Upcoming Road Closure. The B4060 is due to be closed between Stancombe and North Nibley for bridge and retaining wall repair from 20th July to 7th August. It will be necessary to close the road completely to through traffic because of the excavation and size of machinery that will be used.
Look Out for Ash Dieback
The Parish Council has begun a survey of trees in the parish which may have been infected by this fungal disease, but this is a very big undertaking and as much help from residents as possible would be greatly appreciated. It would help greatly if while you’re out walking, you would keep a lookout for any signs of disease and dieback in mature ash trees in and around the village and let the Parish Council know if you spot any trees you think are cause for concern. It is important to know where there are affected trees, both because of the potential danger of their falling and also because it may be possible to obtain funding for their replacement. Enjoy your walks and thank you for keeping a lookout.
How to Wear Face Coverings
All about Face Coverings
Cloth face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and social distancing in public settings.
Who should NOT use cloth face coverings: children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Cloth face coverings are NOT surgical masks or N95 respirators. Currently, surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.
Wear your Face Covering Correctly
Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
Make sure you can breathe easily
Wear a Face Covering to Protect Others
Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others in case you’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms
Wear a face covering in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when it may be difficult for you to stay six feet apart
Wear a face covering correctly for maximum protection
Don’t put the face covering around your neck or up on your forehead
Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect
Follow Everyday Health Habits
Stay at least 2 M away from others
Avoid contact with people who are sick
Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time
Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
Take Off Your Cloth Face Covering Carefully, When You’re Home
Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops
Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing.
Village Hall Car Park Weeding
This coming Sunday morning the 19th at 10-00am we will be having 1 more working party to finish off weeding the newly planted trees at the Village Hall Car Park. A few more volunteers would be a great help and I envisage about 1 hour’s work to finish off. Just turn up with a pair of Gardening gloves and a large bucket would help.
“More hands make light work”
Charlie Oakhill
07958 474807
Scams
Scam Emails
I’ve had two scam emails in the last 24 hrs, one from the Police and one from the Parish Council!
There really does seem to be an increase at the moment in all types of scams and cons. Probably because everyone is at home, cut off and vulnerable. Obviously the golden rule is don’t believe anyone…it too good to be true!
Also, before you do ANYTHING, speak to a neighbour or a friend.
Here are the Police messages…
Police are aware of a number of different SCAMS which have been taking place across the County.
Amazon Prime Account Fraudsters are telephoning residents stating they are wish to refund an amount of money to their Amazon Prime Account and request remote access to their victim’s computer in order to make the refund. This is a scam. Do NOT give any details or allow access to your PC.
HMRC Fraudsters are contacting residents saying they are from HMRC and threatening them with arrest or prosecution if they do not pay a sum of money to them which they say is owing. This is a scam. Do NOT give them your bank details or any other personal information (ie National Insurance Number) and do NOT agree to pay.
Courier Fraud Fraudsters are contacting residents by telephone and pretending to be either police officers or bank employees. They will invent a story about your bank card being cloned, or about counterfeit currency at their local bank branch. Victims have been tricked into handing over their bank cards or cash, while others were instructed to purchase high value jewellery to give to a “courier”. Should you receive any such calls, try to note the callers telephone number by dialling 1471 immediately after the call. Contact your Bank to ensure everything is OK and let them know what has happened.
O2 / Mobile telecommunications providers Fraudsters are informing people that there are issues with their Direct Debit making it impossible to process the latest bill. They suggest that in order to avoid fees, you should update your billing information via the hyperlink provided. If you receive a text message like this, do not click on the link(s) or follow any instructions given to you.
GENERAL ADVICE
NEVER disclose your PIN number or give out your bank details or withdraw cash. Do not engage in conversation and if in any doubt, hang up the telephone.
Many of these fraudsters tend to target the elderly. Please share this information with elderly relatives, neighbours and friends, so that those who are most likely to be targeted are aware.
One of our local artists has been busy during lockdown and has a new website….
It’s a bit slow to load, but shows all her current paintings for sale. Also you can subscribe to her mailing list.
