Shropshire

The unclassified road from Brook House Junction to Folly Bank Crossroads in Cardington has been closed from 16 November 2020 to carry out footbridge replacement works adjacent to the ford. Recent water levels at the ford have been too high to cast the concrete abutments and, therefore, a slight delay has happened with the installation of the footbridge, which will now be installed on Tuesday 1 December 2020.

Traffic is being diverted using local roads by a signed diversion route via Folly Bank and Wilstone. Access through the current works for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists and equestrians is prohibited.

After 1 December, the road will be reopened to traffic, but the restriction to pedestrians over the new footbridge will remain until Friday 4 December while the remaining works are completed.

The work is being undertaken by the council’s term maintenance contractor Kier, with supervision by the council’s term consultant WSP.

The post Cardington ford footbridge replacement – UPDATE 29 November appeared first on Shropshire Council Newsroom.

Services across culture and leisure are to begin to reopen from Wednesday 2 December 2020 in line with new government guidelines.

Leisure centres, libraries, Shropshire Archives, selected museums including Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and Shrewsbury Castle and Theatre Severn and the Old Market Hall are among the facilities expected to reopen. Meole Brace golf course will also reopen.

COVID-19 safety measures that were installed earlier in the year will remain in place to ensure social distancing and hand hygiene standards can be maintained and the safety of visitors, staff and local communities protected.

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for culture, leisure, waste and communications, said:

“Our sites, facilities and services have been well visited and used since reopening from July and have been important helping us stay active and healthy.

“We’re pleased that we’re able to begin reopening our facilities again for people to visit from 2 December.

 “I’d like to thank everyone who has been following the lockdown rules so diligently and for showing patience and togetherness as we begin to move slowly back to something like normality.”

As they did during the first national lockdown, our countryside parks and sites have remained open while so many other places were forced to close.

More information about the reopening of services on 2 December will be announced in due course.

Step Up and help us stop the spread of coronavirus:

From 00.01am on Wednesday 2 December 2020, the new local alert level 2 restrictions for Shropshire will mean:

• People must not socialise indoors with anyone who is not part of their household or support bubble, whether at home or in a public space
• People can meet family and friends not in their household or support bubble in outdoor settings. When they do so, they must not meet in a group of more than six people
• You should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
• Pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants and can only serve alcohol with a substantial meal
• Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• Shops, personal care, gyms and the wider leisure sector will reopen
• Schools, colleges, universities and places of worship will remain open
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
• Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) and spectator sport and business events, is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors.
• Organised grassroots sport will be able to resume

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 (lines open on the weekend on Saturday from 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-12pm) or visit our website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.

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People with symptoms of coronavirus – no matter how mild – are being encouraged to book a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.

The following testing sites are available in Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Market Drayton:

• London Road Car Park, Shrewsbury, SY2 6PG,
• Beatrice Street Car Park, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 1QW, 27 October
• Newport Road Car Park, Newtown, Market Drayton, TF9 1JT

Testing is available for anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, such as

• a high temperature
• a new continuous cough
• a change in sense of taste or smell

All appointments must be pre-booked.

Tests can be booked for yourself or any member of your household. All tests must be booked in advance. Residents can register by calling NHS Test and Trace on 119 or by clicking here.

Once you are registered you will receive confirmation of the time you must attend a testing site if that option has been requested: you will only be allowed in with this information.

If you have symptoms, then you should follow the latest Government guidance and remain self-isolating.

If you cannot attend a testing site, there are also tests that can be ordered and done at home. Please contact NHS Test and Trace on 119 or by clicking here.

Strict infection control measures will be in place to ensure the testing units are operated with the highest levels of public health safeguards.

Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and climate change, said:

“Effective testing for COVID-19 is one of the first lines of defence in reducing infections. Testing has taken place in locations across Shropshire and we have seen a good take up from residents.

“I would strongly urge anyone who has symptoms, no matter how mild they may be, to immediately self-isolate and arrange to be tested.

“New appointments are released throughout the day and we have mobile sites being rotated across Shropshire. People with symptoms also need to stay at home and isolate for to protect themselves, their families and their community from any potential spread.

“I would also encourage everyone with a compatible smartphone to download the new NHS COVID-19 app, which supports the NHS’ wider Test and Trace programme.”

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will be asked to share information about people that they have been in close contact with recently.

