Archived News
December 2014
Trading Standards warning residents of solar panel tele-sales calls
Central Bedfordshire Council's Trading Standards team is warning residents to be extra vigilant when answering the telephone and finding the caller is offering a free survey for the installation of solar panels.
Trading Standards have received a spate of recent reports from residents who have received these calls, whereby the caller claims to be calling from the "Bedfordshire (or Bedford) Advice Centre" and attempts to entice you into having a survey carried out by one of their agents.
The callers appear to be focusing on Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding area and in some cases have informed residents during the call that an agent is currently on their way to the resident's home. When challenged by one resident who wished to make a complaint, the caller gave another resident's telephone number, who unsurprisingly knew nothing about the call.
Officers have been unable to identify or locate any organisation called the "Bedfordshire (or Bedford) Advice Centre" and therefore believe these calls have all the hallmarks of a scam.
A Council spokesperson said "Although the offer may appear enticing, by all appearances, these calls appear to be an elaborate scam trying to obtain either your financial or personal details."
"Callers will try to offer you an opportunity that shouldn't be missed, and they will try and intimidate you into making a hasty decision, for instance, the offer is only available for a limited time or their agents are only in the area for a few days. If you are interested in having solar panels fitted to your home, our advice would be to shop around by contacting legitimate local businesses and never take what an unsolicited tele-sales caller tells you for granted."
The Trading Standards team advises when receiving such calls to:
- Never pay money or give your bank account or credit card details over the phone;
- Never give your personal details, such as your age, date of birth, or home –ownership;
- Never be intimidated into making a quick decision;
- Never express an interest, by asking the caller to call back later, as you may be identified as a possible target for a future scam attempt.
If you receive one of these calls or think you may have been targeted by any other type of scam, please report it to Trading Standards on 03454 040506.
56 people arrested for drink-driving in the Thames Valley
Thames Valley Police have arrested 56 people on suspicion of drink-driving after seven (1-7 Dec) days of the Christmas anti-drink drug drive campaign.
The 'Is it worth the risk?' campaign was launched on Monday 1 December and is aimed at targeting drink and drug drivers over the festive period. A total of 2,779 people have so far been breath tested.
Of those arrested, 46 were men (a 16 per cent decrease) and 10 were female (33 per cent decrease). The oldest was a 63-year-old man arrested in Slough on 6 December and the youngest were two 19-year-old men arrested in Slough on 3 December and Aylesbury on 6 December for drug-driving. The average age of those arrested was 35.
The highest reading so far was taken from a driver in Berkshire on 2 December, who was five times over the legal limit according to a breath test at the scene.
In total, 31 of the 56 arrested have been charged, 17 have been released on bail pending further enquiries and eight people have been released with no further action.
This year's arrests show a 20 per cent decrease on the 70 arrests made during the same period in 2013.
The campaign, which runs until 1 January, will see police targeting individuals they suspect of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, both on the way home from nights out and the morning after a heavy night.
Of the arrests, 22 have been made in Berkshire, 20 in Buckinghamshire and 14 in Oxfordshire.
Chief Inspector for Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Roads Policing Unit, Henry Parsons said: "People often ask us what's the safe limit to drink and drive. The answer is that there isn't one, please don't mix the two, the consequences simply aren't worth the risk, real people die and get injured."
Planning Permission sought for 150 new dwellings
Location: Land off Totternhoe Road / The Rye, Eaton Bray, Dunstable Beds LU6 2BD
Details: Outline planning permission is sought for residential development of up to 150 dwellings and associated works on land off Totternhoe Road, Eaton Bray.
Consultation Period Expires: 7 January 2015
Please see Details of Planning Application - CB/14/04055/OUT for further information about the Consultation and how to respond.
Please ensure that all responses are submitted by 7th January 2015.
UK Power Networks: Preparation for possible severe weather event
Today is a normal day across the electricity networks with no widespread power cuts due to the weather. However, UK Power Networks is working closely with the Met Office to track the strong winds that are forecast to hit the UK tomorrow, Thursday. These strong winds are due to affect the Eastern and Southern areas of our network overnight Thursday 11th December and early Friday 12th December.
If the storm materialises and affects power supplies, our paramount focus will be on restoring electricity to customers as quickly and safely as possible.
We are currently monitoring the weather closely and are in regular contact with the Met Office as the forecast develops. Click here for the latest forecast from the Met Office.
