Cookham Discussion Board

STAY AT HOME AND SAVE LIVES

FIRST: The official advice from www.police.uk re reporting crime:

Coronavirus (Covid-19): We're asking you please to only call 999 if it is an emergency and 101, if it is urgent. If you can, use our online contact and reporting services.
If you’re looking for information about the government instruction to stay at home and how that may affect you, you'll find guidance on
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
For information about the Police and the virus:
https://www.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/c19/coronavirus-covid-19/

You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:
shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
going out for one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household - once a day
any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
travelling only where essential - which includes to and from work, if you're unable to work from home
These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these things, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are two metres apart from anyone, outside of your household and washing your hands when you return home.

We understand it can be difficult to know what to do, or not do; this situation does need all of us to take a moment and think about what we’re doing and to assess the potential risk. This is a virus that spreads by human physical contact. It’s sensible to do everything you can to minimise the amount of physical contact that you have with other people.

We appreciate that the vast majority of people are following the stay at home measures and we're very grateful to them for doing so.

We'd encourage you to continue to follow the measures; we are patrolling and advising people if we see them doing things which are contrary to the government advice. Enforcement is a last resort for us and we'd prefer to work with the public to resolve situations through clear communication and explaining why they might want to behave differently first.

Some thoughts, after exercising over the weekend

A suggestion:– can we all agree to walk – as we drive – on the left. Where there is a pavement either side of a road, can we agree to walk on the left. I am forever crossing the road. or even walking in it, as someone comes towards me. If we all walked on the left, we could follow one another – at a suitable distance. It would make exercise, a lot easier.

Dog owners: I have now heard back from the Borough, there is no requirement to keep dogs on a lead in public parks, but can dog owners considerate if he area is busy. The advice from the Dogs Trust:

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/advice-for-owners/dog-advice-during-coronavirus-lockdown

where there is a lot of useful information for dog owners:

Can I meet my friends and their dogs for a walk?
No. You should only socialise with people you are already living with. If you see someone you know when you are on your walk, including other dog owners, stay at least two metres apart, avoid petting their dog and wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.

How long should I walk my dog for? Can I take them for a longer walk in the car?
We appreciate how difficult a time this must be for you, especially as you are trying to avoid highly populated areas, when taking your dog for a walk. Government guidelines say you should only be going out once a day and not for long periods, to try to limit contact with others. Your dog will appreciate any time outside, however short.
Consider how you can keep your dog’s walk interesting.
You could try mapping out a slightly different route in advance to give your dog a chance to experience new sights and smells. A fallen tree, bench or even a bus stop can be made into a fun for your dog by getting them to jump over, circle around or just place their paws on them in return for a treat. Make sure anything you ask your dog to stand on is low to the ground and sturdy enough to keep them having a fun and safe time. Try giving your dog a different trick or action for them to do at every lamppost, tree, post box, etc, rewarding them with a treat or quick game.

Can I take my dog out more than once ?
The Government has advised that each person in the household can go out with the dog once a day.

AND from the Great Park:
As I’m sure you can imagine, given the current very difficult circumstances that people find themselves in, the whole of The Great Park and the Forests are being used more and more for local recreational purposes. We are trying our very hardest to keep the Great Park and the Forests open, as we recognise what are hugely valuable resource these are for the local populations.
 
We have currently taking decision not to insist that all dogs are on leads throughout the entire estate. Once such a direction is given it is then necessary to police it, otherwise it is useless. However we simply do not have the manpower able to enforce such a requirement across the 18,000 acres that we own and manage.
 We have posted on our website and on social media advice from the dogs trust which we think is useful.

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/advice-for-owners/dog-advice-during-coronavirus-lockdown

We have, to date, had no concerns expressed to us. If there is a particular situation or concern on The Long Walk which we need to be made aware of, then please do let us know.

