Please DON'T light bonfires

This posting follows on from the one I posted yesterday titled: "Garden Waste collections suspended with immediate effect" - http://maisemore-pc.blogspot.com/2020/03/garden-waste-collections-suspended-with.html

Since garden waste collections have been temporarily suspended, initially for two weeks but possibly longer, please DON'T be tempted to have a bonfire instead, to get rid of garden waste.

Remember many of our residents will be self-isolating and at home 24 hours a day. Smoke particles can travel a great distance and no house is completely sealed - people need ventilation.  Many will be reluctant to leave their properties too and will be using their gardens for exercise.

The elderly and vulnerable may already have respiratory problems and this is one of the significant symptoms of Covid-19 on top! Anything that might exacerbate the ability to breathe clean air must be avoided.

Tewkesbury Borough Council's advice is as follows:

Garden waste tips: 
 Prop your brown bin lid open if you have garden waste already inside your bin and try to keep your bin in the shade. This will help reduce the odours. Dry out any new garden waste (eg grass clippings) and store on a heap or in a bag until services are up and running again.

It is hoped that TBC will permit side-waste (waste not actually in the wheelie bin) once collections restart.

If anyone witnesses a problematic bonfire, please report it online following the link at https://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/pollution - note you can upload photos taken as evidence.

!!!!!   BIN IT or BAG IT don't BURN IT   !!!!!

Garden Waste collections suspended with immediate effect

We've just been informed garden waste collections have been suspended for at least two weeks as of today. This means that the regular collection tomorrow won't now take place.

https://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/impacted-refuse-and-recycling-collections

Another scam

The present Covid-19 outbreak is resulting in lots of scams - please don't reply or click on links in any unexpected emails.

This one is feeding off the changes in TV licencing.  If you get one like this, be aware that it's some unscrupulous scammer trying to get your bank details or get money from you under false pretences.  The official TV licensing website is https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/.  If you are 75 or over, your free TV licence is valid until 1st August 2020.

This is the scam email:

Dear Sir/Madam, You need to update your TV Licence billing information today

Your TV Licence billing information records are out of date, 28 March 2020. This requires you to update your billing information. Failure to update your records will result in account suspension. Please click on "Update Now" and follow the steps on the screen. Update Now

This message was sent to xxxxxx@xxxxxx by Customer Support, TV Licensing

Terms and conditions   |    Update your details   |    Privacy information

Please update today to keep your property licensed.

Chemical dumping in Maisemore

For information in case you see this while out on your daily exercise in Maisemore.

Following an alert from a resident - who'd reported the matter to Tewkesbury BC yet was seeing no action - I went down to Maisemore Bridge yesterday to find dozens of large chemical containers dumped in the pull-in on the Gloucester side. 

 

 

 

And not only were they strewn indiscriminately but I found, by gently tapping them with my foot, that most of them had liquid in - some appeared to be full! And some appeared to be leaking! Right by the river!

 

 

Having taken photos I fired an email off to all and sundry - every concern I could think of who might be able to sort it out. This worked - my concerns and photos were forwarded by the police to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and the case has been taken up by Richard Gordon, Station Manager, Operations Planning and Policies Manager. I also had a subsequent response from Jill Smith, one of our borough councillors.

An officer was sent out yesterday afternoon to check on the situation and the report back was that "Our Officer went to scene and assessed the situation. Local Authority were arranging for the site to be cordoned off and specialist waste disposal contractor to be brought in."

I went down this morning and found that the condoning off hadn't yet happened but at least all the containers are now upright. I've now counted them - there are forty-one 25 litre drums.

 

 

Needless to say any identifying details for the company they originated from have been removed. However I have taken photos of some of the labels and will be contacting the manufacturer to see whether they are able to advise considering the batch numbers are showing on some of them. If anyone knows anything about this illegal act, would they please contact me by email and I'll pass the details on - anonymously if requested.

david.jones@maisemore-pc.org.uk

Sustrans Route 45 - Maisemore to Gloucester section

Email sent to Sustrans:

I'm contacting you on behalf of the local community to thank Sustrans for your prompt attention to repairing the Route 45 cycleway from Maisemore to Over where the principal bridge deck had been forced up by the action of flood waters leading to a dangerous situation. Thanks also to our local warden, Chris Jones.

Not only was it expeditiously repaired but it also exhibits an excellent standard of work and furthermore a significant length of guard railing which had suffered subsidence over time was attended to at the same time.

Our link to Gloucester is restored to full operation. Thank you once again! 

 

 

The Village Hall play areas

Maisemore Village Hall Committee advises that use of the Village Hall play facilities including the infants playground and the MUGA is now not permitted by government regulations. 

Please respect this stipulation and don't use them.

Access around The Steadings and use of footpaths generally in the village

Please note that the The Steadings business park and the associated farm are private land, not a playground for children.

Whilst it is accepted that people may wish to walk through the area to get from The Rudge to Church Road, please do this in an orderly manner. Some businesses and the farm may still be operating.

Children should not be running around or using bicycles in this area for safety reasons.

Likewise please only cycle on designated cycleways and bridleways. Most of the footpaths around the village, including the one along the lake, are for people on foot only. Please respect this.

Have you received the parish council's Coronavirus flyer?

On Monday the parish council arranged the compilation and printing of a Coronavirus flyer. This has then been distributed to everyone's letterbox via the Communications Pyramid (note this is completely separate from the normal The Grapevine distribution).

Would you please advise if you've not received it yet.

Any comments if you have?

Are you suffering from slower than expected Gigaclear broadband speeds?

Here's an email I've received from a village resident:

Representatives from Gigaclear came this morning and replaced the CPE on the  Hub.

It is this that was causing the slow speed. Apparently they have had several Hubs with this problem. It was their second one that they had replaced this morning. 

The young lady I spoke to at Support – Gigaclear had received similar complaints recently.

 ...

I have been paying for 300 but I was getting less than 100 and frequently down to 70 up/down.

Gigaclear will replace the faulty box. They were only with me about 20 minutes.

Maisemore's mutual help group

Maisemore Parish Council has called upon the Community Emergency Planning team to deliver a flyer to all residents and to coordinate a support network for those residents who are required to self-isolate and might need help. This is already being delivered to all houses in Maisemore

If you have problems of whatever nature please do not hesitate to call the number given on the flyer to have a friendly chat and, hopefully, some resolution. Please also ring the number or contact me for details If you are willing to be a helper.

David Jones - david.jones@maisemore-pc.org.uk

Flood Warning in force: River Severn at Sandhurst and Maisemore.

Somewhat unexpected but happening owing to the high tides expected in the next day or two - email issued 6.18pm:


https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/target-area/031FWBSE570

Flooding is expected for: River Severn at Sandhurst and Maisemore including Walham and Severnside Farm.

Immediate action required.
River levels are forecast to rise at the Sandhurst river gauge due to high tides. Flooding may affect Coal Wharf and Riverside, Maisemore and Sandhurst Lane, as well as Base Lane, Sandhurst. A417 Over to Maisemore may need to be closed.
Predicted peaks:
Sandhurst 3.5 to 3.7m at 9:45pm on 09/03/20 and 3.6 to 3.8m at 9:45am Tuesday, 10/03/20.
Gloucester 3.4 to 3.6m at 9:30pm on 09/03/20 and 3.5 to 3.7m at 9:30am Tuesday, 10/03/20.
High tides are expected for the next 5 days.
Underlying river levels are currently falling between tides. However, further rain is forecast over the next few days which may cause levels to rise. We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are checking defences and liaising with emergency services. Please plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.
This message will be updated by 11:30pm, Monday 09/03/20, or if the situation changes.

Neighbourhood and flooding

Neighbourhood Watch Supporting Communities Affected By Flooding

Message from Neighbourhood Watch: We understand that many areas are facing challenging times in light of the recent floods across England and Wales.  We also know that some of you are doing great work in your communities to make a positive difference. We would like to share your good work stories on our website and in our newsletter to promote and encourage other Neighbourhood Watch members to help in their areas.  If you are working within your Neighbourhood Watch group to support your local community through the floods and have plans for the clean-up effort please send your stories and any supporting photos to our Senior Communication and Digital Manager, Deborah Waller, Deborah.waller@ourwatch.org.uk. Equally, if you are in a flooded area and you are in need of support and advice from other Neighbourhood Watch areas, please let us know. Stories we receive by end of day on Friday 6th March 2020 can be shared in our March newsletter and on our new website, which will be launched in March. But do continue to send us your stories beyond this date too. We are thinking about you all at this time and hope that your friends and family are safe. Kind regards NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK  | Building Safer and Stronger Communities Email: enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk    Links for Neighbourhood Watch: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourwatch Twitter: https://twitter.com/N_watch Website: www.ourwatch.org.uk Instagram: neighbourhood.watch.insta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neighbourhood-watch/

Message Sent By Deborah Waller (NWN, Multi Scheme Administrator, England and Wales)