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Posts tagged South Hams
Public Urged to be Vigilant for Bogus Green Waste Collectors
Issued: 22 September 2020
The Environment Agency and its partners are concerned about a seasonal trend of green waste fly-tipped near Plymouth and urge people not to be tricked by doorstep conmen into taking away green waste.
Households in Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon are being asked to quiz people knocking on their doors and offering to take their rubbish away.
Waste carriers, like other licensed trades, are required to register and operate in line with a set of rules that protect the environment and their customers. These rules include disposing of waste in the right place, storing it safely and keeping accurate records of transfer and disposal.
If these traders don’t have a waste carriers’ licence, there is no guarantee rubbish will go to an authorised site. Instead, it could end up dumped on the side of the road or burned in a field, causing environmental damage. And the person who hired the unregistered trader could face a criminal charge.
Kevin Baker of the Environment Agency said: “We want people to take three steps to check whether the collector has a waste carriers’ license from the Environment Agency: ask where the rubbish will end up, don’t pay cash and insist on a receipt, then record the details of the vehicle used to take the rubbish away.
“If people suspect criminal activity, they should report it on our hotline 0800 807060 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111 and give as much detail as possible. Let’s work together to stamp out waste crime and protect on our beautiful countryside.”
“These awful fly tips blot our landscape and residents need to ensure that their waste doesn’t fall into the wrong hands of contractors who are out to make quick money. It’s our responsibility to check how legitimate waste collectors are, by either checking the Environment Agency’s website or by checking Waste Carriers’ Licences on the doorstep, to make sure waste is properly disposed of.”
All householders have a duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of legally. Failing to meet the duty of care means that people could be held responsible if their waste is fly-tipped or otherwise illegally disposed of. If this happens and they have not met their duty of care, they could be fined up to £400. Before hiring someone to remove waste, householders should check their credentials online – https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers.
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www.southhams.gov.uk
www.westdevon.gov.uk
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Leisure Facilities In South Hams and West Devon
18/08/2020
Across South Hams and West Devon, some of the Councils’ leisure centres have been able to open and some have been able to provide limited facilities.
This has left many residents trying to understand what the challenges are for the provider Fusion Lifestyle, and why some centres can open and others can’t.
Both councils appreciate how frustrating this must be, but would like to reassure users that they are doing everything they can to help the facilities to be up and running as quickly as possible.
Fusion Lifestyle, the Councils’ contractor, have now made it possible for current members at any one of the closed centres, to use any of the open centres from this Thursday. In addition to this, any member wanting to reactivate a membership and move it from a closed to an open centre can do so with immediate effect.
Across the South Hams and West Devon from Tuesday 1 September, there will be four centres open, offering access to four gyms and three pools. These facilities allow customers to access a variety of activities in multiple locations.
FUNDING
While most businesses have been supported in some way by Central Government, leisure providers have not received any funding, other than the furlough scheme and the availability of loans. The Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of central government support have created very challenging conditions for all leisure providers.
Throughout the lockdown, Fusion for example, has continued to maintain the centres to safeguard them whilst they have been closed. Many of their staff were also on the furlough to protect the organisation’s viability.
This is a national issue, the industry predicts that usage figures are likely to be about 60% down on usual after reopening, and 40% down by the end of the financial year. Some of that may be due to social distancing, but there might also be concern from some users who do not feel comfortable exercising indoors.
COUNCILS TAKE ACTION
Both Councils recognised that they have to do something, West Devon offered Fusion a £97,000 support package and South Hams provided £88,000. In September, they will be undertaking a strategic review of their financial position and the impact of the Covid crisis. By then the Councils will also know if any support has been forthcoming from Central Government for the leisure industry.
The Councils also continue to lobby MPs and Central Government for funding. They are supporting the #SaveLeisure campaign launched by Community Leisure UK urging the UK Government to commit relief funding to enable the full reopening and recovery of the public leisure sector.
Conversations continue on a daily basis about the facilities that remain closed and users are urged to keep in close contact with both Fusion and the Councils’ social media feeds for updates.
South Hams, West Devon and Fusion would like to thank users for their patience and welcome their continued support.
Anthony Cawley, Director of Operations for Fusion Lifestyle Said: “We know our leisure facilities are really important for the health and well-being of the local community and we have been working in partnership with South Hams District Council and West Devon District Council to get them open again as soon as they are safe and viable to do so.
“We are continuing to review our plans for the remaining facilities and will open these when they are safe and viable to do so. We hope the residents of Devon will bear with us whilst we implement our reopening plans and they can soon enjoy their centres once again.”
FAQ’s from Fusion Lifestyle
Opening Hours
We feel that the current opening hours provide a good opportunity for customers to maximise use of the centre and for us to run the most efficient model possible. We have based the financial projections on these opening times, we can review these on a monthly basis and discuss as part of the monthly client meeting, reviewing customer demand and operational affordability.
Customer Communications
We are now managing more communication at a contract level, with General Managers and the Business Manager (Peter King) responding to customer feedback and complaints. The centres have started to post local content to social media channels and respond to customer comments being received, the centres are also reacting to comments collected from the user experience survey (TRP) and feedback via the website, whilst also dealing with customers on a face to face in the centres. These changes are helping to react to customer feedback faster and keep customers informed on all aspects of the service.
We will provide an updated communication plan with the next messages to be released.
