Scruffyville, not here ICE BINS ON WAY!

During the last cold snap, a variety of essential emergency vehicles
became stuck as the hill had not been gritted or the ice cleared.
All had to be dug out and towed.

NOV 2nd,  ICE BREAKING NEWS! 

PCC HAVE NOW AGREED TO SITE

A COUPLE OF SALT BINS

 IN TIME FOR THE WINTER SNOW & ICE! 

Scruffy neigbourhoods breed crime - discuss?  We've had an outbreak of tagging - mindless spraycan painting of street furniture, daubing of paint on street name plates (Ramsay Way) and the usual prattish turning over of wheelie bins and a couple of mini motos starting up with uninsured drivers and passengers again on the Greenwheel. How many MORE of these have to be crushed before the message sinks in? 

Household junk has also been dumped (and cleared), WHY? I'm starting another drive to get Park Farm, Heritage Park and Stanground looking good again. Not too difficult as we have a lot of goodwill and councillors will positively want to back us in this (as local elections are not too far away, our block directed mass vote may sharpen minds!).

The hedge surrounding the old kiddies nursery, next to the school, is 14 feet high in places, with weeds not far behind (The Weed Control Act is still in force isn't it?). It was to be some kind of retail store, but the owner seemed to have given up before opening..shame really but it would make a useful post office/pub/community hall....just saying... 

 I'm asking all residents, young and old to report back any items of concern (use the comment reply panel on this website) petty damage, vandalism or simply things not working, street lighting (note down lamp stand number) or perhaps the vandalised notice board, which had its perspex cover punched out and the door left flapping, but it's been like that for years! 

Let us get it all cleaned up in time for the festive season. I'm also going to battle for a couple of salt bins or supplies of rock salt to be available for use on the few steep hills (end of Kedleston Road) being an example- you will know of more). 

Last time we managed to get both a fire engine and a police van stuck in the snow and ice, with freezing officers digging out the vehicles. Meanwhile Town Hall (central heating at Malaga, Spain temperatures) still being sniffy about installing a rock salt bin, or at least we could safely store some salt in bags for when the time comes. Before it snows would be really good!       


(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581
Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & APT
All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581

Politicians have had their day, it’s now all down to us!

Lighening Bolt. Not unlike the effect the year on year
spending cuts will have in the UK

Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch (in Peterborough) Chairman Julian Bray writes: So we’ve had all the talk about cuts and make no mistake these Governement funding cuts in the UK and elsewhere in Europe will bite hard and are here to stay for five years at least.


Many people will lose their jobs, life and times will get much harder and the services we have come to rely on will simply vanish or be watered down. Despite what the politicians say the cuts will certainly hit families with children, the vulnerable, the low waged, says the highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (low waged loss about 5.4 per cent).


Families will be squeezed financially and many who have enjoyed low or minimal rents in social housing will find rentals on new occupancies being increased to a level not far off rents charged by the private or commercial sector. Taking all this together, might have a knock on effect in terms of an increase in anti-social behaviour as some families will simply not be able to cope. What has not been considered is that VAT is also set to rise in January to 20 per cent, automatically triggering a round of further higher price rises all over the place.


Life is rapidly getting more expensive and we will all be paying far more for a great deal less! Rail fares are set to skyrocket with £1,000 on a commuters annual season ticket. The list goes on and on so, rather than work ourselves into a real paddy, what can be done?


Clearly quality of life, and an ability to keep our families safe and secure has to be very near the top of what we strive for. The Neighbourhood Watch scheme on Park Farm has certainly year on year focused attention of both the Police and the community on the very small minority, who at one time tried to make all our lives a misery.

It’s been a struggle and not all officials have welcomed us with open arms, but the sheer relentless nature of our continuing contact programme has made a difference, so the initial doubters have had to take notice.


No matter how many cuts in funding are made, with the voluntary status of PFNW we are uniquely placed and can maintain our service to the community and indeed invite the community to be a part of it. To use an old Union statement ‘Unity is strength’ and no more so than a healthy PFNW punching well above its weight! PFNW raised funds and financially contributed to the setting up of the new skate and scooter facility and even an all weather shelter where they can ‘hang out’ in style and comparative safety.


A series of arrests, parental control orders and in some cases a good old ticking off mainly by parents and guardians has seen crime figure stabilise and in some cases drift downwards. But it’s not all down to hoodies, much of the former mayhem on our doorsteps in Park Farm and Stanground was put down to the older career criminal and a dysfunctional yobbo element for whom no cure is seemingly possible!


