Bassetlaw council leader welcomes first steps along road out of lockdown

This week has seen children and students return to schools, colleges and some higher education, you can meet one other person in a public outdoor place and care home residents can nominate one person for regular visits.

This may not feel like much has changed, but in order to move forward safely we must still stick to the guidance and take all of the precautions that should now have become second nature.

Vaccinating and testing have been the main routes out of restrictions and I believe both of these elements are working well in Bassetlaw.

Vaccinations are now being rolled out to those over the age of 55 and community testing to find people who have Covid-19 but do not have any symptoms, has been expanded in Bassetlaw with a new testing centre at Retford Town Hall opening this week.

As children return to school, families and care bubbles, as well as those who cannot work from home, are being encouraged to use these community testing centres at Manton Club in Worksop and Retford.

If you are new to asymptomatic testing, the expert teams there will guide you through the process.

Anybody under the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult and children under the age of 12 will need an adult to help with carrying out the test.

Home testing kits can also be collected from the walk-in centre at Central Avenue or ordered online here.

Please continue to follow the latest Government guidance and, should Covid-19 rates continue to fall, the next set of restrictions to be lifted should take place on March 29.

Finally, I’m pleased to tell you that the Worksop masterplan was approved by full council last week.

This visionary plan will provide us with a strategy to help the town centre recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and increase the number of people who work, live, visit and enjoy our town centre.

The final document will be available for everyone to see very soon.

Coun Simon Greaves is leader of Bassetlaw District Council.