Safer Melbourn

cambridgeshire

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/safermelbourn/

Neigbourhood policing priorities for the next quarter

Tackle anti-social use of motor vehicles in Melbourn. Tackle road safety issues across the panel area (people’s priority) with a focus on supporting Speedwatch and the use of mobile phones whilst driving. Tackle ASB issues (rowdy and nuisance behaviour and criminal damage) in Meldreth Road, Shepreth.

Date of next policing Panel meeting

Tuesday 18th January 2011, Bassingbourn Village College Doors open 7pm for 7:30pm start. All welcome.

Emerging issues for Melbourn

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This is a hotspot for speeding and the intention is to set up a Speedwatch group, with a survey undertaken locally as a starting point.

Issue relates to Cambridge Rd from A10 and areas where there is a national speed limit sign AND housing. Desire to have the speed limit reduced from 60mph to 30mph.

ASB – young people are throwing objects at cars and houses (Beechwood Ave in particular).

Patrols have been increased including plain clothed police but they have found no evidence of this activity. There is also nothing to link the names given of 2 young males with this activity.

Police will maintain their patrols and would encourage people to report incidents.

Driver behaviour at and around the school crossing patrol to be monitored ongoing by PCSOs. Update on previous priorities and community feedback by Sgt John Capes • Tackle anti-social use of vehicles in Melbourn. • Analysis shows that cars are more of a problem than motorcycles. However, scooters are still a problem at South

End Bassingbourn and in Shepreth. • Youths are congregating at the war memorial in

Bassingbourn. • Mopeds using Saxon Way, Melbourn late at night, which is a private road so any traffic calming measures not necessarily a County Council responsibility. • Tackle Road Safety issues across the panel area with a focus on supporting Speedwatch

NON EMERgENCy PHONE NUMBER 0345 456 456 4

MINICOM helpline for the deaf and hard of hearing, anywhere in the force area: 01480 422493 RNID TypeTalk is a national telephone relay service which enables, deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing and speech impaired people to communicate, to access the service dial: 0800 515152 Emergency 999

Additional enforcement activity requested in 3 locations • Shingay – offences of driving without insurance were mentioned. Old Rd, Kneesworth – use of mobile phones whilst driving (it was felt this is a common problem in the area and one to focus on). However, PCSOs cannot stop vehicles and these offences have to be tackled by warranted officers. This will be an ideal assignment for the student officer. However, Chris Savage explained that unmarked cars are best for dealing with this kind of offence.

Community Mediation?

Mediation is a way of helping people talk to each other and find solutions to their differences. The Cambridge and District Community Mediation Service (CDCMS) is a free service that works with people across Cambridgeshire. We are here to: • give you a chance to be heard. • help you explore possible solutions. • help you reach an agreement to make things better. We cover a wide range of disputes including: • Neighbour disputes over fences, hedges, paths, noise, parking, pets and children’s behaviour. • Workplace disputes between colleagues in public or voluntary sector organisations. • Young people and their families where the young person is thinking of leaving or has already left home.

The service is free, voluntary, confidential and independent. We do not take sides or pass judgment. We do not offer legal advice.

Our mediators are all fully-trained volunteers, from different backgrounds. We cover the following areas: • Cambridge • South Cambridgeshire • East Cambridgeshire • Huntingdonshire* * Cases are referred at the discretion of the local authority, call CDCMS to discuss. You can phone us on 01223 302514. Website www.cdcms.org.uk/index.htm

Telephone Preference Service (TPS)

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free service. It is the official central opt out register on which you can record your preference not to receive unsolicited sales or marketing calls. It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.

Organisations with which you have an ongoing relationship, for example those who regard you as a customer, (or in the case of charities – a donor) may well gather your consent during the early stages of your relationship with them and will therefore be entitled to call you even if your number is registered on TPS, unless you have previously told them specifically that you object to them calling you for marketing purposes.

The TPS can accept the registration of mobile telephone numbers, however it is important to note that this will prevent the receipt of marketing voice calls but not SMS (text) messages. If you wish to stop receiving SMS marketing messages, please send an ‘opt-out’ request to the company involved.

As TPS registration only prevents marketing calls, organisations will still be able to call you for the purposes of genuine market research.

Call the TPS Registration line to successfully reduce calls – 0845 070 0707 or register on line at www.tpsonline.org.uk

Shut the door on high pressure selling

High pressure selling is something that we all want to avoid, and whilst it is quite easy to say ‘no’ to salespeople that call you on the phone, it is far harder to say ‘no’ to people once they are in your home.

At Cambridgeshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service we frequently come across people who have been pressured into having work done or buying products having been called on out of the blue. It can relate to anything from tree felling, driveways, roofing and fascias and soffits, to mobility aids, home alarm systems and beds.

