The Parish Council Chairman, Cllr Deveda Redman and I had a very lovely time visiting Mayfield Primary School just before they broke up for Christmas. We were there to ask some of the younger children what sort of equipment they would enjoy playing on in the bottom play area in Court Meadow. The Parish Council has decided that it is getting a bit tired and could do with some refurbishment. The school was very welcoming and the children were ever so well behaved and polite. They were given choices of different items of climbing equipment, swings, slides and a den to look at to choose their favourites. They gave us some valuable feedback on what they liked the look of best of all and why. The Pre-School staff talked to their pupils and provided feedback too and we would like to thank all involved for their assistance towards this future project.

 

Walk on our Rights of Ways

A reminder that the Guides to Walks around Mayfield and Five Ashes are still available for sale in the Parish Council Office for £5 a copy. The booklet starts with an informative village walk through the centre of Mayfield including some local history. There are also walks that encompass the Mayfield Gunfoundry with additional information supplied on its history. The walks vary in distance between 3 – 9.5 km. If you would like to purchase one please visit the Parish Council office in the High Street on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning.

East Sussex welcomes Syrian refugee families

East Sussex district and borough councils have agreed to support the resettlement of vulnerable Syrian families who have fled war zones. Many refugees have experienced traumas such as torture, the deaths of loved ones and the loss of everything they own. They have fled in a desperate search for safety, the majority with young children.

Eastbourne, Lewes, Wealden and Rother councils have each agreed to resettle 40 people with Hastings Borough Council pledging to resettle 100 people over the next five years.

Since November, working closely with the Government and a range of key partners including health, education and voluntary and community groups, the East Sussex Syrian Resettlement Programme has resettled 22 people including grandparents and children. This January, a further 22 people including extended families should have been resettled in East Sussex.

Finding suitable affordable accommodation to resettle Syrian vulnerable families into this area is difficult. If you are a private landlord with family sized accommodation available at the local housing allowance rate that you would be willing to let to a Syrian family, please contact Wealden District Council at housingoptions@wealden.gov.uk to find out more.”

Housing information

From time to time Wealden District Council’s Housing Register and Allocations Officer sends details of properties in Mayfield and Five Ashes that will be available to rent. This information is always displayed in the noticeboards and posted on the Parish Council website and Facebook page.

To increase your chance to be considered for council housing in the Parish here are just a few suggestions of what you can do:

 

• Apply to join the housing register as early as possible – before home/s are advertised – so you are actually in a position to bid when the home/s are available. Remember that It takes around four weeks to register a new application for housing.
• Applicants who are considered vulnerable, or don’t have internet access can sign up for a personalised property list called My Homemove, which lists the properties available that applicants may be eligible to bid for.
• Inform Wealden District Council about your local connection because after the home has been advertised is too late!
• Make sure you tell Wealden District Council about any change in circumstances, before a home is advertised.
• Do make sure you bid even if you are in a low priority band – you never know you might be successful
• Familiarise yourself with the Homemove bidding process so that you understand the process

For more information visit www.wealden.gov.uk telephone 01323 443322

Recent reported fraud

Sadly there are always new scams of be aware of – I myself am fed up with being telephoned numerous times a week by the ‘Microsoft Windows Technical Department’ despite the fact that I don’t even use that operating system. Also bizarrely my son had a telephone call concerning his prosecution involving the crown and to ‘press 2’ to speak to his solicitor! Needless to say he didn’t.

Action Fraud has received several reports from victims who have been sent convincing looking emails claiming to be from Amazon. The spoofed emails from “service@amazon.co.uk” claim recipients have made an order online and mimic an automatic customer email notification.

The scam email claims recipients have ordered an expensive vintage chandelier. Other reported examples include: Bose stereos, iPhone’s and luxury watches.

The emails cleverly state that if recipients haven’t authorised the transaction they can click on the help centre link to receive a full refund. The link leads to an authentic-looking website, which asks victims to confirm their name, address, and bank card information.

Amazon says that suspicious e-mails will often contain:

• Links to websites that look like co.uk, but aren’t Amazon.co.uk.
• Attachments or prompts to install software on your computer.
• Typos or grammatical errors.
• Forged (or spoofed) e-mail addresses to make it look like the e-mail is coming from co.uk.

Amazon will never ask for personal information to be supplied by e-mail.

You can read more about identifying suspicious emails claiming to be from Amazon by visiting https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201489210

To report a fraud or cyber crime, call 0300 123 2040.

Wealden Dementia Action Alliance

Wealden District Council’s 2017 Dementia–Friendly Film screenings which begin at 2pm are:

24 February – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

24 March – Top Hat

21 April – Easter Parade

26 May – On the Town

23 June – Hjgh Society

The film screenings are just one in a number of activities provided by the Wealden Dementia Alliance. Further details of the 2017 season of dementia Firendly Films in Wealden can be found on Wealden District Council’s website in the Communities and safety pages.