Up and Running Opportunity

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BARNT GREEN CHUGGERS 2018 – WOMEN’S – UP AND RUNNING PROGRAMME

SPRING INTO 2018 AND START JOGGING AND RUNNING WITH BARNT GREEN CHUGGERS.

This very light introduction to running, is best suited for the beginner jogger / runner and uses a tried & tested and balanced mix of walking, trotting, jogging and running.  So if looking to improve your health & fitness, de-stress, lose weight or just wanting to get more active in the company of others……then this is just for you !!

WHAT – 7 WEEK PROGRAMME OF ONE HOUR SESSIONS – delivered by a team of motivators from Barnt Green Chuggers; some who have completed the Up & Running Programme and understand the challenge of getting running

WHERE – Barnt Green Sports Club, Margesson Drive Barnt Green

WHEN – 10am Sunday Mornings – START DATE – SUNDAY 25th MARCH

HOW – COST £12 and for more information and registration – contact Emma Fordham  –

WHO – A group of no more than 20 women – all new to running 🙂

“When I started ‘up and running’ I couldn’t run to the end of my road, I’m now training for a 10k run! It’s a brilliant programme, really good fun. Everyone is so supportive.  I’ve made lovely new friends and won a club award. Give it a try”            Nicola Denning – BGC Rookie of the Year!!

BGC 2018 U and R Poster Final_

Be Aware of Fraud

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It was Fraud Awareness week recently and although we may feel we can tell good from bad emails, why not take this test to see. Even if we pass with flying colours, do you think there are members of your family that wouldn’t or close friends?
Awareness is not just about ourselves, we need to look after each other.
Why not take this quick test of 8 questions for fun.

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/takethetest/

Temporary station closure 3rd/4th March 2018

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Starting Saturday 3rd March at 22:30, Network Rail and ABC Electrification will be installing and energising the overhead line equipment (OLE) wiring through Platforms 1 and 2 at Barnt Green Station.  The platforms are due to be handed back to West Midlands Railway and back in operational service on 4th March at 20:20.

There will be no trains running during this period. All platforms will have their entry/exit routes to all platforms will be closed, complete with warning signage to prevent unauthorised passenger access to the construction site.  The footbridge will remain open to the public to allow foot access between Station Approach and Fiery Hill Road.

The pedestrian access from Hewell Lane road bridge onto Platform 2 will be temporarily closed to prevent unauthorised access to the south end of the station.

The  work involves installing overhead power cables from just south of Hewell Lane bridge through the station and tying in to the existing overhead cables north of the junction.  Towards the end of the blockade, the wiring will be electrically tested, once the power is restored from Birmingham New Street.  It is intended that work takes place during two 10hr shifts, between 22:30hrs on 03/03/18 and 20:20hrs on 04/03/18.  ABC will be using rail mounted mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPs) to lift and fix the four wires that will run from the locations stated above.  Noise will be kept to a minimum as much as possible – albeit this is a construction worksite.

ABC has set up a temporary welfare facilities for its workforce within Network Rail boundary.

County Council seeks members to school Appeals Panels

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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN EDUCATION?

Can you see both sides of every argument?  Do you have some time to spare?

If so, Worcestershire County Council would like to hear from you to serve on Appeals Panels which deal with school admissions and permanent exclusion from school.

The Panels make decisions on pupils refused places at, or excluded from, Worcestershire schools.

Panels sit for periods ranging from a couple of hours to several days.  Although appeals are heard throughout the year the peak period is April to August each year.  Appeals relating to permanent exclusion are fewer in number and are arranged as needed. All appeal hearings take place during the working day.   As part of a group of panel members you will be contacted in advance to confirm your availability.

These Panels are completely independent of the Admissions Authority and any decisions they make are binding.  They are supported and advised by a Clerk.

Skills and experience which are necessary for the role include being able to:

  • communicate effectively with a wide range of people
  • assess information and identify key points of the case
  • ask probing questions
  • be impartial and sensitive
  • respect the need for appropriate confidentiality

The Council welcomes interest from all sections of the community; governors, parents and ex teachers as well as people with an interest in education but no direct experience in a school.

Full training will be provided and travel and subsistence expenses are reimbursed.

If you are interested in serving on these Panels, please

Cancelled – Emergency Services Careers Fair – Worcester

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 Please note this event has been cancelled: 26/02/2018

Interested in a career with the Emergency Services?

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police will be at The Emergency Services Careers Fair to be held at The Guildhall, High Street, Worcester on Monday 26 February, between 10am and 2pm.

You are invited to come along and talk to us about careers as a Police Officer, member of Police Staff or how to become involved in one of our volunteering roles of Special Constable, Police Support Volunteer or Police Cadet.  Emergency_Services_Career_Fair_-_Leaflet

 

Network Rail, Improvement Works

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Network Rail have advised the dates for February, March and April for continuing with the improvement works to the railway line between Barnt Green station and Bromsgrove station.  Most of the work is overnight at weekends when no trains are running, however it looks there will be greater activity for one week starting Sunday 4th March.  The highlighted pdf is the notification letter which contains the full schedule.   NetworkRail work schedule at Barnt Green 2018-01-26 

Livestock Worrying – Important information for dog owners

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Here is a message from West Mercia Police:

There have already been several reports of dogs chasing pregnant sheep over the last few days.

With lambing season quickly approaching it is important for dog owners to keep in mind the following when out walking:
“Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence. The Act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep, chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, abortion or loss of produce or being at large (not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.”