So they have all been on the radar and frankly if there is too much heat then the distraction burglary or handbag snatch just becomes too much of an effort, with not two but dozens of eyes and hundreds of camera mobile phones, silently recording almost every move, simply watching the bad lads and lasses all the time and around the clock.


Confidential telephone lines, the internet, the new interactive (hate that word) website and a well thought out local policing strategy which the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary Chief Constable Simon Parr is very keen to maintain, even in difficult financial times, have all finally come together and we are not going to let it all break down now, we all have to much to lose.


We’ve devised a new direct action strategy for Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch [PFNW] it fits in well with the local neighbourhood policing strategy and aims to provide a support service and intelligence as appropriate. You will have already noticed that the media is a core part of the new strategy, our friends in the press, radio and television, both regional and national are all directly involved.

Those caught up on the wrong side of the law will soon find that the full glare of sustained media publicity will be turned upon them and their associates, simply everyone in the community will know. Following legal process “Named, shamed and blamed”,


They will be quickly shunned in their usual social haunts, fingers will be pointed and shopkeepers will already know who they are.


The beauty of this strategy is that we as citizens already have this power – the power of communication and passive direct action. We’ll leave the arrests and locking up to the professionals, but with our willing army of ever seeing eyes and immediate access to communication we can help the Police by increasing the quality of information and intelligence we pass to them.


Instead of requesting visits by police usually with a car, we can use e-cops, physically make the trip to a nearest Police station, mobile police office or simply telephone the general help number or even use neighbourhood watch members to keep an eye on any developing situation. Simply the budget cuts will have an effect on everything we do and on many services we have up to now taken for granted.


It is all changing, so the plea is can we turn what appears to be a fiscal catastrophe into something that really works for us? Already PFNW has streamlined the system, no one in our area has been left out, everyone is included. Membership is FREE, no time is required on your part, just the ability to pick up a phone, send an e-mail and take a look at the website, possibly adding a few comments or asking for information, it really is that simple.


We started all this by highlighting the savage funding cuts that are being made but if we can turn this to our advantage, now is the time to re-think everything, do it better, faster, brighter and cheaper!





(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581

Whittlesey Road/Pondersbridge Junction evening traffic snarl up.

Taking the train might have been a solution

but not now rail fares could rise by 30%

Cllr Brian Rush has asked Peter Tebb, the PCC Network Team Manager to have a considered look at the Whittlesey Road/Pondersbridge Junction where the traffic has been backing up weekday evenings between 4.00/6.00pm, along the Stanground by-pass and Whittlesey Road into Stanground and to see if the Network Team can resolve the problem.  

What follows is Peter Tebbs response to our Cllr. Brian Rush, but before you read it, if anyone does have an idea of how this can be resolved then Peter Tebb and his team would no doubt warmly welcome your suggestions!

It will not have escaped your notice that should the Dubai World Magna Park Rail Terminal development go ahead on Drysides - between Park Farm and the single track Railway line this little local difficulty will seem like nothing to the chaos hundreds of container trucks will cause....    

Peter Tebbs writes:

 I’ve had a look at the issue but can’t see a quick solution to the problem.

I suspect that the issue may have become more noticeable recently due to the ongoing closure of North Bank (until January 2011). Consequently there would be an expected increase in the volume of traffic using Whittlesey Road. 

I would have expected the effects to have been more tidal; with the inbound flow increasing during the morning peak and correspondingly an increase in the flow toward Whittlesey in the evening peak.

The only reason I could think why the right turn manoeuvre takes longer is if there is an increase in traffic flowing towards Stanground during the evening as a result of the closure but I am unable to quantify this.

In terms of solutions there is insufficient road width to provide a right turn lane into the Pondersbridge Road which would have been relatively straightforward to implement.

One other potential solution would be to further investigate the provision of a mini-roundabout at this junction as the Pondersbridge Road has a wide entrance to it. This would give priority to the right turning traffic over that from Whittlesey and thus alleviate the tailbacks towards the bypass.

However the cost of this scheme would likely require capital funding, the level of which has already been reduced this year due to the government’s cutbacks.

Should the problem continue to exist once the North Bank re-opens then such a solution could be considered alongside other requests for next years capital program of works.

One other suggestion forwarded by a member of the public was to realign the road to Pondersbridge to join at the new roundabout at the end of the bypass. This however would not be feasible or possible because there is not sufficient space for a fourth arm to come off that roundabout on the southeast side.

Peter Tebb Network Team Manager  Bridge House Tel 01733 453519

Chris Harper on reading the above said...  This is the reply I received to my concerns regarding the same issue.

