July | 2021 | Shropshire Disability Network

Start Date:
9th July 2021

End Date:
9th January 2022

Start Time:
0001

End Time:
2359

New road restrictions are now in place in Shrewsbury Town Centre. Shropshire Disability Network are aware some of our members who have blue badges have been issued with fines regarding the changes that came into place on 9th July 2021. The experimental changes could last up to 18 months. As these changes are experimental, so it is extremely important that if you, your family and friends are affected, that you let Shropshire Disability Network know by emailing membership@shropshire-disability.net and if you can also tell Shropshire Council about your concerns that is important too.

What are the restrictions? Shropshire Council website says “This prohibition of motor vehicles, no right turn, and changes to the waiting and loading restrictions order is proposed to trial a potential reshaping of the physical public realm and traffic management arrangements within Shrewsbury town centre, promoting pedestrian safety, active travel alternatives and movement around the town.

What locations are affected? Dogpole, High Street, Mardol Head, Milk Street, Shoplatch, The Square, Wyle Cop – Shrewsbury

What about Buses and Taxis? Shropshire Council website says “Buses and taxis will be allowed to travel on weekdays only, with no motor vehicles allowed at the weekend. Changes to the waiting and loading restrictions are also proposed, reducing the number of vehicles in the town and providing additional space for pedestrians and cyclists during the main trading hours.

The above aims to provide both improved safety for all road users and quality of life for the local community, and will be applied on an experimental basis for up to 18 months”

A Consultation was started on Friday 9th July 2021 and ends on Sunday 9th January 2022. SDN says “If you are affected by these changes, please respond sooner rather than later to the consultation.

The details:

THE SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL (VARIOUS ROADS, SHREWSBURY) (VARIOUS EXPERIMENTAL RESTRICTIONS) ORDER 2021

On 9 July 2021 Shropshire Council made an experimental order to place the following restrictions on various roads in Shrewsbury Town Centre:

Prohibition of Motor Vehicles (except Buses, Taxis, and Refuse Vehicles) Monday – Friday 11:00-16:00

Wyle Cop From its junction with Beeches Lane to its junction with Dogpole in a north-westerly direction.
Wyle Cop From its junction with Dogpole to its junction with Milk Street
High Street In its entirety
Mardol Head In its entirety
Shoplatch From its junction with Mardol Head to its junction with Market Street

Prohibition of Motor Vehicles (except for Refuse Vehicles) Saturday – Sunday 11:00-16:00

Wyle Cop From its junction with Beeches Lane to its junction with Dogpole in a north-westerly direction.
Wyle Cop From its junction with Dogpole to its junction with Milk Street
High Street In its entirety
Mardol Head In its entirety
Shoplatch From its junction with Mardol Head to its junction with Market Street

Prohibition of Motor Vehicles (no exceptions) Every Day 11:00am-4:00pm

Milk Street In its entirety

Prohibition of Motor Vehicles Access to Premises allowed Midnight–11am and 4pm–Midnight

The Square (south east side) In its entirety

No Right Turn Except Buses, Taxis, Cycles, and Refuse Vehicles Monday – Friday 11:00-16:00

Dogpole From Dogpole into Wyle Cop (section between Dogpole and High Street).

No Right Turn except Cycles and Refuse Vehicles Saturday – Sunday 11:00-16:00

Dogpole From Dogpole into Wyle Cop (section between Dogpole and High Street).

Restricted Zone – No Waiting At Any Time No Loading 11am-4pm

Wyle Cop (south side) Between its junction with Beeches Lane and a point 119.9 metres south-east of its junction with Milk Street
Wyle Cop (north side) Between its junction with Beeches Lane and a point 51 metres south-east of its junction with Dogpole

No Waiting At Any Time No Loading 11am-4pm

Milk Street (both sides) From its junction with Princess Street and Belmont to a point 12.5 metres south-west of its junction with High Street.

Loading Only 7:30am-11am and 4pm-8pm Restricted Zone No Waiting and No Loading 11am-4pm

Wyle Cop (south side) Between points 80.8 meters and 119.9 metres south-east of its junction with Milk Street
Wyle Cop (north side) Between points 10 metres and 31 metres west of its junction with Dogpole
High Street (south-west side) Between a point 40.8 metres north-west of its junction with Milk Street to a point 61.2 metres south-east of its junction with The Square.
High Street (south-west side) Between points 6 metres and 33 metres south-east of its junction with Mardol Head.
Mardol Head (south-east side) Between points 20 metres and 36.5 metres south-west of its junction with High Street
Shoplatch (south-east side) Between points 30 metres and 50 metres north-east of its junction with Market Street
Shoplatch (north-west side) Between points 28.6 metres and 50.9 metres north-east of its junction with Bellstone

Disabled Badge Holders Only – Midnight to 11am and 4pm to Midnight Restricted Zone No waiting and No Loading 11am-4pm

High Street (south-west side) Between points 16.8 metres and 37.8 metres north-west of its junction with Milk Street.
Shoplatch (north-west side) Between points 75.6 metres and 95.6 metres north-east of its junction with Bellstone
Any existing restrictions at the above locations are suspended for the duration of the order.

This Order comes into effect on 19 July 2021 and will operate for a period of up to eighteen months.

The Council will consider in due course whether its provisions should continue in force indefinitely.

If you wish to question the validity of the order, or of any of its provisions, on the grounds that they are not within the powers conferred by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or that any requirement of the Act or of any instrument made under it has not been complied with in relation to the Order you may, within six weeks from 9 July 2021, apply for the purpose to the High Court.

How to give feedback to Shropshire Council: If you wish to raise an objection, express support, or make any other comments about these proposals, please send an e-mail to traffic.engineering@shropshire.gov.uk or write a letter to Traffic Engineering Team, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND by 9 January 2022. You may also ring 0345 678 9006 for more information.

