Added 24th July
Thames Valley Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Mediation Service
This service is available to residents across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, and is being delivered by Alternatives to Conflict (previously known as Mediation Bucks).
Mediation provides an independent support service and can offer a solution when there is no clear course of action open to a statutory agency, such as the police or local authority. It also represents an alternative to court proceedings and intervention by statutory agencies.
For further details, please visit the news page.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
CYBER SECURITY
Thinking about adoption? There is no better time to take that first step
Anyone in Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas thinking about adoption is being encouraged to act today and take the first step on their adoption journey.
Today (Tuesday 23 July) marks the start of a new, You Can Adopt, national recruitment campaign run by Adoption England. Entitled, The Journey, the campaign aims to inspire more people to take the first step in growing their family through adoption. The campaign focuses on the journey to adoption and beyond being much like an adventure; filled with chaos, challenges, conversations and love.
National figures reveal an unprecedented decline in adoption rates. For the first time in recent years, there are now more children in need of adoption than those coming forward to adopt. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, experts are warning that anxieties have been heightened for many people with regards to finding the perfect time and circumstances to start a family.
In Buckinghamshire, there are children of all ages waiting to be adopted and the council is urging anyone who may be thinking about adoption to come forward.
Buckinghamshire Council is hosting an Adoption Information Evening on Tuesday 6 August where people can find out more about the adoption process.
Another way to get quick answers to any questions you may have about adopting within Buckinghamshire is to look at the council’s Adoption Ready tool. The online programme also allows you to create a personalised next steps plan which you can save and come back to at any time.
To find out more about adoption in Buckinghamshire visit here
Added 17th July
Check before you travel this summer
Buckinghamshire Council is advising motorists to check their journeys before they travel on Buckinghamshire’s roads this summer, with a number of planned roadworks scheduled for the coming weeks and months particularly around the Aylesbury and High Wycombe areas.
The council is managing a far greater number of requests for roadworks in general, with utilities firms fixing and improving their networks and broadband firms installing more new high speed cables. With the added impact of HS2 and East West Rail works and the council’s own programme of investment in Buckinghamshire’s roads, it means that there is no ‘quiet time’ to schedule roadworks.
The council plays a role in managing planned roadworks through its ‘Streetworks’ team, which issues permits when a request to carry out works on the roads and pavements comes in. The council always tries to schedule the most disruptive works outside of busy periods and has traditionally used the summer months to do this. However, such is the increase in planned roadworks taking place in Buckinghamshire this year, that even the summer months will be a busy time on the county’s roads. It is also becoming more challenging to lessen the impact in certain areas where multiple works are scheduled at the same time.
The council is therefore advising motorists to be aware of the higher number of works across the highways network this summer – and beyond. The council has increased the number of people in its Streetworks team and they’ll be carrying out regular site inspections to ensure planned works are taking place within the agreed permit arrangements.
Some particularly significant works that are expected to cause disruption in the coming weeks and months in Aylesbury and the surrounding areas are:
- A418 Aylesbury to Stone - HS2 works with weekend closures starting during July and a full two week closure 16th August to 2nd September
- A418 at Bierton - Ongoing Thames Water improvement works until 31 July with a second tranche of long-term works until November.
- A41 Aylesbury to Aston Clinton – down to a single lane during July for pavement works at the Holiday Inn junction.
- A41 Aylesbury to Aston Clinton – new traffic calming measures being put in place, traffic will be signal controlled 7am – 7pm 2nd April to 20th August.
- B4443 Aylesbury towards Stoke Mandeville – nighttime road closures for Aylesbury ring road project between 8-12 August and 15-19 August.
- Weedon Road, Aylesbury – Thames Water mains replacement works – temp lights between 8am – 6pm from 22 July until 25 October.
Significant works coming up in the High Wycombe area include:
- A40 High Street, West Wycombe Two-way signals 7am – 7pm 8 July – 2 September to carry out safety and other works to buildings.
- A404 Amersham Road towards Holmer Green – multi-way signals 7am – 7pm, 4 August – 21 September to lay electricity cables.