The Countryside Code produced by Natural England offers the following advice:
When you take your dog into the outdoors, always ensure it does not disturb wildlife, farm animals, horses or other people by keeping it under effective control. This means that you:
– keep your dog on a lead, or keep it in sight at all times, be aware of what it’s doing and be confident it will return to you promptly on command
– ensure it does not stray off the path or area where you have a right of access

Special dog rules may apply in particular situations, so always look out for local signs for example:
– Dogs may be banned from certain areas that people use, or there may be restrictions, byelaws or control orders limiting where they can go.
– The access rights that normally apply to open country and registered common land (known as ‘Open Access’ land) require dogs to be kept on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, to help protect ground nesting birds, and all year round near farm animals.
– At the coast, there may also be some local restrictions to require dogs to be kept on a short lead during the bird breeding season, and to prevent disturbance to flocks of resting and feeding birds during other times of year.

It’s always good practice (and a legal requirement on ‘Open Access’ land) to keep your dog on a lead around farm animals and horses, for your own safety and for the welfare of the animals. A farmer may shoot a dog which is attacking or chasing farm animals without being liable to compensate the dog’s owner.

However, if cattle or horses chase you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead.  Don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it. Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from a farm animal in these circumstances and so will you.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/?/attac?/file/558112/countryside-code.pdf

Make the right call, check here first…

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MAKE THE RIGHT CALL – HELP AND ADVICE

Last week West Mercia Police launched a series of help and advice pages and downloadable leaflets in the Contact us section on our websites.  Please click here Make The Right Call for Help and Advice on each of the topics listed below.

These are to support members of the public to ‘making the right call’ in the event of you wishing to contact us about a specific issue.

This in turn will reduce the number of calls going in to the West Mercia Police Communications Centre, meaning that the staff are available for emergency calls and to reduce the waiting time for anyone calling in on 101.

Here are the areas that we covered.

Neighbour disputes
We would all like to live in peace with our neighbours, but unfortunately that is sometimes not how things work out. Here’s what you can do if you are having problems. Unless a crime has been committed or someone is in immediate danger, the police are unlikely to intervene in neighbour disputes. However, we’ll put you in touch with the groups and organisations who can help

Noise
The prosecuting authority in England for noise nuisance is your local authority. The police within England and Wales have very limited powers to deal with noise nuisance.

Highways and road faults
Road related faults and highways enquiries.

Assault
When you or someone you care about are assaulted, it is a very traumatic event. There are different levels of violence and assault and these are categorised in law by the level of injury.

Road traffic collisions
When do I have to report an accident to the police.

Cyberbullying and online harassment
Cyberbullying and online harassment can be extremely distressing. It can be classed as a criminal offence but there is lots of help available to support you.

Missing person
Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established will be considered as missing until located, and their well-being or otherwise confirmed.

Fly tipping
Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. Often, this will involve dumping large items that are dumped instead of being legally disposed of at a household waste and recycling centre or commercial site.

Home burglary
Burglary can be a very upsetting for the victims. We understand that burglary in your home can feel like a personal crime and an invasion of your personal space.

Civil dispute
A civil dispute can be a disagreement over ownership of property, dissatisfaction with a product or service provided, disputes over debts or bills and many other things where there is a difference in opinion between two or more parties over what was agreed.

Dogs fouling and barking
Information on dog fouling, dog barking and dog incidents.

Parking
Parking issues are handled by a mixture of local authority and police powers, depending on the situation.

Please click here Make The Right Call for Help and Advice on each of the topics listed above.

The Complete UK Smart Meters Guide 2018

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Here is a message to the parish council from Selectra: https://selectra.co.uk/ with information about smart meters…

As I’m sure you’re aware, the Government is rolling out smart meters into all homes and businesses before 2020. However, research shows that a huge percentage of the population are still not aware of the options available.

Working in conjunction with the smart meter authorities nationwide, we are ensuring that all local councils have the up to date, correct information on their websites to ensure we are fully prepared as a nation for this switch. Provided below are links to full guides domestic and non-domestic smart meters handed to us by the Government.

Non-domestic –

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236488/Non_Domestic_Leaflet_v_02.pdf

Domestic – https://selectra.co.uk/guides/smart-meters

 

Clearing snow from footpaths and pavements…

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Worcestershire County Council is continuing to encourage householders to be ‘good neighbours’ and help keep highways safe this winter.
With the experience of recent winters very much in mind and the possible approach of severe weather once again, the Council is keen for residents to help keep highways clear for all users by clearing snow and ice from public footways or pavements fronting their properties.
The Council recognises that popular concern over a ‘compensation culture’ and possible legal liability has discouraged a lot of householders from clearing snow and ice from footways in the past.
In fact, we believe that case-law does not justify significant cause for concern and shouldn’t put people off, provided they take reasonable care.
Any householder who takes reasonable care when clearing a footway and ensures that its condition does not create a greater hazard than before is highly unlikely therefore to be faced with a successful claim from pedestrians who may suffer injury or loss as a result of that clearance.
Reasonable care would include following the government advice on how to clear footways safely shown below, although we are happy for salt in grit bins to be used to clear pavements forming part of the highway.
Government advice from https://www.gov.uk/clear-snow-road-path-cycleway supported by the County Council:
You can clear snow and ice from pavements yourself. It’s unlikely that you’ll be sued or held responsible if someone is injured on a path or pavement if you’ve cleared it carefully.
When you clear snow and ice:
 do it early in the day – it’s easier to move fresh, loose snow
 don’t use water – it might refreeze and turn to black ice
 use salt if possible – it will melt the ice or snow and stop it from refreezing overnight (but don’t use the salt from salting bins as this is used to keep roads clear)
 you can use ash and sand if you don’t have enough salt – it will provide grip underfoot
 pay extra attention when clearing steps and steep pathways – using more salt may help