Congresbury.net

This Halloween, we’re encouraging people to have fun at home so they can stay safe and help control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). We want you to have fun this Halloween, but please consider how you might do things differently this year and plan ahead so that you can celebrate safely:

• If you can, celebrate at home
• Remember the rule of 6 for indoor and outdoor gatherings
• If you go out trick or treating, wear a mask and keep 2m apart
• Always go trick or treating with an adult, don’t knock on doors where there is a sign saying ‘no trick or treat here’ and only go to houses where you know the residents
• Remember road safety, always look carefully before crossing the road and be visible
• Don’t take sweets from communal bowls, only accept sweets that are in wrappers and keep your hands clean
• Throwing eggs and flour at houses causes criminal damage. You could be arrested
• Although Halloween is supposed to be spooky, be considerate to those who don’t take part and be careful not frighten vulnerable people

There are plenty of ways people can have fun at home, from pumpkin carving to watching scary movies or trying some spooky recipes. You could create a themed display, have a trick or treat hunt at home or host a virtual Halloween costume contest.

Halloween can be unnerving for people who are elderly, vulnerable or live alone. They may be at a higher risk of becoming victims of crime if they feel isolated or alone, but there are lots of things you can do to help your neighbours feel safe:

• Start by just saying ‘hello.’
• Ask if they would like you to check if they are ok on Halloween with either a visit or a call
• Ask if they would like you to download and print on of our ‘sorry, no trick or treaters here’ posters below so they can display it in their window

If you’re a shopkeeper please remember not to sell eggs or flour to young people and selling fireworks to under-18s is an offence.

Click here for no trick or treaters poster

Click here for eggs and flour shopkeepers poster

The Police have seen a vast increase in the number of telephone scams in recent weeks from fraudsters claiming to be from HMRC, TV Licencing, Amazon, Utility Companies and many others. What do most of these have in common? When they call you be it an automated call or a person on the phone, most will eventually ask you to press number 1 on your keypad to be connected to a particular department (Please do not do this). 

Why did that department not contact you in the first instance? Because they need you to press 1.

The most likely outcome is you will be connected to a premium rate phone line charging an extortionate rate for absolutely nothing at all. 

Please take care and be wary of any unexpected phone calls.

If you receive a call and you think it is fraudulent then please report it to Action Fraud at this link below:

Plans to upgrade Congresbury Recreation Club to provide better sports and social facilities have been launched.

The move comes as ambitious plans for a new village hall have been shelved. The new hall would have replaced the existing Rec Club.

Called Project Construct, the Rec Club plan is being backed by the trustees of the King George V Playing Field whose chairman Mike Greaves notes have “a primary duty to support and enable sport and recreation on the fields. 

“The trustees are aware that the existing recreation and changing facilities have deteriorated and are in need of upgrade or replacement,” said Mr Greaves.

A project sub-committee of the Rec Club has already carried out a feasibility study and is now looking to produce detailed plans and costs and develop a funding strategy.

Project Construct is being chaired by cricket club president Les Owen and includes representatives of the tennis, cricket and football clubs as well as the Rec Club.

Its remit is to consult widely with the sports and recreation clubs as well as the wider community to make sure that, wherever possible, the project meets their needs for the provision of sports and social facilities in Congresbury.

The current Rec Club was built in the 1960s and is now well past its best with outdated changing rooms that don’t have separate female facilities. This has, for example, prevented the cricket club hosting some county junior matches.

Initial plans envisage a new changing block shared by cricket and tennis clubs with the old changing rooms incorporated into the rebuilt Rec Club to give a much larger footprint allowing for a multi-use communal area.

Middlecombe nursery are raising money for Feed The Homeless having built an all day illuminated Pumpkin Trail at the nursery. It’s an ideal visit for young and young at heart to see illuminated pumpkins donated by local business displayed in a theatrical setting. Free entry but donations to the charity encouraged!

The Trail is open 10am—7:30pm.  from Wednesday this week at Middlecombe nursery, Wrington road.

Police have been made aware very recently of a new scam.

An email is titled HM Courts & Tribunals Services and will state in the subject “Your Fixed Penalty Notice Ref:” followed by a series of numbers.

In the actual email itself it will explain the total cost is £25 with a delivery date of 7am to 7pm.

The location for the supposed offence simply states “United Kingdom”

the “Click here to Pay” link has been deactivated.

Please, if you receive this in your inbox do not fall for it and advise others that may be unaware.