Updates for Tuesday 12th February

Hi all, first update for this post are the PACT meeting dates for February. I have posted a warning about an 'assassin' scam to be aware of and information about a Council Tax scam. I hope you find them of interest.

The weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday is for snow followed by sleet. Mike has been out gritting this evening to keep the entrance to the estate clear.

That's all I have for now!

Abby.

Tuesday's update

Hi everyone - I just wanted to let you know that the estate has now been adopted by Chorley Council and is no longer Miller Home's responsibility. The contact points at the Council are Steve Hart or Sean Blake for any problems with grass cutting, shrub maintenance or the play area.

Thanks to everyone who tried to, or offered to help, open the 'faulty' lock on the grit bin. We're waiting on a replacement from the manufacturer before the lock will be cut off and replaced.

I also wanted to say thanks to Andrew B who gritted the entrance to the estate on Monday night.

Mike

Saturday morning gritting

Hi ... thanks to David G and Daisy for helping with the gritting this morning. I'm still trying to find somebody who can loan me a battery powered angle grinder with metal cutting disc so I can open the grit bin again. If you think you can help please get in touch by replying to this post.

Have a good weekend ... Mike

Gritting ahead of the snow

The BBC weather forecast for Friday is predicting more snow so I've been out and gritted the top of Jubilee Way this morning. I hope this makes the school run or return from work later today easier!

Still working on how to get into the grit bin. If anyone has a battery powered angle grinder and metal disc please could you let me know if you'd be prepared to help and try to cut through the metal hasp or lock itself on the bin?

Keep warm,

Mike

Gritting the entrance to the estate

Hi folks, I've been out and gritted the hill at the top of the estate tonight. I wasn't able to get out on Sunday night but if the snow or ice return again tonight your journey up the road should be easier on Tuesday morning.

Thanks to those of you who contacted Abby to volunteer to help spread grit when I can't. I'll get in touch with you in the next day or so.

It very much looks like one of the locks on the grit bin itself has been vandalised since I last checked them in the summer. I can't be 100% certain but it looks like something may have been forced inside the barrel and as a result I can't open it to get to the grit. I'm currently using some of the surplus bags Abby bought which have sat in my garage for the last year or so but I only have a couple left and once they are gone the grit in the bin is all we have (which is full and should last for years when I can get to it). If anyone has any sensible suggestions about how to open the lock it would be good to hear them. Cutting them open is probably not an easy option as we bought locks that specifically were strengthened not to be easily cut through!

Mike

Gritting update

Hi everyone, Mike was out gritting the entrance to the estate last night. With more snow forecast if anyone would like to volunteer to help grit when he is not around then please would you get in touch by replying to this post.

Thanks

Abby

Latest posts

Hi everyone, here's the latest set of updates I've had from the Police Home Watch Co-ordinator.

First up is a Safer Trading Newsletter followed by two Trading Standards Newsletters here and here.  There is some information about a banking scam  and and award for the Neighbourhood Watch associaton.

There are some dates for the PACT meetings in 2013 here and an email about door locks here.

And now that the snow looks like it's coming if anyone would like to help spread grit at the entrance of the estate when the weather is really snowy please could you get in touch by replying to this blog post (my husband isn't always able to do this.)

That's all I have for tonight - keep warm!

Abby

Latest updates

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I posted mainly due to a shortage of updates coming through from the Police Home Watch Co-ordinator. But I've had some through this week reporting a scam operating in the Chorley area and cold calling in other parts of Lancashire so I'm posting the links and I hope they are of interest. There's also a copy of the last Air Support Group newsletter here.

There is also information about the CADNWA  AGM here, here and here!

Thanks to those of you who replied about helping with gritting, please check your email as I've written to you with some extra information. If you're interested in helping spread grit it's not too late to volunteer, please get in touch with me by posting a reply.

I've also sent a letter to the Parish Council on behalf of the estate thanking them for their donation towards the grit bin. You can read it by clicking here.

That's all I have for now, have a good weekend and keep warm!

Abby

Grit bin update

Hi, I've posted an updated statement to show the income and outgoings for the money spent on the grit bin, grit and building materials needed to install it. You can read it here.

I've also posted a couple of scanned reciepts, you can see them here and here and here.


Abby

Hi everyone, blog posts have been thin on the ground over the last few weeks but i'm hoping to catch up in the next week or so. In the meantime I wanted to let you know that the grit bin has been installed and filled today. Thanks to Alistair C of tickthebox publicity for donating £100 to the fund which allowed me to buy the rest of the materials needed. Alistair lives on the estate.

