11 minute read
Nature
River Mel Restoration Group
Members of the River Mel Restoration Group met in May for their Annual General Meeting. Following the short business part of the meeting, Ruth Hawksley, (Water for Wildlife Officer for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust) presented the findings from a water vole survey she undertook along the River Mel during early summer 2013.
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Ruth informed members that water voles are the fastest declining mammal recorded in the country. Nationally it is estimated that the water vole population has declined by over 90% during the last forty years, with an estimated decline of 87% in the Anglian region. Changes to, and loss of habitat, along with predation from mink, are the main causes of the decline. In order to map the remaining colonies the Wildlife Trust decided to survey the water vole population along the River Rhee and its tributaries, which included the River Mel.
The survey along the Mel showed abundant evidence of water vole activity with food stores, water vole holes and latrines all being found along the length of the watercourse. The area provides good habitat and plenty of food for them, with many areas of lush green vegetation on the banks all the way down to the water as well as good field margins. Fortunately, water voles are not fussy about what they eat and a survey in 1993 identified 227 species of plant eaten by them. They also love apples, other fruits, bark, bulbs and roots.
South Cambridgeshire is fortunate in still having areas of good habitat for water voles and we are lucky that the Mel still demonstrates its local importance in this regard.
The River Mel Restoration Group continues to meet for regular working parties to maintain and enhance the River Mel and its environs. If you would like to know more or join the volunteers please contact Maureen Brierley 01763 262752 or by email Maureen.brierley@virgin.net
repay money they’ve wrongly been given by HMRC.
Tax Credits are gradually being phased into the Government’s new Universal Credit system, which is intended to reduce Credit miscalculations and overpayments.
However whilst we wait for the system to change, problems with the current process seem to be getting worse. Last year, Citizens Advice across England and Wales saw a 14 per cent increase in problems relating to debt caused by Tax Credit overpayments.
The combination of pressures on people’s living costs means that being asked to repay Tax Credits at the end of the year can be a real blow. Skyhigh energy bills, expensive childcare and wages which are still failing to keep up with costs mean that it can be a real struggle for households make ends meet. The last thing hard-pressed households need is for HMRC to put them in more debt.
Often, HMRC will be willing to work with you to see what you can afford to pay back, but in many cases, poor communication and delays by the agency have led to our clients struggling to get a fair outcome.
If you’re struggling with debt then it’s important to take steps to get on top of your bills. Debt can seem impossible but there’s always a way out of problems.
If you come to us, we will be able to work out a debt management plan with free and impartial advice. *North Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire residents can obtain advice from any of the North Herts CAB offices – located in Letchworth, Hitchin or Royston. An outreach service is also available twice monthly at the Melbourn Community Hub. Please visit our website for further information. www. northhertscab.org.uk
For the most up-to-date advice, please visit: www.adviceguide.org.uk
House to House Collections
Daily we seem to get more and more plastic bags being delivered collecting on behalf of one charitable organisation or another. So are they all genuine? Unfortunately it is getting harder for householders to tell.
All collectors must hold a House to House Collections Act 1939 National Exemptions Order (NEO) issued by the Home Office or a House to House Collection License issued by the District Council.
Of course there are genuine collections such as those for the British Heart Foundation or NSPCC, whose bag distribution and collections are by a company that hold a NEO. They are one of 44 organisations that currently hold the NEO from the Home Office. In addition, and as a courtesy, many of the companies inform the District Council when they are collecting in the area.
However, one of the latest bags to appear through our doors is ‘Helping Our Soldiers’, which are distributed by Maksim Ltd. They do not hold a National Exemption order from the Home Office or a House to House Collection License from SCDC.
If you suspect that such apparently charitable collections are not genuine, simply do not put anything in the bag. You can always give directly to your favourite charity’s High Street shop, many of whom offer a personal collection service.
Some of the names that hold a NEO are: Age UK; Alexandra Rose Charities; Asthma UK; Barnardo’s; BBC Children in Need; British Heart Foundation; British Leprosy Relief Association (LEPRA); British Red Cross Society; Cancer Research UK; Christian Aid; Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust; Kidney Research UK; Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research; Macmillan Cancer Support; Make-A-Wish Foundation; Marie Curie Cancer Care; National Blind Children’s Society; National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC); Oxfam; Royal Air Forces Association; Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals RSPCA; Royal National Institute of Blind People; Royal National Lifeboat Institution; St John Ambulance; Save the Children; Scope; Shelter; The Children’s Society; The Royal British Legion; The Salvation Army; World Cancer Research Fund; World Wide Fund for Nature.
For more information see the following website: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/national-exemption-order-scheme
Fire safety in the home
In Cambridgeshire there are more than 200 accidental fires in people’s homes each year. These have resulted in homes and treasured possessions being destroyed, people being injured, and tragically, in some cases people have lost their lives.
Most people are aware of the dangers of fire but often think ‘it won’t happen to me’. The reality is that it could happen to anyone.
