News in Wells

Following the most recent briefings from the Prime Minister, informed by the Chief Medical Officer, about the coronavirus Covid-19 position which specifically advises against non-essential travel and public gatherings, Wells Cathedral School has taken the decision that no further events at Cedars Hall will be open to members of the public with immediate effect.

The public's well-being along with that of performing artistes and the school community has to be the primary concern and the school says it would be irresponsible to allow visitors to its campus for the time-being.

Waitrose is the latest supermarket chain to offer special shopping hours for elderly and vulnerable customers, with its Wells store offering a dedicated slot every day.

From tomorrow (March 20), in Waitrose supermarkets the elderly, the vulnerable and those who look after them will be able to take advantage of a prioritised and dedicated shopping hour.

WELLS BRIEFING: Thursday March 19 2020

TODAY'S WELLS SUNRISE:

Tesco is the latest supermarket chain to offer special shopping hours for elderly and vulnerable customers, with its Wells store offering three slots a week.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9am and 10am, more vulnerable and elderly customers will be welcomed, and Tesco asks other customers to respect this.

Stoberry Park School in Wells has issued a statement to parents in response to the government's announcement that all schools in the UK will close from the end of this week.

Prime Minster Boris Johnson announced that all schools will be closed until further notice, once they close their gates on Friday.

Pubs and restaurants in Wells are being given the green light by the Government to legally sell hot food takeaway during the coronavirus outbreak.

Currently, planning permission is required for businesses to carry out a change of use to a hot food takeaway.

WELLS BRIEFING: Wednesday March 18 2020

TODAY'S WELLS SUNRISE:

A central information point for coronavirus help offered and needed in Wells is being set up, while a meeting on 5G in the city has been cancelled and a charity has temporarily closed its services due to the outbreak.

The idea behind the central information point is that people need to get in touch with each other, don't overlap and work together to come up with a good system - ideally with a dedicated phone number for people to ring, as well as a Facebook page.

Melissa Hillier, Director of Somerset charity We Hear You (WHY) has written the following statement about changes to WHY's service during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak:

"At WHY we support people of all ages impacted by cancer. Many of those we support have compromised immune systems or are supporting those who do.

Following the Government's announcement yesterday (March 16), and due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year's Wells Comedy Festival has been cancelled.

Ben Williams and the festival team have been working hard for months to make the event happen, and have been monitoring the situation closely over recent weeks, but given the most recent advice they say they feel the festival would be too much of a public health risk to go ahead, and the safety of festival goers, artists, staff, volunteers and the people of Wells must come first.