Category: Coronavirus

Vaccination roll-out update (17.01.21)

I have some positive news about the vaccination roll-out for Rural Rother.

Heathfield Surgeries

Those residents using the Heathfield Surgeries are being vaccinated at the Meads Medical Centre in Uckfield – moves are ongoing to try and get a more local centre.
Click on the link below to see details.

Heathfield and surrounds vaccination update 17.01.21

Battle Surgeries

Those residents using the Battle Surgeries will be vaccinated at Etchingham Village Hall.  I understand this goes live on Monday 18.01.21.
Click on the link below to see details.

Battle and surrounds vaccination update 17.01.21

The notification of a vaccination appointment appears to be via phone, I know some residents using the Heathfield Surgery have been contacted and vaccinated already.  So keep your phones close to you.
I’ll keep you updated as I get more information.

Irene – Parish Clerk

 

Vaccination roll-out – Volunteers needed

The NHS are looking for volunteers to help with the vaccination roll-out.  The positions are for Stewards and Coordinators for the Stewards.
Click on the links below for details and contact information.

Click here for details for volunteer stewards to help with the vaccination roll-out

Click here for details for coordinators to help with the vaccination roll-out

Irene – Parish Clerk

 

Coronavirus Vaccination Information

I’ve had some information from our MP Huw Merriman and Sussex NHS about Coronavirus vaccinations.
It looks as those residents who have GPs in Battle will be vaccinated at Etchingham and those whose GPs are in Heathfield will be vaccinated in Uckfield.  Huw is presently trying to get the Heathfield GP people vaccinated nearer to home.
We all have to wait for the telephone call/text from our GP/Sussex NHS and be patient.
Click on the links below to see the information.

Click here for Information from Huw Merriman MP

Click here for information from Sussex NHS

FAQs about Vaccinations from Sussex NHS

Further Corona virus information

Due to the rapidly changing situation and amounts of information coming down from everyone – I thought it might be helpful to list below links with good safe local information.  These are:

An information flyer for those wishing to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau – please click on link below.

Click here for information from your local Citizens Advice Bureau

Coronavirus information from East Sussex County Council – please click on the link below.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKESCC/bulletins/2a3a803

Coronavirus information from Rother District Council – please click on the link below

https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=d1a5cc81c226a941ecd31d19f&id=c755921943

Hope you find the information helpful – please contact me at [email protected] – if I can do anything else.

Irene – Parish Clerk

 

 

 

Coronavirus update 10 (09.05.20)

So here we are again and with all the anticipated changes shortly to be announced, this maybe my last post on this subject.  I am going to list below the usual information and help available, they are worth checking as things are changing very quickly.

Safe sites for coronavirus information

Click on this link to go the NHS coronavirus website

Click on this link to go to the GOV.UK website for coronavirus information and advice

Community Hubs

There is some good and safe information and advice on the links below.

Click on this link for help and advice from East Sussex County Council

Click on this link for help and advice from Rother District Council

Be aware of scammers

There is lots of good advice on the link below.  Although it is targeted at the elderly (I’m one of them) – it applies to us all.  At every opportunity scammers will come out from under their slimy rocks.

Click on this link for advice on avoiding scams

Shopping/prescriptions

Click on the link below to see information about major supermarkets opening times/restrictions etc.

Click on this link for supermarket information

Click on the link below for food shops in Rother operating during the emergency.

Food shops operating in Rother during this emergency

Boots, Robertsbridge – for prescriptions please contact David Todd from Robertsbridge and Salehurst Helping Hands at [email protected]
or on 07726 592 739 and he will organise delivery of your prescription.

