Current scams in Bromley

Older people are frequently targeted by scammers, possibly because they respect authority and are more trusting, so fall victim to the scams and give out their personal details. Currently fake couriers are collecting bank cards and the pin numbers from victims.  The best approach to anyone asking for your personal information is to just say ”NO”. If they are trying to sell you something, or warn you that you’re late paying a bill, then tell them to contact you by post and never give out your details.

Current scams in Bromley

Prize draw scams  - foreign computer virus from abroad
Debit card fraud - bogus call from police or bank seeking PIN
Inheritance scam - letter from China
Free Trial Scams - sign up for a free sample but small print states send goods back within 14 days or else sign up to full price and further orders - this part of the text is usually printed so small you may not be able to read it so only think you are signing up for a free trial.
Green Energy - there is a Government scheme currently offering to help consumers lower their energy bills by increasing the efficiency of their property. The repayment of the loan for any improvements is based on the amount of reduction of your bill.  Unscrupulous cold callers offer to survey your property and provide you with an Energy Performance Certificate … for a hefty fee.  This certificate is available from your energy supplier … for free

How to spot a scam

• The call, letter, e-mail or text has come out of the blue
• You have never heard of the lottery or competition they are talking about
• You did not buy a ticket - so can’t win it!
• They are asking you to send money in advance
• They are saying you have to respond quickly, so you don’t get time to think about it or ask family and friends before you decide
• They are telling you to keep it a secret
• They seem to be offering you something for nothing

A meeting to talk about Building a Better Bromley

Further budget cuts of £55 million have to be made over the next four years by Bromley Council.

The much publicised cuts in government funding mean the Council has to make further budget savings of £55 million over the next four years.

This is in addition to substantial cuts made in the last three years.

Councillor Stephen Carr, Leader of the Council invites those who live and work in the borough to join him, the Council cabinet and senior officers to one of the public meetings being held across the borough in September and October. He wants to talk about how the Council is managing the impact of these financial pressures while remaining committed to the vision of Building a Better Bromley.

As in past years, the views and discussions at these meetings will help inform the difficult choices the Council has to make about the future of the Council as it sets the budget for 2014-15. Look out for further publicity and information about the meetings nearer the time.

The the most convenient meetings for LERA members are as follows:

• Monday, 7 October  7 – 8.30pm
  Civic Centre, BR1 3UH

• Monday, 14 October 11 – 12.30pmCivic Centre. Stockwell Close, BR1 3UH

The last time cuts were made Burnt Ash Library was considered for closure. Members should keep an eye out for any attempts to close the library and contact our Councillors if there is a new risk of such a cut. The contact details for councillors' for Plaistow and Sundridge  ward are available at our page at http://leralink.blogspot.co.uk/p/your-councillors_10.html. If you have not borrowed any books from our library why not make a point of going in this week. You can borrow up to 12 items for three weeks at a time.

Chinbrook Community Day and Dog show Sunday 8th September

Plaistow Walk Saturday 17th August

The Plaistow Walk was an opportunity for local residents to meet Councillors Ellie Harmer and Colin Smith to discuss issues of concern about the area around the Burnt Ash Lane Parade. The event was arranged by Ellie Harmer and we met with her at Cafe Clementine where those who arrived early could try out the Cafe's refreshments.

There was a good turnout with a mix of people including members of two nearby allotments, LERA chairman Peter Skipp and LERA treasurer Diane Bex as well as other residents who had previously contacted the council about local issues.

Councillor Colin Smith, who is the Portfolio Holder for Environment, is seen here in the red shirt. He made notes as the group walked around the area and he strongly encourage residents to make use of the the "Report It" link on the Bromley Council website whenever there is a problem which the Council should deal with. The link to use is at:- https://fix.bromley.gov.uk/. Clicking on the link today, Monday, gave the following page:-

(Click the image to enlarge it or better still click the link to see the current situation)

The group set off and reviewed the litter which has accumulated behind a fence in the alley between Martins and the betting shop. We also viewed the recycling bins in the car park which have to be cleared of rubbish early every morning due to inconsiderate people dumping things which should really be taken to the tip. (On recent mornings I have seen old televisions, push chairs and even a two seater Ercol settee. I also regularly see piles of books left on top of the paper recycling bins which could well have been taken to the local Charity shops.)

