CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM LLANGATTOCK COMMUNITY COUNCIL MARCH 18TH 2020

Elderly and vulnerable Llangattock residents are being urged to contact community councillors if they cannot find the support they need during the Coronavirus outbreak. The Council is working with County Councillor, Jackie Charlton, to pull together information about what help is available to local people who are worried or self-isolating at home.

Community Council Chair, Richard Jones, said: “This will be a confusing and worrying time and all the Councillors are willing to support people where we can. In many cases, this will involve providing information about what help is available from other bodies, shops who are doing home deliveries or other volunteers. At least we can help start that process of finding help for elderly and vulnerable people who need to know they are not alone."

Jackie Charlton said: “The one silver lining of the recent floods, is that it helped us identify what help is available and who to contact in an emergency. Many of the emergency teams who worked on the floods have shifted straight to Coronavirus, so we know who to ask. Our message is, if you are worried or lonely, please get in touch. We are connected to the most up to date information received daily from Powys County Council and Powys Local Health Board.”

Llangattock Community Council can be contacted via email on llangattockcc@gmail.com or individual councillors’ contact details, including telephone numbers, can be found on the Council's website https://www.llangattock-cc.gov.wales/committee. County Councillor, Jackie Charlton, can be contacted via email on cllr.jackie.charlton@powys.gov.uk or text only on 07976 928061. Information will also be posted on the Council's six noticeboards at The Vine Tree, The Dardy, the Recreation Ground, the Ffawyddog, the Chapel and by Llangattock Church, as well as on Facebook, other social media and in news releases.

The Community Council has enacted a policy which allows it to operate without the need for public meetings, as they are now banned under Coronavirus health guidelines. It is assessing how it can try to keep the toilets on the recreation ground open and maintain its other services at Llangattock Park and Llangattock Cemetary. Cllr Jones said: "The government has made it clear that people need to continue to take exercise, while also maintaining a distance from others. Llangattock Park is one of the places they can do that."

And councillors have decided to press ahead with plans to install commemorative benches at Llangattock Park in time for VE Day. They will also dig beds for the Memorial Garden using a mechanical digger, and planting while observing guidelines for social distancing themselves. They will do this on the morning of Saturday, March 28th, which was planned as a day for volunteers supporting the Perk Up The Park project. Cllr Ann Williams said: "As gatherings are being discouraged we no longer feel able to call for volunteers on the 28th. But we are still appealing for financial donations and do still want to get the benches installed so that people have something to look forward to." Plans for a 'bring your own picnic' VE Day event in early May are being kept under review and the celebration may be moved to VJ Day on August 15th, which commemorates the date of victory over Japan and the end of the Second World War.