Our electricity network is built to be resilient but extreme weather can affect overhead power lines. Our emergency plans have been put in to place, with hundreds of extra engineers and other staff on duty to deal with situations as and when they arise.
As always our priorities in these situations are public safety and restoring supplies to customers as quickly and safely as possible.
In communication with customers, we urge the public to stay well clear from power lines and anyone spotting a damaged power line needs to report it to UK Power Networks.
For any power cut enquiries please contact us 24 hours a day by:
- Calling 0800 31 63 105 or 0333 32 32 105 if calling from a mobile.
- Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk for the latest update
- Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut and type in your postcode to our live power cut map
- Follow us on twitter for updates @ukpowernetworks
- Like our Facebook page and see updates here
Preparing for a power cut
Below is some advice on how our customers can prepare for a power cut:
- Keep our freephone number handy
- See the website for some useful videos offering you advice during a power cut.
- Keep spare batteries for radios and torches – local radio stations often broadcast helpful information
- Keep an old-fashioned corded phone which you can plug in, as cordless phones won't work in the event of a power cut
- Dress warmly in several layers of clothing, stay in one room or even get into bed
- Take care if using candles, tea-lights and other naked flames
- Keep fridges and freezers closed, with a blanket over as they will stay cold for many hours
- Switch off all your electrical equipment, except one light which will let you know when the power comes back on
- Remember the street lights may also be off so take care if you go out
- Look out for elderly neighbours; please consider taking them round a flask of hot water or hot food
Source: UK Power Networks
Christmas Puzzle 2014
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
This, the 24th annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 25 January 2015.
To download a copy of the Puzzle go to www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk. Alternatively puzzles can be collected from St Mary's Eaton Bray.
All the money you donate, except for the prize-money, will go to charity.
Appledown Rescue - Donate Now
On Saturday (6th December), a car accidentally crashed into Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels in Eaton Bray.
The car drove through the big security gates and into the back of the stable block when the accelerator was hit instead of the brakes and unfortunately Appledown also lost one of their own dogs (an ex rescue) in the accident.
For more about Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels, please see their Facebook group.
Update: From Kate Tuck:
How can you help? Here's how!
- Next time you shop at Amazon, choose something from the Appledown Rescue Wish List
- Register at easyfundraising.org.uk and at no cost to yourself, automatically donate money through the retailers you use when you shop online. Registration takes one minute and requires virtually no personal details
- Make a donation at www.givey.com/AppledownRescue. 100% of donations made through this site go to the kennels.
- Remember Appledown Rescue in your will.
- Sponsor a kennel for a minimum monthly donation of £10 payable through standing order.
- For 50p, add a dog's dinner to your bill at Pets At Home (Dunstable) 1st - 24th December
- Throw your green token into the Appledown Rescue Community Matters box at Waitrose (Leighton Buzzard) throughout January.
- Come along to any of our events that will take place through 2015
- Contact us with details of any charity giving schemes that we might be able to join, or local events that we may be able to come along to
- And look out for the Appledown Rescue Christmas Appeal coming soon.
Thank you.
Public 'Ride Along' with Bedfordshire Police Officers
Members of the public will be able to accompany officers on patrol across Bedfordshire in a 'Ride Along' scheme launched this month.
From November 30, anyone aged 18 and above will be able to apply to accompany a frontline officer to get an insight into policing.
The 'Ride-Along' sessions will usually last for a minimum of four hours during which activities such as arrests, dealing with victims and offenders, statement taking, questioning and stop and searches may be observed.
Observers will be able to request a 'Ride Along' in their local area, which will allow them get to know their local policing teams better.
Chief Constable Colette Paul said: "I am delighted we will be offering these 'Ride Alongs' which will open up a window on the world of policing.
"The scheme is not just about helping the public better understand the work that we do. It is an opportunity for us to learn from them too. We welcome any feedback from ride-along observers and will use this to help inform our policing approach moving forward."
The observer will wear a high visibility vest while out on patrol and will have to attend a safety briefing prior to going out.
If a situation is considered unsafe, the observer will be required to remain in the police vehicle.
If, at any time, the observer compromises their own safety or that of the officer, the ride along will be terminated with immediate effect.
For more information about the ride along scheme and to apply, please visit bedfordshire.police.uk/advice_centre/stop_and_search/ride_along_scheme.aspx