Coronavirus update
- Chiltern Railways begins a reduced timetable today which will last until the end of the lockdown on 2 December. The company says the timetable provides a service for commuters who need to travel while at the same time accepting that fewer people are actually travelling.
- Buckinghamshire Council today launches a new grant scheme for businesses in the county hit by the second lockdown. It aims to give financial support to non-essential retail, leisure, entertainment, personal care and hospitality businesses that have been forced to close. Another grant scheme for businesses that have been hit but not forced to close is to be launched later this week.
- There is no sign yet that the number of new Covid cases in our immediate area is significantly changing. In the Penn/Holmer Green/Knotty Green area there were 11 new cases reported in the seven days to last Wednesday, compared to 10 for the previous seven days. In Tylers Green there were six new cases compared to nine, whereas in Hazlemere there were nine new cases compared to three.
- Mobile coronavirus testing sites are being set up in Gerrards Cross tomorrow and Marlow on Wednesday. These are in addition to the semi-permanent testing site at Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe.
Local news
Park status – Expectations are growing that the Government will this week announce that the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will become a new National Park. Penn’s MP Dame Cheryl Gillan, a long time campaigner for the move, said last night she hoped the plan will “move forward” when the Government announces its “Green Recovery” plan