Nicholas Day   |   Head of Engagement and Events
T: +44 17 5384 7522

Cyclists: On Sunday, I was walking back along the river from Home Park. There is a really narrow path, before you get to Eton Bridge. It is about 3 feet wide and fenced, so if you meet anyone, it is hard to maintain full social distancing. There is one part, where you can go down to a small path beside the river, which is even narrower. While walking there, I was passed by so many bikes, on this really narrow path. They were no more that a foot from me and I had nowhere to go !  Several times, I passed groups of cyclists, sitting together, having drinks and sandwiches. I know the little paths are beautiful at this time, but they are not really suitable for walkers and cyclists ! The roads are much emptier now and would be more suitable for cyclists.

Young People: I often see groups of young people walking around together, not observing social distancing. If you have teenage children, can you impress upon them, the need for social distancing. Explain to them, the numbers of people that have died in the USA and here in the UK !

Roads getting together: In my road and the surrounding roads, we all come out on Thursday evenings with our pots and pans, flags and rattles etc to show our support for all the front line workers, who put themselves at risk, to help us. We now also all go out – with a glass on wine at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, to make sure everyone is well and ask if anyone needs anything. Last Saturday, we were all out there – maintaining or social distancing for over an hour and a half, just chatting, waving and being ‘social’. We have one elderly resident in the road, who has been unwell, but not with the virus.  She now comes out onto her doorstep with her zimmer frame and is greeted by everyone. To see the expression on her face, as everyone waves and asks how she is, shows how appreciative she is, of the human contact !!  Most of her contact is via the phone. It is really only a little thing, but it makes a huge difference for us all, after being isolated all week.

NEXT: From John Diack, the Chair of the Maidenhead NHW Association:

Hi Jeff

We in NHW are aware of the enormous strain currently being placed on our NHS, Police and other public services.  We are seeking to fill, wherever possible, any perceived gaps such as circulating local crime or nuisance information by utilising the NHW coordinators network across the town.

We are aware of the elderly and vulnerable members within our schemes and are aiming to ensure they are properly being taken care of.   

Additionally, many shopping groups have been organised to minimise the number of trips to shops and to enable those in the vulnerable categories to remain at home.  Prescriptions collections have also been facilitated.   

We are on the look out for any one who is finding the current crisis over-stressful or who us not coping well and doing our best to include them in the community to improve all round morale.

I trust your are well and safe yourself.

John

Chairman Maidenhead Police Area NHW Association
NHW Rushington Area Coordinator
MSA NHW Thames Valley

MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:

Hi Jeff,
I had a call from a lady who said she was phoning from the UK Gov  National Shielding Service and, when she started to ask personal information, I became wary.
I had previously had a text message saying I could expect a call from a certain telephone number, so I asked the caller what number she was ringing from and she didn’t know.
I stopped the call but afterwards, when I checked, the number shown on my phone was the correct one.  In this case I was probably too cautious.

Barry

Thanks Barry,

I have now had another email from Barry:

Hi again Jeff,
After having Lymphoma, I was put on the At-Risk list and did receive a text message, among many others, from the NHS, warning me I would receive a call from a certain number.
This call happened to be that number, when I checked afterwards but I didn’t know this at the time and, as I said, the lady calling me didn’t know that number.
Clearly she should have done so for verification, but because we are so wary of scammers in this instance I rejected, what could have been an important call.
Barry
Many thanks Barry or the update.

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for all your work, to keep us up-to-date.

I would like to report an e-mail that I often get, it may already be though a known, previously reported issue.
It is the email to say there has been a problem with my standing order for my TV Licence, could I follow the link an d re-enter all my bank details !!!
I often get these e-mails below that according to which there is a problem with my TV Licensing and that there is an outstanding amount and it will be suspended. I have always ignored them or reported as phishing e-mail as I know that these are fake.

I would never be addressed by my e-mail address by a utility company, I would probably be contacted by post, and most importantly, none of the details on the bottom are correct (my TV license number or the renewal (and not expiry!) date), but I thought someone less experienced in spotting fake e-mails might get concerned and pay.

Just wanted to draw your attention to this.

Thank you
Krisztina