I now need your suggestions on how we can spread the grit. The bin is locked to stop the grit from being stolen and I'm looking for some volunteers to help with spreading when the weather is cold. If you have any ideas or are interested in volunteering please would you get in touch by e-mailing me at abbykillen@hotmail.com or comment on the post.


Abby

This week's updates

Hi everyone, here's a couple of links to this week's blog updates -

• October Neighbourhood Watch Association Newsletter
• Environment Agency flood warning information
• Cold calling warning

Have a good weekend,

Abby

PS, the grit bin has arrived and I'm now double checking with Miller Homes that they still own the land at the side of the road. They gave me permission in the summer to put the bin near to the entrance to the estate and once they reply I'll get it installed.

Tuesday night update

Hi all, it's been a while since I blogged so I wanted to post a quick update on the grit bin.

First of all our grit bin is on order and I have 750kg of rock salt on my patio! Thanks to everyone who has made a donation so far.  Thanks also to Ken L for helping to find a supplier and Jane H for assisting with rock salt.

I'm hoping the bin will be delivered soon and I can arrange to get it installed and filled up. But before I do that I still need to ask those of you who haven't donated and who want to contribute to post your envelope through my front door (39 Jubilee Way). I spent a  couple of evenings earlier in the month knocking on doors and I managed to raise about another £90 but as not everyone was home I still need to raise about £40 more.  Unfortunately I just don't have the time to keep the door-knocking up.  So, if you're reading this, and would like to make a donation please post an envelope through my door with your name and address on.

I'm exploring a couple of other ways to raise some extra money to but if anyone has any builders sand or locks with keys they want to donate to the grit bin fund please get in touch by posting a comment.

To keep track of where the cash has come from I've posted a statement of the income and outgoings. You can see it here and I'll update it from time to time.

That's all for tonight. I'll post a couple of other updates later in the week.

Abby

Hi all, a couple of updates for this week -

• Please click here to read about a Trading Standards scam relating to computer problems. At least one person on the estate has been contacted like this so be aware that they may call and pose as Microsoft support.
• I've had about 30 donations from residents to contribute to the grit bin for our estate. Thanks to those of you who have made a donation and dropped it off at my house. I still don't have enough to buy the bin so if you want to make a donation please can you put £2 in an envelope (write your name, address and email on it please) and drop it off at number 39 Jubilee Way.
• The Village Festivities Group (the people who organise the Christmas Fair in December) are holding a car-boot-sale fund raiser at Bishop Rawstorne on Sunday 11th September. A pitch costs £10 for traders and there is free parking if you want to go down and pick up a bargain!  You can read more about it here. And, while you're on their site they have details of the Elvis night on October 8th at the Social Club on Westhead Road. Tickets cost just £10 and there is a hot pot supper, disco and quiz too.  You may be surprised to know it cost over £4000 to run the event last year and all of this was raised by the volunteer committee.  Both of the events will help raise funds to pay for this year's event and ensure it can continue to take place.

Abby

Grit bin update

The grit bin collection is gong well with about half of the estate contributing so far. I know there will be people are on holiday and everyone has a million things to do over the school holidays but if you haven't already donated please do so as soon as you can. I am trying to avoid having to knock on too may doors at the start of September. I know snow and ice are the last thing on your mind in August but if you were here last year (and the beginning of this year) you will have seen how difficult it was to drive in and out of the estate. Thanks Abby. 

Grit bin application successful

Hi All - I am pleased to tell you that our application to Croston Parish Council for a grant towards the purchase of a grit bin and grit for the estate was successful. We have been awarded £200 towards the purchase. I will speak to Karen whose idea it was to purchase the grit and let you know the next step.

Update on the grit bin application

Hi, Alan Platt from the Parish Council got in touch today. They are looking into the implications of the Parish Council providing a grit bin for use by residents of another estate covered by another Parish Council.  He went on to say that our request will be an agenda item in the future. I'll let you know when I next get an update.

Grit bin for the estate

Hi all, after I got in touch with you about the grit-bin at the end of 2010 I wrote to the Parish Council asking them to pay for a bin and some grit. Chorley Council had previously said they won't pay for one. I've attached a copy of the letter I sent and I'll let you know more once the Parish Council reply. Thanks to everyone who replied with information to support our application. Click here to read the letter.