- Penn Road, Hazelmere Affinity Water sinkhole repairs, lights in place - ongoing
- Rose Avenue, Hazelmere Cadent Gas upgrade works – multi-way signals 29 July – 28 August
- Cock Lane, Tylers Green, Cadent Gas Major works Full road closure 29 July – 30 August
- Coates Lane, High Wycombe, Cadent Gas upgrade works, multi-way signals already in place 24 June – 12 August
- Desborough Avenue, High Wycombe, SSE upgrade works, multiway signals, 7am – 7pm, 19 August – 12 September
- New Road/Cressex Road, High Wycombe City Fibre cable installation, temporary signals, 7am – 7pm (9:30am – 3:30pm term time), start July – end September.
Nominate your community heroes with a Proud of Bucks Award
The Proud of Bucks Awards are back for a fourth year, shining a light on the incredible contributions of our county’s unsung heroes – the volunteers, groups, and organisations that have made a positive difference in our communities over the past 12 months.
Buckinghamshire Council’s 16 Community Boards will choose winners from their local area, for each of the three award categories:
Good Neighbour Award – adults 21+ who has made a difference in their local community, such as through neighbourhood schemes, supporting voluntary causes or befriending services.
Young Champion Award – for a young person under 21 who has made a significant contribution towards their local community, for example, through volunteering, supporting a charitable cause or championing their peers.
Outstanding Group Award – recognises and celebrates a voluntary group in the local area who has made a positive impact on their community such as delivering a service, championing a cohort of residents, or supporting and enhancing local spaces.
The Clare Foundation are generously sponsoring the awards again this year, helping to celebrate the incredible people who make Buckinghamshire such a wonderful place to live, work and thrive.
Nominations for the Proud of Bucks Awards are now open now, the deadline for nominations is midnight on Sunday 11 August. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of judges and the winners will be announced at local Community Board events in the autumn.
Submit your nomination by using the online Proud of Bucks nomination form.
Council cracks down on drivers misusing disabled parking permits
Last month, Buckinghamshire Council’s Counter Fraud team led a Blue Badge operation supported by the Blue Badge team, Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
The operation spanned car parks and on street parking bays in South Buckinghamshire, High Wycombe and Aylesbury to target the misuse and abuse of Blue Badges.
This operation was part of a wider tri-county exercise and was coordinated with neighbouring local authorities, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire. Across the three counties, 34 blue badges were seized; Hertfordshire 20 badges, Oxfordshire three badges and Buckinghamshire 11.
If you suspect that someone is misusing a Blue Badge permit, you can report this in confidence to Buckinghamshire Council.
For Bucks Sake! Don’t litter in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council is sending a hard-hitting message to anyone tempted to litter in the county – For Bucks Sake – don’t do it!
Anyone caught deliberately littering in Buckinghamshire will face a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for £500 under a hard-hitting new policy adopted today following a decision by Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet, which is due to take effect from next week.
Sweet wrappers, fast food containers, cigarette butts and vape canisters are all familiar sights on our verges, open spaces and roadsides because people have chosen to dump them rather than dispose of them responsibly.
In a bid to clamp down on these litter louts, Buckinghamshire Council has today agreed a raft of strong new measures to tackle the issue head on. The council is an early adopter of new powers allowing an increase in the penalty amount for littering – from £150 to £500. The council has chosen to adopt this maximum rate without the option of an early payment discount to act as a strong deterrent to stop people littering in the first place.
Under its hard-hitting campaign, the council will also be appealing to motorists and road users to send in dash-cam and phone footage of littering they may have captured on camera – where of course, it is safe to do so.
Buckinghamshire homes urged not to miss out on energy-saving grants
Eligible homeowners in Buckinghamshire are being urged not to miss out on Government-funded measures to save money on their fuel bills.
Properties which meet certain criteria, including their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, could receive home improvements from insulation to air source heat pumps as part of the Homes Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) scheme.
Thomas Broom, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said:
“In Buckinghamshire, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and retrofitting homes is a vital part of that. The free upgrades involved in the HUG2 scheme will help residents live in warmer homes, reduce their carbon footprint and cut down on their energy bills.
“I would ask residents to please check their eligibility for the scheme and, if eligible, to apply before it’s too late.”
Funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the energy-saving measures can include insulation upgrades, and the installation of solar panels and low carbon heating systems such as air source heat pumps and more.
