KCC Libraries to Close

The ongoing wellbeing of our customers, our staff, and everyone’s family is of the greatest importance to us and we are following the advice from Government to help minimise the impact of COVID-19.

As such, under these exceptional circumstances, we are implementing the following temporary changes:

• All 99 libraries will close to the public, including the mobile library service, from normal closing time on Friday 20th March 2020 until further notice. We will keep this under review and will be guided by national developments.

• We will ensure all loan periods are extended for all customers until the end of June. If you need further extensions after June, please let us know via email (libraries@kent.gov.uk), social media or call us on 03000 41 31 31. Some of these changes may take time to implement so please bear with us while we work through them.

• If you have reservations, or reservations on order, they will be kept safe until we re-open. Once we re-open, they will be available for 10 days before going back into circulation. If you cannot collect the reservation during that time due to self-isolation, we will refund you the reservation fee or reorder it at no additional charge.

• Remember that our digital collections are always available. These include reference resources as well as free e-books, e-audio books, a vast range of the latest e-magazines and daily e-newspapers. These can be accessed at kent.gov.uk/libs

• The Ask a Kent Librarian Service will remain available on 03000 41 64 38, email akl@kent.gov.uk or via 24/7 chat at www.kent.gov.uk/askakentlibrarian

• We will maintain the Home Library Service to the most vulnerable as far as possible.

We wish all of our customers well at this difficult time. We will keep in touch as much as we can and will resume normal services as soon as possible.

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Important Contacts for Support While Self-isolating | Coronavirus Scammers Active in Kent

Report a doorstep criminal >> http://bit.ly/2ApDUgv

Coronavirus / COVID-19 - Scammers active in Kent

Scammers and criminals are already looking for opportunities to scam people as a result of the Coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic. Happily, there are many more stories of kindness and generosity but we want to make people aware of the scams as they emerge - which they seem to be on a daily basis.

We have received reports from Kent Police of people door-knocking and claiming to be from the Health Authority.

What happens:

• The criminal knocks on your door.

• They claim to be from the Health Authority.

• They offer to do COVID-19 testing on residents.

• There are also reports of the criminal offering to take the residents temperature.

THIS IS A SCAM!

What to do:

• Do not let them in.

• Do not allow them to take any money or details from you.

• Report to Kent Police on 101.

• If you ask them to leave and they don't, contact the police on 999.

Please warn vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours.

Be cautious - Scammers take advantage

Report

There has been a report of an elderly Kent resident who lost money when they gave their bank card to someone who offered to do some shopping for them. They received one of these cards through their door and an individual offered to help, however, they actually stole money from the resident and were not seen again.

Payment

Don’t ever give your bank or card details to anyone, even if you think you know them very well. You could either agree to pay in cash after they have delivered the shopping or pay them online if you have the facility to do so. Or maybe you could agree another method of payment - but never give your bank or card details.

Contacts

If you are self-isolating, you could contact one of these organisations for help and support: 

Age UK  0800 678 1602
Asthma UK  0300 222 5800
BHF  0300 330 3311
Diabetes UK  0345 123 2399
Mind  0300 123 3393
Scope  0808 800 3333
The Silver Line  0800 470 8090

Contact Details

For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact:

Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133
Consumer Advice scams action line on 0808 250 5050
Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Kent County Council Public Protection

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An Important Message from Upchurch's Co-op

I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this difficult and worrying time.

We are receiving 5 deliveries a week of chilled lines and daily deliveries of grocery and bread.

Our supplies into store are limited so we have put restrictions on quantities for key essentials. This is solely so we can supply as much of our community as possible.

Thank you

David Davies
Manager - Upchurch's Co-op

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MEETING CANCELLED - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

The next PPG meeting at 12:00pm on Thursday 16th April 2020 has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

If you have any questions or suggestions on the local practice, please Email:

Jan Bunting - Secretary: janannbunting@outlook.com or 

Ray Kemsley - Chair: raykemsley@btinternet.com

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

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Medway Council - Older and Disabled People Bus Pass Restrictions Lifted

Older and disabled people will be able to use their bus passes before 9:00am in Medway.

In Medway, the passes will be able to be used on services provided by Arriva, Nu-Venture and ASD Coaches before 9:00am.

In Kent, residents will be able to use the passes on services provided by Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Coach and Nu-Venture before 9.30am.

Holders of a senior citizen and disabled bus pass were previously able to travel for free on buses after 9:00am, but following discussions with these operators, this condition has been removed.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services, said:

“I would like to thank all of the operators who have worked with us to extend the use of the bus passes. This will help older residents access shops which are opening early for them. We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community as well as supporting residents with critical day-to-day services.”

The change will come into place tomorrow morning (Thursday, 19th March).

Medway Council and Kent County Council have a duty to provide passes for free bus travel throughout England for older and disabled people under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS).

Medway Council

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KCC - Older and Disabled Bus Passes Can be Used Before 9:30am

Cllr Michael Payne.

Older and disabled people will be able to use their bus passes before 9:30am, Kent County Council has announced.

The passes will be able to be used on services provided by Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Coach and Nu-Venture.

Holders of a senior citizen and disabled bus pass were previously able to travel for free on buses after 9:30am, but following discussions with these operators, this condition has been removed.

KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne said:

“I’m very grateful to Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Coach and Nu-Venture who have worked with Kent Highways and Transport to extend the use of the bus pass on their services before 9:30am.

This is something that will be extremely helpful during a time when some shops are opening early specifically for the older generation to support them during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Our public transport team is working hard to extend this to other operators in the coming days.

This change will come into force tomorrow morning (Thursday 19th March) and I’m very happy that we have been able to support those in our community during this period of disruption.”

Kent County Council has a statutory duty to provide passes for free bus travel throughout England for older and disabled people under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS).

Over 250,000 people in the county have a bus pass, with around 227,000 for older people and 22,000 for disabled people.

N.B.

Chalkwell Coach Hire, operator of the 326 / 327 / 328 bus service in our area will also be taking part.

Upchurch Matters

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