Dear constituent
 
I am writing to you with a further update about the coronavirus crisis.

Firstly, I am expecting details of what arrangements will follow the current lockdown next week. I will provide you with an update as soon as I get them.

For your information, the latest statistics for Surrey and for our area are here:

You will see that Epsom and Ewell and Reigate and Banstead have been rising in the past few days while Mole Valley has declined. But these figures have been moving up and down fairly rapidly as there are still only a relatively small number of people with the virus locally and so a small change can move the overall statistics significantly.

Childcare

I have been asked to remind people who use grandparents for childcare that this is permitted to continue during the current lockdown. Details of the rules are here:

This also applies to friends who provide childcare for each other.

Epsom Business Awards

We held the 2020 final of the Epsom Business Awards virtually last night, this year with a special Covid theme. Thanks to Steve Mowbray of Radio Jackie for hosting the awards again. The winners, each chosen because of what they have done for local people this year during the pandemic were:

Best Business in Ashtead   

Joint winners: Ashtead Fruit Box and The Rye Café and Juice Bar

Best Business in Ewell & Stoneleigh

Winners: Radford Butchers

Best Business in Epsom & Epsom Downs

Winners:  Stagecoach Epsom

Best Business for Support of the Local Community

Winners:  Picky Bits

Best Business for Support of a Charity

Winners: The Oracle Group

Special COVID Heroes Award

All the staff at Epsom Hospital

Well done to all the winners, thanks to the Hospital team, and commiserations to all the runners up.

Retail Support

Please do save your Christmas shopping for the period after the lockdown and spend as much as you can locally. All of our local shops need your help when they reopen. Unless you are buying Christmas wine – you can do that now as the wine shops are open. I’ve done that bit already!

Epsom Rotary Competitions

Epsom Rotary tell me that they are doing two competitions for the festive season. Here are the details.

I will be back in touch next week.

With best wishes

Chris Grayling

The full list of government guidelines and advice is available here.

Remember - ‘Hands. Face. Space.’:

• hands – wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
• face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
• space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors)

Contact Chris:

Email: chris.grayling.mp@parliament.uk

Constituency Office: 01372 271 036

Address: 212 Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2DB