The bypass and works in Stanham Way and at Junction 3A are being carried out by Persimmon Homes East Midlands as part of their obligation under S106 of the Town & Country Planning Act.

The works are being carried under a Section 278/38 (of the Highways Act 1980) Agreement with both PCC and CCC (as it affects both areas). The responsibility of all areas of work under this Agreement lays with Persimmon Homes East Midlands at present and will do so until the "provisional certificate" is issued by PCC.


At present the bypass, whilst looking virtually complete to most road users, is far from complete with an extensive snagging list. The Council has not issued the "provisional certificate" as the works are not yet complete.


Whilst the bypass has been open since November 2009, the external signage (directing vehicles via the bypass rather than via the old route) was installed relatively recently. This is likely to be one of the reasons that vehicles are still not using the bypass.


Another reason drivers (in particular non-local HGV's) may not be using the bypass is that it is not on SATNAV systems yet.


At present there is no restriction on HGV's using Whittlesey Road through Stanground, therefore no enforcement action can be taken against them.  PCC carried out a traffic survey (HGV's) in Whittlesey Road prior to the opening of the bypass. Another will be carried out post completion of the bypass to establish whether a 7.5 tonne weight restriction needs to be implemented along Whittlesey Road.

This is likely to be sometime yet given the extensive snagging works required and the fact that the Stage 3 Safety Audit is yet to be completed. My view on this is that HGV's will still be found using the old route and therefore a weight restriction will be necessary. If this is the case then PCC will carry out a public consultation and implement if no objections received. (If objections are received then these will have to be considered by our Head of Service and decision made).


Looking forward, we will carry out another traffic survey (on HGV's) once the bypass is considered fully complete. Following this, if it is found that a weight restriction is necessary along Whittlesey Road, then we will carry out a public consultation for the Traffic Regulation Order and implement it.

This will then be monitored (normally by the amount of complaints followed by some site visits) to ensure HGV's are obeying the restriction. If HGV's are found to be ignoring the restriction then enforcement action will be taken.


The suggestion made regarding moving the access road to Pondersbridge to join at the new roundabout would not be feasible or possible (there is not sufficient space for a fourth arm to come off that roundabout on the southeast side). However, if the inland port came forward it is likely that a roundabout junction would be required which would need to include the access road to Pondersbridge.


The officers also wished me to stress that they sympathise with you and the other residents of Stanground. Whilst we appreciate the frustration, we hope that in the not too distant future Stanground Bypass will be completed, Northbank will re-open, Stanground will be put on SATNAV and a weight restriction will be installed on Whittlesey Road (if found necessary). All of this should decrease the traffic using Whittlesey Road through Stanground in the long run, improving the quality of life for residents living there. END

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581

£81 BILLION COALITION BUDGET CUTS: PFNW on SKY NEWS

Julian Bray, Chairman PFNW is interviewed by Sky News' Darren Little

It's not every day a SKY NEWS television scanner truck rolls onto a freezing cold Park Farm, but as we have an award winning Neighbourhood Watch scheme, Sky News wanted our initial reaction to the news that police budgets are to be cut and nationally local police activity would bear the brunt of the cuts.

As it happens PFNW met the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary Chief Constable Simon Parr who fully briefed us a few days ago ( see report on the blogweb) and outlined in graphic terms what was likely to happen following the coalition government £81 billion cuts package.

As we understand it, Cambridgeshire Constabulary will seek to maintain front line and local police services but savagely cut back on administration and needless form filling, there might however be less visits from Police with Cars and the public urged to make greater use of physically visiting police station service/enquiry counters, mobile police offices, telephone, Internet and of course Neighbourhood Watch and other voluntary community services. 

The video report was taped and fed back though the scanner truck to Sky News in London from Park Farm Way, Stanground. Peterborough at 5pm and will be on Sky News tonight from the 10pm bulletin onwards as part of a nationwide roundup package by Sky News Home Correspondent Mark White.    

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581

20,000 homes and New Business Parks for Peterborough - Perhaps not?

 Looking over the site for Magna Park, Dry Sides, a natural flood plain

After a consultation process in which more than 3,000 comments were made by city residents, Peterborough City Council has published a revised version of its Site Allocations Document. It's not good news for Stanground as Magna Park is still on the agenda, as our absentee Stanground councillor Janet Wilkinson voted FOR THE INCLUSION OF MAGNA PARK! Although mercifully the Arab development company is owned by near bankrupt Dubai World and the Magna Park rail/warehouse park is linked to Felixstowe Docks also owned by Dubai World, now possibly being sold off to reduce the Dubai World debt. A fact which has escaped the PCC! 

