A Stevenage resident has been spared the loss of more than £1,600 after Herts police officers quickly realised he was the target of a coronation coin scam.
Cyber protect officers were at Stevenage Central Library delivering a crime prevention session when the elderly resident visited the library to complete an online bank transfer. The intended victim had been contacted by a cold caller who claimed to be selling commemorative coronation coins.
The resident had already handed over his banking details but had been unable to complete the bank transfer from home, so had come to the library to action the payment. Luckily, the officers found out and advised against transferring the funds.
Senior Beacon Fraud Hub manager, Elaine Crate, said: “It was very fortunate for the poor victim that they had been unable to action the payment and that we were in the library. The victim was taken to their bank by one of our officers, who made sure that no funds had been taken from their account.
“I would advise anyone receiving an unsolicited call to be very wary and not to give any banking or personal details unless they were thoroughly satisfied that the person they are speaking to is genuine.”
Herts cyber protect officers are running drop-in events, free of charge, which include talks given by Trading Standards, the Victim Service team and cyber protect officers.
Details of similar events that will continue around the county can be found here.
Visit Action Fraud or Herts Constabulary for advice on avoiding scams.
If you believe that you are a victim of fraud or cybercrime, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to report. If a crime is in progress or someone’s life is in danger, call 999 immediately.
“This is a new scam within Hertfordshire as far as we can tell, but scammers are quick to adapt to new opportunities, like the coronation.”
The future of Cineworld - including the cinema in Stevenage - remains at risk, with the struggling brand abandoning plans to sell the UK business and pinning hopes on a restructuring plan as it emerges from bankruptcy protection.
Cineworld announced in February that it had received no all-cash offers to save the business since it fell into administration in September.
The future of all 129 UK and Irish Cineworld cinemas are at risk, including the one on Stevenage Leisure Park, which opened in 1996 and was the very first Cineworld cinema.
The chain has now announced that plans to sell the group’s business in the UK, the US and Ireland “will be terminated” due to the “absence of an all-cash bid significantly in excess of the value established under the proposed restructuring”.
Cineworld said it continues “to consider the proposals that were
received in respect of its ‘rest of the world’ (R0W) business and a process is underway with the bidders for the RoW business to assess whether an acceptable sale transaction can be completed”. Lenders have agreed to support a proposed restructuring, but Cineworld says the restructure or sale of the business “will not provide for any recovery for holders of Cineworld’s existing equity interests”.
Mooky Greidinger, chief executive officer of Cineworld, said: “This agreement with our lenders represents a vote of confidence in our business and significantly advances Cineworld towards achieving its longterm strategy in a changing entertainment environment. “With a growing slate of blockbusters and audiences returning to cinemas in increasing numbers, Cineworld is poised to continue offering moviegoers the most immersive cinema experiences and maintain its position as the best place to watch a movie.”
Cineworld says it expects to emerge from bankruptcy protection during the first half of 2023, although it said certain factors “may delay emergence”. “The group remains committed to emerging as expeditiously as possible,” it said.
For now, the chain’s screens remain fully operational and open as usual.
Stevenage Borough Council has announced that the town’s King’s Coronation party will take place at Event Island on Monday 8 May. The event - running from 12-4pm - will celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty the Queen Consort.
There will be:
• A food court
• Mobile bar
• The chance to learn to cycle ride with Stevenage Cycling Hub
• Live music on stage
• A variety of community stalls
And Everyone Active will also be bringing their Healthy Hub trailer to carry out health checks and host some fun activities.
More info at Stevenage Borough Council website
Three of North Hertfordshire College’s Hospitality & Catering students created a dining experience to remember through their ‘Celebration of Polish Cuisine & Culture’ at Hart Kitchens!
Level 2 Professional Cookery students Kacper Rudzinski and Mateusz Sieklicki designed the authentic Polish menu, with Level 3 Hospitality Supervision student Kia Timmins organising Front of House for the evening’s esteemed guests.
Students from across the Hospitality & Catering department came together to support their peers in the project in both the preparation stages and on the night. The young chefs learnt to smoke their own kielbasa, fermented their own sauerkraut, and moulded their own pierogi to use in the dishes. Kacper and Mati were not alone in supervising their fellow chefs, either – they were supported by National Chef of the Year 2019 winner, Chef Kuba Winkowski! Kuba is a former chef of Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and a regular contributor to the Great British Chefs’ website. He has also recently returned from filming a Polish food travel series. Kia was similarly supported in organising the front-of-house by Michal Wolanski of Michelin star gastropub, The Star Inn. For Kacper, Mati, and Kia, there was the added experience of organising and managing the event, too!
