July2021

5 Buckden Roundabout July 2021 From your councillor From Your District Councillor This month I am writing about a very important local issue, Neighbourhood Policing. Please read this as it impacts your life here in Buckden. I attended a recent briefing by Paul Rogerson who heads Neighbourhood Policing for the County. Paul gave a long and interesting presentation, which I hope I have summarised correctly. Apologies in advance for any mis- takes as his slides have not been sent on yet. PCSO ’ s The role of PCSO is very important to Buckden. Six months ago, the position of PCSO was uncertain, but new funding from Con- servative Government means that the role of PCSO is now con- firmed for this area. There were some early retirements, a lim- ited number of redundancies, with the remainder being trans- fers to Constable positions. So, there is cover in Buckden. But if you need to get help, then you need to note the follow- ing. Given recent changes the best way to get help is the Police Website. This is because new software has made response Tri County and there is new priority software. Someone will turn up, but the car and team may come from Fenland and not from St Neots. If you try and contact the Police from a link to the PCSO, the response may be very slow. This is because the PCSO may be off duty or on Duty. Your message will be logged along with many others, but you will be in a long queue! Ringing 101 is useful, but if you ring 101 and ask for Corporate Communications, your call will be logged for follow up and response. Same for email. Other developments • Parish Speeding Units can record data without blue lights and can transfer data to the Police, but Volun- teers are always needed. • Devolved Parking Enforcement will arrive in 18 months. This is where powers are devolved to Parish Councils and enforcement will be subcontracted. Parking and anti - social behaviour are areas which may be covered. • Fly - tipping remains an HDC issue, with back up by the Environment Agency. Any issues need to be referred to HDC website. All of this is basically a new structure, and the challenge is to integrate Buckden into this new structure. This is going to evolve, so if you have issues, comments or ideas please contact me and I will make sure these are fed into the decision makers. Finally, please do not ignore this. It is one issue where your input is essential. Hope you get a holiday and have safe! Hamish Masson Councillor, Buckden Ward, Huntingdon District Council FRIENDS IN DEED Friends in Deed is a group of volunteers who offer help and support to residents of Buckden. There are times in our lives when we could all do with a little extra support or companion- ship whatever our age or circumstances. Need someone to talk to? - it is not easy to ask for help, but why struggle when there are people happy to listen and to help? When we keep things to ourselves and struggle on, things can feel overwhelming and a little bit of help can make all the difference. Whilst visiting is limited for our volunteers at the moment, we can easily provide a friendly voice and ear over the phone. This is a free service and can be either a one - off chat or regu- lar chats. If you do want someone to talk to, please call our co - ordinator, Angie, on 07810 006598 and she will make the arrangements. Need a lift to an appointment? Our team of volunteer drivers are able to provide transport for vaccination / hospital / den- tal / hair appointments etc when family, friends or public transport is not an option. There are fixed fees for this service. Please email our transport co - ordinator peter.mount@btconnect.com or call 07914 669967 and leave your name, number, address and details of your appointment (date, time, location). Please do give us 48 hours notice if possible; 24 hours notice as an minimum and we shall do our best to meet your needs. Flora Sheringham All who knew her in Buckden (and beyond) will be sad to learn of the death of Flora Sheringham. She made a significant contribution to the life of the village over many years, not only as Chair of the Playgroup but, more re- cently as Chair of the Patients' Association, as a teacher of dance to both adults and children, as a judge and maker of cakes and in the many simple acts of thoughtful kindness large and small that she offered to everyone, especially those in need. The family request no flowers, please, but donations, if desired, to Breast Cancer Now.