Update on effects of COVID-19 on Solihull Town Centre

Solihull BID want to keep you updated with the latest news, information and advice during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Please check this page daily for more updates for businesses and individuals.

- Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to reopen from 1 June. All other non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics, plus tailors, auction houses, photography studios, and indoor markets, will be expected to be able to reopen from 15 June if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines, giving them three weeks to prepare. More information here.

- Anyone aged 5 or over who has coronavirus symptoms is now eligible for a coronavirus test. If you have a new continuous cough OR high temperature OR loss/change in your normal sense of smell or taste, self-isolate and book a test by clicking here.

- The Government have produced new guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to read it.

- The UK's coronavirus furlough scheme will finish at the end of October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed. At the No 10 briefing, Mr Sunak also set out how employers will have to start sharing the cost of the scheme. From August, employers must pay National Insurance and pension contributions, then 10% of pay from September, rising to 20% in October.  Click here for more information.

- Solihull Council has suspended parking charges in Council car parks and on-street parking bays in Solihull town centre. People can still access these car parks – please click here to check for opening/closing times

 'Plan Ahead Team' (PATS) will be formed into groups with an appointed Senior Team Leader whose responsibility is to obtain and share relevant information to the leadership group and key partners. The PATs will be conducted via virtual meetings or open webinars.

We should confirm the scope of what actions and preparation could be implemented to ensure a successful recovery.

For more details on the Solihull town centre recovery plan, please click on the image above.

Please click the image above for a list of restaurants and venues in Solihull town centre that offer takeaway options delivered.

Please click the image above for a list of of services and businesses offering food produce deliveries to the local area.

Please click the image above for a list of retail stores in Solihull town centre that offer home delivery.

Please click here for the latest Government advice to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO GO TO OUR NEW STORE REOPENING TRACKER FOR SOLIHULL TOWN CENTRE WHICH SHOWS WHICH SHOPS ARE CURRENTLY TRADING AND WHEN OTHERS ARE PLANNING TO REOPEN

FUNERAL SERVICES

The Co-operative Funeralcare - We are still open however we are not open to the public unless by appointment in which the social distancing regulations needs to be adhered.

The changes to funerals at the moment are that we have had to withdraw the Limousine from funerals as we cannot enforce the social distancing with passengers in the vehicles.

Our Florist have ceased trading due to not being able to source Flowers from our suppliers in Holland.

Solihull MBC will allow 10 Mourners to attend any funeral services. All non essential services have been cancelled for example Witness scattering of ashes and Interments of cremated Remains.

Funerals can be filmed and transmitted live using personal phones if agreed with those officiating and the family.

National Association of Funeral Directors - Please see advice funeral advice here: https://nafd.org.uk/funeral-advice/

CEMETERIES

In response to the Secretary of State’s announcement on 18 April, all three cemeteries in Solihull will reopen at weekends from 9am to 6pm for personal visits to graves and memorials.  

Social distancing guidance should be followed at all times and visitors should not gather at a cemetery.

There has been a significant increase in the number of funerals recently. To ensure the safety of mourners the cemeteries will remain closed from Monday to Friday, other than for those attending a funeral.

CAR PARKS

Solihull Council has suspended parking charges in Council-operated car parks and on-street parking bays in Solihull town centre, Knowle and Shirley until further notice.

This decision was approved virtually by the Cabinet Member for Environment & Highways today (Tuesday 21 April). The cabinet report can be found here.

People can still access Council-operated car parks – please check the website for opening/closing times.

SIAS – Solihull Integrated Addiction Services

SIAS offer a child and young adults contact line, support for addiction from gambling to drugs and alcohol, support for friends and family.

Normally located at The Core and now offering facetime and phone appointments for issues from addiction to family/relationship issues, children needs and more.

https://www.sias-solihull.org.uk/

ALDI - Aldi have adjusted their opening times to 8am - 8pm (Monday - Saturday) and 10am - 4pm (Sunday). All Aldi stores remain open and continue to serve their valued customers. They have good product availability and their incredible colleagues are working tirelessly to restock and replenish shelves as quickly as they can.

