Official Launch of East Chinnock Community Speed Watch  

The last Friday in February saw the local Beat Manager Jonathon Watson and PCSO Caroline Matthews supporting volunteers at the official launch of East Chinnock's Community Speed Watch. Julie and Roger Jewell were on hand taking pictures for the village website.

Speeding traffic through our village puts the safety of pedestrians and law abiding motorists at risk. The use of the radar devices will not lead to prosecution (drivers will get a letter from the police) but it will help to underline East Chinnock's commitment to reducing speed. The Community Speed Watch team has 13 volunteers signed up already, trained by the area Road Traffic Unit. The team are finding that in a one hour session there are often over 700 vehicles travelling through the village and 4 or 5 will be recorded as travelling at excessive speed. The team has the support of David Laws MP who says "People are inclined to think of the A30 as a road on which they can drive quite fast but we must all think of local residents and pedestrians and keep to the speed limits". 

SSDC has actively supported the take up of Speed Watch. Our very own Ric Pallister. SSDC Deputy Leader, says that "as an accident prevention measure Speed Watch is of proven effectiveness and will undoubtedly increase safety on this stretch of the A30 which has not got a good track record. 

Christine Langford

Dog Fouling 

The parish Council continue to receive complaints about dog fouling. Please can the dog owners clean up the mess made by their dogs and either take it home or put in the bins provided. It is not acceptable to Leave dog mess on doorsteps or in other peoples bins, or throw it over walls. It is pretty disgusting so please clean up responsibly. 

Local and Mobile Library Services 

“Buy none, get 20 free” - not the kind of offer to turn down in these belttightening days. In this case, the 20 free items refers to the number of books a library member can borrow from any of Somerset's 34 libraries and 6 mobile libraries. 

Your local library will have plenty to choose from to suit all tastes in their collections of books, talking books and DVDs, as well as access to newspapers, periodicals, maps and much more. 

Did you know that libraries offer:

• free membership to all
• free access to online information resources and "office" programmes, with some charges applied for longer use of open Internet searching. For family history fans, free access to the online Ancestry" package is available in libraries
• access to about two million books and other items in the South West and many more nationally
• an enquiry service which will attempt to answer any information question you care to ask -just phone 01823 336370; for 24 hour access to the “Enquire” service go to www .somerset.gov.uk uk/libraries
• information about clubs and voluntary services at www.somerset.gov.uk uk/gateway
• extra activities to help children develop a love of reading, such as storytimes and the Summer Reading Challenge - and free requests for childrens books
• specialist collections of local history, sheet music and playscripts
• support for reading groups
• courses on using computers and access to other learning opportunities
• services to people who are housebound and unable to get to the library - we can arrange for a volunteer or a Mobile Library Driver to bring you books -just ask at your local library or phone 0845 3459177
• mobile library visits to over 1,100 stops across Somerset. Full details of these visits are on the website at http://www.somerset.gov.uk/mobilelibrarytimetables Most vehicles visit every three weeks and some communities schedule an informal coffee morning / afternoon tea session to have a chat about books and a ‘catchup' before the mobile library arrives. Each vehicle has wheelchair access and is equipped to carry about 2,000 books, with access to many more
   

Nearly 100,000 Somerset residents borrowed from libraries last year.
If you join before 30th April your name can be entered into a prize draw. 

The Somerset County Council mobile library visits the village at three weekly intervals. It stops at the playground Weston Street from 9.50 until 10.05 and at the bottom of Orchardleigh from 10.10 until 10.25.

The next dates are 21 April and 12 May. 

Anyone with a Somerset CC Library card can use this service 

 Dog's Business, Owners Responsibility! 

Unfortunately, despite there being one dog bin in Westways there are still many instances of dog fouling in the village. Please can we ask all dog owners to clean up after their dogs. Leaving the deposits on the paths is really rather unpleasant for walkers young and old. A reminder that it is actually an offence not to clean up and can result in a fine. 

THE SECOND DISPOSAL BIN HAS NOW BEEN INSTALLED IN CARTERS LANE 

PLEASE USE IT! 

East Chinnock Parish Plan 

The Parish Council wish to create an East Chinnock Parish Plan.