The majority of accidental house fires could have been prevented by people taking a little more care to minimise the risks of fire in their home or by being more careful. In many cases, damage could have been reduced if smoke alarms had been present or working properly, as an earlier warning could have meant fire crews were alerted earlier.
The advice in this section will help you protect yourself and your family from fire. And if a fire does occur, you can learn about what you need to do to help you and your family get out quickly and safely.
But if you do nothing else, install a smoke alarm. A FREE home fire safety check may also be available to you. This is where we visit your home, offer fire safety advice and fit free smoke alarms where needed. Requests are prioritised according to individual risk. Take action today, and don’t be left asking ‘why me?’. Important information everybody should know
FREE Home Fire Safety Check
What is a FREE Home Fire Safety Check? A FREE home fire safety check may be available to you. This is a service we offer to residents in Cambridgeshire. Firefighters or specially trained community safety officers can visit your home to help you identify and assess the risks of fire and advise you on the best practices to keep your home and family safe. We will advise you on
the appropriate number and correct type of smoke alarm and fit them correctly.
To see if you are eligible for this service, contact us by filling out the Domestic Enquiry form at the CFRS Gateway (the form is sent directly to us). Alternatively, you can ring 0800 917 99 94 and leave a message on the answer phone with your name, address and daytime phone number. We will then give you a call back. Please be aware that home fire safety checks are prioritised according to individual risk.
Car break in at Riverside Walk - Shepreth…!
Anne and I decided this Sunday afternoon, 15th June, to drive to Riverside Walk at Shepreth. parked the car in the car park at the Barrington Road end at approximately 3.15pm (there was one other car parked there when we arrived) We then walked by the river towards Meldreth, We passed two very friendly families and a lady walking their dogs. On returning at about 4.45 we arrived back to find the rear windscreen had been smashed and the cover to the boot of Saab estate car pushed back…! Nothing had been stolen as all I had in the back were empty plastic flower pots and trays waiting be taken to the recycling box at Scotsdale’s. I phoned the Cambridge police who took all the relevant details and said they would keep us informed and monitor the situation. I then phoned the insurance company who are sending someone out later in the week to repair the rear window! In the mean time the AA have put a temporary sheet over the rear windscreen. I have sent this notice just so our villages can be aware that it could be a problem in parking at the Shepreth Riverside car park. The police will be monitoring the situation, so if anyone does have problem they should report it to the Police. We are advised that there have been problems at the Meldreth car park. Anne & Mark Howard. Telephone 01223 503377
Trading Standards
Residents are reminded to check ID
We’d like to remind residents to be vigilant and always check the identification of anyone who calls at their door including those who say they are from Cambridgeshire County Council or Trading Standards. Council officers will usually ring and make an appointment first if they intend to call on someone. Council Officers always carry identification and will not be offended if you close the door on them whilst you verify who they are. You can call the County Council on 0345 045 5200 to check that they are a County Council Officer. Always leave the chain on the door when you are answering to someone you do not know, take any identification card and examine it thoroughly. Never employ tradesmen who call at your house uninvited. If you need a tradesman for any jobs big or small check out the ‘Buy with Confidence’ a Trading Standards sponsored group of traders. All of whom have been thoroughly checked before being allowed into the scheme. ‘Buy with Confidence’ can be found on the internet www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk, your local library or by calling Citizens Advice. Beware of copycat websites Trading Standards Officers at Cambridgeshire County Council are urging residents to beware of copycat websites imitating official government services online. These are designed to trick you into parting with your cash unnecessarily by charging for services that are provided cheaper or for free through official government channels.
Ordering new passports, booking driving tests and renewing car tax discs are just some of the ways that people are unwittingly being left out-of-pocket by shrewd fraudsters who operate ‘copycat’ websites.
Copycat websites tend to use similar design features to replicate the ‘look and feel’ of official service websites and often use URLs that include fragments such as ‘govuk’, ‘directgov’ or relevant organisation names to make them appear as official providers of certain services. The best way you can avoid being duped is:
•Use GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) It is the easiest and most secure place to find government services and information online • Instead of searching for the services you need via a search engine, go to
GOV.UK and use the search function there. Then you’ll know you’re on the official site • If you do use a search engine, look out for the differences between natural search results and paid-for search results. National Trading Standards is issuing advice for consumers to beat the cyber con-artists, including a video guide at www.tradingstandardsecrime.org.uk/ copycat-web-site-crackdown-2
To report a misleading or copycat website, you can call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06.
Cambridgeshire Council officers are warning residents of a website called www.parkingpermit.com offering to process Blue Badge applications for a charge of £49, plus the cost of a badge. It is not necessary to apply for a Blue Badge through any other website other than the official Government website on www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge or by calling the Cambridgeshire Blue Badge Service on 0345 045 5204. This is a free registration service with a Blue Badge from Cambridgeshire costing £9 for a new Blue Badge and £5 for a replacement.
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