CITYBUS: From 2nd April 2020, Transport for Cornwall and City Bus have stopped their normal bus routes which service rural communities such as Downderry and Seaton for the duration of the Coronavirus pandemic. City Bus explains their decision " Bus travel has fallen by 90% and, with driver illness, it has become very difficult for the bus companies to continue certain routes". They have, however, introduced an emergency No 75 bus service that will visit Downderry and Seaton. For full bus timetable, Click on
Citybus No 75 Covid-19 Emergency Bus Service 2nd April 2020

Transport for Cornwall and Citybus have announced that they will be operating special timetables until further notice. The No 75 bus service which travels Torpoint/Plymouth to Liskeard, through Downderry and Seaton will NOT run. Cllr Richard Pugh confirmed " A new timetable called COVID 19 has started which affects all rural communities. The 75 bus route will not operate. Bus travel has fallen by about 90% and with driver illness it became very difficult for the bus companies to continue certain routes. ...I have put a case forward and Citybus has been very helpful. An emergency bus service will operate on an emergency timetable.

CityBus' detailed timetable can be found on Public Services

Cornwall Council issued the following statement in answer to the many enquiries about the continuing presence of visitors in the area. "There is now a Devon and Cornwall Police webpage on the restrictions to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. There is a form where activities that should not be taking place can be reported to. Residents can also ring 101. The link is https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-19-faqs and the form to complete is https://services.devon-cornwall.police.uk/crimereporting/

In addition, any reports of businesses contravening the restrictions can be sent to businesscompliance@cornwall.gov.uk so that enforcement action can be taken.

Visit Cornwall and the Council have both issued statements saying that visitors should stay away from Cornwall because a holiday is not an essential reason to travel, and Visit Cornwall has a webpage https://www.visitcornwall.com/coronavirus-covid-19 ……. this message cannot be said too often”.

Deviock Parish Council have added: Please remember that we need to act together as a community to ensure that we keep coronavirus risk to a minimum. Therefore it is really important that we remain calm over this difficult period, and show respect to one another.

‍RNLI Lifeguards

RNLI Lifeguards were due to be deployed across our beaches as of this weekend, but to help combat the spread of coronavirus the provision has been temporarily withdrawn.

This is a necessary step to protect staff and prevent the spread of coronavirus, and we ask that any residents using beaches as part of their daily exercise routine observe social distancing and remain vigilant near the water.

Homeless provisions

The Council is aware that there is increasing concern about members of the community who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Keeping residents safe is our number one priority. If you are aware of any of your residents who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, please contact Cornwall Housing Limited on 0300 1234 161 and ask for the Prevention & Engagement team. You can also find useful information and advice on their website at www.cornwallhousing.org.uk

If you are concerned about someone who is sleeping rough, you should report this through Streetlink by visiting www.streetlink.org.uk or by phoning them on 0300 500 0914. Streetlink will then inform our Outreach Team who can make contact with the person and offer them help and support to find accommodation.

The Government has confirmed that hotels, B&Bs, hostels and holiday parks providing accommodation to support people who are homeless through arrangements with the local authority or other public bodies should remain open to facilitate these arrangements.

If any of your residents are able to offer accommodation to support our Covid-19 response, please send the details to covid19@cornwall.gov.uk

Update on bus services in Cornwall  

  With residents being advised to make only essential journeys over the next few weeks, bus services in Cornwall will operate on a reduced timetable from Sunday 29 March. 

  The reduced service is aimed at providing a link for key workers and those who have no other way of making an essential journey, for example to a shop, supermarket or health centre.    We urge all passengers to check timetables before travelling and to follow Government guidance in making only essential journeys.    Buses are being thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day with regular cleansing of seating areas and handrails at the end of each journey, passengers are asked to:​    

· wash their hands before and after travelling 

· maintain a 2-metre gap between other people 

· board vehicles one at a time 

· not travel if you are unwell 

  More information about timetable changes can be found on the Council’s website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/coronavirus

     School buses 

Transport will remain available for children of key workers who are currently attending school and who would normally use this service. Individual schools will be able to provide more information.

  Truro Park and Ride 

  While the Truro Park and Ride has seen a significant reduction in passengers over the last week, the service is continuing to operate on the usual timetable, providing a link for essential workers, including those at the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske. We will continue to monitor passenger numbers and make amendments to the timetable where appropriate. For more information, please contact Transport@cornwall.gov.uk

    Rail 

GWR is running a National Key Worker Timetable to provide services for those people identified by the Government as key workers in the response to COVID-19.​ 

​This means there is now one service an hour in each direction between Penzance and Plymouth. Branch line services will also operate on a reduced timetable. Intercity trains between Plymouth and London Paddington will run at one an hour. For timetables and updates visit www.gwr.com/check. 

  GWR has said it will accept tickets for CrossCountry services between Penzance and Plymouth.  

  The Night Riviera Sleeper Service has been suspended until further notice and the sleeper lounges at Penzance and Truro closed to passengers. 

  Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry 

The crossings remain in operation to support key workers and those who need to make essential journeys. Tolls for both the bridge and ferry have been suspended for the next three weeks. For more information visit www.tamarcrossings.org.uk.  