The other good news is simply this whole exercise was hatched in the days before the recession and well before the bankers taxpayer bailouts. The problem for Peterborough City Council is that to scrap the whole scheme will pop a number of pet projects and ensure that any legacy attached to current members of the cabinet will also evaporate.  

The document claims that 5,000 jobs will be created by Magna Park but what the document does not say is that the jobs will not be for Peterborough residents but for transit workers such as drivers and container handlers, many of the warehouses proposed will be automatic with the minimum of local unskilled personnel required. The noise and light nuisance will be 24 hours a day seven days a week. 

The document sets out where 20,185 of the 25,500 new homes set out in the council’s Core Strategy 2009-2026 will be placed as well as employment land to help create  [pre-recession] 20,000 jobs.

Sites for the remaining 5,000 or so homes will be in the city centre and will form part of a separate document.

Chief among the developments is the Great Haddon urban extension to the south of the city which has been kept on the document and is earmarked for 5,350 new homes and a 40-hectare business park.

Also in the blueprint are plans for a massive rail-freight interchange at Magna Park, east of Stanground, which could potentially create 5,000 jobs.  If given the go-ahead, the rail-freight centre will cover an area the size of 135 football pitches and would see major cargo transported by rail from the port of Felixstowe.

Major changes from the original document, which was released for a six-week consultation in March this year, include new plans to build 460 homes on the former Freeman’s site, in Ivatt Way.

Controversial plans to build permanent gypsy and traveller sites in Eye and Stanground, for ten and four pitches respectively, have also been removed after the Government announced earlier this year that it was no longer a legal requirement to provide them.

The council is also keeping an eye on future growth as well, safeguarding land in Hampton for a possible passenger railway station while earmarking the old Wansford to Wisbech railway line, through Peterborough, for a cycleway and public footpath.

The document is the next stage of the council’s Core Strategy, which sets out the aim to build 25,500 new homes and create 20,000 jobs by 2026. It is currently waiting the approval of the planning inspectorate and the Government.

The revised Site Allocations Document will be discussed by the council’s Environment and Planning committee on Tuesday, October 26 before the full council decides in December whether to put it out to another consultation in 2011.

It has become the source of a major disagreement between council leader Marco Cereste and city MP Stewart Jackson of MP's expenses fame .   Mr Jackson has promised to lobby housing minister Grant Shapps to reject or amend the proposals if the planning inspectorate approves the Core Strategy, after criticising the council’s insistence on building 25,500 homes.

He also questioned the area set aside for business development saying it would be pointless unless the city can attract skilled companies.

He said: “I don’t understand why the council did not avail itself when the Government scrapped Rural Spatial Strategies and take the chance to look at the changes in the housing market, the economy and public sector finances over the past few years.

“It would have given them the opportunity to look again at the balance between large-scale housing and quality of life.

“I’m not unambitious for Peterborough but I don’t think sufficient thought has been given to where jobs will come from and whether we have the right community infrastructure or transport links.

“I’d like to know what the nature of the employment is as well. Is it going to be good quality, skilled jobs or is it going to be warehousing, logistics and food processing?”

But Cllr Cereste was critical of Mr Jackson’s stance on jobs however, stating that it is not just the skilled sector the city has to provide for.

He said: “We have got 5,000 people in this city who are not employed and not all highly-trained, what are we supposed to do? Throw them on the scrapheap?

“What happens to the people who don’t have the training or the experience for a highly-skilled job? I think it’s about time someone started talking some sense.

“What we need at the moment is jobs which match the skills and the training of people in the city.

“If Mr Jackson plans to damage the Core Strategy and if he plans on taking away the jobs of this city, he needs to think very, very carefully before he does anything.”

Peterborough City Council’s Planning and Environmental Protection Committee meets on Tuesday 26th October, 2010 at 1.30pm at the Town Hall, on the agenda is the Peterborough Local Development Framework: Peterborough Site Allocations. 
More information from the City Council website: http://bit.ly/bMZYqP

Revised Site Allocations Document includes:

• A 135 hectare rail-freight interchange at Magna Park, east of Stanground.
•  
• More than 5,000 new homes and 65 hectares of employment land as part of the Great Haddon urban extension to the south of Peterborough.
•  
• New proposals to build 460 homes on the former Freeman’s site, in Ivatt Way, by the A47 Soke Parkway.
•  
• The safeguarding of land in Hampton for the possible building of a railway station in the future.
•  
• Scrapping of permanent gypsy and traveller sites originally earmarked for Eye and land west of Stanground.
•  
• Houses planned in Oundle Road, Alwalton, increased from 122 to 210.
•  
• Provision for a cycle and walkway between Wansford and Wisbech via Peterborough.
•  
• 65 new homes off Sandpit Road, Thorney, which had been previously rejected by the council are now back on the agenda.
•  
• Building of a 30-hectare business park at Red Brick Farm, south of Oxney Road, Eastfield; a 40-hectare business park at Alwalton Hill; and two extra hectares at Lynch Wood.
•  
• Number of homes earmarked off Thorney Road, Eye, cut from 250 to just 60, with a small space for employment land.