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 (lines open on the weekend on Saturday from 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-12pm) or visit our website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.

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Shropshire Council are today (Friday 28 November 2020) taking part in a national campaign to raise awareness and highlight the support available to those who are struggling to heat their homes.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day led by national charity National Energy Action (NEA), aims to highlight the issues around fuel poverty and encourage people to seek support to help them keep safe and warm at home.

Shropshire Council along with its partners, offer a range of support and advice to help those in fuel poverty or facing other financial worries. These include:

• Keep Shropshire Warm – a programme run for the council and Marches Energy Agency (MEA) that offers free and impartial energy advice to anyone in need in Shropshire.  Local advisors can support residents with a range of energy concerns, from accessing grant funding to switching supplier or resolving fuel debt issues. A new Smarten Up, Power Down project has recently launched, offering practical support to householders who are finding it harder to afford energy bills due to the impact of Covid-19. Residents who require help and support can contact the Keep Shropshire Warm team for free on 0800 112 3743 or via email at advice@mea.org.uk.
• Warmer Homes Shropshire – launched in May this year, this initiative run in partnership with E. On, offers free grants to eligible households for first time central heating. The scheme is open to homeowners, as well as private tenants and their landlords. For more information and to apply visit http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/warmer-homes-shropshireor call 0333 202 4481.
• Financial assistance – The council now has a range of funding available to help the most vulnerable of Shropshire’s households to manage over the winter months. This includes financial help for those eligible and who have been affected by the pandemic and who may be struggling to pay for food or other essential outgoings. Please note this is limited funding and will only be offered for a limited time until it is spent. To find out more call 0345 678 9078.
• The Shropshire Rural Communities Charity (RCC) – offer grants for emergency fuel and energy-saving improvements in people’s homes. The RCC work with the council and other organisations to find people most in need and provide them with insulation, draft exclusion and other energy saving measures. The RCC are currently running their annual Warmer Winter Appeal to help support local people living in fuel poverty. To find out more and to donate visit. https://www.shropshire-rcc.org.uk/support-our-work/warmer-winter-appeal

Every winter millions of people across the UK struggle to stay warm and healthy at home. In Shropshire alone there is around 16,000 households suffering from fuel poverty.

Rising energy costs, low incomes and energy inefficient homes leave them unable to afford even basic household essentials like energy, food and heating. Living in a cold home can have a range of impacts on physical and mental health and treating cold-related illness is estimated to cost the NHS in England and Wales over £2bn a year.

This year the fuel poverty situation will be even more difficult. Covid-19 is squeezing household finances further and compelling people to spend more time in their homes. Some of the health conditions caused or worsened by cold homes, such as asthma and COPD, also place people at greater risk from the virus.

Councillor Robert Macey, Cabinet Member for Housing said:

“Everybody deserves to live in a warm and safe home. With many of us facing new challenges this winter, many people are spending additional time at home and may need support with how to stay warm and safe; while those who are ill or self-isolating may also have concerns about practical challenges in paying for their energy.

“Fuel Poverty Awareness Day provides a great opportunity to find out more and access the support available across Shropshire.

“Throughout the day we’ll be highlighting the work that is being undertaken across Shropshire to support people in fuel poverty this winter.  Do keep a lookout on our social media channels, and help us reach those who will benefit from our support.”

Keep Shropshire Warm’s Davina Allen added;

“Already we’re seeing an increased demand for our support in the area. Many households struggle with fuel poverty every year in Shropshire, but with the extra pressure put on by the pandemic, more residents are concerned about staying warm this winter.

“We’re here to support those who are struggling to heat their homes or afford their energy bills, as well as householders looking to improve the energy efficiency of their home. We accept referrals from family and friends, so if you or someone you know is worried about fuel bills, please do get in touch”.

To support the campaign follow us @shropcouncil hashtag #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay #WarmSafeHomes or on Facebook. You can also follow the Keep Shropshire Warm team on Facebook @KeepShropshireWarm

To find out more about the support available during the pandemic, call the council’s Covid community helpline on 0345 678 028.

You can find out more about Fuel Poverty Awareness Day at  https://www.nea.org.uk/nea-campaigns/fpad/?parent=what-we-do

Further information

*Statistics from the UK Fuel Poverty Monitor 2019-20 – https://www.nea.org.uk/researchpolicy/ukfpm-2020/?parent=what-we-do/policy-and-research

This winter could be the most devastating for fuel poor customers in years.  Those who were already struggling with their energy costs may find that they are plunged deeper into crisis, while others who may have never been worried about their finances could find themselves in a very different situation to where they were 12 months ago.

