City centre streets in Gloucester have been brightened up with street art. 75 electrical boxes and street furniture items were painted by 5 local artists. You can read more about the project here.
Here’s one in Southgate Street celebrating the famous England’s Glory matches, made for many years in Moreland, Gloucester.
A new toddler swing at Tuffley Park has now been installed, after I urged the council to replace the missing one. The new swing was paid for from Section 106 money (contributions from developers towards the local community), costing £621.30.
I am sure it will be well-used. I am grateful to council officers particularly Shane Burgess for their work on this.
Liberal Democrats in Gloucester are standing with Ukraine at this awful time. Recently we endorsed a cross-party council motion calling on the council to condemn the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. City councillors and officers have been assisting in many ways in the local community, and we are looking at ways we can further support our Ukrainian allies in the future.
If you want to help, the government website lists several ways to get involved.
It was good to have another walkabout in Podsmead this week with PCSO Suzanne Sexton. We looked at concerns in Earls Park, chatted to residents in Chaucer Close and Duke of Beaufort Court, and called in to see the scheme managers in Badger Vale Court and Halford House.
This a regular practice for us in Podsmead and if you have any concerns or areas you would like us to look at please let me know.
‘WHAT DOES SMART SECURITY MEAN FOR MY HOME?’ FREE WEBINAR Join this virtual chat with a smart security expert from ERA, plus Q&A Thursday 10th March, 5 – 6pm
Find out what smart security means for your home and how simple changes can vastly improve its security. During the webinar Neighbourhood Watch CEO, John Hayward-Cripps, and ERA’s smart security expert, Sumier Foster-Shah, will discuss:
available smart security solutions
installation
what to look for when choosing a smart security system
and much more
Following the discussion, they will run a live Q&A session to answer all of your questions and concerns.
Our research shows two thirds (67%) of people are worried about their home being broken into, yet there are simple, proven measures we can all take to reduce our chances of becoming a victim of burglary by up to 50%.
To help you be and feel safer at home, we are running our Think WIDE(N)burglary prevention campaign (1st-31st March), highlighting the simple, evidence-based WIDE measures which can be taken in any home on a variety of budgets.
At Neighbourhood Watch, we also believe neighbours keeping an eye out for each other is key to reducing burglary, so we’ve extended the WIDE acronym to WIDE(N):
W: WINDOWS: Keep your windows locked
I: INTERIOR: Put inside lights on a timer/smart bulb
D: DOORS: Double or deadlock your doors
E: EXTERIOR: Put outside lights on a sensor
(N): NEIGHBOURS: Keep an eye out for your neighbours
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said ‘It is not okay for two-thirds of people to fear being burgled. More needs to be done to help people be and feel safer, and when it comes to burglary, prevention is always better than cure. Since 1982 we have been supporting communities to feel and be safer. We know that by securing your home’s windows, interior, doors, exterior and keeping an eye out for neighbours, we can all give ourselves the best chance of not being burgled. If you have been burgled recently, criminals are familiar with your home and may come back once you’ve had time to purchase new items. Act soon to avoid being retargeted – use the WIDE(N) advice for a combination of simple yet effective prevention measures.’
We have joined forces with our longstanding primary smart security partner, ERA Home Security, to bring their expertise to our Think WIDE(N) burglary prevention campaign. We are excited to invite you to some events this month:
WEBINAR: WHAT DOES SMART SECURITY MEAN FOR MY HOME? 10th March, 5-6pm delivered in partnership with ERA – booking opening soon on ourwatch.org.uk/webinars.
ASK THE EXPERTS DAY: 16th March on our Facebook / Twitter / Instagram channels – an opportunity to learn more and discuss burglary prevention live with ERA experts and Neighbourhood Watch
Member discount In addition, as a thank you for your continued support of Neighbourhood Watch, ERA is offering a discount of 10% off all alarm kits using the code NHW2022. Click here to take advantage of this special offer. Take advantage of this offer by 31st March 2022.
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the campaign, please email enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk.
Kind regards
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349
There is still a small amount of funding available in the ward councillor pot for Podsmead. If you have an idea for something that would benefit the community, let me know.
Ideally it would be a few projects in the range of £50-100, as this would enable several projects to be backed. The money must be allocated by the end of March.
The exception is garden waste, as crews will not be able to return to residents who have not had a garden waste collection. The next collection of garden waste will be on Friday 4th March.’
Please put your brown food waste caddy and domestic waste (black bin) out by 7am Monday 21st February for rescheduled collection.
Recycling will be a double collection on Friday 25th February. You can present extra recycling in clear plastic bags.