MARKS & SPENCER - Open 9am - 6pm on Monday - Thursday; open 8.30am - 6pm on Friday; open 8am - 6pm on Saturday; open 10.30am - 4.30pm on Sunday. To help make sure everyone can shop for the food they need, M&S have reserved the first hour of trading for older and vulnerable customers, and for brilliant NHS and emergency workers. M&S has all the fresh food and essentials you need and they are restocking the shelves all day.

MORRISONS - Morrisons have introduced an NHS hour in all stores from 7am to 8am, Monday to Saturday for NHS workers to shop. New store opening hours will be 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays they'll be open as usual (10am - 4pm).

SAINSBURY'S - NHS ID holders have priority Monday to Saturday 07:30 - 08:00. Elderly customers, carers and disabled customers have priority Monday, Wednesday and Friday 08:00 - 09:00. Sainsbury’s will be open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Opening hours on Sunday will remain the same (11am - 5pm).

TESCO EXPRESS - Opening hours are now 6am - 11pm, Monday - Sunday.

WAITROSE & PARTNERS - Waitrose is creating a £1 million Community Support Fund to be used as direct aid for the communities you and theirr Partners live and work in. Waitrose stores will dedicate the first hour of opening as a priority shopping time for the elderly, the vulnerable and those who look after them. All Waitrose cafes and rotisseries have been closed. Waitrose & Partners Solihull is open 7.30am - 9pm, Monday - Saturday; 10.30am - 4pm on Sunday.

Please click the image above for updates from Solihull town centre's health businesses.

A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses. Please click the image above to access the full list of schemes available and how to access them.

Please click here for the latest Government advice to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

Click here to access a checklist of things your business should do during this testing time.

We've compiled a list of useful resources for you from online workouts to mental wellbeing tips and classes for the kids - see the full list by clicking the image above!

A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.

The following page helps businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply: https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

• Mortgage lenders have agreed they will support customers that are experiencing issues with their finances as a result of COVID-19, including through payment holidays of up to 3 months. This will give people the necessary time to recover and ensure they do not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage in the interim.
  
  
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will now be available for eligible individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or those who are unable to work because they are self-isolating in line with Government advice. This is in addition to the change announced by the Prime Minister that SSP will be payable from day 1 instead of day 4 for affected individuals.
  
  
• Those who are not eligible for SSP, for example the self-employed or people earning below the Lower Earnings Limit of £118 per week, can now more easily make a claim for Universal Credit or Contributory Employment and Support Allowance.
  
  
• The Government has announced a new £500 million Hardship Fund so Local Authorities can support economically vulnerable people and households.
  
  

• A taxable grant will be paid to the self-employed or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month. Initially, this will be available for three months in one lump-sum payment, and will start to be paid from the beginning of June. Click here for more information.
  
  

• Beware of COVID-19 Fraud and Scams
  
  
• COVID-19 - Food Standards Agency Advice on coronavirus and food

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The West Midlands Network are working with operators to keep essential services operating. There will be some reductions in service to bus and rail timetables. The advice is: Stay at home. Do not travel unless it is absolutely essential. This is to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives.

View the latest updates from transport operators here

FOR BUSINESSES:

• For latest Solihull Council information please see their Solihull For Success website here: https://www.solihullforsuccess.com/News/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Guidance-for-Businesses. If you require any additional help or support or have any questions around discounted Business Rates, the Council's Business Rates Team will be able to help – their number is 0121 704 8175.
  
  

• You can contact the government’s Business Support Helpline for free advice.

  Business Support Helpline (England)
  Telephone: 0300 456 3565
  Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
  
  

• You can also find free support, advice and sources of finance through your local growth hub - Greater Birmingham & Solihull.
  
  Email them at support@gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk or call them on 0800 032 3488. Their business resilience Account Managers will discuss with you how their services may be able to help your business throughout this period.

FOR INDIVIDUALS:

• • Stay at home for 7 days if you have either a high temperature or a new continuous cough.

    If you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms. This will help to protect others in your community while you are infectious.

    Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

    You do not need to contact NHS 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.

    Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.

  • If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
    

NEW POLICE POWERS:

The government has made new public health regulations strengthening police enforcement powers in England, to reduce the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives.

To ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, from today, if members of the public do not comply the police may; instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse; ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules; issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days; issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence.

For more details, please click here

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