Please note that, for legal reasons, objections must be made in writing or by e-mail, and should state the grounds on which the objection is made. Objections cannot be accepted over the phone.

Useful documents to download in relation to the above:

Start Date:
1st July 2021

End Date:
2nd September 2021

Start Time:
0001

End Time:
2345

The government is consulting on aligning the upper age exemption for NHS prescription charges with the State Pension age (SPA). In 2019, around £600 million was generated in revenue from prescription charges for frontline NHS services. Currently, people receive free prescriptions when they turn 60 in England, whereas the SPA is now 66.

The consultation is seeking views from the public and healthcare professionals on options for change including building in a period of protection so those aged between 60 to 65 can continue to benefit from free prescriptions if the upper age exemption rises.

History: Prescription charges were first introduced in 1952. They were abolished in 1965 but then reintroduced, with exemptions, in 1968 because of budgetary pressures. In 2019 approximately £600 million was generated in revenue from prescription charges which supported direct delivery of NHS services.

The Facts: In England out of 1.1 billion items dispensed in 2018, almost 90% of prescription items dispensed in the community in England were free of charge. Almost 63% of all items were dispensed free of charge because the patient was aged 60 or over. The prescription charge exemptions cover 3 broad categories:

those of a certain age, that is those:
- under 16
- aged 16 to 18 in full time education
- aged 60 and over
those on low income, that is via certain Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits and tax credits (which will largely be replaced by Universal Credit) and the NHS Low Income Scheme
those with certain medical conditions and expectant or new mothers

There have been very few changes to the exemption arrangements introduced in 1968. The only change to the list of exempt medical conditions was the addition of cancer in April 2009.

Options for change

Changing the upper age exemption for prescription items would require amendment being made to the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 (the ‘Charges Regulations’). These regulations set out the applicable charges for prescriptions and some appliances and the various criteria for exemption from these charges that currently apply.

There are 2 options for change including the option to retain a period of protection for those already in the age range 60 to 65 (those who currently benefit from an age exemption).

Option A

Option A is to raise the qualifying age for free prescriptions to the SPA (currently 66) for everyone. This would mean that following changes to the Charges Regulations people aged 65 and under would have to pay for their prescriptions until they reach the age of 66, unless they qualified for another exemption.

Option B

Option B is to raise the qualifying age for free prescriptions to the SPA (currently 66) but with a period of protection, which would mean that people in the age range 60 to 65 would continue to receive free prescriptions. This would mean that anyone aged 60 and over when the changes to the Charges Regulations are implemented would continue to be exempt from prescription charges, whereas those aged 59 and under when the changes to the Charges Regulations are implemented would have to pay for their prescriptions until they reach the SPA (currently 66), unless they qualified for another exemption.

The above options would have varying impacts for people who need NHS prescriptions, and could raise additional revenue for the NHS. Option A would increase NHS revenue more quickly and by a larger amount than option B, but retaining a period of protection for those currently in the age group 60 to 65 (option B) could ensure that people have advance notice of a change and would not have to restart paying for prescriptions that they currently get free. Option A could lead to confusion about the rules, with some people potentially continuing to claim an age exemption and attracting penalty notices and penalty charges as a result and others potentially being deterred from collecting prescriptions by the unexpected cost. Option B, which would preserve entitlement for those in the 60 to 65 age group, would allow the Department for Health and Social Care (the department) to monitor any adverse impacts of a policy change.

Consultation questions (Below we show the questions in the consultation)

To enable the Government to take into account your views on these proposals, please answer the following questions which can be found in the online questionnaire that accompanies this consultation.

Question 1

Should the upper age exemption to prescription charges be aligned to the State Pension age?

Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

Question 2

If the prescription charge exemption age is raised to State Pension age should people in the age groups 60 to 65 at the date of change retain their existing exemption?

Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

Question 3

Do you think there will be any unintended consequences that a raise in the upper age exemption could have on people, pharmacies or other organisations?

Yes
No
Don’t know

If yes, please specify.

Question 4

Do you think that aligning the upper age exemption with State Pension age could have a differential impact on particular groups of people or communities?

Yes
No
Don’t know

If yes, please specify.

Question 5

Do you think that aligning the upper age exemption with State Pension age could adversely impact people from deprived backgrounds or between disadvantaged geographical areas?

Yes
No
Don’t know

If yes, please specify.

This consultation is open for a period of 8 weeks and we welcome responses from members of the public, prescribers, pharmacists and other interested parties.

Responding to the consultation

This consultation is open for a period of 9 weeks.

The preferred method of receiving your response is via the online consultation questionnaire.

If you have any queries on this consultation or require an alternative format please email ageconsultation@dhsc.gov.uk.

Please submit your responses to the questions by 11:45pm on Thursday 2 September 2021.

If you do not have internet or email access, then please write to:

Prescribing Policy and Charges Team,
Department of Health and Social Care,
Floor 2, Area G, Quarry House,
Quarry Hill,
Leeds LS2 7UE

If you wish to do so, you can request that your name and organisation be kept confidential and excluded from the published summary of responses.

Click this link for the consultation and further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/aligning-the-upper-age-for-nhs-prescription-charge-exemptions-with-the-state-pension-age/aligning-the-upper-age-for-nhs-prescription-charge-exemptions-with-the-state-pension-age

Monthly Archives: July 2021

Shrewsbury Town Centre-Road Restrictions (Consultation)

No Right Turn Except Buses, Taxis, Cycles, and Refuse Vehicles Monday – Friday 11:00-16:00

Changes to giving free prescriptions to people aged 60 and over