During lockdown it can still be possible to improve your fitness. I definitely intend to!

Here is a list of online workouts you can do for free. I hope you find it useful.

As many parents go back to homeschooling during lockdown, there are various sources of advice and resources online.

Here are some tips on homeschooling from the BBC.

There was also this helpful announcement recently from BBC TV:

Starting on Monday 11 January, each weekday on CBBC will see a three-hour block of primary school programming from 9am, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, as well as other educational programming such as Our School and Celebrity Supply Teacher and much loved titles such as Horrible Histories, Art Ninja and Operation Ouch.

BBC Two will cater for secondary students with programming to support the GCSE curriculum, with a least two hours of content each weekday.

Full story here.

This latest lockdown will hit some people harder, coming after a tough 2020 and in a month when people are normally thinking about new beginnings, resolutions etc.

It’s a really good idea to reach out to your family, friends and neighbours to check in on them and let them know that people are there if they need.

I will definitely be doing the above in my community. Why don’t you give one or all of the five pledges a try. #GloucesterCan

The chancellor has just announced £4.6billion of new grants to support businesses during the new lockdown.

You can find the details of these here.

Please get in touch if you need help in accessing these.

Gloucester City Council have begun the process of setting the budget for 2021/2022, which will be approved in February.

Gloucester residents now have an opportunity to have their say on which council services they consider to be a priority.

Do fill in the budget survey here.

At the moment we are in a difficult place with coronavirus infection rates. The vaccinations are being administered to people now, which is good news, but until the majority of the population have received them we will still be in danger.

It’s important that we keep observing the rules and maintain standards of hand washing, wearing face coverings and observing 2M social distancing as often as possible. This is the best way to ensure we stay safe and the NHS can weather the storm.

There is a problem with my council phone number which I’ve reported to city council officers, but it is unlikely to be fixed until next week.

In the meantime I can still be reached via email at Sebastian.Field@Gloucester.gov.uk, or via my Facebook page.

There has been good take-up from Podsmead residents of the council free trees.

Do send in your photos of them planted!

GLOUCESTER MOVES INTO COVID TIER 4 – STAY AT HOME

The Government announced today that Gloucestershire would move into Covid Tier 4 (Stay at Home). Tier 4 rules will apply from the beginning of 31 December 2021and will start at one minute past midnight tonight. Attached is a headline guide to the new rules.

WORKING FROM HOME – the rules on working from home remain largely unchanged but the emphasis is stronger that staff living in a Tier 4 area must not leave or be outside their home or garden unless they need to go to work because they cannot work from home.  Anyone who can work from home should work from home.

Other justifiable non-work-related reasons for leaving home include acting as a volunteer or job-seeking, essential local shopping and click & collect/takeaway, access to essential services, to fulfil legal obligations, sell or buy a house or vote, for education or training, childcare, under 18 sport and physical activity, to visit your support bubble, care for vulnerable people, provide emergency assistance and for respite care, exercise outdoors, for medical reasons and for communal worship, a funeral or wedding. 

HOUSING SERVICES – the current approach to working with individual homeless and street homeless households will continue unchanged.

CULTURAL VENUES – Were closed under Tier 3 guidance and will remain closed until further notice. 

EVENTS – Outdoor venues and events that were able to remain open under Tier 3 must close under Tier 4. 

CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM – The Cemetery and Crematorium at Coney Hill will remain open. Socially distanced funerals attended by up to 30 people will continue but associated wakes and receptions at the Arbor will no longer take place. The Mulberry Tea Room will be closed except for takeaways.

GL1 LEISURE CENTRE – Indoor Gyms and sports facilities will close under Tier 4.

RETAIL – Only essential retail establishments will remain open (including food shops, supermarkets, market stalls selling essential goods, banks and post offices, pharmacies, garden centres, filling stations, bicycle shops, vehicle repair, taxi and vehicle hire businesses and builders’ merchants).  The Indoor Market and Friday Farmers Markets will close but officers are working with stallholders selling essential items to continue to trade from other locations.   All other retail must close.

SHOPMOBILITY The Gloucester Shopmobility Service will remain open to support those needing access to essential shops and businesses. This will be kept under regular review.

PERSONAL CARE (and close contact services)  – Hairdressers, barbers, nail/beauty salons, spas etc will be required to close and these services cannot be provided in other people’s homes.

HOSPITALITY BUSINESES – Bars, pubs, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants and social clubs were closed under Tier 3 and must remain closed under Tier 4 except for takeaway, delivery and click & collect services.  Hotels, B&Bs, campsites, holiday lets and guest houses must close except where accommodation is needed in a very restricted range of circumstances.

COMMUNITY CENTRES AND LIBRARIES – Community Centres must close except for a very restricted range of activities.  Libraries may open to provide access to IT and digital services or for click and collect only.

HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING & WASTE CENTRES, CAR PARKS AND PUBLIC TOILETS  – can remain open and the City Council’s car parks and public toilets will remain open.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT – is available to individuals and businesses affected by the Tier 4 restrictions and work is underway to clarify and provide access to this support. Further details are available in the full guidance (see below). The City Council’s information on financial support is being updated following today’s announcements and is subject to publication of further guidance. For the latest information go to Financial Support (Glos City Council)  or  

https://www.gloucester.gov.uk/community-living/advice-on-covid-19/what-you-need-to-know/business-support/

Full details of the Tier 4 Guidance is available here Tier 4 (stay at Home) Guidance Full

NB please note there may be an update on the Farmer’s Market in the next few days.

After contact on my Facebook page I raised with Highways the issue of the regular flooding at this crossing over Cole Avenue to Lower Tuffley Lane.

This was part of the response:

‘I have been advised that the slot drain installed at the foot of the crossing is served by a soakaway in the verge. With the increase in rainfall over the last few years this is no longer adequate. In order to improve the drainage and eliminate ponding it will be necessary to form a connection to the nearest gully.’

The response goes on to say that Highways do not have the budget for this in the current financial year, but that they will ‘raise an estimate for the works with the intention of getting it programmed into the early part of the new financial year’.

This is a promising response and I will be sure to follow this up and report back.