XL Recordings Sign Up Information

Welcome to North Somerset Council’s digital news round-up.

We’re sending you this update because you recently registered with MyAccount on our website and we hope you’ll enjoy reading more news and features from the council.

This digital digest is a monthly round-up of what’s happening in the area as well as information about how to do things online to save you time and money.

You can unsubscribe at any time and we will never share your details with other organisations.

In this issue, read about last night’s election results, how to go greener this Christmas, keeping your health on track over the holidays, and more.

Happy New Year to all our readers.

The start of January often results in new promises and plans for the coming year so we’ve got lots of ideas to inspire you.

If you need encouragement to be a bit more active, there is a chance to win a Fitbit if you pledge to be active for 30 minutes a day.

Or if reducing and reusing waste is your main priority, there are simple steps you can follow straight away.

Finding out what local people want from their council is important and this month there are lots of opportunities to have your say.

You could comment on the upcoming budget setting process for the new financial year, the council’s corporate plan for the next three years, the climate emergency action plan, and the proposed rewilding programme.

So read on to find lots of ways to get involved with your council and community.

We hope you enjoy the start of this new decade.

Remember, you can unsubscribe from this email at any time and we’ll never share your details with other organisations.

Fun-filled events are filling up the diary over the coming weeks, as schoolchildren take a week’s break and spring starts to appear.

Lots of hands-on helpers are needed too – whether it’s planting hundreds of trees across the area or picking up litter off our beaches.

The Bristol Airport expansion application was headline news this week. If you missed the live-streaming of the council meeting and would like to see what happened, you can still view it on YouTube

Finding out what local people want from their council is one of the main priorities this year and there are many ways to get involved.

This week sees the launch of ‘Your Neighbourhood’ – a collection of consultations to help shape North Somerset and make it a sustainable and fair place to live, work and visit.

Read on to find out how to have your say.

Remember, you can unsubscribe from this email at any time and we’ll never share your details with other organisations.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has now reached more than one million worldwide.

It's vital that everyone continues to stay home as much as possible to stop the spread, protect the NHS and save lives. Act like you've got it. Anyone can spread it.

Essential council services are still running though. Read on to find out more.

Remember:

• only go outside for food, exercise or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• if you go out, stay two metres (6ft) away from other people
• wash your hands as soon as you get home.

You can spread the virus even if you don't have symptoms.

The government's full guidance about staying at home can be read at www.gov.uk/coronavirus 

For the latest on local advice and services visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus 

Updates are also posted to the council's www.facebook.com/NorthSomersetCouncil and www.twitter.com/NorthSomersetC feeds.

For health information and advice visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Spooky fun will be coming to North Somerset next week as children enjoy their first holiday of the new school year.

Halloween might have a different feel this year but there are still lots of ideas to celebrate while staying safe at home.

Every area in England now falls into one of three categories depending on the local rate of coronavirus infection

North Somerset is currently in Tier 1 and, despite this being the lowest level, it still means there is a medium risk.

Case rates are rising locally so it's up to all of us to continue to help reduce the spread and protect our loved ones this winter. 

As Christmas gets nearer, we're still celebrating the delights on our doorstep - because We ?? North Somerset.

If you buy your festive supplies and gifts from North Somerset businesses, you'll be helping to build a strong, sustainable local economy.

This week is Totally Local Week so take a walk down your local High Street and support those independent traders.

You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details with other organisations.

More spaces and places continue to reopen across North Somerset for people to enjoy a bit of normality once again.

It is still an uncertain time for many people, though, especially as the UK officially went into recession this week after the biggest slump in GDP since records began.

One way we can support each other and our community is to shop locally - visiting your local grocer, baker, butcher or craft maker where possible.

Shop Local Week is now on to encourage you to support local shops, businesses and help save jobs.

Vacant retail space is also set to be transformed into community use in one North Somerset high street, thanks to a ?1.7m grant. Read on to find out more.

The risks from coronavirus haven't gone away though so it's still vitally important to have good hand hygiene, wear a face covering and social distance from people from different households.

As we stayed at home during lockdown, some of us might have put on more weight as we reduced our daily activity so now might be the time to find new ways of living a healthier life. Read on to get started.

Remember, you can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details with other organisations.

The future of historic but dilapidated Birnbeck Pier could be bright once again.

Today, North Somerset Council, Historic England and the RNLI announce plans for the lifeboat charity to take ownership of the Victorian pier and island.

The RNLI is looking to return to the Grade II* listed pier, which it first moved onto in 1882.

Read on to find out more.

This week, more businesses are getting ready to open up their doors once again.

In North Somerset, tourist attractions and holiday accommodation will be welcoming visitors, albeit subject to strict social distancing guidelines. Read on to find out more.

Banwell's long-awaited by-pass also took another significant step forward this week. You can read about it here 

Remember, you can unsubscribe from this email at any time and we'll never share your details with other organisations.

Pubs and bars operating as restaurants will be allowed to reopen in North Somerset from tomorrow (Saturday) when the area moves into Tier 2.