A survey of 73 organisations supporting people in fuel poverty during the first wave of Covid-19, conducted by National Energy Action, showed that 95% felt there was a moderate or high risk of more households cutting back on their energy use due to being forced to spend more time at home; and three quarters said they were concerned that there is a high risk of the increased building up of fuel debt this winter. *

Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of NEA, commented: ‘‘Millions of people dread the cold weather, and have no idea of the support that may be available to them. While we are urging the Government to do more we also want to highlight the huge range of help that is available, from energy suppliers, local authorities, community groups and others. By working together we can get help to those who need it, and ensure more people can live in a warm and safe home this winter’.

The post Fuel Poverty Awareness Day – Support on hand for those suffering from fuel poverty appeared first on Shropshire Council Newsroom.

Youngsters hoping to see Santa this Christmas will be able to do so in a safe and socially-distanced way when he arrives at his grotto in Shrewsbury’s Darwin Centre on Saturday 5 December.

Santa is due to remain in the Centre until 23 December, before he returns to the North Pole in time for his Christmas Eve deliveries.

A visit to the grotto costs £4 per child, and include a gift. All proceeds are donated to Shrewsbury Town in the Community.

Advance booking is required. Click here to book.

A socially distanced queueing system will be in place, visitors will be asked to use the available hand sanitiser before going to meet Santa and all visitors over the age of 11 must wear a face mask while inside The Darwin Centre.

Kevin Lockwood, Shrewsbury shopping centre manager, said:

“We’re delighted that Santa will be visiting the Darwin Centre agaib this year.

“Children can come and meet him for a chat at a safe distance, and tell him all about their good deeds this year and, of course, tell him what is on their Christmas list.

“I’m sure that many youngsters will be really keen to see Santa before Christmas and I’m really pleased that we can give them the chance to do so.”

Santa is due to be in his grotto at the following times. Any changes will be promoted via the shopping centres social media channels.

• Saturday 5 December: 10am to 6.45pm
• Sunday 6 December: 10.30am to 4pm
• Wednesday 9 December: 1pm to 6.45pm
• Saturday 12 December:  10am to 6.45pm
• Sunday 13 December: 10.30pm to 4pm
• Wednesday 16 December: 1pm to 6.45pm
• Saturday 19 December: 10am to 6.45pm
• Sunday 20 December: 10.30am to 4pm
• Monday 21 December: 10am to 5pm
• Tuesday 22 December: 10am to 5pm
• Wednesday 23 December:  1pm to 6.45pm

To follow Shrewsbury shopping centres on social media, go to:

Facebook: @shrewsburyshopping
Twitter: @shop_shrewsbury
Instagram: @shrewsbury_shopping

Issued on behalf of Shrewsbury shopping centres.

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Shropshire Council is encouraging those who haven’t already to have their say on a draft strategy designed to reflect the rural nature of our county, and to set out shared priorities for the future.

The deadline for feedback is Sunday 6 December 2020.

In the summer of 2019 Shropshire Council started work with a range of partner organisations to develop an evidence base and identify shared priorities. Workshops were held with town councils, parish councils, councillors, voluntary and community sector groups and organisations and Shropshire Business Board to consider the issues most important to our local communities. The data, information and feedback obtained from across the county has been used to inform the draft Community and Rural Strategy.

It is a high-level framework strategy which highlights many of the priorities that will be built into other local strategies and delivery plans such as the council’s developing Leisure Strategy and draft Cultural Strategy.

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, place planning and regulatory services said:

“Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who has responded so far – your comments are greatly appreciated.

“There’s still time to have your say so I’d encourage you to take a few minutes of your time to get involved and help shape the final strategy that we adopt early next year.”

The eight-week consultation aims to build on the engagement work undertaken to date, and allow the public and a wider range of local stakeholders to comment on the draft document.

All feedback will be considered, and any changes proposed, to allow a final document to be formally agreed by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet in early 2021.

Feedback will be collected through a survey or email/post. People can find out more about how to have their say here: https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/community-and-rural-strategy-2020/

The post Want to help shape the future of your local community? appeared first on Shropshire Council Newsroom.

