Author: Andrew Taylor

PEOPLE across Sussex are being targeted by telephone and courier fraudsters trying to get hold of their personal banking details, cash and credit cards.

But thanks to the widespread publicity, and police warnings, about them more people are coming wise to these scams and are not allowing the fraudsters to deceive them.

Out of 24 people who reported being called by the scammers on March 3, just one person handed over any money – an 82-year-old from Eastbourne who was conned into transferring £10,000 into another bank account.

Also on March 3, an 82-year-old man from Horsham was convinced to try to withdraw a large quantity money from his bank but excellent work by alert bank staff warned him to the fact it was a scam, so no money was withdrawn or handed over.

Detective Inspector Gill Sole said: “The message is getting out there that this type of call is a scam but we want to make sure that nobody falls victim to this.

“Police and banks would never phone like this and ask for personal details about bank accounts and pin numbers, or ask for money to be withdrawn. If anyone calls claiming to be a police officer and asks you, check the suspicious behaviour with your bank, but first make sure the line is clear by making the call a significant time later, or better still using a different phone.

“I urge anyone reading or hearing this message to pass it on to any friends and relatives who may not be aware of this particular type of targeted fraud, to prevent any vulnerable friends or family members from becoming victims.

“If you have any information, whether you have received similar calls or know someone who has been a victim of this crime, contact Sussex Police via 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Edisto. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

For on-line advice on fraud prevention, go to http://www.sussex.police.uk/help-centre/ask-us/fraud,-scams-and-financial-issues/what-can-i-do-to-prevent-fraud

The ‘Little Book Of Big Scams‘ also gives advice on how to prevent a wide variety of frauds.

Road name	Parish	Description	Traffic Management	Start Date	End Date	Contractor
Beeching Way	East Grinstead	Vegetation and debris clearance.	Two-Way Signals.	02-Mar-2015	06-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council
Beeching Way	East Grinstead	Carriageway Resurfacing.	Road Closure.	09-Mar-2015	14-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council
Beeching Way	East Grinstead	Bridge inspection.	Overnight Road Closure.	09-Mar-2015	14-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council
Byron Grove	East Grinstead	Carriageway Resurfacing.	Road Closure.	16-Mar-2015	17-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council
Chaucer Avenue	East Grinstead	Carriageway Resurfacing.	Road Closure.	18-Mar-2015	19-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council
College Lane	East Grinstead	Bridge inspection.	Two-Way Signals.	09-Mar-2015	14-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council
Middle Row	East Grinstead	Structural repairs to side of building.	Road Closure.	16-Mar-2015	03-Apr-2015	Middlerow
Saint Hill Road	East Grinstead	Drainage repairs.	Two-Way Signals.	06-Mar-2015	06-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council
Turners Hill Road	East Grinstead	Access underground structure for new customer connection.	Two-Way Signals.	16-Mar-2015	17-Mar-2015	BT
West Hoathly Road	East Grinstead	Drainage repairs.	Two-Way Signals.	05-Mar-2015	05-Mar-2015	West Sussex County Council

 

THE Town Council Outdoor Services Team has cleared up six incidents of graffiti covering 105.5 square metres around the town and taken down 35 items of fly-posting over the past three months.

They have also inspected twittens, cleaned road signs and cut back plant growth where it was deemed to be blocking drivers’ sight lines.

With the recent wet weather, the team has also assisted in the inspection of gullies in areas prone to flooding.

Above: West Sussex Highways dealing with flooding in Gardenwood Road last week

THE western boundary wall of St Swithun’s, which runs by Pizza Express, is to be replaced at a cost of £47,302 which will be paid by Mid Sussex District Council.

Before the rebuilding work starts on Monday 16 March, some pruning of the yew canopy will take place.

The wall which forms the eastern boundary to the churchyard along Church Lane was tested and found to be safe.

It took on its distinctive patchwork appearance because it fell to local estate owners around the town to repair the wall at their own expense and with whatever materials they had to hand.

Patchwork eastern wall pictured above © Roy Henderson

The theme for the High Street flower beds this year will be a Celebration of Freedom.

The beds, which last year took the Gold in the South and South East in Bloom competition,  will commemorate the Magna Carta, the Battle of Waterloo, the Women’s Institute , VE (Victory in Europe) Day and VJ (Victory in Japan) Day. East Grinstead Museum will be also holding exhibitions based around these five themes.

The colour scheme for the hanging baskets will be red and two shades of blue, and will contribute to the overall theme in the town.

Of the 220 hanging baskets ordered this year, 83 have been paid for by the business community.

The Bluebell Railway has ordered eight of the baskets for the first time.

THE Town Council’s Outdoor Team used heavy ropes to  remove rubbish which fly tippers have dumped into St Margaret’s Loop, the redundant railway cutting.

Access proved difficult because of the steep slopes, but the team eventually removed nine supermarket trollies, 1 MSDC recycling bin, a WSCC Highway Barrier, a reclining sofa chair and two bin liners containing bedding and a kettle.

The Town Council has now issued an appeal to the public to stop using  the site as a dumping ground as it not only raises environmental concerns but also risks the safety of the Outdoor team who have to clear up the mess.

Harroway Tree Surgeons also undertook a tree survey on trees growing on the top bank and abutting the rear of residential/commercial properties, and as a result emergency tree works were carried out on two sycamores and a wild cherry which had to be felled because they were leaning and in danger of falling.

The cost of the work topped £1,000.

ROADS around the town are getting new name plates thanks to a one-year agreement for their maintenance between the Town Council and Mid Sussex District Council.

So far 23 street name plates have been replaced – 15 in East Grinstead, and two each in Crawley Down, Sharpthorne, Turners Hill  and Ashurstwood.

But with only 40% of their £4,024 funding used, the Town Council will now seek to extend its agreement to three years in line with Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath Town Councils.

Are you concerned about your local area? Do you want to represent the views of local people? Do you want to contribute your business or personal skills and expertise? Are you passionate about services provided to your community? Your community needs you!

Reduction in Local Government funding may see services you take for granted reduced in the future.

Your Town Council could step in and fill the void in your community – to do this it will need your skills & enthusiasm.

If you would like to make a difference and be involved in shaping the future of the local community, why not stand for election?

East Grinstead Town Council are holding an event on Tuesday 17th March 2015 at 6:30pm in the Cranston Suite, East Court, East Grinstead to tell you all about…

• What your local council does
• The role of a Local Councillor
• How to get involved

IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI,  and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.

This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):

John Bonny

Sapper. 9261 56th Field Company The Royal Engineers.

Killed in action 12. 3.15. Aged 34.

Son of George and Esther Bonney of 21, Imberhorne Lane, East Grinstead. Husband of Grace Bonney (remarried) of 39, Copyhold Road, East Grinstead.

Born and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. MR. 29

Morden Edward Laws

Rifleman 9775 4th Battalion, The Kings Royal Rifle Corps. 27th Division.

Died of wounds 18. 3.15. Aged 23.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. W.E.Laws of 28, Chequers Road, East Grinstead. Born in Croydon and enlisted in Gosport, Hants.

Buried Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Belgium

Photo credit B. Hamill