LOCKDOWN
 How are you coping with life under lockdown? What has changed for you in these strange times of keeping your distance from others; walking streets largely emptied of traffic; queuing for controlled supermarket access; finding shops, pubs and restaurants shuttered; and the side benefit of unpolluted skies and the sounds of birdsong?
Send us a photo, record a 1-minute audio or video clip, write a story (100 words max), on what’s different in Richmond since social distancing and self-isolating became a thing and a new normal changed us. If you use social media go to The Richmond Society pages on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtags #lockdownrichmond #loverichmond.
PARKING
Richmond Council has eased parking restrictions throughout the Borough.
- Enforcement of on-street and car park facilities for NHS and social care staff is suspended.
- Residents with a controlled parking zone permit can park on single yellow lines in the same zone.
- The grace period before action on unauthorised parking is taken is extended to 20 minutes from 5 minutes, with the exception of dangerous and obstructive areas.
Details of the new regulations and how to benefit from them are here.
POLICE
Non-emergency 101 calls to the police are now free. The 15p charge was dropped at the beginning of April.
EVENTS
All Richmond Society events are cancelled until September. Those booked for the rest of the year are being kept under review.
FOOTBRIDGE
A one-way system - from Richmond to Twickenham - was adopted at Richmond Lock and Weir footbridge connecting Old Deer Park and St Margarets at Easter but a minority of users ignored it so it has been closed to everyone. The Port of London Authority said there is no public access from Tuesday 21 April “as part of continuing efforts to combat the coronavirus”. The risk of COVID-19 spreading due to users meeting halfway across not being able to stay safely two metres apart as a result of the bridge’s narrow structure was simply too high, the PLA said.
BOOKS
The Open Book, Richmond’s long-established independent bookshop of new books and signed books by local authors in King Street, is taking orders by email during the emergency and will deliver. Contact Helena Caletta at theopenbook@btconnect.com.
Richmond Library Services are posting short pieces of literature every day on The Library Blog. Richmond Card holders can access free eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, an online music library and other services at the digital library here.
COMMUNICATIONS
The Richmond Society’s quarterly Newsletter is delivered to members by email, by post and by hand. It is also posted on our website. If you usually receive a printed copy this is the time to switch to electronic delivery. During the present emergency our team of volunteers who usually get it out to you will not be able to do so. Please send your email address to us here to ensure you do not miss an issue.
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