Despite moving down a tier, North Somerset is still on 'high alert' against coronavirus and - with Christmas just a week away - it is not the time to be dropping our guard.

The virus is still circulating so we need to keep doing all we can to keep coronavirus at bay and protect our loved ones. Read on to find out more. 

Businesses have been hit hard this year but new funding is now available for those in the hospitality trade thanks to North Somerset Council, and remember local traders if you still have Christmas presents to buy. 

Christmas also means that recycling and waste collection dates will change slightly to allow for bank holidays. Look online to check when your next collection is.

This has been a hard year for everyone but we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Lockdown restrictions are continuing for at least another three weeks to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, the government announced yesterday.

The infection rate hasn't yet come down enough so strict limits on daily life are continuing.

Thank you to everyone in North Somerset who is already staying at home as much as possible.

Despite the warm weather over the Easter weekend, very few people were out and about in our public areas.

You are making a difference, helping the NHS and all staff on the frontline against coronavirus.

But it's not over yet and it's vital we keep going.

If you're out getting your essential food, medicine or daily exercise please be considerate of others. Stay at least two metres away from anyone who isn't part of your own household.

Be patient and we'll get through this together.

Remember:

• only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• if you go out, stay two metres (6ft) away from other people
• wash your hands as soon as you get home.

You can spread the virus even if you don't have symptoms.

The government's full guidance about staying at home can be read at www.gov.uk/coronavirus

For the latest on local advice and services visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus 

Updates are also posted to the council's www.facebook.com/NorthSomersetCouncil and www.twitter.com/NorthSomersetC feeds.

For health information and advice visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic and so lifestyle changes are needed in the coming weeks to contain it.

As the government announced yesterday, precautions are needed to delay the spread.

Read on for the latest advice about what to do to stay healthy or if you start to feel unwell. Read the story now.

Many events are due to take place around North Somerset in the coming weeks, including the pioneering Arts + Health Weekender and family-friendly activities in the run-up to Easter.

All those listed within this newsletter are correct at the time of distribution but you might want to check with organisers before you attend.

The Your Neighbourhood consultations are also still ongoing if you'd like to have a say in how the council runs things.

Remember, you can unsubscribe from this email at any time and we'll never share your details with other organisations.

Lockdown is resuming in England on Thursday but the restrictions in place will be different this time.

We'll all need to adapt to a new way of living over the next few weeks to help reduce the rate of Covid infection.

North Somerset Life magazine hits doormats this week but things have moved fast since it went to print so this special edition of the digital digest is a round-up of the latest information.

On Saturday the Prime Minister announced that new lockdown measures will come into effect in England this Thursday (5 November) for four weeks.

Pubs, restaurants, gyms and non-essential shops will have to close but schools, colleges and universities can remain open.

You cannot leave or be outside your home except for specific purposes.

These include:

• for childcare or education, where this is not provided online
• for work purposes, where your place of work remains open and where you cannot work from home (including if your job involves working in other people's homes)
• to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place
• with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with one person from another household
• for any medical concerns, reasons, appointments and emergencies, or to avoid or escape risk of injury or harm
• such as domestic abuse - shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which should be as infrequent as possible
• to visit members of your support bubble or provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.

It's a challenging time for all of us but it is more important than ever to do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus.

In North Somerset there has been a sharp rise in Covid cases so council leaders fully support this national lockdown.

It's tough but we did it before. We can work together again to make sure we keep our families, friends and neighbours safe and well.

Keep up-to-date with the latest measures through GOV.UK, the media, and the council's Facebook and Twitter social media channels.

Coronavirus cases are rising in North Somerset so it's up to all of us to help reduce the spread and protect our loved ones.

Social gatherings of more than six people are banned from Monday and everyone is still asked to follow the basic rules to reduce the impact of the virus in our community - have good hand hygiene, wear a face covering and keep your distance. Read on to find out more.

This month is also about celebrating the delights on our doorstep - because We ? North Somerset.

As coronavirus continues, more of us are exploring everything our local area has to offer. 

Visiting nearby attractions - while maintaining social distancing - and buying goods from North Somerset businesses helps to build a strong, sustainable economy. To help this, a new online marketplace has launched so you can shop local right from your sofa. 

Heritage Open Days also starts today (Friday), so you can delve into the area's history or enjoy socially distanced street performers.

Remember, you can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details with other organisations.

Stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus, save lives and protect the NHS.

On Monday, the government announced strict new measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

People must now stay at home and only leave their homes when absolutely necessary.

• only go outside for food, health reasons or essential work
• stay two metres (6ft) away from other people
• wash your hands as soon as you get home.

Full guidance about staying at home and away from others can be found on the gov.uk website

Read on to find out what this means for council services.

For the latest on local advice and services visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus

Updates are also posted to the council's www.facebook.com/NorthSomersetCouncil and www.twitter.com/NorthSomersetC feeds.

For health information and advice visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus