Happy Christmas and a successful New Year

Maisemore Parish Council would like to wish all residents a Very Happy Christmas and success in every endeavour in the New Year.

Details of Christmas waste and recycling collections are on the TBC website here. 

Please note that there is no food waste or brown bin collection on Thursday 27th, but please don't put food waste in your green non-recyclable waste bin.

Major planning applications

Site of the proposed
intensive poultry unit

A number of planning applications affecting Maisemore have been made recently - the notice received from Tewkesbury Borough Council can be found on the Planning page of this website, accessed from the menu above.  All relevant documentation is on the TBC website.

The two most signicant are an application for an intensive poultry unit north of the village (18/01162/FUL) and a housing development on Swinley Field, behind the village hall (Ref. No: 18/01202/OUT).

Swinley Field site for proposed
development of self-build
and affordable housing.

The Parish Council is hoping to arrange public meetings on both of these applications to obtain the fullest information and to gauge the views of residents.

As soon as dates for these meetings have been fixed, they will be posted on this website and a special edition of The Grapevine cotaining the details will be produced and ditributed.

Other current applications will be considered at the meeting of the Parish Council on Monday 7th January at 7.30pm in the committee room of the Village Hall.

Watch Out -there are burglars about!

Please be aware that several burglaries have taken place in the Maisemore area.
 
Entries have been made via smashing rear patio windows.
May I request that communities ensure that timer lighting switches are put on, alarms are set and that neighbours are vigilant for any suspicious activity. Particularly between the hours 4.00pm and 8.00pm.

Message Sent By
Alexandra Lawson (Police, PCSO, Tewkesbury)

How many of these myths have you heard of?

Any one of us could be called for jury duty in our lifetime. Myths about rape and sexual violence are still brought into jury rooms and form obstacles to obtaining convictions. We want to raise awareness of these myths to help dispel them. Let us know how many of these you’ve heard of on Twitter or Facebook.   Myth one: Rape occurs between strangers in dark alleys The majority of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim. This can include friends, acquaintances and partners.   Myth two: The way you dress or act provokes rape The only person to blame for rape is the rapist. Sex without consent is rape.   Myth three: You’re ‘asking’ to be raped if you drink too much or take drugs The only person to blame for rape is the rapist. If someone is unable to give consent because they’re drunk, drugged or unconscious, it is rape.   Myth four: If they didn’t say no, fight or scream it wasn’t rape A common reaction to rape is to ‘freeze’; paralysed with terror or shock a person may not be able to respond. The victim may also be forced to co-operate out of fear of being killed or seriously injured.   Myth five: People cry rape when they regret having sex or want revenge This reinforces stereotypes and stigmatises victims. According to the Crown Prosecution Service: “Between January 2011 and May 2012, the DPP required CPS areas to refer to him all cases involving an allegedly false allegation of rape and/or domestic violence. During that time, there were 5,651 prosecutions for rape but only 35 for making false allegations of rape.”   Myth six: Men don’t get raped Men do experience rape and sexual violence and most of them never report it or ask for help. Men who rape other men are often heterosexual.   Myth seven: You can tell if they’ve ‘really’ been raped by how they act This myth discourages victims to get help and re-traumatises them. Reactions to rape and sexual violence are varied and victims can often feel emotionally numb and calm.   Myth eight: Rape is a crime of passion This assumes rape is impulsive, unplanned and that the rapist can’t control themselves. In fact most rapes are premeditated, planned and about feeling powerful and in control.   Myth nine: Sex workers can’t get raped Sex workers have the same rights to consent as anyone else. Consent for sex can be given, refused and withdrawn at any time. The transactions they negotiate with clients are for consensual activities, not rape.   Myth ten: If they didn’t complain about it immediately then it wasn’t rape A victim can feel shock and shame after such a traumatic event and may not want to report it immediately. The victim may also be considering how reporting it could affect children and other family members.   Could you help your friend after rape or sexual violence? See our advice: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/campaigns/rape-and-sexual-violence/advice-booklet/ Read more about our campaign on rape and sexual violence: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/campaigns/rape-and-sexual-violence/ These rape and sexual violence myths are from the Crown Prosecution Service. Read more about these myths: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/rape-and-sexual-offences-chapter-21-societal-myths

Message Sent By Communications Team WWDW (Police, Communications Team, Gloucestershire)

