Coronavirus update
The sudden imposition of new Tier 4 lockdown restrictions at midnight last night following the discovery of a new rapidly transmitted variant of Covid has had an immediate impact locally. This blog will continue to be updated on a regular basis.
- For the first time in history the border between Buckinghamshire (tier 4) and Oxfordshire (tier 3) is effectively closed. Travel to places like Henley and Thame is effectively banned except for essential journeys.
- Local attractions like Legoland, Windsor Castle, Odds Farm Park and Bekonscot model village all closed last night until further notice. The National Trust closed its winter lights trail at Waddesdon; the grounds (not the shops) at Hughenden and Cliveden remain open but only on a pre-booked basis.
- The Old Queen’s Head and the Horse and Jockey in Tylers Green and the Crown in Penn have closed until further notice. Other pubs are closed but still deciding what, if any, takeaway services they will offer.
- Hazlemere Library and all Buckinghamshire libraries are closed until further notice. Football and training is suspended at Penn and Tylers Green FC. Hazlemere Golf Club is open for individual or two-ball play only on a pre-booked basis. Tylers Green Village Hall and Hazlemere Community Centre are closed, although pre-Christmas pre-planned blood donor sessions are allowed to go ahead.
- St Margaret’s, Tylers Green, announced its Christmas morning service is now fully booked. There are still some spaces available for the Holy Trinity, Penn Christmas morning service which must be booked in advance.
- The number of new cases locally continues to climb. Latest published figures show that in the seven days to last Monday there were 31 new cases in Hazlemere; 19 in the Penn/Holmer Green/Forty Green area and 18 in Tylers Green.