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581

Haloween NO TRICK OR TREAT HERE!

It's almost that time of the year again (how did that happen)? We hope everyone has lots of fun.

However, if you don't want to be disturbed on the night please feel free to download this poster from 
http://www.cambs.police.uk/crimeprevention/advice/prevention/tricktreat_b&w.pdf to stick on your door or window.

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581

Neighbourhood Policing UPDATE

Sergeant Rebecca Bretherton, Neighbourhood Policing reports:  We started our week very quietly with very few calls for service in relation to incidents or crimes. This reduction in calls appears to be continuing week by week, which is excellent news and long may the trend continue. However, this does not mean that we can sit back, in fact it represents the complete opposite, we need to work harder and together not only to maintain the current status quo but to achieve more.


From a police perspective we are committed to high visible patrols by your two PCSOs Shirley and Stuart, and we will continue patrols by police officers both in uniform and in plain clothes who are responsible for 'stop searches' and arrests. Working in this way we have been very successful in disrupting the daily business of our criminals.


This seems an opportune time to mention that during this month we have experienced two dwelling burglaries, one on Wright Avenue, the other Allan Avenue.

These crimes have caused a great deal of distress. The residents involved are over 60 years and both came home to discover the crimes. It is very rare for crimes to be committed in this area therefore two in one month raises our concerns.

We have increased our patrols in this area and ask that if you see anything suspicious please ring in, it may be nothing but could result in preventing a crime being committed.


We have been experiencing a problem of door knocking at Nelson Court. This involves 3 boys who are continually knocking at the door of an elderly gent and causing him some distress. He struggles to get to the door and they have gone. We have given words of advice to the youths we believe this to be and have taken their details. Should these incidents persist we will be seeking the assistance of their parents in order to get them identified by the gent concerned. If you do know who they may be please let us know.


We have this week received 35 calls for service made up as follows: Rowdy Nuisance 8, Concern for Person 2, Domestics 3, Vehicle Nuisance 1, Suspicious Circumstances 5, Abandoned Call/Silent 999 2, Road Related 3, Burglary Dwelling 4, Civil Disputes 1, Criminal Damage 1, Police General 2, Fraud 1, Making off without payment 1, Shoplifting 1.


We have raised 8 crimes relating to: making off without payment 1, Burglary other than in a dwelling 1, Burglary Dwelling 4, Criminal Damage 1, Damage to a Vehicle 1.


These crimes and incidents have been over the whole of Stanground and do not relate to one specific area. This is both good and bad news. Good because it is not creating 'hot spots' of crime; bad because there is not one area, time or day to push resources to. So to help us - keep vigilant and report suspicions.


Best regards
Your Neighbourhood Team

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581

English (Manchester) Police Force Tweets All Incidents In 24 Hours to highlight Budget cuts

The Associated Press:  From stolen cars to suspicious smells, one of Britain's biggest police forces is tweeting every incident it deals with over a 24 hour-period to prove a point.


The online Twitter campaign aims to show the pressures that police are under as British officials prepare for deep budget cuts. [Cambridgeshire Police is facing a similar situation with a reduction of £30 million predicted by the new Chief Constable Simon Parr. The figure represents a manpower reduction of around 25% by Chrstmas].

"The reality of police work is that although crime is a big part of what we do, we do much else besides,'' Chief Constable Peter Fahy of Manchester said in a message posted to YouTube. "We're very much the agency of last resort, and a big part of our workload is related to wider social problems of alcohol, drugs, mental health and people having problems with their relationships.''


The project, which began at 5:00 a.m. Thursday, has already racked up more than 1,300 different incidents. Among the first tweets: An alert about a stolen vehicle thought to be headed for Manchester, the arrest of an aggressive shoplifter, and a report that "a man appears asleep at bus stop.''


Greater Manchester Police is one of the country's largest police forces, responsible for a 500-square-mile area centered on Manchester, which competes with Birmingham for the title of England's second city.


Although Manchester has seen some high-profile crimes including international terrorism cases most of Thursday's calls spoke of the daily grind of police work.