Shropshire County Pension Fund has become one of the first in the country to report on the carbon footprint of its £2 billion investment portfolio.

Shropshire County Pension Fund has published its Climate Risk Report, which reveals that the carbon footprint of its equity investments is 13% below the general market, represented by the FTSE All World Index which covers more than 3,000 companies in 47 countries.

The Fund is the pension scheme for more than 50,000 members across 200 employers, including Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, town and parish councils, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority and a range of other employers in Shropshire. The Fund is administered by Shropshire Council.

James Walton, Shropshire Council’s director of finance governance and assurance and scheme administrator of the Shropshire County Pension Fund, said:

“The report is no more than a starting point, but nevertheless confirms that Shropshire County Pension Fund has a good baseline from which to manage the risks presented to its investment portfolio from climate change.

“Our priority remains our financial duty to pay the pensions of our 50,000 members and to do this we must continue to ensure fund assets are well diversified and resilient when faced with many risks including the fundamental and increasing impact of climate change.

“We know that climate change is a hugely important issue for our employers and members, so it is reassuring to see that already the Fund’s investments have a lower carbon footprint than the benchmark.

“The Pensions Committee is embarking on an extensive piece of work to review our approach, create a Climate Strategy and explore what steps the Fund can take to reduce investment risk and further reduce its carbon footprint.”

The new report published by the Shropshire County Pension Fund follows recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), a blueprint for climate reporting which represents best practice in the investment industry.
Its publication follows an independent and in-depth review of the climate risks of the Fund’s investment portfolio.

The report shows that the Fund has less exposure to companies with fossil fuel reserves and those exploiting coal reserves than the general market and reveals that it has more investment with companies who use clean technology than the general market.

The Fund has a widely diversified investment strategy to reduce risk, and invests in five different equity funds, all of which already have a lower carbon footprint than the general market index.

The publication of the report will be followed in due course by the publication of a Climate Strategy including a Climate Stewardship Plan.

For more information and to see the report, people can visit the Shropshire County Pension Fund website.

The post Shropshire County Pension Fund reveals its carbon footprint appeared first on Shropshire Council Newsroom.

Shropshire will be placed in the Tier 2 (High) local COVID alert when the four-week lockdown in England ends next week.

New restrictions in Shropshire will come into force on Wednesday 2 December as the county moves into the Tier 2 (High) local COVID alert.

Despite a reduction in the number of positive cases in the past week, Shropshire’s current 7-day infection rate sits at 168.7 per 100,000 of the population.

Under Tier 2 restrictions, people must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting – including homes, pubs and restaurants – unless they live with them or have formed a support bubble with them.

From 00.01am on Wednesday 2nd December 2020, the new local alert level 2 restrictions for the Shropshire will mean:

• People must not socialise indoors with anyone who is not part of their household or support bubble, whether at home or in a public space
• People can meet family and friends not in their household or support bubble in outdoor settings. When they do so, they must not meet in a group of more than six people
• You should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
• Pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants and can only serve alcohol with a substantial meal
• Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• Shops, personal care, gyms and the wider leisure sector will reopen
• Schools, colleges, universities and places of worship will remain open
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
• Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) and spectator sport and business events, is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors.
• Organised grassroots sport will be able to resume

The Government has also announced that up to three households will be able to form bubbles to meet up during a five-day Christmas period of 23 to 27 December. When a bubble is formed it is fixed and must not be changed or extended further at any point.

Each Christmas bubble can meet at home, at a place of worship or an outdoor public place. The bubbles will be fixed, so you will not be able to mix with two households on Christmas Day and two different ones on Boxing Day. Households you are in a Christmas bubble with can’t be in others.

 Peter Nutting, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:

“I would like to thank Shropshire residents for their commitment in helping to curb the spread of the virus. Without their efforts, we would have seen even more cases and further lives lost.

“During the past week, it has been encouraging to see a reduction in the number of positive cases. Whilst infection rates in Shropshire remain lower than in many parts of the country, our case rate is still high, and we are seeing positive cases across all age groups.

“I would urge everyone to get up to speed with the new guidance. We are all being asked to make some small but important adjustments which will help save lives.

“A lot of people’s minds will now be focusing on the festive period. We must continue to be extremely careful – we need to limit our contact with people outside our household and support bubbles, maintain social distancing and do all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

“If we don’t act now, our cases will rise again, putting our loved ones and particularly the more vulnerable members of our community at risk.

