Local interest

There is still a need for Neighbourhood Watch

~ BAACA Newsletter

South Bucks District Council and Chiltern District Council are actively promoting new and revitalised Neighbourhood Watch Schemes, especially in areas which have experienced incidents of recent burglary. Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives.

Behind it lies a simple idea: Getting together with your neighbours to take action can cut local crime. Everyone knows that the police are there to fight crime, but they need your help to do an effective job. Neighbourhood Watch is all about an active partnership with the police and other agencies.
Neighbourhood Watch schemes can:

  •  Cut crime and the opportunities for crime
  • Help and reassure those who live in the area, especially those who are vulnerable.
  • Encourage neighbourliness and closer communities.

Create a better place to live, work and play

Neighbourhood Watch is not just about reducing burglary figures – it’s about creating communities who care. It brings local people together and can make a real contribution to improving their lives. The activity of Watch members can foster a new community spirit and a belief in the community’s ability to
tackle problems. At the same time, you feel secure, knowing your neighbours watching out for you and your property.

What can Neighbourhood Watch schemes do?

These are the key steps to targeting and reducing crime and the fear of crime in an area. In consultation with your local police:

  • Get a picture of local crime
  • Conduct a ‘fear of crime’ survey
  • Target crimes you can have a real impact on
  • Identify the opportunities for crime
  • Form an action plan to tackle the problem
  • Block or reduce opportunities for the criminal.

If you are interested about getting involved in Neighbourhood Watch and live in the South Bucks District Council or Chiltern District Council areas then contact:
Community Safety on 01494 586535 or email communitysafety@chiltern.gov.uk
Follow us on twitter for community safety updates and crime prevention advice @csafetycdcsbdc

Defensive planting

~ BAACA Newsletter

The ever-increasing popularity and sophistication of gardening has not
gone unnoticed by the criminal. Garden crime is a reality. According to
police statistics, the most likely items to be stolen are mowers, strimmers,
chain saws, hedge trimmers, garden furniture and plants.

Nature herself provides one of the best solutions to many garden crimes.
With careful thought and planning you can reduce the risk of becoming a
victim of garden crime, whilst at the same time creating an attractive
garden. For instance you can create an impenetrable hedge, which looks
far more attractive than security fencing but is just as effective.

Planting prickly shrubs around vulnerable windows can also serve as a
deterrent to the burglar. By careful planning you can produce a beautiful
garden and reduce the risk of being the next victim of garden crime.

Criminals do not like climbing through prickly plants and hedges. They
know that a small item of ripped clothing or blood can help the police
identify them. For a full list of defensive plants please visit: http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/homesecurity or
http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/homesecurity

You can also contact Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council’s Joint Community
Safety team on 01494 586535 and for further crime reduction advice you can visit:
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/ www.chiltern.gov.uk/crimereduction or
www.southbucks.gov.uk/crimereduction or follow us on Twitter @csafetycdcsbdc

 

The Safe Place Scheme – Still Helping People in 2018

~ BAACA Newsletter

From the Community Safety Team at Chiltern District Council 

The Safe Place Scheme was launched in Buckinghamshire in 2012, and has built a network of suitable venues, such as local shops and restaurants, where someone can go for help and assistance, providing reassurance to vulnerable people and their carers, or people who find themselves in challenging situations.

What is the Safe Place scheme?

The scheme helps vulnerable people deal with any incident that takes place when they are about in the community e.g. harassment or bullying. Above all, the scheme aims to help vulnerable people lead independent lives and feel safe whilst out in Bucks.

How does the scheme work?

The Safe Place sticker in the window of a business identifies the premises as a safe place.

A vulnerable person may carry a Safe Place contact card that they can show to a business; however you do not have to have a card to seek assistance from those businesses supporting the scheme.

What will businesses be expected to do?

If a vulnerable person seeks help, members of staff would be expected to make a phone call if necessary, provide a temporary safe haven for vulnerable people and also to reassure them and keep them safe until help and support arrives.

Who will use the scheme?

A number of agencies working in the local area will identify vulnerable people who could benefit from the scheme; someone with a physical or learning disability, an illness or severe medical condition or the elderly, although anyone can seek help if they are feeling vulnerable at that point in time.

How can I get involved?

If you own or manage a business and would like to become a ‘Safe Place’, or if you know of someone who would benefit from the scheme, please contact the Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council Community Safety Team on 01494 586535 or email communitysafety@chiltern.gov.uk.

Anyone who would like a card to carry around giving their emergency contact details can contact the Community Safety team on 01494 586535 or email on communitysafety@chiltern.gov.uk

There’s more information about the Safe Place scheme at:
www.chiltern.gov.uk/safeplacescheme and www.southbucks.gov.uk/safeplacescheme

For other Council Areas in Buckinghamshire please use the information below:
Aylesbury Vale – 01296 585000 Wycombe District – 01494 461000
communitysafety@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk community@wycombe.gov.uk

Follow us on twitter for community safety updates and crime prevention advice @csafetycdcsbdc

Community pub night Friday 19th January 6:30-10:30

~ BAACA Newsletter
Banish the winter blues at the first pub night of 2018!

All are welcome for home-cooked winter warming food, a selection of drinks and the opportunity to socialise with friends and neighbours at the Bellingdon & Asheridge Village Hall.
Advance notice that, owing to the major kitchen works and repainting in the hall in February, there will be no pub night next month. The next date is 16th March.

Message from the “Save the Bull” Group

~ BAACA Newsletter

Ahead of Thursday’s planning meeting, our reasons for supporting the plans submitted for the redevelopment of the Bull pub and new nursery are as follows:

The nursery, which had to move from Cholesbury Village Hall, is a proven
success, highly rated by Ofsted, and presently caters for over 100
children in providing nursery and after school activities. All children are
from no more than a 3.5 mile radius and, given the ongoing demand, will be
able to increase numbers of both children and staff. There is a desperate
shortage of such facilities within the county and the management have
tried, unsuccessfully to find an alternative premises within a 5 mile
radius. Since all other nurseries within the area are full, there poses the
problem of accommodating children presently served by our village nursery
should it be forced to close.

Great efforts have been made to ensure that the new building is
environmentally friendly with a very low profile and a planted roof so will
sit quietly in the landscape.

The land on which it is proposed to build is presently ancillary commercial
pub land, is not accessed by public right of way nor can it be readily seen
from any adjacent right of way.

With the planned improvements to the pub, the managers will be able to
deliver children’s meals to the nursery which will not only greatly improve
the service but will provide a great basis for a sustainable business at
the pub.

Whilst as a group, we strongly support the preservation of the green belt,
we believe that a new building of this nature in this location will not
impinge greatly on the visual amenity, nor create any sort of precedent but
will provide two valuable community resources which are demonstrably
supported by the village.

The decision will be made by the full committee and we know that the
committee takes notice of a good show of support. So, if you are able to
attend this planning meeting, we would be delighted to have your support at
the planning meeting to consider the plans to be held THIS Thursday January 11th from 6:30pm at the Council Offices.

On behalf of The Save The Bull Group – Bellingdon savethebull@bellingdon.com