Diners on the night included Polish residents, representatives from Stevenage Borough Council,
and even a representative from the Polish Embassy – Szymon Szaran, the third secretary to the ambassador.
Kit Davies, Principal of North Hertfordshire College, said: “The event was an amazing evening of delicious food and new friends. Thanks to Chef Kuba Winkowski for supporting, our brilliant North Hertfordshire College chefs for their hard work, and Stevenage Borough Council and the Polish Embassy for attending. Exciting projects are ahead!”
Level 2 Professional Cookery student Kacper
Rudzinski said: “Hosting a Polish-themed evening has not only allowed me to showcase the rich culture and traditions of Poland, but it has also opened up a world of new experiences, connections and opportunities that I never would have imagined possible. I’ve deepened my appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the world as a result.
“Our Polish-themed evening was a celebration of culinary diversity and cultural exchange, where Guest Chef Kuba Winkowski shared his expertise and passion with our guests. Through a carefully crafted 5-course tasting menu, we showcased the richness and complexity of Polish cuisine, blending traditional recipes with innovative techniques. It was an unforgettable night where food brought people together and created lasting memories.
“Opportunities are not just chances to try something new, they are experiences that can shape us for a lifetime.”
“Our Polishthemed evening was a celebration of culinary diversity and cultural exchange”
Newly-planted woodland at Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage has been “subject to mindless vandalism”, the borough council has reported.
Stevenage Borough Council’s project to plant around 4,000 young trees has involved community volunteers, including school pupils who helped with the planting throughout November and December.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Unfortunately, the newly-planted woodland at Fairlands Valley Park has been subject to mindless vandalism. “Some trees have been pulled up, and the canes and guards have been damaged. This is a real shame – the trees were planted with the help of the local community, including schools, and it’s supposed to be a place for everyone to enjoy.
“Despite the damage, the woodland is starting to come to life and most of the trees are beginning to show leaves. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helps to look after the woodland, including our volunteer wardens.
“If you have any information regarding this incident, please let the police know, quoting crime reference number 41/33202/23.”
Hertfordshire police are warning drivers that if they are caught speeding and give false details, such as a false name or address, they may face a custodial sentence.
There are currently around 63 live cases that the Cameras, Tickets and Collisions team are investigating across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
Investigator Supervisor, Kevin Brown said:
“Recently, we have found that a growing number of drivers across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire are choosing to ignore paperwork or attempting to lie their way out of a fine or speed awareness course.
“One case a few years ago, ended with someone who had a clean driving licence and no convictions being handed a six-month custodial sentence and losing their job after submitting a false name and address along with a fabricated story, providing fraudulent documents in the process. Now this person has a criminal record and will fail any subsequent DBS checks.
“Obviously our advice is to drive safely and stick
to the speed limits, which are in place for a reason – but if you are caught speeding, ensure that you submit the correct details to avoid a potential criminal conviction.”
The consequence of ignoring paperwork can be six penalty points and a £1000 fine instead of a £100 fine. If people provide false details, they can face their licence being disqualified and a custodial sentence. This will lead to a criminal record which could affect future employment and life choices. You can use our anonymous community voice platform ‘echo’ to let us know what you think we should be prioritising in your area. Your feedback will help towards shaping our local policing priorities, initiatives and campaigns. Visit Herts echo (opens in a new window) and tell us your thoughts.
To receive police messages about a range of topics including burglaries, scams and missing people in your local area, sign up to OWL (opens in a new window) or download the ‘OWL crime alerts’ app from your app store.
The new multi-storey car park adjacent to Stevenage Railway Station is open.
The new car park provides 622 spaces, an increase from the previous car park that had 339 spaces. There are 30 blue badge spaces, as well as 30 spaces that are available for electric vehicle charging. There is CCTV in the building and cashless pay machines.
The car park is operational 24 hours a day and is a long stay car park.
In addition to vehicles, there is secure parking for 80 bicycles in a dedicated, covered space adjacent to the car park. There is also space for three larger cycles. This facility is being run by Spokesafe.
Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, commented: “We are so pleased to have opened the multi-storey car park, supporting residents,
visitors, and commuters from across Hertfordshire. Not only have we opened a car park with modern facilities, including electric vehicle charging, we have also met the need of cyclists with secure cycle parking on site. The bold design marks the entrance to the town from the Railway Station and celebrates the achievements of our town and communities through its unique façade”.
Cllr Lloyd Briscoe, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Enterprise and Transport, said: “An accessible town centre with varying modes of transport is key to the transformation of our town. This facility provides an enhanced user experience, contributing to a sustainable travel hub which offers choices as to how people can travel. We hope that people enjoy using this new facility with everything that it offers”.
Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair of the Hertfordshire LEP and Stevenage Development Board commented: “I am thrilled to see this new facility open, which almost doubles the number of parking spaces of the former surface level car park. This is one of the projects to have benefited from the Stevenage Town Investment Plan, set out by the Stevenage Development Board. This will benefit both residents and businesses and is a real stepchange for the town”.
Photos: Chris Winter Photography & HuberStevenage is a prime destination for residents, businesses and visitors and this new car park, with a £1.1m contribution from Hertfordshire LEP as part of Growth Deal funding secured for Stevenage regeneration, creates a real sense of arrival.
Some questions answered:
Q: What is the tallest vehicle that can enter?
A: The car park has a height restriction of 2.2 m. Vehicles over this height can park in the Railway South car park.
Q: How many electric vehicle points are there?
A: 30 spaces will be immediately available for use by electric cars. There are further car parking spaces that have the necessary infrastructure to be converted to electric vehicle spaces as the demand increases.
Q: How do you pay for electric vehicle charging?
A: Payment is taken through the Blink Charging - EB Go! app, using the same provider as at St George’s multi-storey car park, The Forum car park and on-street on Swingate.
Q: Will the charging points
charge all electric vehicles?
A: The charging points will give a charge at up to 7kW via a type 2 socket which is compatible with almost all EVs on the market.
Q: Where are the blue badge spaces located?
A: The blue badge spaces are split across different levels, with most of the spaces at ground level. The car park has two lifts to allow movement between floors. The spaces are located as close as possible to the lifts.
Q: What hours will the lifts be in operation?
A: The lifts are in operation during train running times.
Q: Are there columns throughout the car park?
A: No, the car park contains no columns. This design creates more unobstructed space for individual cars and to allow ease of parking and manoeuvring.
Q: Where is the entrance and exit?
A: The entrance and exit to the car park is on Lytton Way, as it was with the former surface level car park. There are two entrance barriers and two exit barriers.
Q: Does the car park use chip coins like the others in the town?
A: No. The car park uses licence
plate registration. This system calculates how long a car has been in the car park without the need for chip coins.
Q: How much does it cost to park?
A: The parking costs can be found on the Railway North webpage. Parking charges are reviewed for all car parks annually.
Q: How do I purchase a season ticket?
A: Information about purchasing a season ticket can be found on our website: Car Park Season Tickets.
Q: I have been using a season ticket in another car park. Will it transfer across?
A: As long as the appropriate details have been provided to our car parks team, this will transfer across to the new car park.
Q: Where do taxis collect people from?
A: The taxi rank remains in its usual location and pick-ups and drop-offs are not affected. You cannot pick up and drop off at the new car park site.
Q: Are the two-tier cycle stands remaining?
A: The two-tier cycle stands within the taxi rank location remain as they are.
A planning application has been submitted to Stevenage Borough Council for a new life sciences campus to be built in the town - one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
In July last year, UBS Asset Management and property developer Reef Group announced they had formed a joint venture to develop the 33-acre campus next to GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) main research and development (R&D) site on Gunnels Wood Road.
The proposal is to create a life sciences campus which will provide state-of-the-art laboratory and associated facilities across 15 buildings, along with two extensions to the existing GSK campus. “The campus will build on Stevenage’s existing reputation as a leading life science hub to meet the growing demand within the UK for new research and development opportunities in the sector,” a planning statement submitted to the borough council says.
If the council gives the development the green light, UBS Asset Management and Reef are expected to deliver up to £900 million of new investment, with the campus providing space for up to 5,000 new jobs.