We then walked along past Waitrose to view the land at the front of the substation next to Rotunda House. The land is rough and unfenced and people dump their rubbish there. Thoughtless dog walkers let their dogs mess there and don't bother to remove it. Councillor Smith explained that the patch of ground is the responsibility of the power companies who have been asked to fence it to discourage fly tipping but who do not regard it as a priority.

Crossing the road we walked along Milk Street  past the allotments. The area was fairly tidy although there was some recent graffiti under the railway bridge which was reported in the "Graffiti and Flyposting" category by Cllr Colin Smith himself later that day. The walk ended at 11.00 am with some of the participants taking up the invitation from the reverend Elizabeth Davis to have a cup of tea or cake at St Andrews Church which is open every Saturday morning between 9.30 and 11.30.

Resident prosecuted for repeated noise nuisance

Bromley Council has successfully prosecuted a resident of Rangefield Road, Bromley, who continued to blight her neighbours with loud music.

Complaints started to be received in November 2011 with reports of regular late night parties, but it was not until the 27th December 2012 that the Council was able to serve a noise abatement notice based on evidence gathered by working with nearby residents who were affected significantly by the noise.

Within two days of the notice being served the terms of the notice were breached and she was issued with a £100 fixed penalty fine, which was paid. This did not deter the resident who continued to cause a nuisance, of which further breaches were witnessed on the 30th December 2012, 15th May 2013 and also the 17th May 2013.

On the 20th May 2013, acting under Court Warrant, the Council entered the property in the resident’s absence and seized the equipment, which was capable of causing the nuisance.  Bromley Council then prosecuted her as the only way left to resolve the matter. After failing to attend Court on two separate occasions, the resident was found guilty in her absence of three breaches of a noise abatement notice served by Bromley Council.

The Deputy District Judge issued fines of £900, a victim surcharge of £20 and awarded the Council £1464 for their costs, totalling £2384 which he ordered to be paid within 28 days. In addition to the financial penalties, the Judge also ordered that the seized equipment was forfeited to Bromley Council for disposal.

Councillor Tim Stevens, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Safety welcomed the conviction: “Noise nuisance is anti-social and causes tremendous anxiety and stress to those affected. It is our duty to do all we can to stop this activity and protect our residents, and if mediation and persuasion fails we will seize equipment and prosecute. There is no excuse for this type of behaviour”.

If you suffer from noise caused by your neighbours you should report it to the council. Information on how to do this is available at :- http://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/412/pollution_control-noise

Bromley MPS

The #Plaistow & #Sundridge police team are holding a drop in surgery at Café Clementine between 11am and 1pm today, Tuesday 13/8

International Left-Handers day 13th August

Today is International Left Handers day. If you or any of your family are left handed they can get more information at http://www.lefthandersday.com/

To test how left handed you are see below:-

Click on the image to enlarge it

Burnt Ash Library Reading Group 29th August

The next meeting of the reading group at Burnt Ash Library is on Thursday 29th August 2013 at 2.15 pm and everyone is welcome.

The book to be discussed is:-

The King's speech by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi

The King's Speech' is an intimate portrait of the British monarchy at a time of its greatest crisis, seen through the eyes of an Australian commoner who was proud to serve, and save, his King.
How an unknown Australian speech therapist saved the British royal family by helping the Duke of York overcome a serious speech impediment
'The King's Speech' is an intimate portrait of the British monarchy at a time of its greatest crisis, seen through the eyes of an Australian commoner who was proud to serve, and save, his King.

Every one is welcome.

For more details visit the library or contact the librarians on 020 8460 3405 or by email at burntash.library@bromley.gov.uk

For details of other activities at the Burnt Ash Library see the following link:-

http://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/34386/burnt_ash_library

Plaistow Walk Saturday 17th August

At the Annual General Meeting on 2nd May Ellie Harmer, one of our Ward Councillors mentioned that she would be organising a community walk later in the year. The walk has now been arranged for next Saturday.

Plaistow Walk

17 August 10 am

Meeting outside Café Clementine

Burnt Ash Parade

With guest Councillor Colin Smith

Portfolio Holder for the Environment

And local Ward Councillors

ellie.harmer@bromley.gov.uk