Dear Friends,
After a sustained period of rising Covid cases, we’re relieved to report that last week, local infection levels fell from 585.7 to 370.1 per 100,000 people, which is below the national average. This clearly takes us in the right direction, but we’re mindful too that there are many in our community self-isolating, which causes disruption to our essential services and hardship for reviving local businesses.
Continuing to drive down infections over the summer is vital to our sustained recovery, so let’s use common sense to tackle Covid and protect our colleagues, friends and family. Free testing is available by home delivery, at a local test centre or collection from a participating pharmacy. For those self-isolating Test & Trace support payments continue to be available.
Vaccination remains the key to getting back to the things we love over the coming months. If you're looking forward to starting a new adventure or safely enjoying greater freedoms; be that an overseas trip, a festival or concert, university freshers’ week or a big family reunion, getting fully vaccinated will be essential. To find out the latest information on local vaccination centres; myths about getting the jab and reports on the latest scams, please click this link.
There’s been further positive progress with our recovery plans:
- Commonwealth Games excitement is building, with just one year until we’ll be welcoming thousands of spectators to Victoria Park and along the cycle road race route. It was great to see the Games mascot Perry the Bull visiting Whitnash this week to kick off a special Countdown event, which was enjoyed by all ages. You can bid for Games tickets before the main ballot goes live at the Birmingham 2022 website.
- Please take the opportunity to share views and suggestions on the regeneration of the Riverside House site at Milverton. A new Leamington Spa Neighbourhood Plan, a commitment to address the Climate Emergency and an ambition to enhance public access to the river are all considerations that have helped to shape the draft development brief for this important site. During the consultation which runs until 1 October, we hope to build a strong and cooperative dialogue with all interested parties so we can gain a positive and shared view on any future development.
- Practical steps to tackle the climate emergency are being taken:
- 26 electric vehicle charging points have been installed in our car parks this week, in addition to the 40 introduced earlier this year.
- Council tenants will soon be offered the opportunity to have an Air Source Heat Pump fitted in their home for free.
- A ground-breaking net zero carbon planning policy for all new buildings, is now out for public consultation.
This past week at Council, a well-backed petition calling for the permanent closure of The Parade in Leamington Spa was received and debated. Given that it is the County Council which is directly responsible for highways matters, we resolved to support their consideration of the petition so these aspirations can be part of wider plans for the transformation of the town. It is time for a co-operative and connected approach, that pulls together an array of possible regenerations projects to create an attractive, accessible and vibrant town centre for us all to enjoy in the future.
Keep smiling and stay safe.
Andrew Day Leader Chris Elliott Chief Executive
