Delay to the South Worcestershire Development Plan Publication

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The updated South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) will not be published for consultation in July as scheduled, because work on the key documents relating to development sites and the infrastructure needed to support them is yet to be completed.

More time is required to finalise the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) which is a crucial evidence document setting out how strategic infrastructure, such as roads and new schools, will be delivered to support proposals in the SWDP for the additional 14,000 new dwellings that we are required to deliver across Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District by 2041.

The Regulation 19 publication draft of the SWDP was scheduled for public consultation in July, with the Submission version timetabled for independent examination later this year.

The impact of the latest delay to the SWDP is still being assessed and a new timetable will be drawn up for elected councillors to consider.

Cllr, Aaron Powell, Chair of the SWDP Joint Advisory Panel, said: “We know that infrastructure and how it will be delivered is one of the key concerns of our residents. We are disappointed by this latest delay to the review of the SWDP but the Infrastructure Delivery Plan is a critical piece of evidence, to demonstrate the proposed strategic housing sites are viable. It is therefore better that we take the time now to make sure we are getting it right as we look to deliver a Plan that will have a profound impact on South Worcestershire over the coming years.

“We will identify the next steps in the review process and a timetable for them as soon as we can.”

ALERT-Planning Application M/22/00321/OUT Land next to the Village Hall

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ALERT

Planning Application M/22/00321/OUT Land next to the Village Hall

 Abberley Parish Council wish to alert you to the latest planning application to develop yet another housing estate in Abberley. If allowed it will be the fourth site. As the Parish Council we will be objecting in the strongest possible terms and would ask that you write in to Malvern supporting us in this matter.  We have already objected to this site being included as a possible development site in the SWDPR (South Worcestershire Development Plan Review) and, indeed, would have done so again in the final consultations.

 

We do, however, have the Abberley Neighbourhood Development Plan (ANDP) which, as the latest made plan, carries a great deal of weight. Please read through so that you can evidence any objections you might make. Please let us know if we can help in any way.

 

We have asked for an extension of the consultation period to allow us to discuss the matter at the next Parish Council Meeting on 20th April. This would be the last opportunity for you to let us know of any objections we might not have already covered. Therefore the closing date for submissions is now 22nd April 2022.

 

You will find the Planning Application M/22/00321/OUT on the Malvern Hills Planning Portal. The ANDP can be found on both the Parish Website and the Malvern Hills website. There is also a hard copy at the Village Stores. This must be signed for with contact details.

 

Malvern Hills District Council – Proposed Boundary changes – Have your say

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Malvern Hills District Council are in the process of redrawing the boundary lines of their wards.

Abberley Parish Council rejects the current proposal for the reasons outlined in the attached submission which also contains an alternative option.

We would be very grateful if you would take the time to look over and, if you are able, to make a comment supporting our stance;

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Abberley Parish Council response to Ward Boundary Submission

please would you do so by 21st March.

The website link is below (click on the green “have your say” button to comment )

To make comments please follow this link:

https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/west-midlands/worcestershire/malvern-hills

 

Please forward this email to anyone you think will be interested.

 Thank You.

Abberley Parish Council

Worcestershire County Council- List of agencies providing support for Ukraine – Donating Financially

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List of agencies providing support for Ukraine

Donating Financially

  • Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched a Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to raise funds for food, water, medicine, protection and trauma care for people fleeing the war. Every pound donated by the UK public to the DEC will be matched by the government, up to the value of £20m.
  • The UN Refugee Agency – distributing essential relief items, including blankets, sleeping bags and hygiene items and delivering essential aid
  • The British Red Cross – providing accommodation, food, water and other aid items to refugees.
  • Care International is providing emergency relief through its partner, People in Need – this non-governmental, non-profit organisation has been sending trucks of durable food, hygiene items, nappies, sleeping bags, mats, and other goods into Lviv in western Ukraine to distribute to people locally.
  • Save the Children – Distributing essential supplies and winter kits of clothing and blankets as temperatures plunge below freezing
  • The International Committee of the Red Cross is working closely with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society to provide emergency assistance and support local hospitals and primary healthcare facilities with medical equipment.
  • Unicef – It estimates there are up to 7.5 million children in need of support and says a £46 donation will provide a family with an emergency water and hygiene kit.
  • Médecins Sans Frontières are responding to medical and humanitarian needs as the conflict evolves, providing training in emergency medicine and surgical preparedness to hospitals, as well as mass casualty kits with supplies for treating traumatic injuries.
  • World Jewish Relief – the charity is supporting refugees with food, water, personal protective equipment and accommodation.
  • Cafod – providing beds, food, washing facilities and safe spaces for children.
  • The World Health Organization is raising funds for its frontline response and to deliver life-saving medicines and supplies to people across Ukraine and to refugees.