The design and access statement accompanying the planning application says: “The new life sciences campus, which will be one of the largest of its kind in the UK and Europe, is located alongside GSK’s existing global R&D centre in Stevenage.
“The campus is intended to help meet the growing demand for state-of-the-art commercial and laboratory space from both emerging and established life science firms.
“This new campus would build on Stevenage’s existing reputation as a leading life science hub by providing new research and development facilities at the established GSK headquarters.
“The scheme would deliver a sustainable, connected and collaborative campus with a worldclass mix of life sciences spaces, bringing together a number of major multinational companies.”
The new campus, if approved, will be built alongside Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst and its 40+ occupier companies, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and GSK’s existing global research and development centre.
Construction of the new campus is scheduled to begin next year – subject to planning permission –with the intention of opening some elements of the site for business by 2025.
Labour team
It was a case of as you were at the local election count in the early hours of Friday morning as Labour held on to nine seats while both the Conservatives and Lib Dems recorded holds in two seats each of the 13 which were contested.
The major excitement for the evening was reserved for the Longmeadow ward which proved to be a closely fought contest between the Conservatives and Labour, the latter hoping to gain the seat. Both parties had put a great deal of resource into the battle and in the end it was Alex Farquharson who was elected with 637 votes, just 14 ahead of Labour’s Alistair Gordon.
The Old Town proved to be another battleground, and although Lorraine Rossati emerged on 992, a
full 200 votes clear of second placed Conservative Jody Hanafin, more than 400 further votes were split between the Greens (236), the Lib Dems (151) and Trade Unionists Against Cuts (32).
Lib Dem leader Robin Parker was delighted to have retained his seat and mark more than 40 years in office, while the party also held on to Chells with Stephen Booth, forcing Labour’s Teresa Callaghan into second place.
Council Leader Richard Henry was delighted with the Labour showing on the evening, his first local election in charge and while disappointed at the failure to take Longmeadow, was happy to see the party remain fully in charge of the council. Attached are a list of the full results from Stevenage Borough Council:
Alex Farquharson
Robin Parker
Stephen Booth
A developer is ‘scoping opinion’ from North Hertfordshire Council on its plans to build up to 650 homes, shops, a primary school and possibly a secondary school in Great Ashby.
Picture Estates Ltd wants to build up to 650 market and affordable homes, a two-form-entry primary school and possibly a four-form-entry secondary school on land off Great Ashby Way.
The proposed development also includes up to 500 sqm retail, food and beverage, and medical and social floorspace, with the principal access road to the new estate from Mendip Way.
“Suitable parking infrastructure designed in line with local car parking standards” would also be included, the developer said.
Picture Estates Ltd has now submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Scoping Opinion application to the council, asking the planning authority for its opinion on what information needs to be included in the Environmental Statement that will accompany the eventual planning application.
Areas to be addressed include transport, landscape and visual impact, noise and vibration, air quality,
archaeology, ecology, socio economics and flood risk.
Picture Estates Ltd says construction work is expected to start in 2025, subject to planning permission, and take five years to complete. A document accompanying the scoping opinion application says: “Proposals are being developed for an outline planning application for the residential-led redevelopment of North East Stevenage.
“EIA is a systematic process that aims to prevent, reduce or offset the significant adverse environmental effects of development proposals and enhance beneficial effects. It ensures that planning decisions are made considering the likely significant environmental effects of the proposed development and with engagement from statutory bodies, local and national groups and the public.”
As part of its engagement, Picture Estates Ltd says it will consult with key stakeholders including Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency.
To view the scoping opinion application, visit North Herts Council planning applications website and search for 23/00806/SCOP
North Herts Ramblers Group Stevenage Borough Council Garden House Hospice Care Stevenage Walking Festival 2023 - Sunday 7 May to Sunday 14
May
This is the ninth Stevenage Walking Festival, organised by members of Stevenage Leisure 50, North Herts Ramblers, Stevenage Health Walks group, with the support of Stevenage Borough Council.
The Stevenage Walking Festival 2023 will be officially opened by the Deputy Mayor of Stevenage at the Stevenage Showground (opposite Lamex football ground) on Sunday 7 May 9:15am. A representative of Garden House Hospice, this year’s nominated local charity, will also be present to speak about its work.
To view the brochure and full timetable visit North Hertfordshire Ramblers website
