Gritting, schools, facing cancer, recession and cycle for heart care

Mayor Philip Glanville, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, writes:

London boroughs are prepared for the winter season with 75,000 tonnes of salt available at key locations across the capital for quick and easy access to deal with the challenge of frozen roads and pavements.

In colder months, boroughs take responsibility for helping to ensure their most important routes are free of frost and ice and safe to use.

Highway teams continue to monitor high-tech weather forecasts, ready to treat the roads and pavements with salt as soon as conditions demand it. Councils will be keeping people up to date about forecasts, road conditions and salting activity. Boroughs understand how important it is to keep the roads safe. As a direct impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, car usage has unfortunately increased which means the issue of congestion and road safety affects a huge number of Londoners. Although at present lockdown restrictions mean travel is limited to local areas, London’s boroughs are working hard to ensure it is as safe as possible for all road users, including pedestrians, to carry out their journeys.

We are also asking that Londoners be vigilant throughout the colder months to make sure their neighbours are okay. If you notice milk bottles left outside, newspapers stuck in the letterbox or curtains drawn all day, or any other activity out of the ordinary, it could be a sign that someone in your community needs help.

Well done to schools

Dr Leonard Restall B Ed, M Ed (Hons), New Zealand, formerly from Barking, writes:

One of the tributes that will remain a lasting legacy from this pandemic will be the way the district has generally, but not without exception, adapted to the challenges that were brought upon local businesses and organisations such as schools and learning institutions.

These places and organisations that had not needed social distancing in the past were suddenly required to do so. Schools and educational institutions were suddenly to face the problem of how to cope yet still maintain good learning conditions and keep morale high.

Last week’s report in the Post gives very good evidence of the results given from 25 schools of how successful it has been. Sure there has been a lot of changes needed to keep the learning system going, such as lesson plans to suit online learners, lectures, zoom lessons, and other online activities to maintain interest and keep morale high.

The success of this overall response by the schools is something Barking and Dagenham’s schools can be proud of and has shown that Britain will not be beaten by non-life forms of viruses that have caused a nation to be in a state of turmoil.

But this has not come without a lot of hard work by the educators and auxiliary agencies responsible for our schools.

You have accepted the difficult challenge and as was stated last week, you have been the solver of the problems, not just the giver. Well done.

Education and intelligence are not the same, but closely related and are required to help in such a challenging time.

This challenge has revealed that there is plenty of both these qualities present locally to meet the needs of the time and place.

Help for people facing cancer

MacMillan Cancer Support is available to support people with cancer (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Emma Tingley, head of Partnerships, Macmillan Cancer Support, London and South East, writes:

It’s clear that this is the most worrying time in recent history to get a cancer diagnosis.
At Macmillan, people are calling our Support Line every day to tell us about the heightened anxiety, loneliness and distress that they are feeling.

On our support line – open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, on 0808 808 00 00 – specially trained nurses, counsellors and financial support advisors are available to help
anyone affected by, or worried about, cancer.

They can provide comprehensive information and advice, as well as emotional support, to help people with cancer cope with the additional strain of the coronavirus pandemic.

We know doctors and nurses are working in unspeakably difficult conditions and are having to make tough decisions every day.

Healthcare professionals are doing everything they can to keep cancer care on track, but we also know that some treatment – operations, for example – are being cancelled or postponed because essential services such as ITU are full of seriously ill people with Covid-19.

What is absolutely vital is that if there are changes to treatment plans, these must involve the person living with cancer and be communicated clearly.

Healthcare professionals are doing everything they can to make hospitals a safe environment so it’s really important that people with cancer who have been invited for tests or treatment do attend.

GPs are open if you are worried about possible cancer symptoms, and screening and other vital tests have resumed in a Covid-safe way.

The NHS is still here for you.

Government must put families first

Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s shadow secretary of State for Work and Pensions, writes:

The UK is facing the worst recession of any major economy because of the government’s incompetence and indecision.

Now the chancellor expects families in London to foot the bill - taking £1,000 a year from 759,961 families, damaging our recovery and pulling children into poverty.

We are urging MPs across the House to put party politics aside and vote with Labour to stop this hit to thousands of people already struggling to get by.

The government must put families first during this crisis and give them the support and security they need.

Saddle up for MyCycle challenge

Aimee Fuller, British Olympic Snowboarder and cycling enthusiast, writes:

I’m encouraging people stay active throughout winter and improve their heart health by taking on the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) 30-day virtual cycling challenge, MyCycle.

Completing an exercise challenge, like MyCycle, can have a positive effect on your mental health as it helps to increase your level of endorphins, which are a natural mood booster. This, combined with the knowledge that the miles you’re covering are helping to raise vital funds for the BHF’s life saving research, is sure to help put you in a good mood.

So, join me and start pedalling to up the miles and get sponsored to help raise vital funds. Visit bhf.org.uk/mycycle