News, views and Events in and around Bigbury, South Devon

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SAVE KINGSTON FIRE STATION!

August 18, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

A MESSAGE FROM LOUISE WAINWRIGHT (BIGBURY NEWS):-

The Kingston Fire Service is run by four volunteers who are not paid a retainer fee to be available from their real jobs.
Three of them are local farmers and one of them is a local electrician. Their beepers go and they rush to the fire engine at Kingston.
They are only paid when they are on call or being trained. They get paid a ridiculous pittance. Shameful.
They have the same expertise as the Retained Crews at Modbury, Kingsbridge, Plymstock and Ivybridge.
They are allowed to take the engine out with only two crew available but one of them has to be trained in risk assessment to determine if additional resources are needed.

The Retained Crews at Modbury, Kingsbridge, Plymstock and Ivybridge may all have other full time jobs and get called out by a beeper. The difference is that they are paid a retainer fee to be ‘available.
The Retained Crews are only available if they have sufficient firefighters logged on to the system as ‘available’ – so the four other local fire stations will NOT always be ‘available’ for a call out.
Its not like the movies – they are not all eating Mary Berry curries and slide down a pole when the alarm goes off!

The Kingston Fire Crew are often called out to SUPPORT the Retained Crews and the local firefighters at Modbury are keen to KEEP Kingston fire engine. I have met up with both Watch Managers from Kingston and Modbury to confirm these facts.

The risks to our Community appear to be:

Our rural location and potential holiday traffic jams delaying access from more distant fire crews.
There is the risk that occasionally one or more of the retained fire crews may not be operational due to insufficient firefighters available at the time.
The high percentage of householders (65% in Bigbury on Sea) who are second home owners means that the alarm may not be raised so quickly for household fires.
The high percentage of elderly householders may mean they are less able to tackle a fire themselves whilst waiting for the fire engine to arrive.
Exposed coastal locations may lead to fires been fanned by wind.

Only returned Safer Together questionnaires will ‘count’ in the Devon and Somerset review of the services. Many rural fire services are facing closure. Petitions and Letters do not count.
The questionnaire has a section for the Respondent to declare if they ‘represent an Association’. Someone could respond on behalf of the Bigbury Parish Council, as well as complete a personal questionnaire.
The Deadline is 20 September.
The Kingston Fire Engine covers the total area from Plymstock to Paignton and even goes up to Dartmoor. It has been out on a shout on both Dartmoor and Paignton this year!

I have hard copies of the Questionnaire available now and have sent out the following information to local people (apologies if you have already received this!!)

The Safer Together questionnaires (about the closure of Kingston Fire Station) are now available for you to collect from the following locations:

Long Easton, Easton – call me first 01548 810991 / 07908 525663
Holywell Stores
Unwind Salon
Pickwick Inn
Pilchard Inn
Discovery Surf
The Beach Shop
Fryer Tucks
NISA shop at Challaborough
Golf Club

Please let as many people as possible in Bigbury, Modbury, AG, Kingston, Ringmore, California Cross, Loddiswell, Bantham, Churchstow, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, Plymstock etc. know about this.
If any other shops/Collection Points want copies of the Questionnaire – please call me. Thanks.

You can also request your own copy to be posted to you by calling the Fire Service team on 01392 872347
It can also be completed on line. https://www.engagespace.co.uk/devon/devonfireandrescue/survey/ConRespForm.aspx?consult_Id=2823&request_response=new&status=&criteria=I

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ASH DIE-BACK DISEASE IN DEVON

August 8, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Please see the following link:- Ash Dieback Postcard A6 proof2

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Thefts from Boats In Salcombe – Cr-067899-19

July 29, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

We are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information in connection with reports of thefts from boats.
Between 1:15am and 3:15am on Sunday 28 July 2019 offenders have entered a Boat Yard in Salcombe via the water on a small boat. They have towed a number of boats out to the estuary, removed the engines and then let the boats drift.
If anyone saw or heard anything suspicious, or may have seen the suspects enter or leave the water then please get in touch.
We would again remind people to take all security precautions by removing all valuable items from boats.
If you see any suspicious activity please phone 999.
If you have any information or CCTV in the area mentioned please phone 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk quoting crime reference CR/067899/19.
Thank you.

