Category: News

New methods of paying for parking in Harrow borough.

Information on the changes to the methods of paying for on-street and car park parking from Harrow Council:

Cashlite Parking

The council is encouraging people to use cashless transactions to pay for its services.

Car parking is one of the areas affected, with suspension of traditional pay and display from late January.  One-hour-free parking will be introduced across all council car parking spaces at the same time.

The easiest way to register your parking session and get your free hour will be with the PayByPhone app – available from all app stores.

PayByPhone also offers text, call and online services. You can set up an account to use these at paybyphone.co.uk or by calling 0208 039 1101.

See more information including how-to guides at the PayByPhone website or YouTube channel 

When parking in the majority of our spaces the option to pay with cash will still be available.

This can be done via the network of PayPoint convenience stores. Details of the nearest one can be found on signage in car parks and near our on-street bays.

PayPoints offer ticketless parking, with no need to return to the car. You will need to quote your vehicle registration and the PayByPhone location number shown on nearby signage.

Where we’re not yet able to provide this facility within a five-minute walk, a pay and display machine accepting contactless card payments will be available instead.

Prior Approval Application for a telecom Mast and Equipment Boxes in Albury Drive Refused.

The Pinner Association, and a great many local residents, wrote objection letters regarding the “Prior Approval” planning application for the installation of a new 20 metre high telecom mast and associated equipment cabinets on a site in Albury Drive, on an Designated Open Space in the Pinnerwood Conservation Area.

We can now report that both this applications have been refused by Harrow Council’s Planning Officers, on the grounds of “The proposed telecommunications pole, by reason of its siting, excessive height and prominent location would be visually obtrusive in the streetscene, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the Pinnerwood Park Conservation Area and the Designated Open Space,” and “The proposed telecoms cabinets, by reason of quantity, height and siting would be visually obtrusive in the streetscene and designated Open Space and result in visual clutter which would detract from the amenity value of the Designated Open Space for local residents, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the Pinnerwood Park Conservation Area, the designated Open Space and residential amenities of local residents,”.

Harrow Council Civic Centre to close at end of January 2023.

From the end of January 2023 Harrow Civic Centre will close.

With 99% of “customer interactions” now online or over the phone, everyday in-person transactions from the end of January will move to Greenhill Library, off College Road. Staff there will offer residents help to do things digitally, including setting up cashless payments for rent, fines, Council Tax and more.

Complex and urgent in-person enquiries for housing and social care will move to a new customer reception, on Gayton Road in the town centre. Offices next door will become the new home of Citizens Advice Harrow.

From Spring 2023, registering of births, deaths and marriages will move to ‘The Pavilion’ – offices next door to Greenhill Library. Civil marriage and citizenship ceremonies will also be performed at The Pavilion.

The Mayors Parlour will relocate to Harrow Arts Centre and Council and committee meetings have already been relocated to new venues.

Most Council staff, including those who manage the thousands of digital interactions from residents, now use an office building at the Council’s depot on Forward Drive as their base.

For further information go to:  https://www.harrow.gov.uk/council/closing-harrow-civic-centre 

Current Scams in Circulation

Dear Watch Member,

Here is a brief summary of some scams in circulation. Please help to raise awareness of them by alerting friends and family.

Mobile phone offers: You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your mobile phone provider offering a big discount on a new phone. They then use your account details to purchase a new phone. The phone is delivered to you but the fraudster then calls you to say the wrong phone was sent. They arrange to collect it, but they then keep it for themselves.

WhatsApp messages: You receive a WhatsApp message claiming to be from your son or daughter. They say their phone is damaged and they urgently need money transferred to a bank account to arrange a replacement.

PayPal Request Money emails: You receive an email which uses PayPal’s Request Money feature. The wording is designed to look like a payment has already been made – this is to pressure you into clicking on the payment link. If you receive a PayPal email about a payment you were not expecting, treat it as suspicious and do not click on the “Pay Now” link in the email.

Be wary when selling goods online: Criminals target people selling phones or other valuables via online selling platforms. They contact you and arrange to buy the item from you via Bank Transfer. You receive an email claiming to be from a bank confirming that funds have been received but won’t be released until you provide proof of postage. You then post the item but the payment never arrives.
Alternatively, the fraudster offers to collect the item. When they arrive, they pay you using a convincing banking app. The app can mimic apps from several banks and seems to show the funds being transferred to your account.
We urge you not to release an item you are selling until you have independently confirmed that the money is in your account.
If you believe you are a victim of a scam, contact your bank immediately, and then report it online to www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
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]
Tel: 020 8721 2775

Stay Safe: The Dangers of Frozen Waters

Dear Watch Member,

After the recent tragic deaths of four children who fell through ice on a lake in Solihull, it’s important to remind people of the dangers of standing on frozen lakes and rivers.

Children and pets are particularly at risk when tempted to play on ice formed on open water, and adults can find themselves at risk in attempting to save them.
Taking a nice walk in cold weather with your family, friends or dogs in tow can be really refreshing, just make sure you know some simple tips on how to stay safe in winter.

Areas with frozen lakes, ponds, canals and reservoirs can be beautiful places to visit during the winter months but all too often many people risk their lives by venturing onto frozen water.

Here are some useful tips to help you know what to do in an emergency.
• Teach children not to go onto the ice under any circumstances.
• Don’t go onto ice or into the water to rescue a dog, move to somewhere that the dog will be able to climb out and call them towards you.
• Keep dogs on their leads when near ice and don’t throw sticks or toys onto the ice.
• Time your walks to make the most of the daylight; if you need to walk in the evening only use well-lit areas or take a route not alongside water.
• When walking alongside water keep back from the edge.

Please visit the RLSS website on this link, to see useful tools on how to get your children talking about winter water safety: Winter Water Safety | Royal Life Saving Society UK ( RLSS 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]
Tel: 020 8721 2775
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