Households with a combined annual income of less than £36,000, including benefits, whose homes are not heated through mains gas, and those with hard-to-heat homes could be eligible.
Eligible properties will receive an assessment to evaluate and determine the energy saving measures that could be undertaken, and any improvements made are completely free of charge.
Work is completed on a first-come, first-served basis with applications closing at the end of September 2024.
To find out more about HUG2 and to check if your home is eligible, visit www.hugapply.co.uk or call Agility Eco on 0800 107 8883.
Your voice counts - Have your say on local matters
This month, a number of important consultations are launching, and Buckinghamshire Council would like to hear your views.
The council regularly seeks views from local people on a range of topics, from developing and updating policies, to making key changes to services.
It couldn’t be easier to have your say and all views and comments are considered when final decisions are made.
Three consultations which the council would like to hear views on are:
- Development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy – consultation open until 18 August
- Library Flex transformation programme – consultation open until 18 September
- Review of the Housing Allocations Policy for Social Housing Tenancies – consultation open until 22 August
The council is seeking views to help in the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Local Nature Recovery Strategies were introduced in the Environment Act 2021 and every area in England is producing one.
The strategy will be used to help protect and preserve local nature and wildlife habitats which are integral to the region but which, through a variety of reasons, including climate change and economic factors, may be under threat. The council would like to find out which aspects of nature are important to local people and find out their views on the draft priorities that have been drawn up as part of initial discussions with residents and partners.
To find out more about the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Local Nature Recovery Strategy and to take part in the consultation visit here.
The council would also like to ask residents for help with redesigning library services so they will continue to meet Buckinghamshire’s needs while responding to current and future challenges.
The Library Flex model proposes a new way of operating some Buckinghamshire libraries, reflecting changes in library usage over the years, by having staff available at times of greatest customer need and use of self-operated technology to provide library services at quieter times.
Library Flex will also provide an opportunity to increase opening hours, benefitting people who work, commuters and students. Currently many libraries open from 10am but could open earlier without staff and until later in the evening, and for longer during exam times so that people can go there to study.
Residents are being asked when they would most like staff to be available and when they would prefer to be able to visit the library.
The consultation also includes a review of opening hours at Burnham Library and a proposal to open High Wycombe Library on Monday instead of Sunday – both of which are separate from the Library Flex proposals.
To find out more about the proposals and to take part in the consultation visit here.
The Housing Allocations policy sets out the procedures that must be followed when assessing the eligibility of applicants for social housing tenancies. The policy details how applicants, via the Bucks Home Choice scheme, can apply to the housing register, what the eligibility requirements are, how the assessment process works, and how it proposes housing is allocated in the future.
The council is in the process of reviewing the policy and would like to gain feedback on the proposed changes from current and prospective housing tenants, local residents, and partners.
To find out more about the Housing Allocations Policy consultation and to take part, visit here.
All consultations being run by Buckinghamshire Council can be found on the website
Added 10th July
Summer fun for everyone!
The summer holidays are nearly here and with six weeks free from lessons, homework and the usual school routines, many families will be busy planning fun things to do.
For those on lower incomes, juggling finances during the summer can be particularly hard, but Buckinghamshire Council is once again providing extra support for those who need it.
Children in Reception up to Year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals can take part in up to 16 free holiday club sessions over the six-week break. The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme will be running in over 60 locations, offering a wide range of activities including sports, cooking, pickleball, coding and martial arts sessions. Those eligible for the HAF sessions will have received a code via an email from Holiday Activities to book places. Each session includes a healthy meal for the children taking part. For more information on HAF visit the website.
Certain families are also being given a £50 food voucher per eligible child to help with the cost of providing extra food during the holiday period.
There are lots of free family events taking place over the summer months and beyond. Once again this year, Buckinghamshire Council’s hugely popular WhizzFizz is teaming up with partners to offer free fun family events in Aylesbury, Chesham and High Wycombe. This includes Wycombe Celebrates, a new festival of the senses on Sunday 8 September in High Wycombe. Visit the WhizzFizz website to find out what’s on in your local area.