Police Zero Christmas Drink/Drive Campaign

Message Sent By
The Appeals Team (Police, External Communications Officer) 

We want to hear from you if you have any information about habitual drink or drug drivers.
Our new online form is part of the Choose Zero Christmas drink-drug drive campaign and aimed at targeting the small minority of people who continue to get behind the wheel over the limit.
The more specific the information you submit the better and if you don't want us to contact you back we won't.
To report please visit: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/do-it-online/report-an-issue/report-drink-or-drug-driving/
If you are reporting someone getting behind the wheel drunk in real time that is still an emergency so please call 999.
Our roads policing unit and Special Constabulary will be carrying out patrols and operations throughout December and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service will be giving educational talks throughout the county in the run-up to Christmas.

Phone line problems in Maisemore

Phone lines in Maisemore have been hit by a problem this afternoon (Wednesday).  BT Openreach are attempting to resolve it.

Another big hit for MADS

Jeremy Chamberlayne writes:  

"On Friday and Saturday of last week, MADS, (Maisemore Arts & Drama Society), offered an evening to remember - a brilliant performance of the farce by Ray Cooney.

The production was a sell-out and those who came really enjoyed it, as well as the opportunity to meet others in the village. These opportunities do not arise often, so it seems good to join in when they do. I especially urge new residents to get to know our village by joining in our activities.

Well done and thank you MADS."  

There are more pictres of the show on the MADS website - madsplay.com.  The website also offers the opportunity to sign up for email updates - and MADS is always looking for new members with an interest in any aspect of the theatre. 

Wireless broadband base work completed

The Voneus website reports:

"Work is now complete on the fibre and the church meaning that installations of individual properties can begin.  Our team will be in contact with those customers who previously expressed an interest to book appointments."

If you would like to book an installation or require further information then call 0800 0073377 or visit Voneus.com.

How to shop safely online

Software updates
Make sure you’ve installed the latest software & app updates. Criminals use weaknesses in software to attack your devices and steal information, such as your payment details.

Email accounts 
Use a strong, separate password for your email account. Criminals can use your email to access other online accounts, such as those you use for online shopping.

Phishing
Don’t click on a link in an unexpected email or text. The volume of online shopping related phishing emails increases significantly during the holiday period. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Payment methods 
Don’t pay for goods or services by bank transfer unless you know and trust the person. Payments via bank transfer offer you no protection if you become a victim of fraud.

For more information on how to stay secure online, visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk.

Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Tewkesbury Council and police target fly tippers

 Tewkesbury Borough Council

  Press release

 14 November 2018  

 

Stop and search reveals waste being transported illegally

 

On Thursday, 8 November officers from Gloucestershire Police and Tewkesbury Borough Council undertook a joint enforcement initiative stopping vehicles that looked like they could be carrying waste, in an effort to deal with illegal flytipping and rural crime in the borough.

 

Officers particularly focused on Sandhurst Village, Cursey Lane and Bozzard Lane as these areas have experienced significant fly tipping.

 

The initiative involved a series of checks on commercial vehicles to establish whether waste was being transported legally. Seven vehicles were stopped and checked, and one of the vehicles will be subject to a fixed penalty notice for failure to provide a waste carriers license which carries a fine of £300. Three further vehicles were subjected to additional enquiries which proved to be satisfactory.

 

This initiative follows a number of successful enforcement cases taken by the council to tackle fly tipping. Earlier this year a business was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay costs of £1,325 in connection with waste offences.

 

Tewkesbury Borough Council’s lead member for Clean and Green Environment, Councillor Jim Mason, said: ”We are committed to ensuring that all waste carriers are appropriately licensed, Fly tipping is a serious criminal offence and we will continue to work closely with Gloucestershire Police to tackle this issue and other rural crimes.”

 

All businesses must have a Waste Carriers License if transporting waste, and transfer notes must be completed when waste is transferred. Failure to have the correct license could result in a fixed penalty of £300 or an unlimited fine if convicted. A waste Carriers License can be obtained from the Environment Agency at www.gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration

 

Should members of the public wish to report cases of fly tipping or other environmental crimes, please report it on the council’s website or by calling the Environmental Health Team on 01684 272189.

Burglary in Maisemore

Between the hours of 9.30pm on the 10^th November and 9.30am the following morning a house in The Ridings, Maisemore, was entered through an unlocked door while the occupants slept. Keys to two vehicles were located by the offenders and the two cars were stolen off the drive outside.  A handbag and purse containing bank cards, cash and other documents are also missing from the house. 

If you saw or heard anything out of the ordinary this night please call the police using the 101 number or make contact by email to 101@gloucestershire.police.uk.

If you believe a crime is being committed then please dial 999 and remember you can report information regarding criminal activity anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Message Sent By
Bob Lloyd (Police, Neighbourhood Watch Officer, Gloucestershire)

 

Time to comment on Tewkesbury's Borough Plan

Now is the time to share your views on the future of planning and development in Tewkesbury Borough.

At a recent meeting of Tewkesbury Borough Council, the ‘Preferred Options’ Tewkesbury Borough Plan was given the green light to go out for consultation to give residents the opportunity to comment on plans for future development in the borough up to 2031. The consultation is open until Monday 26 November 2018.

The Tewkesbury Borough Plan sits underneath the Joint Core Strategy - the over-arching strategic planning document for Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury which sets out how much growth needs to be accommodated in the three areas and the broad strategy for how that growth will be delivered.

The Tewkesbury Borough Plan, on the other hand, provides detailed and locally-specific planning policies on issues in Tewkesbury Borough that the Joint Core Strategy doesn’t cover, such as housing, employment, retail, the urban and natural environment and transport. It will also include smaller-scale sites allocated for housing and employment development.

The ‘Preferred Options’ Tewkesbury Borough Plan is the next step in the process of creating a final version of the plan. It builds on previous stages of the process (including the ‘Draft Policies’ and ‘Site Options’ consultation in February 2015) to refine the plan into a document that the council believes will promote sustainable development in the borough, identifying options that would provide around 700 new homes and 45 hectares of employment land.

The Maisemore housing allocations included in the consultation plan.  Both sites A and B have planning permission already.  Site B, however, has an area designated as restored countryside and residents may want to remind Tewkesbury Borough Council of this and ask that it is put outside the village boundary. 

Councillor Rob Bird, Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: "Our Borough Plan is so important, because it will enable us to meet the varied housing and employment needs that our different communities have told us about, in particular providing specific help for rural areas to thrive, whilst continuing to support more urban communities.

“We aim to assist the reasonable housing and development aspirations of both residents and businesses, whilst protecting communities and the environment against clear harm.

“Our draft Borough Plan provides detailed policies to drive quality housing, thriving communities, a prosperous economy, and sustain vital services and facilities - now we need to hear what you think."

Tewkesbury Borough Council is now seeking views on the ‘Preferred Options’ plan and would welcome comments and opinions on the policies and sites in the document. All comments received by this deadline will be considered and will help to inform the preparation of the next version of the plan, which will ultimately need to be independently examined by a Government-appointed Inspector.

To read the plan and make comments, visit www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/boroughplan

The plan is also available to view at the Public Services Centre on Gloucester Road in Tewkesbury, or at libraries and advice centres throughout Tewkesbury Borough.

Reduction in recycling centre opening times

From 28^th October Gloucestershire County Council’s Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) will be closed one day mid-week, either on a Tuesday, a Wednesday or a Thursday.

As the evenings get colder and darker, the HRCs across the county receive almost 30 per cent less waste and recycling. In order to reflect this and save taxpayers money, HRCs will be open from 10am until 4pm, six days a week.

On Tuesdays, Fosse Cross (Cirencester) and Oak Quarry (Coleford) will be closed.

On Wednesdays, Pyke Quarry (Horsley near Stroud) and Wingmoor Farm (Bishops Cleeve) will be closed.

On Thursdays, Hempsted (Gloucester) will be closed.

The council collected data from recycling centres which showed that midweek is the quieter period at the sites. Importantly, the closure rota also means HRCs in the county will still be open on Bank Holiday Mondays and Good Friday, which are especially busy days at the sites. 

Residents will have a reasonable alternative recycling centre with this closure pattern, by closing sites at opposite sides of the county. The new opening arrangements and how the sites are used will be monitored.

The information on the closure days and new seasonal times are now online at www.recycleforgloucestershire.com .

Cyber criminals' extortion scam

Cyber criminals are attempting to blackmail unsuspecting victims by claiming to have used the victims' password to install spying malware on the victims' computer. The criminals claim they’ve recorded videos of the victim watching adult material by activating their webcam when they visit these websites. What makes this scam so convincing is that the email usually includes a genuine password the victim has used for one of their online accounts. We believe criminals obtain the passwords from data breaches.

What to do if you get one of these emails?

Don’t reply to the email, or be pressured into paying. The police advise that you do not pay criminals. Try flagging the email as spam/junk if you receive it multiple times. Perform a password reset as soon as possible on any accounts where you’ve used the password mentioned in the email. Always use a strong, separate password for important accounts, such as your email. Where available, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Always install the latest software and app updates. Install, or enable, anti-virus software on your laptops and computers and keep it updated.
If you receive one of these emails, report it to Action Fraud’s phishing reporting tool. If you have received one of these emails and paid the ransom, report it to your local police force.

November Parish Council agenda published

The agenda for next Monday's Parish Council meeting (5th November) has now been published here.  The draft minutes of the October meeting are also on this website here.  Agendas and minutes of previous meetings are available on the Agendas and Minutes page.

Agendas and minutes are also posted on the Parish Council notice boards at the Village Hall and in the Persh Lane bus shelter.

Another attempted scam

This time they tried it on me!  I got this email:
--------------------------------------

This email confirms the Amazon Prime subscription: #811-5695601-58635

Product Name: Amazon Prime

Order Number: 8056201

Receipt Date: 10/01/2018

Payment Method: Amazon Account

Membership Price: 179.00 GBP

The subscription period will automatically renew unless you turn it off no later than 24 hours before the end of the current period. To cancel auto-renewal or manage your subscriptions, click below and sign in.

If you did not initiate this purchase, we recommend that you go to:
Manage/Cancel Subscriptions
--------------------------------------

It's not one of the most convincing I've seen.  The email address from which it supposedly came wasn't an Amazon one and I don't have a Prime account.  I wasn't tempted to click on the link - which is disabled in this post.

There is no obvious link on the Amazon website to allow for reporting a phishing scam such as this.

Watch out for these fake TV Licensing emails

Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) 

We’ve seen a sharp increase in reports about fake TV Licensing emails claiming to offer refunds. 

The emails state that the refund cannot be processed due to “invalid account details”. 

The links provided in the emails lead to phishing websites designed to steal personal and financial details.

Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information in case it’s a scam. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.
 

Royal Mail warns of postal scams

The Parish Council has received a warning from Royal Mail about attempted scams arriving through the post.  There's a poster about it here.  Scam mails are illegal and target the most vulnerable people in our community.

Royal Mail never knowingly delivers scam mail, but it can get through.  Mostly it originates from overseas - and it's hard to detect.  RM has stopped over 4 million pieces of scam mail at its distribution depots.

If you're concerned that you or someone you know has received a scam letter, please report it to Royal Mail:

Send it to FREEPOST SCAM MAIL
Call the Royal Mail Scam Mail Helpline on 0800 0113 466
Email scam@royalmail.com

Full fibre broadband coming soon.

Full fibre broadband should reach Maisemore before the end of the year, according to a spokesman for Gigaclear who attended the last Parish Council meeting.

Provision of the service to rural areas with very poor broadband speeds is part of a scheme funded by the government in conjunction with Gloucestershire County Council under the Fastershire banner.

Gigaclear were awarded the contract last year and have engaged local company Complete Utilities to carry out the work in Maisemore.  It will bring the fibre tp a 'pot' (point of termination) on or adjacent to the roadway near each property.  

There's more information at www.gigaclear.com, where you can also register your interest.

Happy Birthday Margaret!

Maisemore's oldest resident, Margaret Hamblin, reached the age of 100 last week and received the traditional letter from the Queen.

Her birthday was celebrated at the Maisemore Friendship Club and the event was attended by Radio Gloucestershire's Pete Wilson.

Margaret moved into her bungalow in the Rudge in the late 1950s and has lived there ever since.

Don't be a dirty dog owner!

Jeremy Chamberlayne writes:

Today, I have removed two dog poo deposits and one, plastic bagged at the Steadings. We welcome residents walking through the business park, but not their dog faeces, which we have to remove. My wife has picked up two bagged deposits today from the lakeside path.

This really is a plague for us. On field edge paths, it is much better to throw it under a hedge or into long grass, where it quickly degrades, rather than leave it in bags, which are long term litter. 

It is an offence to leave dog poo and owners are required to clear up after their dogs.  If it's bagged, it should be taken home and put in the green bin for collection with other non-recyclable rubbish. 

There is a fixed penalty of at least £50 for dog fouling - which includes leaving bags of faeces. If you refuse to pay the fine, you can be taken to court and fined up to £1,000.

September's agenda now available

The agenda for the meeting of the Parish Council on Monday 3rd September is now available here.  It includes a presentation about the Complete Utilities and Gigaclear project to install full fibre broadband in Maisemore.

The minutes of the July meeting are here.  Previous agendas and minutes can be read on the Agendas and Minutes page using the menu at the top of this page.

Wireless broadband project started

According to the Voneus website, they have started work on their wireless broadband service for Maisemore and expect full delivery in November.

Commemorating the end of World War I

Ros Lane writes:

 
On Friday 26 October 2018 - please note the day: Friday - Maisemore Local History Society will be commemorating the end of World War I with a special event at St Giles Church, Maisemore.

Doors open at 7pm and the evening starts at 7:30pm with an illustrated slideshow by Rose Hewlett entitled "Village Life between 1914 - 1918". We will then take a break for coffee or tea. The second half of the evening will be the reading of the names of the men of Maisemore who marched out of the village some to return but others not so, followed by a poetry reading by Clive Hook.

The vicar, John Longuet Higgins will say prayers, and to conclude Clive Hook will sing Ave Maria.

The event will be in St. Giles Church, Maisemore starting at 7:30 p.m. and there will be no entry charge. Visitors and particularly Maisemore residents welcome - please note there is no visitor charge for this event.

ADVANCE NOTICE: The November meeting will be held on Thursday 29 November 2018 and will be a talk entitled "Social Life in the Stroud area in Old Postcards” by Howard Beard. This will be back at the village hall as usual.

 

Overnight road closures on Over Causeway

We have been advised that the Over Causeway will be closed overnight as follows:

Northbound carriageway: 
From 17th September to 28th September. Monday to Friday from 8:00pm to 6:00am

Southbound carriageway:
From 1st October to 12th October. Monday to Friday from 8:00pm to 6:00am

This is to allow for bridge and viaduct works by Amey on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council. As this work is weather dependent these dates may be subject to some changes.

If you require further information, please contact Amey Highways on 08000 514514.

Beware of scam phone calls

Police officers at Tewkesbury have been made aware of increased phone call scams in the last week. They claim to be from a bank or Microsoft. If you receive a call do not give any security details whatsoever and contact Action Fraud. 

Local residents have also received automated scam phone calls claiming to be from HMRC and threatening legal action.  

If you receive one of these, please do not respond or give any personal details but report it here or email phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

There has also been an increase in reports about fake British Gas emails claiming to offer refunds. The links provided in the emails lead to genuine-looking British Gas phishing websites that are designed to steal the usernames and passwords for British Gas accounts.

Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information in case it’s a scam. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.

Rectory Gardens brochure published

Newland Homes have published a brochure on their development behind Rectory Farm, advertised as 'Rectory Gardens.'   The brochure can be viewed here.

Andy Bubb Memorial Meeting

The annual All British 2018 Andy Bubb Memorial Meeting organised by the Severn Valley Schoolboy Scramble Club will take place just outside the village this weekend (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August).

This event is a great opportunity for youngsters from the age of 6 to show their skills on the scramble circuit in the field at the end of Blacksmiths Lane in a fully supervised event.

Residents are very welcome to come along and watch the races, for which there is no admission charge.  Pedestrian access is down Blacksmiths Lane, but no vehicles should use this access which is a private road and bridleway - vehicle access is through the next entrance on the left going out of the village towards Hartpury.

It will, of course, be quite noisy, but it is in full compliance with regulations.

Progress on wireless broadband

The wireless broadband provider, Voneus, has discontinued the individual location facebook pages and Maisemore is now included in the updates section of its main website - www.voneus.com/updates/.

According to the latest update published today, "a meeting has taken place at the church with the Diocese and architect. Visual inspection was completed and they are very happy to progress. We are now preparing the faculty submission and will provide a further update in two weeks."

Cleaner needed for the Village Hall

CLEANER NEEDED

for

MAISEMORE VILLAGE HALL

APPROX 4 HOURS A WEEK

For further details contact:

Pete Tandy

01452 260250

petertandy@live.co.uk