Supermarkets opening hours
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Many supermarkets have opening times for specific groups such as key NHS staff and the elderly, to help to ensure access to food and commodities for all. Below is a useful list of priority shopping times.
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A plea to everyone
There is no need to panic buy. There is sufficient food and loo rolls in the supply system to satisfy normal demand. But if a few people panic buy, they clear the shelves of essential items and this leads to shortages which cause even more panic buying. Those most affected are the vulnerable and key NHS staff.
Our plea to all residents is: DO NOT PANIC BUY.
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Council survey of coronavirus impact on businesses
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Gateshead Council are aiming to contact as many businesses as possible to understand how coronavirus is impacting local firms and to make sure they are aware of support available to them.
Businesses may receive a call from council officers directly but in the meantime, if you run a business in the borough, please complete this short survey from Gateshead Council.
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Tell residents you are still trading
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Do you run a local restaurant, cafe or food outlet and have a delivery or takeaway service? If you do, we are offering you the free opportunity to reach out to your local customers through our eFocus newsletter. Across Whickham, Sunniside, Swalwell, Dunston and Lobley Hill, 1200 households receive eFocus.
We want our great local businesses to survive but we understand the impact new restrictions are having on trade. So, if you run a food business and want to make use of our free offer to reach residents, reply to this email with a few details: the name and address of your business, and your phone number, website or email via which people can contact you to place orders. The government's latest restrictions on people leaving their home means your business will need to provide a delivery service.
If you run a local food shop, please send us your opening times so we can keep people informed about where and when they can shop for food.
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Concessionary pass restrictions lifted
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Nexus has lifted current restrictions preventing free travel in Tyne and Wear for some passengers before 9:30am. Senior citizens and people with some disabilities are entitled to free off-peak travel on buses with a concessionary pass or a discounted Metro Gold Card.
The decision was taken in response to a number of supermarkets dedicating their first trading hour to older people. The lifting or restrictions applies to buses, Metro and the Shields Ferry.
This will hopefully give people more opportunity to travel when they need to without paying extra, but residents are reminded that Government advice is to only use public transport if the journey is absolutely essential.
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Metro car parks reserved for NHS staff
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Two of the biggest car parks on the Tyne and Wear Metro are now reserved for NHS staff. To help support those working for NHS Newcastle Hospitals Trust, all staff from the trust will be allowed to park at Four Lane Ends and Regent Centre car parks for free.
The move by Nexus, who own the car parks, frees up more than 650 parking spaces within easy reach of the trust’s main sites at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital by Metro and bus.
For other passengers, alternative parking is available at Northumberland Park, Kingston Park and Callerton Parkway Metro stations
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No changes to bin collections
but garden waste service suspended
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There are, as yet, no plans to change bin collections for recycling and household waste. Please continue to put out your wheelie bins on your normal collection days. After handling your bin, please wash your hands!
However, the garden waste collection, which was due to resume next week, has been suspended. The Council will aim to resume the service as soon as possible and residents will be notified accordingly. People who use the service have paid for 15 fortnightly collections and may not now receive them all. The Council will be looking at this issue once the current public health crisis has subsided and services have returned to normal.
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Queen Elizabeth Hospital visiting ended
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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital today (24th March) announced that all visiting has been suspended until further notice. This is to protect staff, patients and their families. The only exceptions are:
- 1 birthing partner only during labour
- 2 people visiting the neonatal unit
- End of life care where you can make arrangements with the ward staff
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Work starts on Newcastle western by-pass upgrade
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