District Dispatch - 6 April 2022

This was the first of many events we can look forward to over the next six months, celebrating what is a momentous year of culture in the district. You can find out about the events that are due to take place at: The Great Sussex Way - Culture Spark 2022 (opens new window).

We also have the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to look forward to in June. If you are planning a street party and need to apply for a Temporary Road Closure, please make sure you get your application in by 5pm on 20 April. You can apply and find out more information by visiting: Roads and pavements.

I'm really pleased to tell you that work has started on a project that will reduce Westgate Leisure Centre's carbon emissions by almost a quarter. The project is part of our drive to reduce greenhouse emissions. The work is being funded by a £1.3 million government grant that we successfully bid for. It's one of many projects that we are working on. Find out more about the work we are carrying out to help tackle climate change.

I also wanted to let you know that the Government has set out its steps for living with Covid now that free testing for the general public has ended. This is part of its Living with Covid Plan — the Government's strategy to live with and manage the virus.

People at risk of serious illness from Covid-19, and eligible for treatments, will continue to get free tests to use if they develop symptoms, along with NHS and adult social care staff and those in other high-risk settings. People in this group will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms as well as being told how to reorder tests. 

The Government is advising people with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including Covid-19, and a high temperature or who feel unwell, to try and stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature. They are also advising anyone with a positive Covid-19 test result to try and stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days, which is when they are most infectious.

Individuals who need to leave their home when they have symptoms or have tested positive, should avoid close contact with people with a weakened immune system, wear a face covering and avoid crowded places. In addition, children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can.

The past two years has demonstrated how important it is that our residents and businesses have easy access to the information and guidance that they need. Over this time, we have been delivering regular email newsletters to subscribers and stakeholder groups, providing them with the very latest information on the pandemic, as well as local news and details of schemes that may benefit them. If you haven't already signed up for this, I would really encourage you to do so. We also use this as a tool to get out urgent notifications, including when we experience severe weather. So, please do consider signing up if you haven't already at: news alerts. We have also just given the newsletter a makeover, so that it links with our magazine initiatives, and it will now be known as initiatives+.

Best Wishes

Cllr Eileen Lintill

Leader of Chichester District Council