Memberships
Members with a live status will be able to access other centres from Thursday this week. Any customer wanting to reinstate a membership from a closed centre can do so with immediate effect by contacting the chosen centre e.g. A Meadowlands member can start using Parklands, members wishing to stay on freeze can do so until their home centre reopens.
Existing Members
We are now operating the core service of the membership entitlement and believe that we are able to provide the key activities to justify the full membership subscription.
We have also introduced some new cost effect memberships such as gym and swim for just £30 a month The centre team are on hand to help all customers to select a different membership type based on the customer’s needs. From the 1st September we will have 4 centres open, offering access to 4 gyms and 3 pools, which allows customers to access a variety of activities in multiple locations.
Swim School Membership
We are currently working through the best options to reinstate a swim school offer and have just launched the new family swim activities that have been well received.
We are updating the website today regarding an updated swim school message, we hope to be in a position to start offering some swimming lesson by the end of September as yet this is not confirmed but is our ultimate aim.
Staff Structure
The process is still in the proposal stage and gaining feedback from staff, Union reps and key Fusion team members, we anticipate releasing updates to staff where we have a definitive outcome in the next few weeks, whilst other job families will continue to be under collective consultation until the proposal is finalised and an outcome is decided. Whilst the collective consultation is ongoing, we will start to offer individual consultations for those roles with a definitive outcome.
Sports & Community Development Service
The staff structure and proposal for this service is under review and as yet a proposal is due in the fourth coming weeks. W are making contact with block bookers and hires to see what individual requirements may be and start to plan if there is a way to integrate these back into the centre whilst also provide the key benefits to members. We are in the process of discussing with local swim clubs water space required, operating in the COVID safe environment and reviewing potential water space outside of the existing operating hours (8am – 8pm Mon – Fri and 8am to 4pm Sat – Sun). The exercise referral programme is currently on hold as a scheduled activity, yet customer can still access and use the centres outside this programme.
Centre Update:
Ivybridge Leisure Centre
On Monday 3 August Ivybridge Leisure Centre opened, this included the reopening of the new six lane swimming pool with the retractable roof and sundeck, which has been recently completed, and the dry-side fitness activities and gym.
https://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/ivybridge-leisure-centre/
Quayside Leisure Centre
On Monday 10 August, Quayside Leisure Centre, Kingsbridge opened with just the dry-side fitness activities and the gym in the centre at Kingsbridge.
https://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/quayside-leisure-centre/
Dartmouth Leisure Centre
This centre will remain closed for the next 2 months and the current funding package from the Council will cover mothballing costs. Conversations with the Dartmouth Pool Trust are taking place with Fusion.
https://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/dartmouth-leisure-centre/
Totnes Leisure Centre,
Fusion are also the operator of Totnes Leisure Centre, however they are contracted by Tadpool and not the District Council, as such any decision on reopening remains between those two parties. Fusion have agreed to open the full centre on 1st September, Tadpool Trust have provided mothball costs for July and start costs to open the centre, with ongoing financial input up until March’21 to the value of £79k
https://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/totnes-leisure-centre/
Parklands Leisure Centre,
On Monday 17 August Parklands Leisure Centre, Okehampton opened with dry activities and wet to follow later in the week
https://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/parklands-leisure-centre/
Meadowlands Leisure Centre,
Tavistock will remain closed for the next 2 months.
https://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/meadowlands-leisure-pool/
Reopening of Leisure in South Hams
South Hams District Council and Fusion Lifestyle are delighted to welcome the phased reopening of the District’s leisure Centres.
Everyone was pleased to hear the Government announce that Leisure Centres could reopen from the 25 July, with many users keen to get back to their regular exercise. However the centre operators want to make sure that when users do return they can do so in the safest way possible. This does mean that in order to make the centres COVID-19 secure, the full reopening of the centres will take a little bit longer.
Thanks to the hard work of the Fusion staff, we are pleased to be able to provide both wet and dry activities at the Ivybridge Leisure Centre from week commencing Monday 3 August. This will include reopening the new pool, dry sports activities and the gym. Then from week commencing Monday 10 August, Fusion hope to be able to provide dry sports activities and the Gym in the Quayside Leisure centre in Kingsbridge. Fusion will confirm the exact opening dates in due course with all details around booking and the procedures they have put in place to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable visit.
Anthony Cawley, Director of Operations at Fusion, said:“We know our leisure facilities are really important for the health and well-being of the local community and we want them open again as soon as they are safe and viable. Therefore, we are so pleased our doors are beginning to open again and together with South Hams District Council, we hope our members will bear with us whilst we implement our reopening plans and they can soon enjoy their centres once again.”
Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, Executive Member for Wellbeing, said: “This is fantastic news for the District. Fusion are working hard to enable our residents to get back to their activities as quickly and safely as possible. However, this is going to be a tough time for the leisure industry, they estimate that 48% of all public leisure facilities face closure, meaning as many as 1,300 could disappear by the end of the year, along with more than 58,000 jobs. Due to social distancing, taking part in your favourite leisure activity may look and feel very different, but let’s not be put off, let’s give our leisure centres our full support and get back to doing healthy activities when the centres open.”
South Hams and Fusion are supporting the #SaveLeisure campaign launched by Community Leisure UK urging the UK Government to commit circa £800m relief funding to enable the full reopening and recovery of the public leisure sector. Without this dedicated relief fund, a third of all public leisure facilities in the UK may not reopen and half will face permanent closure by the end of the year. To find out more about this campaign and ways you can support, go to: www.communityleisureuk.org
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