Author: Neil Kirk

As per government guidelines, from the 4th of July the play park and outdoor gym can be opened 🌻🤸‍♀️🌳

There are of course guidelines regarding the opening and use of play parks and outdoor gyms: www.gov.uk

It will not be possible to ensure regular and complete sanitizing of equipment nor will it be possible to enforce any rules. Some signs will be posted around the play park as reminders of a few key points. The most important being that the 2m social distancing rule must still be adhered to — although this can be tricky with excited children…

Some other points to be mindful of:

• Try and keep to one family per piece of equipment
• Sit/picnic in the outside space adjacent to the play park
• Don’t eat or drink within the play park
• Use hand sanitizer often, especially before and after play and before eating/drinking
• Remind your children to not put their mouths on equipment
• Face masks are not recommended for children under 3 and adults with masks may also be unsettling to some children
• Keep the area clear and litter-free (take rubbish home if needs be)
• If it’s too busy to maintain a safe distance
  • come back another time
  • limit the amount of time you spend in it to give others a chance
  • keep to one adult per family (within the play park)

Annually, the Parish Council is required to perform a review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control and prepare an annual governance statement in accordance with proper practices in relation to accounts.

The purpose of the annual governance statement is for an authority to report publicly on its arrangements for ensuring that its business is conducted in accordance with the law, regulations and proper practices and that public money is safeguarded and properly accounted for.

You can find the 2020 Annual Governance and Accountability Review (AGAR) here.

The June Parish Council meeting will be taking place online to comply with lockdown regulations.

If any member of the public would like to attend, please contact the Clerk for details.

The Annual Parish Meeting has been cancelled for the foreseeable future.

The following notice was received from the Canterbury City Council Planning Applications department:

In light of the coronavirus and the need to enable our staff to work from home, the County Council has temporarily suspended notifying neighbours of planning applications submitted to the County Planning Application for decision. Whilst we are able to do so, we will continue to advertise applications via a site notice in the vicinity of the application site and where necessary a press notice. Details of live planning applications are available to view on the Council’s website.

You can search for planning applications on the Council website: https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/info/20014/planning_and_building/232/search_and_comment_on_planning_applications/1

At present the April Parish Council Meeting will take place as per normal with appropriate distance between each other. It is expected that guidelines will soon be issued to allow meetings to take place online.

In order to comply with Government recommendations on social distancing if you are planning to attend the meeting we would be grateful if you would first please inform the Clerk. Alternatively if you would rather a matter be discussed at the meeting without your attendance in person please also contact the Clerk.

clerk@bridgevillage.org.uk

🚫🦮Dogs are not permitted on the recreation ground 🐕‍🦺🚫

This includes dogs on leashes. The only exception is on the public footpath that travels from the Pavilion and the adjacent field.

The safety and cleanliness of the recreation ground, as a space for people to enjoy, is the primary concern.

The following is an announcement from the Kent County Council regarding Corona Virus.

For specific information about Corona Virus in Bridge, please goto the COVID-19 page.

The draft accounts for the Parish Council are now available online for public inspection. You can find them here directly or in the Parish Documents section of the Parish Council page.