Donating Supplies

  • Goods For Good UK are providing a rapid response Ukraine crisis and are supplying relief aid to Ukrainian welfare centres which include bedding, clothing, hygiene essential toiletries.

 

West Mercia Police – Economic Crime unit – March Fraud and Scam Bulletin – March 22

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The Fraud & Scam Bulletin

March 2022
Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds
Welcome to March Bulletin aimed at raising awareness to  current Fraud and Scams

Please circulate to your members and contacts, as well as using it for your own information.

 

This month we are promoting an initiative from Take Five to encourage families to sit and discuss  various types of Fraud with potentially vulnerable relatives and friends, and raise awareness.

 

The aim of Take Five over Tea is to encourage families to sit down with parents/grandparents and anyone else they think may be vulnerable to financial fraud whether in their own home, or online, and then discuss the advice provided.

 

Fraud and Scams have a devastating impact on all those who fall for them, and this is a summarised format of the Take Five toolkit to help families set up their own discussions.

 

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

We all think we are savvy when it comes to fraud and scams, but the truth is any one of us can fall for one, especially in the heat of the moment. Criminals are increasingly becoming more sophisticated, using many tactics to gain our trust and make it harder for us to spot the obvious signs of a scam as easily.

By taking the time to talk to your loved ones, including those who are not online, they have a much better chance of spotting a scam, and more importantly, preventing themselves from falling for one.

TYPES OF FRAUD AND SCAMS

As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the techniques used by criminals. They now use a wide variety of methods to trick people, the most frequent are listed below:

IMPERSONATION SCAMS

Criminals are experts at impersonating trusted organisations, including banks, the police, and government departments such as HMRC and DVLC, to convince you to make a payment or share your personal and financial details.

  • They often use alarmist language and time-pressure to convince you to take immediate action,
  •  They may already have some of your details, which they use to add a layer of authenticity to their scam.
  • If you receive an urgent request for your money or personal information
  •      STOP: take a moment to pause and think.

 

INVESTMENT SCAMS

There are numerous paid adverts or comparison sites claiming to be legitimate firms offering guaranteed returns with minimal risk. You may be asked to complete a “Contact Form” with your personal details for a Call-Back.

The use of genuine company logos, celebrity endorsements and testimonials may often be fake.

 

PURCHASE SCAMS

It can be easy to fall for a purchase scam. Criminals advertise goods/services at “too good to be true” prices often via social media or auction sites to trick people into purchasing something that does not exist. They often use images taken from genuine sellers to convince you they are the real deal. They may also ask for payment prior to delivery and send fake receipts and invoices that seem to be from the payment provider.

 

ROMANCE SCAMS

The ease of online dating services often means you can find the love of your life in the comfort of your own home. However, this also provides criminals with an opportunity to gain your trust and build a relationship with you by using information and fake identities found on social media – also known as catfishing. Criminals will claim to declare strong feelings for you just after a few conversations before pretending to need money for a personal emergency or flights to visit you.

 

COURIER FRAUD

If you’re contacted by someone purporting to be from your bank or the police, take a moment to question their authenticity. If the caller is from the bank, they may claim that their system has spotted a fraudulent payment on your card or that it is due to expire and needs to be replaced.    They may even confirm personal details about you, such as your full name and address and offer you peace of mind by having someone such as a courier collect your card to save you from having to go to your bank or local police station. You may even be asked to write down your PIN and place it in a separate envelope to that of your card.

