know how to access it as appropriate – we all have a part to play.
For those that use the play area at the Parish Hall, its closure will be a loss, but this is in line with Government direction and it will remain closed until directed otherwise. The playing fields themselves remain open for exercise, but please maintain social distancing, do not gather socially, nor as the weather gets warmer, consider picnics or BBQ’s. The Government has not yet directed to close parks or playing fields, but numerous local authorities have done so of their own accord. The Parish Council has no intention to do so at present, but will constantly review the situation based on its continued responsible use. Again, this is our community and I would ask you all to act responsibly, and encourage those around you to do the same.
You may or may not be aware that Parish Council meetings are open to the public and have numerous formal conditions it needs to adhere to. It has taken several changes in the law to allow meetings to be conducted online and the Parish Council’s first virtual meeting took place on Thu 9 Apr. You may also be aware that each year we conduct an Annual Parish Meeting, at which the public receive a brief from Councillors regarding what is going on in their Parish. Normally conducted at the Parish Hall, this year it will be conducted online. An agenda and link will be promulgated on Wed 22 Apr and the briefing itself will take place at 1900 on Wed 6 May. Prior to the pandemic, there was a lot going on in the Parish (Worcestershire Parkway, the Active Travel Corridor, the proposed new settlement around the Parkway Station, commencement of the South West Urban Extension, etc…), all of which has largely been placed on hold, hence the agenda will be tailored to the situation before us and a further Parish Briefing will be arranged later in the year to update the Parish on all the other matters once they start to progress.
Finally, some good news. I’ve previously mentioned the applications that the Parish Council made in autumn 2019 for Wychavon District Council Community Legacy Grants and New Homes Bonus funding, and I’m pleased to inform you that we have been granted £180,000; everything we asked for. The amount spans two projects; a village minibus (‘The Norton Connector’) to replace the bus services that we have lost (£30,000), and improvements to the Parish Hall, including a new roof with solar panels, a mezzanine floor in the main hall, a village shop and post office and electric car charging points (£150,000), all of which received community support via the recent questionnaire. The funding plans for these projects require a Parish Council contribution, namely £2,000 towards the mini-bus and £5,000 towards the Parish Hall developments, funded via the 2020/21 precept. Clearly there is little opportunity to progress either in the current situation, but the Parish Council and Parish Hall Trustees are keen to progress both once they are able.
All of the information referred to in this update can be found on the Parish Council website https://nortonjuxtakempseyparishcouncil.gov.uk/ and on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NJKParishcouncil/ though I would ask those of you familiar with both to consider neighbours that might not be, and where appropriate, highlight this information to them.
If you are in need of help, but have been unable to find support all else fails, the Parish Council can be contacted via the Clerk, Jane Greenway (Tel: 01905 763515 Email: NJKparishclerk@aol.com), or via any of the Councillors, and between us we will be able to direct you regarding how best to access the various layers of support available.
Unprecedented is an over-used, though quite appropriate word at present and we all need to consider ways of supporting the community we live in. No request for assistance should be dismissed and there is no such thing as a stupid idea, so if there is something that you consider the Parish Council should be addressing, please let us know. Stay safe and stay in touch with your community, we are all in this together.
Kevin Fincher, Chairman, Norton-juxta-Kempsey Parish Council