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Fraudsters Are Convincing And After Your Money: police message

July 24, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Elderly victims being targeted

Devon and Cornwall Police received two reports on Tuesday 23 July, of elderly residents being the target of telephone scams, with fraudsters working in the area.
Fraudsters are contacting victims by telephone and purporting to be a police officer or bank official.
To substantiate this claim, the caller might be able to confirm some easily obtainable basic details about the victim such as their full name and address.
They may also offer a telephone number for the victim to call to check they are genuine; this number is not genuine and simply redirects to the fraudsters who pretend to be a different person.
After some trust has been established, the fraudster will then, for example, suggest;
Some money has been removed from a victim’s bank account and staff at their local bank branch are responsible;
Suspects have already been arrested but the ‘police’ need money for evidence.
Today’s victims, a lady in her 80s from the Exeter area, and a man in his 70s from the Liskeard area, were contacted by someone pretending to be from the Serious Fraud Office, Scotland Yard, by the name of John Collins.
He stated that someone had used their account details to buy items online.
The fraudsters frightened the victims into believing their money was at risk and not to trust anyone in the bank.
They were told to withdraw nearly £10,000, as well as various amounts of foreign currency, from their personal accounts and hand them to a man called Martin Johnson working for the police; the courier.
It is often the case, to reassure the victim, a ‘safe word’ might be communicated to the victim so the courier appears genuine.
At the time of handover, unsuspecting victims are promised the money they’ve handed over will be reimbursed, but, in reality, there is no further contact and the money is never seen again.
Both victims have been safeguarded and no money has been paid out to the criminals.
The public are reminded that these fraudsters are highly professional in their approach and incredibly convincing. The best way to prevent these scams is to make everyone aware.
Remember, your bank or the police will never:
Phone and ask for your PIN or full banking password;
Ask you to withdraw money to hand over to them for safe-keeping, or send someone to your home to collect cash, PIN, cards or cheque books if you are a victim of fraud;
Don’t assume an email or phone call is authentic just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and address or even your mother’s maiden name), it doesn’t mean they are genuine;
Be mindful of who you trust – criminals may try and trick you into their confidence by telling you that you’ve been a victim of fraud.
Stay in control – if something feels wrong, then it is usually right to question it. Have the confidence to refuse unusual requests for personal or financial information.

Please note that this message was sent by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Other

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – REGULATION 16 CONSULTATION

July 23, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Dear All,

As a consultee to the Bigbury Neighbourhood Plan, I am writing to you in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning regulations to inform you that we have now received the Bigbury Neighbourhood Plan proposal.

We will formally consult on this document for a period of 6 weeks from Monday 29th July – Monday 9th September 2019 before making a formal decision as to whether we should instruct an independent examiner to carry out the examination.

Please respond to this consultation by email to SW-Neighbourhood Planning mailto:NeighbourhoodPlan@swdevon.gov.uk

The invitation to participate in this consultation is repeated in the following document :- Public Notice – Reg 16 SHs

If we do not hear from you before the 9th September 2019 we shall assume you have no comments to make.

You may view a copy of the plan by clicking on the following link:- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DHj47wxz-K11HzT3elnEZRVqAKFui-p6/view

Many thanks

Sarah Packham | Neighbourhood Planning Senior Case Manager
West Devon Borough Council | South Hams District Council

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN, Other

DRIVERS TARGETED WITH FAKE FINES

July 2, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

What you need to know

Action Fraud have received an increase in reports and intelligence where elderly victims are being targeted by individuals purporting to be police officers or traffic wardens. The victims are being approached whilst parked in a car park and are told by the suspect that they have parked illegally or broken a speed limit and a photo has been taken of their car for ‘evidence’.

Victims are advised that they will face a substantial penalty fine unless they pay a smaller upfront fee immediately. Victims, who opt for paying the smaller penalty, will be directed to a parking meter and asked to enter their card and PIN. These parking meters have been tampered with by the suspect in order to retain the card.

Once the victim inserts their card and are asked for their PIN, the victims are shoulder surfed for their PIN by the suspect. Once victims input their PIN, the card is retained by the machine and victims are told by the suspect to seek help from the company who operates the parking meter or their bank.

What you need to do
If you are suspicious about the authenticity of the fine, do not pay it until you have verified it with your local council.
Always shield your PIN from view when using an ATM machine, and never share your PIN with anyone.
If your bank card is retained by an ATM machine, contact your bank immediately to inform them.

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CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE – REVISED OPENING TIMES

June 20, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

SEE LINK:- Opening Times

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AUNE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION – JUNE 2019 UPDATE

June 16, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

An update on Aune Conservation Association work during the last year is posted in their GROUP under the DOCUMENTS section. Go to GROUPS>Aune Conservation Association>DOCUMENTS>NEWSLETTERS

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