The Pinner Association
– The Voice of our Community
Thank you to Harrow Council and their Highways Infrastructure Team for relaying the paths in Pinner Village Gardens and for now working on the paths in Pinner Memorial Park.
The paths in these parks had become very worn and uneven and as these parks have been heavily used since the first Covid lockdown in March the resurfaced paths will be welcomed by park users.
“Cases of Covid continue to rise rapidly across London, as well as in Harrow where they have nearly doubled in the past couple of weeks. Because of this London will move to tier 2 lockdown tomorrow.”
“I understand this is a difficult and worrying time for our communities, residents and businesses but these new restrictions are essential to keep Harrow safe. If we are to slow the spread of this deadly virus, we must all take action now.
“The move to tier 2 now means more restrictions around social distancing in London and Harrow to control the spread and save lives: we must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless we live with them or have formed a support bubble with them. This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants.
“Although the new restrictions come into place from midnight tomorrow (Friday 16th October) across the whole of London – I urge you all to start following the guidance now.
“As the Council we stand together with the rest of London in the fight against Covid-19 – I am working with London Council Leaders, the Mayor of London and the Government to balance the public health, economic and social impacts of this virus. London Councils and the Mayor are asking the Government for economic support for London’s businesses to ensure they survive this pandemic.
“None of us want to stop seeing our family and friends, but by following the Public Health rules, helping each other and working together we can get through this, just as we did during the lockdown earlier this year. We must all play our part to avoid further restrictions and keep Harrow safe.
“Please stay safe and take all necessary precautions to do so.”
The following also remain in place:
It is essential that we all follow the hands, face, space mantra:
If you develop symptoms of the virus, please immediately self-isolate – people who fail to self-isolate will face a fine of up to £10,000.
If you have one of the three symptoms book a free test online or call 119.
You can now get tested at a local testing centre:
Key Messages from Harrow Council re Covid:
As a result of the rise in infections it has meant that this week the country moved to Covid-19 alert level 4. Transmission is “high or rising exponentially” and one level away from the possibility of a “full lockdown”. Because of this, on Tuesday the Prime Minister announced new and strengthened measures to try to curb the spread of coronavirus. The key changes are:
This includes keeping to the ‘rule of six’ and wearing a mask where required. From Monday, the fine for a first offence will double to £200. Repeat offenders will have their fines doubled. Shops, restaurants and other hospitality businesses risk closure or penalties of £10,000 if they do not obey the rules around maximum group sizes, contact tracing and mask-wearing.
There has also been a further announcement that London will be added to the watch list of local authority areas of concern. This is a list published every Friday morning by Public Health England and although there are no new restrictions as part of this announcement, it should unlock further testing capacity which is very welcome news for London and for Harrow.
Testing
The key messages around testing remain the same and are repeated again in the key messages at the end of this email. In addition, we are currently engaging with local residents and ward Councillors about a new walk-through testing centre which will soon be in operation in Northolt Road, opposite South Harrow Police Station, so those without a car can get tested. Appointments must be made in advance and will be for people arriving on foot or bicycle only. We will be able to update more on this when we are in a position to launch the service.
Launch of the NHS App
The NHS Covid-19 Track and Trace app has now been launched and will be an essential tool – from helping pubs and restaurants stay open safely, to offering advice and checking our local risk level. It makes it easier for customers to safely check in to businesses and venues using a QR code, and be alerted if they’ve been in contact with someone with coronavirus. All businesses must now display their QR code. Find out more and download the app today
Flu vacinations
The criteria for a free flu vaccination this year are as follows: all those over 65, carers of older or disabled people, children aged between 2 and 11, pregnant women, families on the Covid shielding list and anyone with an underlying health condition. If you know anyone in one of these groups, please encourage them to book an appointment with their doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. For more information about flu and the importance of vaccination, visit https://www.harrow.gov.uk/flu.
Harrow Council.
On behalf of the Pinner Association and the United Services Club Pinner we would like to advise that their jointly organised Remembrance Sunday event will not take place in 2020.
The planning committee have sought professional advice and will be complying with government guidance to limit the risk of the spread of the corona virus.
Safe Use of Parks and Open Spaces – Covid-19 – Statement from Harrow Parks Forum – 28th March 2020:
“It is very important for people’s mental and physical well-being that they should be able to get out and exercise if they possibly can,”
“Many, many people do not have access to private green space where they can do that.”
“That’s why parks and open spaces are so crucial.”
Boris Johnson
We are so lucky that at this stage most of our parks remain open while the parks in many European cities are closed, but if we want to keep them open, we have to follow the relevant rules. You’ve probably seen this link a hundred times – I make no apologies for posting it again.
https://www.gov.uk/
On the day I write this enclosed sports courts in Harrow parks are being secured with chains and padlocks to prevent entry.
In the short term it is less easy to secure many childrens’ play areas – it’s easy to lift a child over a low fence into a playground….
But why would you?
The hazard tape round outdoor gyms is no barrier and it’s easy to tear off and use the equipment….
But why would you?
Besides the issue of not meeting in groups, laboratory tests show that the corona virus can last for several hours, even days, on hard surfaces. Outside laboratory conditions, outside in a park, that time is much shorter, but still potentially measured in hours….
Why would you take this risk?
Can I also ask, on behalf of all the Friends Groups, that you take all your own litter home with you. Harrow Council has asked that we suspend all litter picks, again to reduce the risk of infection and, as council staff are redeployed to other vital operations, the emptying of bins and collection of rubbish from parks will become less frequent.
Cutting of grass within the parks will also be reduced, maybe to zero – they will start to look a bit unkempt, but the benefit to the plants and animals will be incredible. Coupled with improvement in air quality due to reduced traffic, your walk in the park will turn into a mini safari – take pictures of what you discover and post them here – we’ve got a team of experts who can identify them for you.
We will be able to continue to use and enjoy this valuable resource as long as we stick by the rules – the probability is that further action will be taken if we do not. And that would be so sad.
Stay Safe
Ian Pearse
The Secretary Harrow Parks Forum
Harrow Council sent this bulletin at 27-03-2020 06:32 PM GMT
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A message from Harrow Council – 25th March 2020:
ALL PLAYGROUNDS, OUTDOOR GYMS AND
SPORTS COURTS IN PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
In line with Government Directive in relation to Covid-19
