COVID
NEWS...COVID NEWS...
LUTON COUNCILLORS HELP TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE TRADE KEEP SAFE
Luton councillors mobilised recently to provide face coverings and hand sani- tiser bottles to all of Luton’s taxi and private hire trade drivers. Since the start of the pandemic the council has been supporting Luton’s front line workers who are more vulner- able to Covid-19. The latest initiative saw councillors Javed Hussain, Khtija Malik and Abbas Hussain arrange for approximately 20,000 face coverings and more than 16,000 hand sanitiser bottles to be dis- tributed to drivers to further protect themselves, their passengers and their family members. Cllr Javed Hussain, portfolio holder for adult social care, said: “As front line workers, Luton’s taxi and private hire drivers have been instrumental in keep- ing Luton running throughout the crisis and we have so much to thank them for. “While it’s not mandatory for drivers to
wear face coverings, we felt this was the right thing to do given the nature of their roles which regularly puts them into contact with people when doing their job.” Cllr Khtija Malik, portfolio holder for public health, added: “It was great to be involved in this positive initiative and I know the drivers were really appreciative of the support we were
CHELTENHAM COUNCIL ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR PROTECTIVE SCREENS
Cheltenham Borough Council has announced that a grant will be made available to fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of installing approved partition screens in licensed taxi and private hire vehicles to help fight against the spread of the coronavirus. The council states that it is important that the authority takes practical steps to protect licence holders and their passengers, and in July 2020, the coun- cil adopted a policy allowing licensed taxi and private hire drivers to install these screens in their vehicles. Cllr Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for development and safety said: “As the number of cases rise, the authority is doing everything it can to play it part in fighting the spread of the virus. “Taxis and private hire vehicles put
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drivers and passengers in close contact with each other. Partition screens are a way in which the spread of the virus can be reduced in such confined spaces. “Whilst some licensed drivers have already installed these screens in their vehicles, many have not done so yet. “In order to incentivise more drivers, the council is making small grants avail- able to help cover the cost of installing these screens that will give drivers physical protection against the virus in their workplace, provide protection for passengers, and more generally, give public confidence and assurance.” For information on the policy on parti- tion screens in licensed vehicles, visit:
www.cheltenham.gov.uk and search ‘partition screens’.
able to provide them. “We know front line workers are at higher risk from Covid-19, and the fact that the taxi/private hire trade are pre- dominately from BAME backgrounds, which makes them more vulnerable to the disease, made this even more important in explaining how we can protect ourselves. “Face coverings and hand hygiene are fundamental to slowing down the spread of the disease and we are confi- dent this this has helped raise awareness of its importance.
MIDDLESBRO’ SUPPORT FOR TRADE PRAISED
Business support from Middlesbrough Council has been praised for making a "massive difference" and helping hun- dreds of taxi drivers and organisations to become Covid secure. The authority's small grant scheme helps businesses purchase PPE equip- ment and undertake deep cleans to keep their premises safe for customers and visitors. Already nearly 500 taxi drivers and more than 120 businesses have been confirmed for assistance. To further support the Middlesbrough business community the council has increased the grant to £150 to help businesses who have been forced to close to take the opportunity to restock or deep clean as well as help those businesses still open to continue to operate safely for their staff and cus- tomers. The support is available to Middles- brough-based businesses with less than ten staff and includes self- employed individuals. If you have already applied for this grant you can apply again (maximum 2 claims), see the business support page and for full details and claim form contact Middlesbrough Council.
DECEMBER 2020
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