Jane Lampard
Jane Lampard has been painting for more than thirty years. Largely self taught but influenced early on in her career by artists such as Aubrey Philips and James Fletcher Watson. Working in both oil and pastel Jane uses layers of paint to build up depth and texture in her highly atmospheric paintings. A need to record the subtleties of our ever changing landscape motivates her to work outside whenever possible. A sense of being in the moment and experiencing fleeting effects of light always more important than a faithful portrayal of detail.
From a farming family herself Jane is particularly drawn towards depicting traditional rural life especially at a time when she feels our whole landscape is under threat of change. The lure of the sea is never far away and whenever possible Jane makes trips to coastal locations from Cornwall to the West coast of Scotland.
Jane has earned a reputation as an inspiring teacher and runs occasional workshops from her studio in Gloucestershire. She has also tutored small groups in Provence, Venice, Morocco and Andalucia and for the last 20 years has held annual solo exhibitions at her home. Her work has been exhibited with the Pastel Society, the Royal West of England Academy, the Society of Women Artists as well as several leading provincial galleries.
Awards
2010 Winner of the John Singer Sergeant Award.
Doorstep Selling – Knockers
Knockers in Stinchcombe
We had “knocker” today on our doorstep called “Matthew McLaren”, I know that because he showed me cheques that others had made out to him and I also saw plenty of cash in his back…obviously Stinchcombe is good. However, when I asked for his licence from Stroud Council, he showed me the above which I could have made up myself.
They are doorstep callers who target areas offering small household products for sale. These callers may claim to be ex-convicts attempting to mend their ways, however they are not part of any recognised rehabilitation scheme.
Please warn your neighbours, particularly elderly or vulnerable neighbours, not to open the door to strangers or buy or sell on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.
Please keep in mind that if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.
How they work
The sellers may say that they are on a “rehabilitation course” arranged by probation services or other organisations trying to find people work. This is not the case and often they are known criminals. Probation services do not run such schemes.
They may show a card which claims to be a “Pedlars Licence” or work permit. The following is an example of one that has been frequently seized by the police. This is not valid and they are breaking the law if they are using anything like this.
Typical fake license
They may also hand over a card saying they are deaf or dumb.
According to the police, the bag of household products is supplied by someone who employs them. The males / females are supplied with a full bag of household products (including the typical tea-towels!) and charged a minimal sum for the contents – it used to be £35. They can keep whatever they make, above this amount.
Usually they are deposited in an area from a transit van and given a list of streets to work. An hour or so later they are picked up and dropped off in another location. They often work from 9am to 9pm.
They will knock on a door, offering cleaning items which they know are cheap and of very poor quality; the householder also knows they are rubbish but that is part of the scam. Many people will purchase items and pay them out of their good nature as they have fallen for their storey or, just to get rid of them. There have been cases of elderly residents handing over large sums as these people can be very persistent and confrontational.
The price for whatever has been purchased usually comes to a note – usually £10. The householder disappears to get this – this is when the scam begins, according to the police. When the note is handed over, the lad examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it. If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new – they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them. As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty – this is an indication that there is more in the property. Those addresses are noted. The addresses of elderly / vulnerable / gullible people are all noted.
These are handed to the employer and there is a small amount of cash handed over for each one.
These addresses are then sold in prisons and pubs. If there is a later break-in, the employer expects a further cut of the proceeds.
Police advise that in almost every case of a stop check – the lads have long strings of convictions for burglary and violence. They use the skills learnt during their criminal activity to identify possible targets.
TURN THEM AWAY
REMEMBER if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.
Dr. John Campbell
I don’t know how many still follow COVID-19 news but I am one who followsDr. John Campbell on YouTube who is a retired Nurse Teacher and has followed the progression of COVID-19 worldwide since the start.
The reason I like this channel is that it’s full of FACTS! (so hard to come by) and he talks about ALL countries (unlike our so insular media)
He talks like a teacher (which is what he is) and each video is around 20 / 30 mins every couple of days.
But if you really want to know all about COVID-19, and the truth, I recommend this channel
Below are his latest and the first videos on Coronavirus which was back on 26th January 2020, and looking back on what he said then…well, just read some of the comments…“This guy was ahead of the game” , “If just people and governments would have LISTENED to Dr. Campbell back then!!!”
If you want to know all about the virus, just watch his video from 26th January, things haven’t changed that much.
