Update on COVID Advice for the River Hamble from 02 December 2020

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following advice for COVID 19 management will be in force until amended by Central Government. River Users are advised that Tier status will be amended over the period and that they should check for any changes on the Links provided.

The Government has announced today the steps that it will be taking to manage the spread of COVID 19 from 02 December 2020. This extended note explains how that will apply to users of the River Hamble. It contains a range of information that is intended to be useful in a broad manner.

The Country will be divided into three Tiers: 1, 2 and 3. 1 is the least restrictive and only includes Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and, closer to the River Hamble, the Isle of Wight. There are still restrictions in these places but they are less impactful than everywhere else in the Country. 3 is the most restrictive.

Those who live in Tier three areas must not (unless for specified reasons) leave those areas (including to come to the Hamble to visit boats or stay overnight).

Tier 3 areas are, at the time of writing, listed here:

East Midlands

North West

Derby and Derbyshire

Blackburn with Darwen

Leicester and Leicestershire

Blackpool

Lincolnshire

Greater Manchester

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

Lancashire

North East

South East

North East Combined Authority

Kent and Medway

County Durham

Slough (remainder of Berkshire is tier 2: High alert)

Gateshead

South West

Newcastle upon Tyne

Bristol

North Tyneside

North Somerset

Northumberland

South Gloucestershire

South Tyneside

West Midlands

Sunderland

Birmingham and Black Country

Tees Valley Combined Authority

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Darlington

Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull

Hartlepool

Yorkshire and The Humber

Middlesbrough

The Humber

Redcar and Cleveland

South Yorkshire

Stockton-on-Tees

West Yorkshire

Everywhere else is in Tier 2. The River Hamble sits in Tier 2, as do all our adjacent Counties/Boroughs/Cities. Germane to use of the River, this means that:

Across all tiers, everyone:

must wear a face covering in most indoor public settings, unless they have an exemptionshould follow the rules on meeting others safelyshould attend school or college as normal, unless they are self-isolating. Schools, universities, colleges and early years settings remain open in all tiersshould walk or cycle where possible, plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes when travellingmust follow the gathering limits at their tier except for in specific settings and circumstances. These exemptions are detailed at the end of this guidance

All businesses and venues that are open are expected to follow COVID-19 secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers. While the following is not an exhaustive list, in all tiers, the following businesses and venues can remain open:

essential and non-essential retailcertain leisure and sporting facilities such as Sailing Clubs subject to relevant social contact rules in each tier. Indoor group activities and classes should not take place at tier 3public toilets, car parksessential public services such as the NHS and medical services, the Harbour Authority and courts

Everyone who can work from home should do so. Where people cannot do so they should continue to travel to their workplace.

For Tier 2, additionally:

you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public placeyou must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the 'rule of 6'businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by lawpubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial mealshospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:provide table service only, in premises which sell alcoholclose between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)stop taking orders after 10pmhospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-throughearly closure (11pm) applies to Sailing Clubs.public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoorspublic attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoorsweddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stonesettings.organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continueorganised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixingyou can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possibleif you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journeyfor international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list

River Users will be able to visit, maintain, use and stay on their vessels overnight subject to the Rules above (social contact etc).

Those travelling to the Isle of Wight may do so subject to any local restrictions in force but MUST continue to act in accordance with Tier 2 restrictions

Visitors will continue to be welcome subject to generally published government restrictions.

Public slipways remain open.

General Government regulations and guidance may be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

These Rules may change, depending on the progress made on combating COVID

Further information on these works can be obtained from the Harbour Office or by calling 'Hamble Harbour Radio' on VHF Channel 68.

Cancel this Notice 31 December 2020.

Jason Scott

Marine Director and Harbour Master

River Hamble

Shore Road

Warsash SO31 9FR 26 November 2020

Contact:

Email: jason.scott@hants.gov.uk