The Buckinghamshire Family Information Service is a great one stop shop to find details of local things to do with your family this summer. There is also a handy directory which allows you to search for types of activities and specific locations.
Here is a reminder of some of the other free or low-cost things you can do right here in Bucks this summer:
- Explore the local countryside on foot or bike. Find details of walks and trails for all ages and abilities on our website
- Buckinghamshire’s Country Parks have miles of scooter and buggy-friendly paths as well as fun play areas and cafes. A variety of family-friendly events are also planned over the summer. For more information visit here
- Go on an interactive adventure with Love Exploring. Download the free app and join in the fun in parks and open spaces across the county. This summer try out the new themed activities involving Tree Fairies and Butterflies and Moths: Love Exploring
- Join the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge at your local library. This year’s challenge is called Marvellous Makers and encourages children to get creative and enjoy reading during the summer. Visit your local library for lots of FREE activities this summer: 2024 Summer Reading Challenge
- All of Buckinghamshire’s leisure centres will be running activities and fun family sessions throughout the summer. Check the details of your local centre online
- The Discover Bucks Museum and Wycombe Museum have a range of fun events and activities taking place during the holidays. Some activities have a small fee and booking is necessary. Visit their websites for more information: Bucks museum ; Wycombe museum
- Open Weekend 2024 offers the opportunity to explore Buckinghamshire culture over one long weekend (25-28 July) with free and low cost family-friendly summer activities including: music, theatre, online events, heritage, talks, outdoor activities, and art & craft workshops. open-weekend-whats-on
Added 3rd July
The July edition of OUR NEWS is here
We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales.
Here are some highlights in July's edition:
- Nominations are now closed for our Volunteer Recognition Awards 2024. Thank you to all those who nominated an amazing NW volunteer or local group - shortlisting will soon begin!
- Photos and stories from this year's brilliant Neighbourhood Watch Week
- One local group received a visit from the Prime Minister…
- Guidance on how to spot and report ASB (antisocial behaviour)
- Home security gets smarter with ERA
- Patlock have renewed their membership with Secure by Design
32 Million suspicious emails reported by the public
Over 32 million suspicious emails have been reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), with more than a third of all emails reported in the last year, new figures reveal.
The reports have led to more than 329,000 websites addresses being removed by the National Cyber Security Centre. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, launched a national phishing awareness campaign on 24 June 2024, as reporting reached its highest level since SERS launched. New data shows a rise of 44% year-on-year, with almost 11,611,400 reports made to SERS in 2023, up from 8,074,200 reports in 2022.
Alongside emails, there has also been a huge number of text messages reported to 7726. In March 2024, more than 60,000 malicious websites were removed as a result of being reported using 7726. This is a free service, offered by mobile network providers, allowing customers to report suspicious text messages in order to prevent other people from receiving them too.
SERS was launched by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the City of London Police in April 2020, to enable the public to forward suspicious emails and report any malicious website links. Since its launch, more than 32 million reports have been made to the service.
What is phishing?
'Phishing', ‘quishing’ or ‘smishing’ is when criminals use scam emails, text messages, QR codes, or phone calls to trick victims. Whether it’s an email asking you to “verify” your bank account details, or a text message claiming you’ve missed a delivery and are required to pay a redelivery fee, the goal is usually the same - to trick you into revealing personal and financial information.
In 2023, a doctor from London lost more than £150 to a fake email claiming to be from TV Licensing. The email claimed that they needed to renew her TV licence as soon as possible. What made the phishing email so believable was that the victim’s TV licence had recently expired and the link in the email led to a fake TV Licensing website that replicated the real one.
Here’s some practical advice you can follow when it comes to dealing with suspicious messages and calls:
- If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly using the contact details on their official website.
- Do not use the number or web address in the message. Your bank, or any other official source, will not ask you to provide sensitive information by email.
- Received an email that doesn’t feel right? STOP! Report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Send emails to this address that feel suspicious, even if you're not certain they're a scam – they will be checked.
- Always report suspicious text messages or scam call numbers, free of charge, to 7726. Your provider can find out where the text came from and block or ban the sender.
- To report a scam text, forward it to 7726 and then send the sender’s number when prompted.
- To report a scam call, simply text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam caller’s number.
- If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of a phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.