This would be a document that highlights the priority projects within the village. Other villages that have them have found that they have helped when trying to source funding for projects. Although the Parish Council want to steer this, it is essential that there is input from people in the village to truly understand what villagers feel are the main issues that need to be resolved or projects that they would like to see started.  

If anyone has any ideas then please contact Andy Sinclair

email: andysinclair53@tiscali.co.uk

Struggling With Fuel Bills? 

Despite the drop in oil prices there is no sign of any serious attempt to reduce domestic oil, gas and electricity prices to us the consumers. Fuel poverty for many was a reality before the events of the last 6 months and we are concerned that we have people in our communities who will undoubtedly be at risk this winter. In the South West we have above average levels of fuel poverty and poor energy efficiency in the homes of older people, particularly in the private sector, and above average excess winter deaths among people aged 85+.  We need everyone to be the eyes and ears within our communities particularly for those at greatest risk from pneumonia brought on by the combination of damp and cold. The very young and those older members of our community living alone are at risk when heating is turned off or too low. Please be aware and make sure you tell someone if you believe a family or individual needs help or support. Better to be blamed for interfering than to live with the discovery of your neighbour in a coma or worse.  It is worth asking a few simple questions of yourselves, if you are struggling to make ends meet, or helping your friends and neighbours if you think they are at risk  

1. Are you getting the help and financial benefits you are entitled to?  

• To check, call: The Benefits Enquiry Line 0800882200             
• SSDC's Welfare Benefits Advisor 01935462006              
• Somerset Care Direct 0845 345 9133    
• Or use the anonymous, online DIY calculator www.entitledto.co.uk 

2. Are you eligible for free loft and cavity wall insulation?  

• If you are over 70, you can get free cavity wall insulation and loft insulation if you have less than the recommended thickness.  
• Being on certain income or disability benefits can entitle you to free loft and cavity insulation, regardless of age. You may also be able to get central heating installation or repairs.  
• To find out what Grants and Discounts are available phone the Energy Saving Trust free on 0800 512 012.  
• For Heating Grants, call Warm Front on 0800 316 2814 or 0800 316 6011.

3. Are you with British Gas or EDF Energy and struggling to pay your fuel bills?  

• You can phone 01733 421021 to apply for a grant towards meeting fuel bills or fuel debts.

4. Are you certain how to use your BOILER and THERMOSTAT controls correctly?  Can you manage your radiator and night store controls?  

• A lot of money can be wasted if controls and timers are not set correctly.  
• If you would you like a home visit to help you with this contact the Home Aid Partnership on 01458 257484 or  01458 257478, They can also fill in a Home Energy Check with you. You will then receive a report from the Energy  Saving Trust detailing what you can do in your home to save money and energy.   

5. Has your boiler or heating system been serviced recently?  

• An inefficient boiler wastes money and threatens your health and safety.  
• If you would you like a home visit to help you with this contact the Home Aid Partnership on 01458 257484 or  01458 257478

6. Do you suffer from draughts and need help sealing them?      

• The Home Aid Partnership runs a Handyperson Scheme that provides a mobile, small repairs/jobs service, including draught-proofing, to vulnerable occupiers. A supply of low energy light bulbs is usually available through the scheme. 

Many of you lead busy lives but please take a minute to think about those who live around you. Without being dramatic, your awareness could be critical.   

If there is anything either of us can do to help then do not hesitate to contact us at any time    

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Bonfires... ...General Advice on Garden Bonfires

Consider other ways of disposing of garden waste, but if you must have a bonfire please consider the following.

• Let your neighbour know- if you are planning to have a bonfire
• Keep bonfires as far away from neighbours as possible.
• Ensure all material is dry
• Only burn garden waste and readily combustible material such as paper and cardboard.
• Only burn clean wood-varnished or painted wood can produce toxic fumes and cause strong odours.
• Do not burn chipboard or MDF as the high proportion of resins and glues used in its manufacture prevent efficient burning, resulting in toxic fumes and strong odours.
• Bonfire should never be used for getting rid of general household rubbish, plastics, treated wood and other similar items.                                                   

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