Nethy Coronovirus Updates

Nethy Bridge and Vicinity Community Council

Several weeks ago at the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic emergency I wrote asking people not to come to Nethy Bridge, to any visitors in the area to return home, I said then we would welcome you back when the time was right.

With an easing of the ‘Lockdown’ and the arrival of the school summer holidays it would appear that now is the time to welcome back our regular visitors and extend a warm welcome to visitors who are here for the first time.

We are keen to welcome you to our village but we must insist that you stick by the rules for your safety and ours viz.

• Stick to the 2m social distancing guidance, especially in shops and buildings.
• Step aside on footpaths to allow others to pass safely.
• Use face masks as the regulations demand in shops and public buildings and on public transport were it is now a legal requirement.
• Adhere to the rules as applied on Abernethy Golf Course which is now open again.

The Highlands and Nethy Bridge in particular have, thus far had comparatively few cases of Covid-19 mainly thanks to local people adhering to the instructions from both the Scottish and British Government. This has been hard fought and we do not want to find that we have a spike in cases brought in to the area and carelessly spread.

I would also ask that wherever possible you use the local shops, Nethy Bridge Stores and Balliefurth Farm Shop who have both stepped up to this disaster magnificently meaning that people in the village have not had to go further afield and thus reducing risks. The vulnerable in the village have had deliveries by volunteers from these shops throughout the emergency. The same can be said of ‘The Nethy Bridge Hotel’ and the ‘Nethy House’ cafe who have been providing food on a take-away basis throughout, please make use of all their available services.

While these local services are open and keen on your business please also be aware that a great number of holiday facilities and attractions in the area and the greater Highlands remain closed including many toilet blocks. Please build this in to your plans for ‘relief’ as we must not allow the area to be used as an open air toilet block with all the ensuing problems.

I am sorry to have to explain all the above but if we are to come through this as unscathed as we currently are it is important that the rules are adhered to and we can all enjoy the village now and into the future.

Many thanks and enjoy your holiday.

Sandy McCook,

Chairman,

Nethy Bridge and Vicinity Community Council

Updates ( as at 18th Aug   )

Tuesday 18th August 

Volunteer Support 

In recent months the volunteer support services in Nethy have been required less and less, as the community adapts and slowly returns to some sort of normal. After a busy first month or two, we have been mostly collecting prescriptions rather than other essential shopping. As shielding is now officially over, and as last week the Grantown pharmacy resumed prescription deliveries (every Tuesday) it’s now the right time for us to pause the volunteer services.

Some activity continues. The phone line 01479 722104 will stay open for now to provide info, as will the companionship phone call network, and the emergency cash support from the Church fund remains available. The home support volunteer network will take a breather but remain on standby in case (say it quietly) we are needed this winter.

A huge huge thank you to the 110 (!) volunteers who signed up to support our community through the last few months, and to the Community Council who gave the network guidance, legal cover and other essentials. And many thanks also to the whole of Nethy for the feedback, advice and encouragement throughout!

Thursday 11th June 

Abernethy Golf Course 

The golf course is open to members and visitors who do not have to travel more than the government recommended five miles.    Clear rules to follow are posted around the clubhouse covering social distancing and number of players permitted.  All players are required to sign in so that we can comply with tracing rules if necessary.     There are still no clubhouse facilities nor any equipment for hire

Tuesday 9th June

Good Samaritan Fund of Abernethy Parish Church ( supported by Nethy Bridge & Vicinity Community Council and Nethy Bridge Support Group)

Are you struggling financially as a consequence of the current COVID-19 Pandemic

If you live within the Nethy Bridge Community Council area and require help please contact any of the following people and funds can be made available.  

Anyone finding themselves short of food please also contact any one of us and we can help!

Sandy McCook 0772 4817642                   Barbara Black    01479 821641                        Roger Dean 0781 2373629                                        Heidi Stuart 0773 4806765                        Polly Cameron   0772 4617487                        Heather Tucker 0774 5169061                                  Graham Atkinson 0771 5108837

  If you contact us please be assured this will only be known by the people required to make a payment.

Saturday 30th May 

The Nethy Newsletter

The latest issue of the Nethy Newsletter is now on sale in the Spar Shop and Balliefurth Farm Shop.   Please let all those who are  self isolating/not going to the shops know it is available. 

Tuesday 12th May

Community Council Video Meetings 

For the foreseeable future Community Council meetings will be held via video link.   If you wish to draw attention to any matter, please contact your Community Councillor or use the contact us form on this page ,  Members of the public can speak at Community Council meetings by prior arrangement. Approved Community Council Minutes will be published on the Noticeboard at the Spar and on this website as normal.  

Tuesday 5th May

if you are self-isolating the Nethy support volunteers are able to use gift cards for the Co-Op and Aldi on your behalf, up to £30. You can get these gift cards from Co-op on 0800 029 4592 and from Aldi at https://bit.ly/3deFoyc.

Tesco gift vouchers are only available in-store, which is silly, but if you can get them, we can spend them for you. The same goes for any other shop’s vouchers of course, as long as we are talking about essential shopping.

Receipts and used gift cards will be returned to you with your shopping. Shopping with other people’s money/vouchers is always a risk, so to avoid misunderstandings the volunteers will photograph the receipts, I hope you will think this is reasonable (they’d already know what you bought, because they bought it for you

Nethy Central Support Line (01479) 722104

Next day delivery service for All not just for those self isolating.  

Wednesday 1st April 

Due to the continuing uncertainty over the duration of the COVID-19 worldwide emergency, the Committee of Abernethy Highland Games have reluctantly come to the conclusion that there is no other option other than to cancel this years Highland Games on Saturday 8th August.

This will be the first cancellation of “The Games” since the 2nd World War.

Let’s make Abernethy Highland Games 2021 the biggest and best yet!

Tuesday 31st March 

From today Nethy support has a centralised telephone number for all requests and information needs:  01479 722104.  Please use this number instead of the number on the flyers.  The line is open from 9am to 6pm 

Wednesday 25th March

Revised Guidance for support

The Nethy Support Activities are classified as essential by the Government. We serve only those self-isolating, including age 70+ and NHS staff. Delivery of groceries will only be in a meaningful amount of essential items.  Details of doorstep delivery service from Nethy Shops are below.  If you require any further information use the ‘contact us’ link in the green footer below

RSPB

RSPB offices, car parks and the vehicular access track to Forest Lodge are closed.  The Abernethy Reserve remains accessible on foot/bike to people living in the area, following Government social distancing guidelines.

Abernethy Golf Club

As required by the Government, the Golf Club is closed.   If you choose to take a walk on the golf course, provided that you keep a safe distance from everyone else, the club will not object.

Useful Information