  Cornwall Airport Newquay 

The airport terminal has been temporarily closed with all scheduled flights suspended. The Aerodrome remains operational, supporting vital activities including Cornwall Air Ambulance, HM Coastguard Search and Rescue and Military operations. 

For more information about flights visit www.cornwallairportnewquay.com  

  St  Mawe s and King Harry ferries  

Both ferries are operating to support essential links for the Roseland community, key workers and emergency services. The St Mawes Ferry is running a reduced timetable with crossings every two hours. King Harry Ferry passengers are asked to stay in their vehicles during the short crossing. For queries email info@falriver.co.uk, for more information on timetables visit www.falriver.co.uk/ferries  

  Services to and from the  Isles of Scilly 

 The Scillonian will continue to carry essential freight supplies but will no longer take passengers until further notice. There is a limited Skybus service from Land’s End Airport to transport essential key workers. Flights from Newquay and Exeter airports have been cancelled. For more information visit https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/coronavirus/  

  Penzance Heliport 

All flights have been cancelled until Tuesday 14 April at the earlier – the company will review flights due to take place after 14 April in line with Government guidance. For more information visit https://penzancehelicopters.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions 

   Update on library services

In line with Government restrictions all Library sites are now closed, and the mobile library service has ceased until further notice.

Library members who have books or other materials on loan should keep them at home. They can be renewed as many times as needed online www.cornwall.gov.uk/library or on the 24 hour telephone line 0845 6076119 (please check your contract for charges to 0845 numbers). But overdue charges will be waived during this time.

Some reminders for returns and renewals may have been issued before the closures, but residents should ignore these notifications. Please do not leave bags of books etc. outside libraries or post books through letterboxes.

Julian German, Leader of the Council, Cornwall Councillor for the Roseland Division

Pell/Telephone: 01872 322570. Klapkodh/Mobile: 07737 183690

Cornwall Council are receiving complaints about dogs ‘running wild’ and people ending up in closer contact with the dog owner than they want..They have issued this strong message: To help observe social distancing, we are strongly advising dog walkers to keep their dogs on leadswhen in public areas or on beaches. Should one dog go up to another, or towards other people, and the owner has to retrieve it there is a risk of closer contact than is safe. Please observe this simple rule to help prevent the spread of Covid 19.

An open letter on the COVID-19 pandemic and Cornwall

Dear friend,

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sees us in unprecedented times for both Cornwall and the UK. This is likely to be the greatest challenge any of us will have faced in our lifetimes, and it is crucial we take it seriously. It is important everyone follows the advice laid out by the Government to slow and stop the spread of this virus and do everything we can to support our essential public services, especially our NHS.

That includes avoiding non-essential travel.

By anyone’s assessment a holiday at this time is not essential.

So therefore, regrettably we are asking people not to come on holiday to Cornwall at this time.

We need to stop spread of this virus and also need to protect our NHS and keep our supermarket shelves stocked. An influx of thousands of tourists in the coming weeks will put unnecessary pressure on our services. As a supporter of the tourism and hospitality industry we fully understand the huge and grave challenges facing the sector at this time and why some businesses may want to take this opportunity to bring visitors to Cornwall. However, this is first and foremost a medical and health crisis.

We must not underestimate how serious this is and our first priority has to be to protect the public from this dangerous virus. We continue to press the Government for more measures to support all businesses affected by this crisis but the overriding concern has to be to keep people safe and well.Please take all the appropriate steps to keep you and your family safe, and help Cornwall stay safe and well by avoid coming here on holiday at this time.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Double Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay

Cllr Julian German Leader of Cornwall Council

GOOD NEIGHBOUR GROUP LAUNCHED

DaSRA is launching a Good Neighbour Group in Downderry and Seaton to help residents help each other during the Coronavirus crisis.

There will be some people living in our community who will be particularly vulnerable during the coming weeks and months, and may have no one to turn to. We are calling for a team of volunteers to check on the welfare of such people who may need support. Would you consider making regular telephone calls to those who have asked for help to check that all is well?

If so, do please get in touch with DaSRA by email here.

If your health makes you vulnerable or you become sick, and you are self-isolating and worried with no one to turn to, do contact DaSRA by email. Downderry Stores will pass on messages to us if it is more convenient for you to send a note through them. We will connect you with a named local volunteer who will have regular communication with you, checking on your welfare and making sure your basic needs are being met. Do keep in touch - we don’t want any resident to feel alone during these extraordinary challenging times and we know there are many kind and generous people out there just wanting to help.

Laura Done, Chair, DaSRA, 01503 250911
and the DaSRA Management Committee

GWR Train services to and from London will be diverted via Bristol from 14 March through to Friday 3 April. This diversion will add around 35 minutes to journeys between Taunton and Reading. The diversion is needed to allow for work on the stretch of line from Taunton to Castle Cary.

Coaches will therefore run between Taunton and Castle Cary, connecting with trains towards London Paddington, Weymouth and Bristol Temple Meads.

This will add significantly to journey times and there will be a reduced rail service. Please check the timetable before travelling.