 

DOORSTEP SCAMS

Doorstep criminals can come in all sorts of disguises, from dodgy salesmen to unscrupulous tradespeople and, can be very convincing. They may claim to have noticed something about your property that needs work or improvement, such as the roof, and offer to fix it for an inflated price with payment required upfront. Some criminals may even convince you to visit your bank branch to withdraw money whilst they set up their equipment

 

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST FRAUD AND SCAMS

If you receive a request to provide personal or financial information whether that’s over the phone, in an email, online or through social media always remember:

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment.

Stop and think – It could protect you and your money.

STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud

ALWAYS REMEMBER:

  • Avoid disclosing security details
  • Emails, Phone Calls and Texts may not be authentic
  • Always make direct contact with any organisation by using a genuine phone number
  • Stop and Challenge any unexpected requests
  • Protect others by reporting Fraud and Scams

If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

Forward Fake Emails received to .

SOURCE: TAKE FIVE

A full PDF leaflet can be downloaded from Take Five at:

Take-Five-Over-Tea-Loved-Ones_2021_FINAL.pdf (takefive-stopfraud.org.uk)

 

Always remember:

 

  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

 

For further information visit:

 

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

 

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

 

Fundraising for Ukraine

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Ukraine

Mr and Mrs R Nott have, very kindly, offered their home, Field Farm, Abberley, WR6 6AZ to any Abberley resident wishing to hold a fundraising activity such as a coffee morning, for example, in support of the Ukranian people in their hour of need.

All monies raised will be donated via the Parish Council to the Disasters Emergency Committee Fund recently established by the UK government who have pledged all donations to be matched pound for pound.

If you are interested in making use of this venue please contact the Parish Clerk for further details See below;

West Mercia Police – Fraud & Scam Bulletin – January 2022

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The Fraud & Scam Bulletin – January 2022

Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds
 

Welcome to the first monthly Bulletin  highlighting current fraud trends in our area.

Please circulate to your members and contacts, as well as using it for your own information.

This month we are focusing on two types of Fraud about which we have had multiple reports from the public in recent weeks and how you can keep safe.

Romance fraud – What is it?

You are convinced to make a payment to a person  you may have met through social media platforms, dating websites and Apps, or Gaming sites.

  • Fake profiles are used by criminals in an attempt to build a relationship with you – this is often known as “Catfishing”.
  • Criminals  use information found on social media to create fake identities to target you with the scam, often looking for profiles saying you are single, widowed or divorced
  • They will go to great lengths to gain your trust and convince you that you have found a genuine relationship before appealing to your compassionate side to ask for money
  • Criminals use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that requests for money do not raise any alarm bells
  • These requests might be highly emotive, such as criminals claiming they need money for emergency medical care, or to pay for transport costs to visit you from overseas

What to do:

·      If you are speaking to someone online that you have not met in person, stop and think. It could protect your heart and your money

·      Never give your bank details to someone online that you have never met, and if you are in any doubt about the person’s honesty, speak to a friend or family member. If they have tried to take money from you, report it to  Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

NEW WhatsApp FRAUD

A rising number of similar Frauds using WhatsApp have been seen in recent weeks in our area which residents need to be aware of.

  • The suspect will send the victim a message via WhatsApp claiming to be their son/daughter/friend and that they have had to change their phone number
  • The suspect then asks for money for debt repayment / to buy a new phone/asking to pay outstanding bills
  • The victim then ends up sending money to the fraudster believing this is going to an actual relative or friend
  • This type of Scam is becoming more frequent

Always remember:

  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

For further information visit:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

 

 

Malvern Hills Electoral Review

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Portrait Poster

Today Malvern Hills District Council published draft recommendations for new wards, ward boundaries, and  ward names for Malvern Hills District Council.

They are now inviting comments on those recommendations.

Our consultation closes on 21 March 2022.

If you represent a local organisation or community group in Malvern Hills, please pass this message on to your members or anyone you think who might be interested in the review.