Typical high pressure sales techniques include calling through to their manager for ‘the very best price’, saying that that price is only available on that day, and overstaying their welcome, all used to put extra pressure on you. To help pinpoint problems and find practical solutions to reduce anti-social behaviour in the village, Melbourn’s Practical Solutions Group (PSG) has recognised that a less formal and more inclusive approach is required to achieve its aims. This new group remains multi-agency, as its predecessor the Problem Solving Group, but the emphasis and approach has changed so that it can work with and include Melbourn residents (young and old). If you are affected by ASB would like to be involved in this worthwhile project then please get in touch by using the contact form at; www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/ problemsolving or phone 01763 221323

We want you to avoid such problems, so below we offer a few tips: • Where possible, when looking for a trader, go on recommendation from someone you know. • Get three quotes so that you know the price you are paying is reasonable and fair. • Always get quotes in writing and make sure they set out what exactly you will receive for that price

Cambridgeshire Registered Trader Scheme

The Cambridgeshire Registered Trader Scheme can help by providing you with a list of traders who have been checked by Cambridgeshire Trading Standards. lf you live in Cambridgeshire, are aged over 60 or have a physical or learning disability, you are eligible to use this Scheme. Telephone Age Concern, Cambridgeshire on 01354 596 650 and ask for the Traders Register

Addenbrookes Access Road Arrangements

This road is restricted for people travelling to and from the hospital, and a vehicle registration monitoring system is in place to prevent the road from being used as a rat run, by identifying vehicles that enter and exit the site within a specific period of time.

If a trader needs to visit you in your home and you will be alone, see if you can arrange for someone else to be there for extra support in case the trader puts pressure on you.

If the contract is signed in your home and is for over £35, make sure you are given a 7 days cancellation notice – you will almost certainly be entitled to this in law and means that you can change your mind up to 7 days after signing the agreement.

If you are given terms and conditions, make sure you read them before signing the contract. Be careful if you are asked to sign something to say that work can start there and then – this will impact on your right to cancel the contract.

If possible, look for a trader that is a member of a Trade

Association as many of these will operate a Code of

Practice for their members and some also offer a mediation scheme in case of problems.

In addition, you can get a free ‘We’re not buying it’ sticker for your front door to discourage salespeople from calling on you at home in the first place. Simply contact Consumer Direct for one of these (details below).

You can also reduce the number of telephone sales calls you receive by registering with the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 070 0707 or online at www.tpsonline.org.uk.

If you need advice on this or any other consumer issue, contact our partner organisation, Consumer Direct, on 0845 4040506 for free, impartial and confidential advice. Calls cost no more than 4p a minute for BT customers -other networks may vary.

For more information on Trading Standards visit our website www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/consumer

In 2011 TV in Melbourn (Anglia) is going digital and the analogue TV signal will be switched off.

On 30th March 2011, BBC2 analogue is switched off and on 13th April 2011, the remaining analogue channels are switched off.

For advice on the digital switch over telephone 0845 50 50 50 or visit digitaluk.co.uk Drinksense is a registered charity providing advice, information, therapeutic counselling and a range of support services for people with alcohol related problems and their carers and families in Cambridgeshire.

We see people who are concerned with their own or others’ alcohol use. We work toward reducing the harm that alcohol may be causing a person whether that involves health, employment, relationships or lifestyle.

As we are able to provide a safe setting with trained professionals, many different kinds of people access our service. For some this may mean asking a few questions regarding alcohol units, for others it may mean meeting on a one-to-one basis to explore deeper-rooted issues affecting their behaviour.

For access to Therapeutic, Young People and Adult Outreach Services in Cambridge and the surrounding area Dashwood House, 185 East Road, Cambridge. CB1 1BG Tel: 01223 350599 www.drinksense.org There is no charge for our services.

2011 Census coming to a letterbox near you

On 27 March 2011 all residential households in the United Kingdom will be taking part in a census. It is not just another survey. The census is important as it provides an excellent source of information about the population. This enables central and local government, health authorities and many other organisations to plan housing, education, health and transport services for years to come for all sectors of the population, so it is crucial the estimate is as accurate as possible.

The Census is completely confidential and no personal information is passed to other government departments or non governmental organisations. When the questionnaire envelope comes through the door you’ll easily recognise it by the purple 2011 Census logo. Take care of it. If, like many people, you want to complete the questionnaire online, your individual internet code is on the front of the questionnaire. More information about the 2011 Census is available online at: www.census.gov.uk Jobs Starting in September 2010 and continuing over the coming months a number of jobs will be created to support the Census. These will be a mix of part time and full time jobs. Some will last months, others a matter of weeks. All will offer competitive rates of pay. More information can be found at www.censusjobs.co.uk Ralph While-Paddon, Census Area Manager Mob: 07801331388

www.cambs-police.co.uk/myneighbourhood/ecops/index.asp