Mayfield play area refurbishment

The upgrade to the play area in Mayfield has now been completed and we hope the new equipment will be enjoyed as the weather, hopefully, gradually improves. At the time of writing this article the only outstanding job was to refurbish the horse which can only be done in dry conditions. The refurbishment has been made possible by the receipt of Section 106 money from Wealden District Council for the Love Lane housing development that was negotiated several years ago.

 

Annual Parish Assembly

The Resident’s Annual Parish Assembly will be held in the Memorial Hall on 20 May 2018 at 19:30. This is not a council meeting but a meeting of the parish residents that has to, by law, take place between 01 March and 01 June each year. Organisations, societies and residents can contribute to the agenda and debate current issues in the community. If your organisation or society would like to report to the meeting or if you have any current issues that you believe should be added to the agenda for discussion, please contact the Parish Council office before 08 May 2019.

 

Tunbridge Wells Road closure

With regards to the upcoming road closure from 23 April 2019 for 10 weeks, enquiries have been made concerning the bus services that will be affected including the school bus service. At the time of writing this article South East Water has informed that they are still negotiating a solution for the bus routes and that they will keep us informed. The website will be updated when any further information is received.

 

Beware of local scam

Please be aware if you are approached by a vehicle with an occupant, purportedly with an Italian accent, asking for directions to Gatwick airport. This is a scam as they go on to ask the resident if they would buy good quality clothing that is “just their size” such as suits that they do not want to take on the flight with them. They seem to be targeting elderly residents. The clothing turns out not to be what was described to them and completely the wrong size. They have been seen on three occasions in Mayfield by the same local resident.

 

Cheque-ing Out

After 31 March 2019 Wealden District Council will no longer accept cheques at the Council Offices for the payment of any bills or services. They have taken the decision to stop accepting cheques at the Council after 31 March as they feel it is safer for customers. Most already pay for Council services by Direct Debit, and so it makes sense for them to stop accepting them as a method of payment in order to reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft. It also costs the Council approximately £10 to process each cheque, meaning that this action will help to keep Council Tax as low as possible.Since 2011 there has been a 65% reduction in the number of people paying for Council services by cheque. Council bills are being redesigned to make the payment process easier. They will include a number of alternative payment options and suggest places for people to pay using a method that suits them.

It’s not quite game over for the cheque though. Those still wishing to pay the Council by cheque will still be able to do so via their local Post Office.

 

Neighbourhood scam alerts

In addition to the above very local scam, there are so many others doing the rounds that we have been alerted to this month. To summarise a few:

Tenancy deposit scam

Fraudsters are claiming to be landlords of properties offered for rent online. Prior to a viewing the suspect requests that the individuals pay a deposit and sometimes a month’s rent upfront, claiming that this money will be put into the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, and is therefore protected under government legislation.

• Always make sure you, or a reliable contact, has viewed the property with an agent or landlord before agreeing to rent a property.
• Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision. Only transfer funds when you’re satisfied a genuine property, safety certificates and valid contract are in place.
• Only pay for goods or service by bank transfer if you know and trust the person.

Job searching scam

The vast majority of jobs are advertised and found online these days. The whole process is fast and easy and includes: searching a massive choice for the exact job you’re looking for; updating your CV; submitting your application; communicating with prospective employers or recruitment agencies.

• Never divulge information such as NI, passport or driver’s licence numbers, bank account/payment card information or date of birth, either typed on your CV or application, or in photos/scans. This could lead to identity theft.
• Only supply these when you’ve met the employer, landed the job and are satisfied that everything is legitimate.

HMRC landline scam

Households with a landline number should be vigilant of phone calls from fraudsters pretending to be the tax authority.Some even address victims by name or use a number that is often displayed as the official number of the agency they claim to represent, to add credibility to their call.

If you receive a suspicious call to your landline from someone purporting to be from HMRC which threatens legal action, to put you in jail, or payment using vouchers, hang up and report it to HMRC.

• people will never be texted or telephoned by HMRC out of the blue with requests for payments, to log in to an online account or to disclose personal information, such as PIN numbers, passwords or bank details.
• The tax authority will only ever call you asking for payment on a debt that you are already aware of, either having received a letter about it, or after you’ve told us you owe some tax, for example through a Self-Assessment return.
• If anyone is ever in doubt about who they are speaking to, HMRC advises you end the call and contact the department using one of the numbers or online services available from GOV.UK.