“’Step Up Shropshire’ has been our message, and we need everyone to play their part – for our NHS, our older residents, our care workers, our loved ones.

“Making sure people’s health is protected as we get our economy back on its feet is a difficult balancing act, but the measures announced will go some way to helping the leisure and tourism industry in Shropshire, whilst still keeping people safe.

“We’re here to support businesses as much as possible as they get back up and running and will continue with our plans to help them get back on their feet during these challenging times.

“Many of us will now be turning to Christmas shopping, and I would urge you all to ‘shop local’ within the county and recognise the efforts of our business community who have worked hard to create safe and welcoming environments.

“Our residents and businesses have made many sacrifices to try to control this virus. It has been a tough few months but now, more than ever, we need pull together. By following the guidance, we can cut the rates of infection and return to doing the things we love.”

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire’s Director or Public Health said:

“The easing of some measures will be welcomed by many people across Shropshire especially as the festive season approaches.

“There may be a temptation for people to relax and let their guard down, but we are asking everyone to be extra cautious during the next few weeks.

“There’s also increasing evidence of the spread of the virus beyond people in their twenties to older and potentially more vulnerable age groups.

“We know that transmission of the virus takes place largely as a result of inter-household mixing. By moving Shropshire into Tier 2 (High Alert), which prevents households from mixing in indoor settings, we are taking preventative measures to stop the situation from escalating further and to protect our most vulnerable residents.

“If people do the right thing, by doing these basic things correctly, then they can curb the spread of the virus and not only protect themselves but protect their loved ones, avoid further restrictions and ultimately save lives.”

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 (lines open on the weekend on Saturday from 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-12pm) or visit our website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.

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During the 7-day period from 13 – 19 November 2020 in Shropshire:

• 545 new cases reported
• This was a decrease of 245 cases compared to the previous week
• The seven-day infection rate for Shropshire was 168.7 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 of the population.
• For the West Midlands it was 312.6 per 100,000
• For England it was 227.1 per 100,000
• 149 cases relate to people under the age of 30
• 55 cases relate to people aged 70+
• During the last week 33% of cases were in the Shrewsbury & Atcham area
• 29% were in North Shropshire
• 38% in South Shropshire

Thanks for all your efforts in helping get our case rate down this week. A lot of our minds will now be focusing to the festive period – that’s why we need to keep going.

It’s crucial to self-isolate if you’re asked to:

• Stay at home and begin to self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms start. Arrange to have a test for COVID-19 if you have not already had one. The result of the test will determine how long you must stay at home and self-isolate.

• Stay at home while you are waiting for a home test kit or a test site appointment.

• A positive test result means you must complete a 10-day isolation period.

• If your test is negative, you can stop self-isolating as long as you are well.

• If you do not have symptoms but have tested positive for COVID-19, stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days from the day the test was taken. If you develop symptoms after your test, restart your 10-day isolation period from the day the symptoms start.

• When self-isolating, do not go to work, school or any other public spaces.

• Any exercise should be taken within your home, and you should ask friends or family to buy food or other essentials.

If you need any extra support when you’re self-isolating, there is help available.  If your income is facing a hit by having to stay at home, you could potentially claim a £500 support payment. You can find out if you’re eligible here

If you need any support, especially if you’re having to self-isolate, call our COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 or click here.

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Graphic of Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, the name that attracted the most votes

Voting has closed in the search for new names for the 25 gritters in the Shropshire Highways fleet, with more than 2000 votes cast and Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, Snowcial Distancing, Snowvid-19, Snow Be Gone Kenobi and Captain Tom the most popular choices.

Names including Gritter Thunberg, Super Spreader, Spreddie Flintoff, Slush the Magic Wagon, Gritney Spears, Usain Salt and Gritty McGritface also attracted hundreds of votes and will now be given to the gritters. A full list of the winning names is below.

The voting opened on Wednesday 18 October [2020], and closed yesterday, Wednesday 25 October.

With five names already chosen (see below), people were asked to help choose names for the remaining 20 vehicles by voting for their favourites from the final shortlist of 50 names.

The names were all suggested by members of the public, with more than 750 suggestions made.