Local shops – best to ring first to check opening hours and delivery options.
It was great to see the front page of The Messenger with the lovely photo of all at the Netherfield Stores and Post Office – glad to see Dudley and Kenneth front and centre.  I know from personal experience that they have been amazing during this lockdown.
Some additions to local shops from the list previous posted

  1. Bee and Bear Baker – home delivery of brownies, muffins etc.
    www.beeandbearbakery.co.uk
  2. Browns Farm Shop, only delivery/collection, not open for browsing
    [email protected] or phone on 01580 880502/07535 267002
  3. Busters Farm Shop, deliveries meat/veg/diary/bread on Tuesday to Saturday 9-6, on Sundays 10-2.  Phone on j01580 882020
  4. Culverwells, local country store and delivery available for Calor Gas.  Pay over the phone and collect from gate.  [email protected]
  5. Great Park Farm, Catsfield, deliveries £3.50, veg box £15.00 and all other farm shop produce.
    www.greatparkfarm.co.uk or phone on 01424 772531
  6. One Stop, call about the shopping you need and who will be collecting it for you.  They will get it ready for your nominated person to pay for and collect.  Only contactless payments (no cash) – phone on 01580 883319.
  7. Robertsbridge Village Store and Post Office, open Mon-Fri 9-5, the shop is open for delivery/collection Mon-Sat 8.30-6pm.  Telephone to place your order on 01580 880540 or 880714.

Thank You

The list of those working to make our lives as normal and stress free as possible is far too long to mention individually, but thanks to all of you.  I would like, once again, to mention the Mountfield Volunteers who have stepped up to collect and delivery shopping and prescriptions for those shielding in Mountfield.  Every time I have contacted a volunteer for help they have been available.  Thank you all once again.

Parish Council business

MPC will be holding an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 23.06.20 in the Village Hall at 7.30pm  This meeting is just to approve and sign off the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for 2019-20.  The public, as always, are welcome – but there will be no discussion on any other matters except the above.  If you have any questions/concerns about anything else you wish the Parish Council to get involved with, please contact me at [email protected] or phone on 01424 838414.
If things continue to go well, MPC hope to have a full council meeting on 14.07.20, but we will have to wait and see what happens with lockdown/social distancing.  All information, as usual, will be posted on this website.
As you probably know, MPC have bought the red phone box in New Cut for the astronomical price of £1!  This is a K6 historic box dating from the 1930s and the only condition was that it stays on the public highway.  MPC have discussed a few ideas, using the box for several things together – another defibrillator, an information centre, book swap etc., and it will be on the agenda for our next full council meeting.  I don’t have a vote on this, but thought I would wind them up and suggested something on the following lines

Fish in a Phone Box
I think it’s a great idea, also love the “Quacken.”

MPC didn’t exactly buy into my idea, their responses varied from “get a grip Irene,” to “better have another G&T.”

The Adventures of Alfie

He’s enjoying his walks in Darwell and the Millennium Green, but misses his “days out.”  He’s a sociable little chap and likes nothing better than a stroll down the prom, where he’s much admired and petted.  His favourites are Eastbourne and the beautiful West Promenade at Bexhill, which is great fun when they have the fountains working and they are full of kids and dogs running in and out of the sprays and all having the time of their lives.  He also loves the Galley Hill beach (particularly the great cafe, which is very dog friendly).  Very occasionally when we go there he is allowed one of the very best treats of his life – a McDonald’s!  He knows it’s treat time if we walk into the McDonald’s patio and starts quivering with excitement.  I order him a patty (no bun) and go out to wait with Freddie and Alfie on the patio.  Each time a server comes out with a tray, he get up on his hind legs and starts barking – “where’s mine?”  When it finally arrives, he’s so excited that he’s turning somersaults and barking frantically.  I cut it up and make sure it’s not too hot, put in down and it disappears in seconds!  All that anticipation and gone in a flash.  All of us are looking forward to getting out “properly” again and enjoying the lovely towns and villages of East Sussex.

Alfie having a drink in Darwell May 2020
Our intrepid explorer just after having a drink in Darwell – May 2020

We moved to Dallington in 1988 and every morning I open my kitchen door, whatever the weather, look out and think how beautiful it is – never more so than during this lockdown.  I’ve travelled most of the UK, except Northern Ireland, and will take any Yorkshire man/woman on, that the High Weald AONB is the most beautiful part of the UK.  Tolkien based his idyllic Shire on his boyhood memories of rural Warwickshire, but he might have changed his mind if he had visited this part of East Sussex.  During this lockdown we have had access to glorious woodlands, rural lanes and beautiful countryside.  I feel very privileged to live here.

So signing off now and hopefully (fingers and toes crossed) that this awful virus is now on the wane and we can get gradually back to normality.

Irene (parish clerk)

PS – Alfie sends his love xxx

Alfie xxx
xxx