Many tweets covered domestic incidents, traffic accidents, stolen cars and missing people. There were calls about animals, complaints about a man urinating against a school wall, and a report of someone smoking on an incoming flight to Manchester Airport.

There were also dozens of false alarms.


In one incident, officers were sent to a bridge where a man was reportedly seen dangling a baby over the edge. In fact, he'd been carrying his dog in his arms because the animal was afraid of bridges.


The Twitter feed was choked with reports of children who had dialed police while playing with their parents' cell phones, as well as a host of nuisance calls.

"Confused man reporting his TV not working,'' one incident report stated. "Man calls to say locked out of house. Wants police to break in for him,'' another said. One woman called police because a video of her had been posted to YouTube.

Manchester police said the tweets were being sent by a team of people from its corporate communications department, along with two force inspectors. Incidents would not be tweeted if their publication threatened anyone's safety, a spokeswoman said.

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581

Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT

Press Enquiries 01733 345581

Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Watch Group A G M on Wednesday 13th October Morag Irving reports

Hello,  Julian and I went to the Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Watch Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 13th October in Huntingdon.

We know how to enjoy ourselves!

These are my brief notes of things I thought may interest you. If you would like to read the full minutes drop me a line and I’ll let you have a copy when I get one.



Cambs new Chief Constable Simon Parr gave the opening speech, his key points were:-


Transferring the fear of crime from the victim to the criminal

Taking a more holistic approach to crime and finding the root cause, in conjunction with other agencies.

Cutting bureaucracy

Engaging with the community, in areas other than stations and home visits.

Chief Constable Simon Parr is very aware of the impact of cuts to funding. How deeply this will affect us remains to be seen.


Cambridgeshire NHW has funds of £11,246.90 in the coffers. I hasten to add this is not ours here at Park Farm; it covers all of Cambridgeshire.


Inspector Paul Ormerod, the safer neighbourhood Officer spoke about the need for greater communications. The way information is passed on and how to speed things up. Again, this is also likely to come under budget cuts.


There were currently 4 vacancies on the board for members for Peterborough.
Julian and I have put our names forward to represent you on the panel.


Please let me know if you would like any more information.


Finally:

I managed to get some more Neighbourhood watch window stickers and stationery; if you would like some please let me know.

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT Press Enquiries 01733 345581

Flour Bombing, Egging ,Begging:The Halloween Nightmare (for some) is coming soon....

Children are easily frightened not just during Halloween!

Halloween can be fun or it can be a nightmare, not everyone welcomes or even understands the American import of 'trick or treat.'  Helen O'Driscoll, the very approachable Police Community Safety Officer is looking for information and needs your help. Could you please quickly let her know if you or anyone else had issues with flour bombing, 'egging' , agressive begging or other forms of anti-social behavior associated with last years Halloween. She needs to plot a geographic map of areas most likely to be 'under attack' during this years Halloween.


In order to correctly target patrols this year. Police are putting together a co-ordinated Halloween action plan for officers. These will also will include known anti-social behaviour hotspots areas in the city.  Police have produced a special NO TRICK OR TREAT HERE poster which can eb downloaded  from the police website.


Leave your information on telephone number 01733 424477or send as a confidential e-mail to  helen.odriscoll@cambs.pnn.police.uk  Helen O'Driscoll is the Community Safety Officer based at Bridge Street Police Station.




(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581
Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319
Codecs G722 & APT
Press Enquiries 01733 345581

Issues with 'private' CCTV installed by a neighbour.

Just taken a PFNW call from Fletton (Sorry caller, out of our area) about the installation by a next-door neighbour of CCTV cameras, on the neighbours property and in the back garden. The caller was worried that the CCTV camera in the garden overlooked his property and that he was being 'spied upon.'

CCTV cameras and recording units can be purchased from shops or websites like  www.maplins.co.uk but the rule of thumb is that the picture transmission footprint should legally only record activity physically within the boundaries of your own property and not a wider video footprint.

To be effective following an incident, Police should be able to take off timecoded digivideo images on a DVD or USB key. Some standalone Infra Red [IR] (nightlight) cameras will record time elapsed pictures on an SD card but again the images must be confined to an area within your property boundary.

The caller then described the positioning of the camera and it became clear that as it was only 1 metre from the backwall, all that it would pickup would have been the neighbours backdoor and possibly a window.

But before you do install CCTV, do the right thing and talk to your neighbour and ask your neighbour if they would object, explain that the images would only cover your own property BUT if the neighbour wishes and with his/her permission (in writing is best) your camera could possibly be re-set to cover his front garden, driveway and car as well - at no cost to them either!