Two of the Shropshire gritters that will shortly be named

The winning names are:

1. Snowcial Distancing
2. Spreddie Flintoff
3. David Plowie
4. Snow Patrol
5. Gritty Gritty Bang Bang
6. Snow Be Gone Kenobi
7. Gritty McGritface
8. Spready Mercury
9. Snowvid-19
10. Grit the Road Jack
11. Ready Salted
12. Walter the Salter
13. Captain Tom
14. Slush the Magic Wagon
15. True Grit
16. Gritter Thunberg
17. Usain Salt
18. Ice Ice Baby
19. Gritney Spears
20. Super Spreader

The names that had already been chosen and didn’t go to the public vote are:

21. Zac Oliver
22. Jack Edwards
23. Charlie Desmond
24. The Harry Johnson Trust
25. Percy Mullaly

The five most popular names overall in the vote were:

• Gritty Gritty Bang Bang – 1053 votes
• Snowcial Distancing – 1031 votes
• Snowvid-19 – 978 votes
• Snow Be Gone Kenobi – 943 votes
• Captain Tom – 903 votes

Follow this link to see the Results of the name the gritters vote 2020.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“We asked for people to suggest names for our gritters, and then to vote for their favourites, and we had a fantastic response, with more than 750 suggestions made and over 2000 votes cast. I want to say a big thank  you to everyone who suggested a name and all who voted.

Charlie Desmond suffered from muscular dystrophy and passed away five years ago at the age of 15. He has been described as ‘such a brave boy’.

Jack Edwards from Cleobury Mortimer passed away four years ago after a battle with leukaemia. He has been described as ‘an inspiration to the local community’.

Zac Oliver from Broseley was diagnosed with a rare strain of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May 2018. An appeal raised £500,000 to send Zac to Philadelphia for life-saving treatment.

The Harry Johnson Trust was established in November 2014 following the death of seven year old Harry in July of that year. Harry died following a nine-month fight with Double Hit Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Percy Mullaly was a much-loved and long-serving car park attendant at Shropshire Council’s Shirehall headquarters. He sadly passed away earlier this year.

In total 2036 votes were cast.

More than 750 suggestions were made, and 50 names were shortlisted. These were placed in five groups of ten, and people were invited to vote for their favourites.

The 2o winning names were the top four names in each group.

Shropshire Highways is an alliance between Shropshire Council, Kier and WSP, working together to maintain and improve Shropshire’s roads and streets.

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News from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP)

Health leaders across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin are encouraging everyone with a long-term health condition to get their free flu vaccination as soon as possible and help protect themselves from the harms of flu.

Evidence shows people who catch flu and COVID-19 at the same time are more likely to need hospitalisation or die.

With COVID-19 infections on the rise, doctors, pharmacists and public health leaders are keen to make sure that eligible patients get their free NHS flu jab as soon as possible, to protect themselves and others from the double risk of flu and COVID-19 and reduce pressures on health services this winter.

Flu is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious complications in people with an underlying health condition such as bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, immunosuppression or a chronic neurological disease – like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy.

Dr Julian Povey, Chair, of NHS Shropshire Clinical Commission Group (CCG) & NHS Telford & Wrekin CCG, said:

“We know that people with some health conditions are at greater risk of complications if they catch flu and the consequences can be much more serious for them.

If you have diabetes, a long term respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological condition, are immunosuppressed, morbidly obese, have problems with your spleen or have a learning disability you are more likely to experience serious complications from flu.

It’s more important than ever this year that you contact your GP or local pharmacy and make time for an appointment to have your free vaccination to protect yourself this winter.”

 The free vaccine is available from GP surgeries and pharmacies, and social distancing and safety measures are in place to make sure the vaccine is given in a safe environment.

People with long-term health conditions should ask their GP or pharmacist about the free flu vaccine.

Further information:

For more information about the flu vaccination:

• NHS on the flu jab
• Flu vaccine information from Asthma UK
• Information about the flu vaccine from Mencap

Our website contains information and links to the public flu leaflets including different formats and languages.

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We know lockdown has been tough, especially for those who are struggling with not being able to see our friends and loved ones.

Tom Howells will be a familiar face to many of us. During the pandemic, Tom has been seen in various cafes with his ‘Talk to Tom’ sign – a friendly face who is there to chat and listen when you need to get things off your chest.

We caught up with Tom to find out his top tips for looking after your mental health during these challenging times.

The post Coronavirus: Looking after your mental health with ‘TalktoTom’ appeared first on Shropshire Council Newsroom.