All of Somerset’s 16 recycling sites switch to their summer timetables from Thursday 1 April – but for essential journeys only to start with.

When open weekdays, they will continue to start at 9am but close an hour later, at 6pm. Year-round Saturday and Sunday hours remain 9am-4pm at all 16 sites.

In line with government guidance, Somerset Waste Partnership is still advising residents to only make trips if they really have to, for example because waste at home is causing some kind of risk.

This advice will be reviewed as part of the national lifting of lockdown restrictions but will not change until 12 April at the earliest. On-site safety precautions continue including social distancing, no staff assistance with unloading, gloves must be worn.

Members of the public are asked to consider wearing a mask.

Please check government restrictions on travel and Somerset Waste Partnership safety measures before making a visit somersetwaste.gov.uk/allatall/

Latest site details including opening days can be found at somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycling/centres

With an impressive average recycling rate of well over 75%, Somerset’s recycle site network is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to take dozens of materials.

Winter hours – 9am-5pm when sites are open weekdays – resume on Friday 1 October 2021.

To keep up to date with waste services, sign up for the SWP e-newsletter at somersetwaste.gov.uk or follow somersetwaste on Facebook or Twitter.

All change for Easter waste

Every household in Somerset will have Easter waste collection day changes but recycle sites will stay open, Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has announced.

With no pick-ups on Good Friday 2 April, these will take place a day later on Saturday 3 April.

No collections on Easter Monday 5 April mean that all the week’s kerbside services will be one day later, including Friday pick-ups on Saturday 10 April.

All 16 recycle sites remain on their summer schedules, open for essential visits with required safety measures and government restrictions.

On Good Friday 2 April, 10 sites will open 9am to 6pm: Bridgwater, Chard, Frome, Highbridge, Minehead, Somerton, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Yeovil.

All 16 sites will open 9am to 4pm on both Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.

And 12 sites will open 9am to 6pm on Easter Monday: Bridgwater, Castle Cary, Chard, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Frome, Minehead, Street, Taunton, Wells, Williton, Yeovil.

To keep up to date with waste services, sign up for the SWP e-newsletter at somersetwaste.gov.uk or follow somersetwaste on Facebook or Twitter.

Press release from Somerset Waste Partnership

Families getting to grips with Covid self-test kits are being asked to make sure they dispose of them correctly.

Secondary schools across the county and country are providing the home Lateral Flow Testing kits for pupils, though exactly when and how may vary from school to school.

And as the kits come home, Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) is highlighting the Government guidance on disposing of them – once used, kit contents should go straight into standard rubbish bins.

Whether the result is positive or negative, the used items from each test – including the testing strip, swab and extraction tube – should be put in the small plastic bag that comes with the pack. This bag should then go straight into your normal rubbish bin.

The kits are not considered clinical waste requiring a special collection, nor should they be recycled.

If a test result is positive, as well as following the reporting instructions included in the test kits, people should make sure they then treat their personal waste appropriately.

The advice for any household with a confirmed Covid case or any symptoms is that tissues, disposable cleaning cloths, masks and gloves should be double-bagged and kept separate from other waste for 72 hours before going into your usual rubbish outside your house.

Full guidance on disposing of waste during Covid can be found online Coronavirus (COVID-19): disposing of waste – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In a household without any Covid cases or symptoms, if you need to throw away used face coverings or PPE, such as gloves, put them in your ‘black bag’ waste (or a litter bin if you are outside).

Do not put them into recycling as they cannot be recycled through conventional recycling facilities. You do not need to put them in an extra bag or store them before throwing them away.

Cloth face coverings should be washed and reused to prevent and reduce waste.

From 22nd March 2021 our field census officers will be working across England and Wales, visiting households which have not yet completed their census.

All our officers will be carrying official identification cards. The card will have a photograph and the officer’s name. The officers will work through the day to make contact with residents but will not call before 09:00 or after 20:00.

Any member of the public concerned that the person on their doorstep is not a census officer can call the number on the critical workers letter that the officer can show them.

Census officers will never ask for any money or bank details at any point during the conversation with respondents.

Our staff in the field are classed as key workers. The law allows that where there is a lockdown people can leave their home for work if they cannot work from home. As their role cannot be carried out by working from home, they are allowed to carry out the duties of their role.

The health and safety of the public and the census field force is of the utmost importance to us. Field force routines in Census 2021 have been planned with the health and safety of both the public and field staff front and centre. All our officers will work in a socially distanced way; they will all be wearing PPE and they will not enter anyone’s home.

Jill Loader | Census Engagement Manager, Somerset |

Office for National Statistics | +44 07452 939451 |

[email protected]

www.census.gov.uk

Council Tax scams

Whilst no one likes paying taxes and with counci

l tax bills dropping onto doormats, a phone call that promises to lower your Council Tax banding for an upfront charge may sound like a great offer, but you can find out if your band can be lowered for free.

We have also been told by callers that they have been called by “someone” who says they work for the Council; that a lot of money  is owed and that if they do not pay, the Police will be called.  These are scam phone calls, but understandably very frightening for residents.

If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax bill and need assistance, our Council Tax staff will be more than happy to offer help and advice on 0300 303 7801 or email please email the Council Tax team on [email protected].

Council Tax bands are set by the Valuation Office Agency and can only be changed under certain conditions. Details can be found at www.gov.uk/council-tax-appeals.   If you think your band is wrong, contact the Valuation Office Agency – you will not be charged for the service.

If you have a question in relation to Council Tax Support, please view Sedgemoor District Council website for more advice. In addition, it you have a question about what help you can apply for as you are no longer working, please go to the gov.uk website which has a lots of guidance to help you make a claim for help.

If you have given over personal details, we would advise you to call the Police straight away on 101 and report the matter as an identity theft scam. The Police will also direct you to the Action Fraud helpline on 0300 123 2040.

Press Release from Sedgemoor District Council

Vacancies have unexpectedly arisen on the board of Sedgemoor CAB, and the Trustees of this highly regarded and recognised charity are seeking to fill these.

Applications are welcome from anyone who believes they can work with the team to provide oversight of the finances, risks, and operational standards of the bureau and help steer it through changing times.

The board’s responsibility to clients and stakeholders is usually met via four board meetings a year. It would be expected that the postholder would also be involved in one or two staff and volunteer meetings/events during the course of the year.

This is a voluntary role, and it would suit a person wishing to become involved in charity work, if not already, and who is committed to seeing a successful bureau continue to give a first-class service to local people in need of free, impartial, advice.

Please, in the first instance, contact Elaine Allen, [email protected] for further information.

Fraud Alert COVID 19 Grant – Fraudulent texts claiming to be HMRC February 2021