Recently a relative installed such a system and as she is a senior citizen, the local police community officer in her area offered some positive advice and later told me she had a better CCTV system than the local bank! 

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581
Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT
Press Enquiries 01733 345581

Peterborough South East Neighbourhood Policing Panel "ZERO" CAMPAIGN ON-STREET PARKING OBSTRUCTIONS CLAMPDOWN IN STORE

Police are still looking for this motorcycle at speed on the Greenwheel at Park Farm

As part of our remit to look out for the residents of Park Farm and Stanground, your PFNW chair and committee attended the South East Neighbourhood Panel Meeting held on October 5th at Hampton Police Station.

The meeting is open to the public and the panel usefully represents local and regional agencies, PCC and the usually faceless council officials who have ventured out from behind their roll-top desks to face the residents.

We also had a few well meaning jokers, including a gentlemen called Bernard who briefly stood for the vacant chair (Chris Harper having resigned as he has now been adopted as the Conservative Party Candidate for the next round of council elections). Bernard stressed that he was a businessman (selling padlocks to the police was one of his business marketing ploys – Good man!) and volunteered the information that he had just financed and set up the Common Sense Political Party.  Clearly, the spirit of the late lamented Screaming Lord Sutch lives on, such is democracy!

Christopher York (who stood as a Labour parliamentary candidate in the recent General Election, but failed to win a seat) by a unanimous vote, was elected chair and immediately cracked the whip to get the Agenda moving.


Cllr. Brian Rush, Janet Goodman and Lisa Emmanuel, all took their places meanwhile Kevin Morris – a nicely scrubbed up Special Constable - reported the ‘Specials’ managed to put in a staggering amount of voluntary patrol time, some 91 hours in the last week of September alone. Bringing up the rear for the agencies, was Roy Clarke, resplendent in PCC green NATO pattern jumper and size fourteen Doc Martins.


It would have helped if the top table had identifiable name plates, agency staff wearing their name badges and for part of the meeting, presentations were no more than a low verbal rumble, (for the few who had hearing difficulties virtually impossible to hear). Hopefully Inspector Snow (now sans beard and sporting a close shaven head) took all this on board and will have a microphone, PA system and a roving wireless mic for the audience questions next time.


It would also have been good to have the Police ‘Corporate Marketing Unit’ prepare a simple PowerPoint presentation, to visually present the mind spinning complex roll call of statistics, which in any case were contained in the latest October edition of the newsletter, now presented under the snappy title of ‘On your Beat’.

I of course misread it as ‘On yer Bike’ but either title gets over the urgency of the task in hand and the publication has double the number of pages in the A5 format with a corresponding increase in detailed information and comment. It is also available online at www.cambs.police.uk .


We have a brand new Chief Constable and Inspector Snow said that despite the looming cuts in funding and manpower, the new Chief was in favour of community initiatives and hopefully the ‘on beat’ presence would not feel the cuts too much.

I noted the well appointed Hampton Police Station meeting room had a video projector so perhaps the chief constable could in future tape a short digivideo presentation or a few words of wisdom? The next meeting will be on 11th January 2011 at the Baptish Chapel Hall, Chapel St. Stanground.


At the meeting, clearly Fletton generally and Fellowes Gardens in particular was punching above its weight with a disproportionately heavy payload of crime and mind sapping anti-social behaviour. Police had on suggestion of the neighbourhood panel made this a priority action, targeted the area and generally introduced a zero tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour and a host of other nuisances.

Youths and children had been identified, a few parents contacted and in some cases in conjunction with the PCC parental contracts issued. There were also a significant number of adults variously cautioned, charged and processed during the period, graphically demonstrating that the community zero tolerance approach does work.


Alarmingly during the period under review, police also came in for some unreasonable stick and abuse by residents and adverse media comment when one of the agreed actions was to clamp down on inconsiderate and illegal parking, many tickets issued, cars towed.

The acid test apparently is “can a double baby buggy freely pass on the pavement when a car is parked on the verge/pavement or the vehicle so parked forces a pedestrian at any point to step onto the road.”

Priorities set for Police by the panel

for the next three months

 

• ASB (Anti Social Behaviour) - Fair Meadow Car Park - this will including car cruise meetings & suspected drug taking / dealing on the Railworld site and on cycle paths by the river.

•  ASB (Anti Social Behaviour) - Earls Close.

• Parking Concerns - Hampton.

PS 1916 Coulson

NPT Sergeant

Peterborough South East

0345 456 456 4 ext 7112211

luke.coulson@cambs.pnn.police.uk

Contrary to popular thinking that parking regulations do not apply to unadopted roads, two parish councillors from Hampton, waved a hefty document in the air, produced by Kent Police (and already lodged with the Peterborough Neighbourhood policing team) which stated that all Highway Code / RT rules apply and should be enforced by Police.

