Author: News Team 1

Protect Yourselves from Rogue Traders

Dear Watch Member,

After Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice both wreaked havoc across the country many of us sustained damage to our properties and are now experiencing the stress of arranging for repairs to be undertaken.

Unfortunately, fraudsters will use these storms as an opportunity to exploit you by overcharging for repairs or claiming that whilst working at a neighbours’ property they noticed that your property has loose / missing roof tiles, broken guttering, blown-down fences or tree damage etc.

They will sometimes say that they can fix the problem immediately with surplus building materials whilst they are in the area. This can inevitably lead to unnecessary or uncompleted work of poor standard.

Fraudsters may use intimidation and pressure you into making a quick decision that could prove to be an expensive one. They may also insist that you pay them in cash immediately, put down a deposit, or if demanding large sums of money, instruct you to make a bank transfer or offer to take you to your bank to withdraw the money.

Please encourage your relatives, friends and neighbours to be vigilant to these tactics. It is always advisable to find reputable traders via recommendations from friends or family, or use websites such as Which? Trusted Trader which you can visit with this link: Find traders near you with Which? Trusted Traders | Which?

For comprehensive advice on how to protect yourself from fraudsters please read the attached Little Book of Big Scams.

Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Scam NHS Omicron Text Message

 

Dear Watch Member,

It’s not just the Omicron variant that is still in circulation; there is also a scam NHS text message regarding it too!

The text message informs its recipient that they have been in contact with someone infected with Omicron and they need to apply for a test kit using a link. The link appears to be for an urgent test kit.

Some of the recipients who have clicked on the link have entered their personal information and bank details after being asked to pay for postage of the kit.

This is a scam.  Please remember that unexpected texts may not be from whom they claim. You should never divulge any personal information or bank details after clicking on a link in an unexpected text or email.

  • NHS contact tracers will never ask for your bank account details or for any form of payment.
  • If unsure about a message of this nature, residents can call 119 to check with a genuine NHS professional.
  • You can report a suspicious text message for free by forwarding it to 7726. If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and block or ban the sender if it’s found to be malicious.
  • We would also advise you to report texts of this nature to Action Fraud www.actionfraud.police.uk.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Catalytic Converter Theft Webinar – 23/02/2022

Dear Watch Member,

We know many residents in Harrow are concerned about the rise in catalytic converter thefts and to discuss the issue Harrow Council and North West BCU police are holding a community webinar.

Catalytic converters, used to clean up exhaust gases and reduce pollution, are targeted by thieves because they contain precious metals.

These materials can be illegally recycled or sold for profit. Newer cars’ converters are fitted differently and are not typically targeted, while hybrid cars are the most popular for organised gangs because they contain the most precious metals.

At this webinar, hosted by Cllr Peymana Assad, you will hear from the police and council.

Join us on Zoom on Wednesday 23 February at 6.30pm.  

Speakers include:

  • Cllr Peymana Assad, Cabinet?Member for Community Cohesion, Crime and Enforcement
  • Chief Inspector Ed Baildon of the Metropolitan Police North West BCU

There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Join the webinar on zoom using the following details:

Meeting ID: 849 6006 2958

Passcode: 678086

Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Scam WhatsApp Messages

Dear Watch Member,

There is currently a convincing WhatsApp scam in circulation responsible for some victims losing thousands of pounds.

The victims receive texts claiming to be from their son / daughter or other family member saying they have lost or broken their mobile phone, and that the number they are texting from is their new number. They then request financial help, asking that the money is sent urgently.

Some of the scam’s victims have suffered a significant financial loss in addition to emotional upset.

Please remain alert to this scam and warn others.

Remember that on WhatsApp (like emails and phone calls) people are not always who they claim to be. If someone claiming to know you asks for money or personal information, it is best to pause and check that they are who they claim to be – perhaps by speaking to them in person – before you consider acting on their request.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Annual General Meeting – Support Your Local Community

Our Annual General Meeting will be on the 20 April at 8pm, hopefully this year we will be able to hold it in The Villager Hall instead of on Zoom.  Our guest Speaker will be Mr Woolf, Head of Pinner High School.

We are always looking for new people to join the committee; irrespective of background, gender or ethnicity. Without people stepping up to the plate, we will not be able to continue.  What does that mean?

  • No festive lights or Christmas trees,
  • No band concerts,
  • No central social media platform for local clubs and organisations.
  • No instant advice on planning applications.
  • No extra gardeners for the Peace Gardens or wisteria.
  • No donations to local organisations.

You might think that you have nothing to contribute, think again. I would consider myself a generalist in all things Pinner. You might have a different perspective, ideas or way of looking at things – that’s good, we need you.  You don’t need to attend all meetings.  Interested? Please contact Ruth Boff by email [email protected].

Planning – Harrow Council Small Sites Design Code Consultation – Ends 7 February 22.

Harrow Council is consulting on a new draft Small Sites Design Code, which will provide design guidance for future small site development in the borough.
The Government and the Mayor of London have identified the need to increase the development of new homes on small sites (less than 0.25ha), in a bid to meet London’s housing needs. Harrow Council has produced a draft Design Code to provide design direction for small sites in the borough. Planning applications which comply with the guidance in the Small Sites Design Code would be likely to be granted planning consent, so it is important that this document reflects the views of the local community.

The draft Harrow Small Sites Design Code is aimed at planning applicants, designers and developers, to proactively support them in ensuring well-designed, new homes on small plots and for residential extensions (replacing the Harrow Residential Design Guide SPD). The draft Design Code seeks to provide Harrow-specific guidance, taking into account the local character and context, to ensure designs are of a high quality and appropriate for the area.
Once finalised, the Harrow Small Sites Design Code will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document, to support the housing requirements set out in the Harrow Local Plan, and the London Plan (2021).

The Council is seeking the views, ideas and comments from the public on the draft document. The link to the consultation is here:

https://www.harrow.gov.uk/news/article/11034/help-influence-the-design-of-new-developments-in-harrow
http://www.harrow.gov.uk/smallsites

The consultation ends on 7th February 2022.

This is your opportunity to have your say on how Pinner develops in the future – do not miss this chance to express your views and aspirations for the place you call home.

New Year Honours.

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Cynthia Wells has been awarded a B.E.M in this New Years Honours List. This is for services to the community in Pinner.

Congratulations and well deserved.

Cynthia as well as being our Honorary Editor of The Villager Magazine since 1997, has been a committee member since 1992 and for many years was the Honorary Secretary of The Pinner Association Committee. From 2001 to 2004 she was Chair of The Pinner Association.

She was one of a team of people instrumental in getting the West House and Heath Robinson Trust off the ground which resulted in the refurbishment of West House and the Heath Robinson Museum becoming a reality. It is only recently that she has stepped down as Chair of the West House and Heath Robinson Trust.

She was a trustee of Pinner House Association for over 16 years and is still a trustee of Beauclere (a sub-charity).

In 2016 she won the Harrow Heroes award for ‘Bringing people together”.

Articles for the Village Magazine – Deadline mid-January 2022

Email [email protected]

We are looking for articles/information for our Villager magazine;

  • Could you write about a local activity you do.
    • It could be the local sports club
    • Attending classes in the Village Hall (Flower arranging)
    • Scouts/Guiding groups/Police Cadets
    • A local green space
    • Music band
    • Volunteering
    • Local schools
    • Anything else.

Ideally the article would need to be able 500 words long with pictures.

  • Do you have local events that will be taking place between March 22 & July 22 and would like them included

Please let us know, thank you