Town Council Response

Updated 10 December 2021

On 8 December 2021 the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the move to Plan B in England.

  • Move to Plan B confirmed as Omicron spreads across UK, with early analysis suggesting cases could be doubling at a rate of as little as 2.5 to 3 days
  • Face masks to become compulsory in most public indoor venues, other than hospitality
  • NHS Covid Pass to be mandatory in specific settings, using a negative test or full vaccination via the NHS Covid Pass
  • Vaccines and testing remain our best lines of defence
  • People asked to work from home if they can

For further information on plan B please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

It will remain important for people to consider the risks for themselves, taking into account whether they and those they meet have been vaccinated or are at greater risk. Everyone should continue to be cautious while managing the risks, as cases of COVID-19 remain high. Key points that have been highlighted throughout the pandemic are still very important to protect yourself and others:

  • Hands – Washing your hands often for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser
  • Face – The Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas (unless you are medically exempt)
  • Space – To minimise risk you should limit the close contact you have with those you do not usually live with and increase close contact gradually. This includes minimising the number, proximity, and duration of social contacts.
  • Testing and isolating – Testing when you have symptoms and isolating when positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
  • Fresh Air –When a person infected with COVID-19 coughs, talks or breathes, they release droplets and aerosols which can be breathed in by another person. Fresh air blows away these particles, reducing the chances of COVID-19 spreading.

EXERCISE AREAS: All of the Council’s outdoor exercise areas are open. Exercise areas include:

OPEN SPACES: The Council’s open spaces which include Stile Field, Plantation, Spritty Meadow and Wheal Jubilee Parc continue to remain open to the public.

PUBLIC TOILETS:  Railway toilet and North Quay toilets is open from 10am until 9pm – both of these include a family room and disabled toilet.  Please note toilets are closed for Christmas day. A number of practices and procedures have been put in place to ensure that both the staff operating the facilities and the public who use them are protected as best as they can be. We ask that all public please adhere to the practices we have in place in our public facilities  For a location map of the toilets please click here. 

TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES: The Town Council Offices are closed to the general public until further notice. If you need to contact the Town Council, please either email enquiries@padstow-tc.gov.uk, or leave a phone message on 01841 532296. We will get back to you as soon as we are able however, please do bear with us during this time. Telephone messages will not be checked as frequently as emails.

COUNCIL & COMMITTEE MEETINGS:  Council and Committee meetings are now taking place face to face in a COVID safe way, please see the upcoming meeting here.  Council also agreed the Emergency Scheme of Delegation (ESD) is to continue. The ESD remains in place for matters between meetings as appropriate. Further information on the ESD and decisions made thereunder can be viewed here

BURIAL SERVICES: Burials will continue to operate in accordance with Government guidelines. Families should contact their Funeral Directors or Cornwall Council for advice in the first instance. Please be aware other related services such as memorial applications may take longer than usual to process during this time.

LAWNS & RAILWAY CAR PARKS: Padstow Town Council’s car parks are open. Due to the current pandemic the parking machines which take cash are wiped down regularly when our staff are on duty, we also have hand sanitisers in place close by. Users can also pay for parking via RingGo, further information about Ringo can be found here

ALLOTMENTS: The Rope Walk Allotments remain open. It is imperative that plot-holders follow Government advice and be mindful of other holders. Please read specific guidance on attending allotments here.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS: The Council are holding face to face Planning Committee meetings and you can view upcoming meetings here. Should it become necessary, the Council has adopted the Emergency Scheme of Delegation and Planning mechanism that can be used in between meetings, should this be required planning application details will be loaded here.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: With grateful thanks to our local volunteers and to all those who have come together to provide much needed support to the local community. The Town Council made the following donations to help provide some financial assistance to our community in respect of the impact of the Coronavirus: £750 to Padstow Supporting Our Community and Elderly (group of volunteers in the community to help the elderly or vulnerable); and £750 to the GoFund Me Page (Food Bank Initiative providing support to people in the community who are in financial crisis during this time, in conjunction with SPAR).

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN: Joint working efforts continue – with Cornwall Council, Padstow Town Council, Local Police Team and Padstow Harbour Commissioner. After the initial lockdown once the country re-opened in August 2020 a partial closure affected any traffic from Station Road wishing to drive around the quayside was put in place. It did not affect any access required for residential or business deliveries, which was maintained. To view the COVID19 Padstow Town Restrictions Traffic Management Plan 2020 please click here. Similar road closure maybe undertaken in the future should the joint team believe this is necessary.

TOWN COUNCIL SITES/FACILITIES: If you notice a problem with a Padstow Town Council site/facility or wish to raise a concern about a service, please email enquiries@padstow-tc.gov.uk. Telephone messages can be left on 01841 532296, however these are unable to be checked as frequently as email.

OTHER SERVICES ACROSS CORNWALL: Information relating to other services affected by COVID-19 and support available across the county can be found on the Cornwall Council website. Services and support include:

Business Support                 Health                                       Housing
Parking                                  Benefits Support                      Public Transport
Rubbish                                 Adult Social Care                     Council Tax
Environment                         Volunteering                             Children & Families
Planning                                News Releases                         Funerals