Eagle Way, Hampton was singled out as a continuing problem, as your own committee experienced when trying to leave the meeting at Hampton Police Station, not helped by a Tesco home delivery van at 9 pm and unable to pass a crocodile of inconsiderately parked cars.


Indeed the whole return journey within the confines of Hampton was a nightmare, strictly single file traffic. Clearly town planners made a huge mistake, they need to urgently widen the roads, cut back on the architectural planting, ultra wide pavements and splash a few double yellow lines around! Roads in Park Farm are generally much wider, so residual house values on our patch, should be better off for it, as opposed to moving to Hampton!


The focus on illegal obstructive on-road and pavement/verge parking will soon shift to Park Farm/Heritage Park and Stanground with particular attention to any vehicles obstructing the footpath and parked within 10 metres (32 feet) of, or opposite any junction or crossroads. This will be particularly relevant on the lower dogleg section of Kedleston Road where emergency services and utility vehicles are routinely unable to negotiate round residents’ cars, commercial vans and trucks parked on the road, rather than on their own off road driveways and parking places. The other practical test used by police is to ask the fire brigade to drive their appliances around and if they find an obstruction caused by a vehicle its an automatic penalty and possibly a day in Court.

Needless to say if the Emergency vehicle is unable to get through the consequences could well be fatal for someone....


Finally a word from Inspector Matt Snow:

“Anti-social behaviour often increases towards the end of October as Halloween and Guy Fawkes (Bonfire) Night approaches. I have already arranged additional police patrols in all hotspot areas. My officers will take positive action against individuals who use this time as an excuse for anti-social behaviour. They will be proportionate at the same time. I recognise the vast majority of people will be having fun and causing no issues. If you would like a ‘NO Trick or Treat’ poster for your home it can be downloaded from www.cambs.police.uk or call in person at any police station.”

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581
Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT

Press Enquiries 01733 345581

Shed Burglaries Reported

Two shed burglaries have been reported in the area this week. Please ensure your shed is locked with a good quality hasp and padlock and the equipment inside is UV or Smartwater marked. Try to think how a burglar thinks, how would they gain access to your property in the first place and what precautions could you take to put them off?

• Is access to the rear of your property easy?
• Is there a lock on your side or back gate?
• Is your shed and garage alarmed?
• If you have a ladder is it chained and locked securely?
• If someone gains access to your garden might they be seen by neighbours particularly if you have installed security lighting?

Be warned that garden tools make excellent tools for a burglar. Make sure they're securely locked away.

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581
Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT
Press Enquiries 01733 345581

Couple conned into buying Spuds instead of Laptop

Potatoes? All I got was a sackful of little people.......

 We just had to include this report by Raymond Brown of Cambridge News, it concerns a  couple who were conned into believing they were buying a laptop – 

The man and women were tricked out of £650 (!) in Huntingdon High Street by the fraudster.
Police have launched an investigation into the fraud which left the couple out of pocket and holding nothing but a rucksack full of spuds and cardboard.

The victims were approached by the man opposite the Savers supermarket who offered them a laptop computer for sale.  He took them to a car park at the rear of Dominos pizza where they viewed the laptop in a rucksack and agreed to buy it, along with an iPhone. They then visited Lloyds Bank and withdrew £650 in cash before handing it to the fraudster who then took them back to the car park and handed them the closed rucksack.

However, when the victims later looked in the bag they realised they had been duped.

The man is described as white, about 30, more than six feet tall with reddish brown hair and stubble. He wore light blue jeans.  [he also has a wide grin from ear to ear - Ed!] Police have issued a warning about buying goods from strangers in car parks after the incident which happened between 12.30pm and 1.15pm on Tuesday (September 28).

PC Lorna Owen, from Huntingdon police station, said: “I am appealing for anyone with information about who this man might be to contact police. I would also urge people to only purchase goods from genuine companies and make sure they know exactly who they're buying from.”

Anyone with information should contact Pc Owen on 0345 456 4564 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

We've made fun of this, but it carries a serious message, buying anything for CASH, wrapped or signing for goods 'UNEXAMINED' is always a very bad idea no matter how persuasive the doorstep or street salesman is. If you must buy something use a credit card, and then if the transaction goes bad you have the powerful Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act to fall back on - taking the Credit Card company to Court even if the seller has long gone. We have information on this. Just call.

C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581
Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT
Press Enquiries 01733 345581