Welcome to the Spring Newsletter……

Editors Notes:
1. Welcome to 2010 we at the WSCA wish you all a prosperous and safe year.  This newsletter has been hastily put together to bring news and information on two main areas.
Firstly Burtons Orchard.  There is an update further in the newsletter following the AGM and a subsequent meeting with Somerset Leaving Care and our local Beat officer and his two colleagues.  At the AGM it was agreed that a follow up meeting concerning Burtons Orchard would be held, that date has been set for 11th March.  It may be that after reading the report you feel that “things” are in hand and that a meeting is unlikely to bring anything further at this time, therefore we ask that if you want to attend the meeting on 11th March YOU MUST REGISTER YOUR INTEREST AND BOOK YOUR SEAT.  To do this please see the end of the report. 
Secondly we want to bring to your attention the Taunton Deane Local Development Framework Core Strategy for which Public Consultation is now in progress and will continue until February 28th.  You can access the information and documents via our website: www.wsca.org.uk where there are two links for you or you can call 01823 356388 and speak to the Strategy Team.  This is your opportunity to get involved in Taunton’s future development and, with 18000 houses planned between now and 2026, you might think it’s important.

2. Carol Services   Thank you very much to all who attended, and those who helped in the hall, to make our two Carol service evenings so enjoyable and hospitable, despite the weather! The collections and donations were for Christian Aid’s Bethlehem Appeal. We give to these appeals through the Aid organizations rather than through local government bodies. This is in order to prevent the aid getting into the wrong hands rather than getting aid through to those who need it most. The total raised was £ 588.28. Thank you again.’
Just for info, the midnight and Christmas Day services raised £437.49 for Shelter.

3. Burtons Orchard – By Brian Sammonds Children’s Social Care
I am pleased to feed back to your newsletter the constructive meeting held on Wednesday the 20th January 2010 in County Hall.
I was able to update that we are having positive interest from several local accredited concierge service providers regarding the provision of an out of hour’s support system.
I am aware that several of these companies are already supplying exactly this type of service for other organisations in our area with proven success.
We are looking into the possibility of an agreed member of the community having a point of contact in the unlikely event of an issue arising during the nighttime.
We are in the process of evaluating this type of provision and will be basing our final decision on the quality of service on offer.
There was then a discussion and agreement around the Neighbourhood Police Team being able to casually drop in to our home for a coffee and a chat, in the same way that they would pop into an elderly resident’s home. This will be a good way of building up trusting relationships and also help our residents to feel welcomed and valued within their community.
Steve and Carol followed on from this by reminding all that there would, of course, be an invitation for the new residents to attend the local neighbour hood meetings, thus again providing an opportunity to create links and ownership within the community.
This does not seem a lot to report but rest assured that the group had a really frank and productive discussion and have ensured that there will be clear communication channels between Steve, Charlie and me.
Many thanks and regards,           Brian Sammonds 22/01/2010

To book your seat, call or txt 07810 877974 or email: chairman@wsca.org.uk or by post to Chairman, WSCA 58 Churchill Way Taunton TA1 3QR
Closing date for registering is Friday 26th February at 12 noon.

4. Civil Service Club
As some of you are aware there was discussion back in 2008 of a sports club at the Civil Service site.  Just a quick note to let you know that Planning permission has been granted but that the project is on hold, we believe, because of the current economic climate.  We will try to bring you more information on this in the next newsletter.

5. Report from P.C. Charlie Gear
Taunton remains a very safe place to live, when compared to the media reports we hear about in other towns and cities across the country. Crime will always be an ongoing issue, however, and our town is no exception. The most serious of crimes, thankfully, are still a rarity here and even rarer that the offenders go undetected.
It is also true that some areas of the town suffer more than others. There is generally a correlation, though, with the social needs and expectations of those individuals and communities.
As you already know, your parish only represents a portion of the beat area that PCSO’s Debbie, Greg and I cover.  Incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour are low in your area and we are constantly striving to drive these down even further.
In the forthcoming issues of the news letters, I want to touch on certain types of crime and how you can reduce the chances and opportunities of becoming a victim.

Before I go any further, I will remind you and keep reminding you, that ‘the fear of crime far exceeds the reality of you becoming a victim’.
In this issue, I want to highlight the subject of ‘Rogue Traders’.

What are ‘Rogue Traders’?
Rogue trading is the overcharging for services (or lack of services) provided, often including tarmaccing, roofing, gardening, tree surgery and drainage work.
It also includes cases where trading laws have been flouted resulting in customers who have been cheated or left with unsatisfactory and unnecessary work or a product.
A large proportion of such offences are committed by travelling criminals whose pattern of offending is spread across many counties.
There is also a direct link between distraction burglary and rogue trader offenders, which I will cover in a future news letter.

Rogue Traders generally, will seek out the elderly and vulnerable, and of course we want to protect them. They are unscrupulous and despicable tricksters who may appear very plausible. There are many other ways in which a rogue trader can commit an offence. These include: ignoring a consumers request to leave their home during a visit; incorrectly claiming to be a member of a code of practice or showing an industry trust mark; using pressure tactics, where undue influence or bullying is likely to change a consumer’s choice; making misleading omissions, failing to give or hiding material information from the consumer; making false or deceptive statements about goods, services or the price charged.
Some do’s and don’ts…………………
Do try and use a trader who has been personally recommended by a trusted friend or neighbour.  Do question the authenticity of someone knocking on your door offering their immediate services or advising you of faults with your home. Do obtain a written quotation for any work, bearing the traders name and full contact details (If the goods or services are over £35, you are entitled to a 7 day ‘cooling off’ period. The trader must provide written notice of your rights and a cancellation form by law). Contact another trader to obtain an alternative quote.  Do speak to your elderly or vulnerable neighbour if you see traders working at the property, to make sure they are not being taken advantage of. Don’t let casual callers into your home. They can make an appointment to come back when you have a friend or family member with you. Don’t part with any amount of money if it differs greatly from your written quote and make sure they have done what was agreed and to a required standard. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured. Ask them to leave if this is the case.  Don’t above all else, let them get away with it. If in any doubt ring 999 and we will check them out!
PC 657 Charlie Gear, Taunton West, Safer Stronger Neighbourhoods (01823) 363128 charles.gear@avonandsomerset.police.uk
The next meeting of the Committee is Tuesday 23rd March at 7:30pm in St. Georges Church Hall Wilton