NOTES, drawings and letters left by residents have brightened up the days of frontline council staff who continue to work amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Test Valley Borough Council has thanked residents for the kind messages people are leaving on their bins as the community shows its gratitude and support for the authority’s dedicated staff.

The council has received rainbow drawings, letters of appreciation and children’s colourings from all across the borough from residents bringing positivity during these difficult times.

Teams from the council’s environmental service are continuing to carry out vital waste collection services, including garden waste collections, as they adapt to new working methods and social distancing guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic.

There has been no disruption to normal services provided, and plans are in place to keep the service running, including redeploying colleagues from other parts of the council if necessary.

Environmental portfolio holder, councillor Alison Johnston, said: “I am incredibly proud of all of the staff at Test Valley Borough Council who are working extremely hard to keep our essential services running.

“From waste collections, to providing financial support to businesses, ensuring our green spaces are safe for residents to use for their essential daily exercise and communicating the latest government advice, our teams are working to ensure that the residents of Test Valley remain safe in these unprecedented times.

“These notes and drawings from the community are truly heart-warming and have been displayed in some of the offices that are still in use to brighten up the space for everyone to enjoy.”

Waste collection teams provide an essential service and have introduced some changes to the service to ensure the safety of staff when working. The council is asking residents to help play their part by:

  • Washing your hands after handling your bins to keep yourself safe.
  • Not leaving extra bags of rubbish by your black household waste bin. Recycle as much as you can to create more space in your black bin, or start a compost if you can!
  • Storing personal waste, such as used tissues, within rubbish bags if you are self-isolating with Coronavirus symptoms. These bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. This should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your usual household waste bin.
  • Giving our teams a wave if you see them, from a safe distance of at least two meters.