MHA Communities Green Care Activities – February 2022

~ admin

During the cold winter weather, the Wilderness bog garden is in full flood with snowdrops and snowflakes emerging everywhere while Daffodils are showing and one or two are out.

During Green Care for people living with Dementia, participants and their carers are invited to join a Nature Art and Mindfulness Walk session on Wednesday 16th February.

During Green Care for all, participants will join a Potting Up activity and a Nature walk session on Wednesday 23rd February.

Please book your place by getting in contact with MHA Communities South London manager Marco Galli.

Check out the MHA Communities Newsletter – February 2022 to see what’s on their activities calendar. Let’s embrace the winter with social and engaging activities at MHA Communities South London.

MHA Communities South London at the Wilderness
17 Shirley Church Road, Croydon CR9 5AL
Email: southlondon@mha.org.uk

Register My Appliance Week

~ admin

To mark Register My Appliance Week Croydon Council trading standards are urging residents to register their appliances in case of urgent recall or safety repair.

While the recent increase in online purchasing (reportedly soaring as high as 70%) and the advent of smart appliances will all help to improve traceability, government estimates are that we are now running more than 212 million essential appliances to cook, wash clothes and dishes, clean floors and store our food. Official research has also found that 49% of us have never registered a product, potentially leaving some 100 million large and mid-sized older machines untraceable.

We’re encouraging people to make their homes safer by registering their appliances. As we all aim to keep our appliances running efficiently for many years, maintenance and registration of machines becomes increasingly important.

Registration can be completed easily and it doesn’t matter if your item is new or old – many brands allow you to register these too. You’ll need the brand of the appliance, the model, a serial number and the approximate date of purchase. The site for registration is: registermyappliance.org.uk.

Shirley North Safer Neighbourhood Team Update – January 2022

~ admin

The Shirley North Safer Neighbourhood Team has an update with the latest crime figures for Shirley North and Shirley South.

The table below is a breakdown of the recorded crimes in Shirley North dating from 5th Jan – 18th Jan.

The chart below is a breakdown of crimes from the previous year in Shirley North.

In comparison, the chart below is a breakdown of crimes from the previous year in Shirley South.

Report crime by calling 101 or in an emergency call 999.
Remember, you can also report crime online on our website: https://www.met.police.uk/

 

Croydon Trading Standards – Rogue Locksmiths Alert

~ admin

Please be aware that Croydon and boroughs across London have seen a marked increase in reports of emergency locksmiths charging excessive fees. This has also been acknowledged as a national problem.

Often when locked out the first thing people do is to Google a locksmith and in panic contact the one at the top of the search list. Unfortunately there are criminals who are preying on people at their most vulnerable moment and they pay for their adverts to be seen first, often hooking people in with seemingly low prices – however these are never what is actually charged.

These traders are criminals, and having completed what is often a relatively quick job, they then charge the victim an excessive amount, way over what was first quoted, effectively holding the keys to the new lock to ransom until it is paid.

They bring a mobile payment device with them and people feel intimidated into paying, sometimes up to £300-400 for 10 minutes work and a substandard lock. In some cases they have also caused damage to property as some are not skilled or trained to do the work.

Try to ensure the companies or traders are legitimate by finding a locksmith registered with the Master Locksmith Association. Please head to their website for further information:

https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/ – use the search feature to find a local registered locksmith

https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/how-to-spot-rogue-locksmith/ – visit this page for tips on how to avoid a rogue locksmith.

This ‘how to spot a rogue locksmith’ article lists the Red Flags to be aware of when looking for an emergency locksmith and will help you identify a potential rogue locksmith.

Please remember to report to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 if you have actually been the victim of a scam or call Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline 0808 223 1133 if you require advice on an issue you are having with a trader or wish to report a trader.

Highway Code Changes 2022 – Are you aware of the new rules?

~ admin

The Department of Transport has issued changes to The Highway Code. These changes are due to come into force on 29 January 2022.

At a glance: How has The Highway Code changed?

  • Drivers of large passenger vehicles and HGVs now have ‘the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger posed to other road users’
  • Drivers at a junction should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road that they’re turning into
  • Drivers should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing
  • Cyclists should give way to pedestrians that are using shared-use cycle tracks
  • Drivers should not cut across cyclists going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane
  • New ‘Dutch Reach’ technique tells road users how to open the door of their vehicle while looking over their shoulder

Three new rules have been added to The Highway Code.

Rule H1: hierarchy of road users

Road users who can do the greatest harm (those driving large vehicles) have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to other road users.

Here’s a look at what the hierarchy of road users looks like:

  1. Pedestrians
  2. Cyclists
  3. Horse riders
  4. Motorcyclists
  5. Cars/taxis
  6. Vans/minibuses
  7. Large passenger vehicles/heavy goods vehicles

Rule H2: clearer and stronger priorities for pedestrians

This rule is aimed at drivers, motorists, horse riders and cyclists. The Highway Code now states clearly that, at a junction, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road that you’re turning into. Previously, vehicles had priority at a junction.

Drivers should also give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing (a combined pedestrian and cycle crossing).

Meanwhile, cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared-use cycle tracks, and are reminded that only pedestrians (including those using wheelchairs and mobility scooters) can use the pavement.

Pedestrians are allowed to use cycle tracks unless there’s a road sign nearby that says doing so is prohibited.


Rule H3: drivers to give priority to cyclists in certain situations

The updated The Highway Code urges drivers and motorcyclists not to cut across cyclists when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane. This rule applies whether the cyclist ahead is using a cycle lane, a cycle track or simply riding on the road ahead.

Drivers are meant to stop and wait for a safe gap when cyclists are:

  • Approaching, passing or moving away from a junction
  • Moving past or waiting alongside still or slow-moving traffic
  • Travelling on a roundabout

What else is changing?

The ‘Waiting and parking’ chapter of The Highway Code has been updated to describe the ‘Dutch Reach’. This suggests you should open your door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you’re opening. So, you would use your left hand to open a door on your right side – this naturally makes you turn your head to look over your shoulder.

Meanwhile, electric vehicle (EV) owners are being reminded that the charging cables for their cars can present a trip hazard for pedestrians.