Cambridgeshire County Council Update 15th June 2020

Published: 16 June 2020

Peterborough City centre welcomes back shoppers
Peterborough City Centre began welcoming back shoppers from today (15 June), with an emphasis on ‘shopping local’ following a relaxation of the Government’s Covid-19 lockdown, with more open-air cafés, pubs and restaurants to follow in the summer.

From today, non-essential shops will begin to re-open their doors to try and recoup lost profits over the past 12 weeks.  This follows the completion of the recommended Government Covid-19 risk assessment and putting the final touches to their stores, with one-way systems, closed changing rooms, counter screens and a raft of new measures to ensure the safety of both staff and customers.

It is expected that bars and restaurants will follow suit in July with plans to allow many to spill out onto the pavements and areas like Cathedral Square and the Guild Hall to maximise footfall while allowing social distancing to still take place.

Detailed advice for shoppers and a full list of measures that are being taken to ensure safety is available on the council’s website.

The re-opening has been coordinated by the Peterborough Economic Recovery Programme (PERP), a partnership comprising of Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough Positive, Opportunity Peterborough and large outlets like Queensgate Shopping Centre.  The PERP has also consulted with Disability Peterborough and the city’s Safer Off the Streets partnership.

Together, the PERP has reached out to help city businesses recover from the impact of Covid-19, giving support and guidance on how to get their businesses started again.  In the future, it will look to help these businesses build back stronger and to support independents in moving towards an additional e-commence model to future proof their business.

The measures, which aim to protect both shoppers and businesses from Covid-19, have been made possible thanks to the Government’s Re-Opening High Streets Safely Fund, from which it will be possible for the city council to claim back £181,500.

City/Town re-openings in Cambridgeshire is also handled by Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council and Huntingdonshire District Council.  Please contact them for their details.

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Cambridgeshire County council helps towns, cities prepare for shoppers
The highways team at Cambridgeshire County Council has been working closely with its partners to ensure towns, cities and villages have enough pedestrian and cycle space to allow social distancing and to protect people’s safety.

The team has been working with city and district councils across Cambridgeshire to make temporary changes to the highway to make shopping areas Covid-19 secure – including putting down floor stencils, removing planters and other street furniture to create more space, widening footpaths and installing temporary barriers.  These will guide shoppers and ensure enough space to keep a 2m gap from each other when they return to town and city centres to use non-essential shops, some of which are opening on Monday (15 June).

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Resident parking support in Cambridge
From this week, resident parking enforcement in Cambridge will revert back to how it was pre-lockdown.

At the start of the lockdown in March, Cambridgeshire County Council in partnership with Cambridge City Council, worked together to suspend parking enforcement in Cambridge. By relaxing the rules, the aim was to help critical workers, keep the roads free for emergency vehicles and essential deliveries.

However, in line with national guidance, city centres will be re-opening from today (15 June) onwards. Therefore, in order to protect residents from a potential influx of vehicles from people visiting the city centre, all resident parking schemes in Cambridge will continue to operate as they did previously.

This doesn’t affect the free parking permit scheme for the critical care workers who can still park their vehicle in all Resident Permit Parking Areas and on-street Pay and Display bays in Cambridge City, whilst carrying out essential duties, without having to worry about cost or time restrictions. For more information on this, please visit our website.

In Peterborough, all council owned car parks are currently free of charge until 13 July.

Parking in Cambridgeshire is also handled by Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council and Huntingdonshire District Council. Please contact them for their details.
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Updates to Stagecoach timetables from the weekend

Further changes were made to Stagecoach timetables across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough from Sunday (14 June) onwards.

The changes come as part of a phased step-up in services, as some Park & Ride services were resumed on 31 May.

For more information visit the Stagecoach website here.
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Leader’s Vlogs
Councillor Steve Count, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council and Councillor John Holdich, leader of Peterborough City Council have recorded separate vlogs for residents across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  They both talk about shops re-opening from Monday.

Watch Councillor Steve Count’s vlog here.

Watch Councillor John Holdich’s vlog here.
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Scam Awareness Fortnight
From today and for the coming two weeks, Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City councils will be supporting Scam Awareness Fortnight, which is coordinated by Citizens Advice.

Please help promote Scam Awareness Fortnight on social media using the #scamaware hashtag.

For further information on coronavirus scams, visit our website.

For free downloadable resources for coronavirus and all types of scams, visit the resources webpage of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP). You can follow us on Facebook @CAPASP19 or Twitter @CAPA5P.

For further advice on scams, please call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 11 33.

To report a scam, please call Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040.

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Council’s Coordination Hub’s work gives couple the gift of time
Aware of the additional pressure upon unpaid family carers during the coronavirus lockdown Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council have been busy calling carers across the region to make sure they have access to support.

Managed and operated by redeployed Council staff and volunteers, the ‘Countywide COVID-19 Coordination Hub’ have been supporting carers and the most vulnerable members of society, helping with access to food, deliveries and medication, signposting to professional services, arranging a friendly phone call and offering a point of contact should any needs arise – all with the aim to help people protect themselves from the risks associated with Coronavirus.

Those working and volunteering in the hub are speaking to carers young and old every day, from all walks of life, including Mr F, who was finding it increasingly difficult to care for his beloved wife during the lockdown.

Mr F, himself in his 80s and recovering from throat cancer, is a full-time carer for his wife, who is disabled and unable to leave the house.  He was having to make essential trips for food and medication, meaning he was having to leave his wife alone at home for prolonged periods.

Having experienced some issues he was becoming more and more reluctant to visit the shops, but with a lack of any available online delivery slots and not being classed a priority, he was left with no choice but to continue making the trips.

Mr F was contacted by the Council and referred to the Coordination Hub, and the couple are now receiving support with food deliveries and medication.

If you provide care for someone, our partners are on hand to help: Caring Together for adult carers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and for young carers in Peterborough; Centre 33 supports young carers in Cambridgeshire and Making Space helps carers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who look after someone with mental ill health.

Information for carers is available on the County Council / City Council websites.