New electoral arrangements for Malvern Hills District Council Draft Recommendations January 2022

ELECTORAL REVIEW OF MALVERN HILLS Draft recommendations for ward boundaries in the district of Malvern Hills January 2022

Draft Recommendations on the new electoral arrangements

Have your say

You can take part in the consultation through the interactive consultation portal.

Interactive website includes further information about the Commission and the review.

MHDC encourage everyone who has a view on the draft recommendations to contact us, whether you support them or whether you wish to propose alternative arrangements.

MHDC will consider every representation received during consultation, whether it is submitted by an individual, a local group or an organisation.

MHDC will weigh each submission against the legal criteria which we must follow when drawing up electoral arrangements:

  • to deliver electoral equality: where each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors as others across the district;
  • that the pattern of wards should, as far as possible, reflect the interests and identities of local communities;
  • that the electoral arrangements should provide for effective and convenient local government.

It is important that you take account of the criteria if you are suggesting an alternative pattern of wards.

If you wish to put forward a view, we would also urge you to ensure that evidence supports your submission.

For example, if you wish to argue that two areas should be included in the same electoral ward, make sure you tell us why they should be together, providing evidence about community facilities, ties, organisations, and amenities, rather than simply asserting that they belong together.

Their website features technical guidance that explains the process and our policies, as well as guidance on how to take part in each part of the process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pavement Parking in Abberley

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Dear Parishioners,

It is often brought to our notice that there is a problem with pavement parking in Abberley. It is misguided to think that it is helpful to park across the pavement. It may allow cars to pass unimpeded but it makes it IMPOSSIBLE for pedestrians, people with sight problems and pushchairs and prams to pass safely.
Below you will see the rules about parking as written in the Highway Code. They are advisory but extremely sensible. If it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to park on the pavement please make sure that you leave enough room for a pushchair to pass.

HIGHWAY CODE
244 You SHOULD NOT park on a pavement.
Parking on a pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.

LAW GL(GP)A Sect 15
243 DO NOT park
– near a school entrance
– opposite or within 10 metres (32ft) of a junction
– near the brow of a hill
– where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
– in front of an entrance to a property
– on a bend

NB DO NOT instructions are prosecutable whereas SHOULD NOT is advisory

West Mercia Police – Economic Crime Unit – Monthly Fraud and Scam bulletin

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Welcome to West Mercia Police first monthly Bulletin  highlighting current fraud trends in our area.

This month we are focusing on two types of Fraud about which we have had multiple reports from the public in recent weeks and how you can keep safe.

Romance fraud – What is it?

You are convinced to make a payment to a person  you may have met through social media platforms, dating websites and Apps, or Gaming sites.

  • Fake profiles are used by criminals in an attempt to build a relationship with you – this is often known as “Catfishing”.
  • Criminals  use information found on social media to create fake identities to target you with the scam, often looking for profiles saying you are single, widowed or divorced
  • They will go to great lengths to gain your trust and convince you that you have found a genuine relationship before appealing to your compassionate side to ask for money
  • Criminals use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that requests for money do not raise any alarm bells
  • These requests might be highly emotive, such as criminals claiming they need money for emergency medical care, or to pay for transport costs to visit you from overseas

What to do:

·      If you are speaking to someone online that you have not met in person, stop and think. It could protect your heart and your money

·      Never give your bank details to someone online that you have never met, and if you are in any doubt about the person’s honesty, speak to a friend or family member. If they have tried to take money from you, report it to  Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

NEW WhatsApp FRAUD

A rising number of similar Frauds using WhatsApp have been seen in recent weeks in our area which residents need to be aware of.

  • The suspect will send the victim a message via WhatsApp claiming to be their son/daughter/friend and that they have had to change their phone number
  • The suspect then asks for money for debt repayment / to buy a new phone/asking to pay outstanding bills
  • The victim then ends up sending money to the fraudster believing this is going to an actual relative or friend
  • This type of Scam is becoming more frequent

Always remember:

  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

For further information visit:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/