Annual Firework Display

Due to government regulations for COVID-19, the Annual Bonfire and Fireworks Display which was due to be held on Saturday 7th November has been cancelled.  The Committee will be back with a bigger and better display in 2021.

Soon to Open

 The local Co-op on Bye Pass Road is due to open this week.

HMRC Scam Text to Self Employed

Be aware of a scam aimed at self-employed individuals and freelancers. Whilst genuine government financial help may be available, scammers are taking advantage of people's current vulnerabilities, sending text messages suggesting eligibility for a tax refund. A link in the text takes you to a very realistic web page. Initial information is asked for, the site calculates a fake refund amount, then asks for bank details and passport details for verification purposes. HMRC will never send a text that requires highly confidential information.  Scams can be reported to Action Fraud, contact 0300 123 2014 or go to www.actionfraud.police.uk.

TV Streaming Scam

Nationally a large number of reports have been received regarding scams where householders receive a telephone call about their TV subscription coming to an end and that they will have to pay in order to keep the service. Initially, an automated phone call states your subscription is about to expire and that you need to make a payment of £39.99. You are then asked to press a number on your telephone keypad in order to be put through to an operator to make payment. The operators can be very convincing. If you have a TV subscription, please check the company's website for advice on how to deal with any suspicious contact that you receive.

Beware Doorstep Callers

Park home residents are advised to be on their guard to cold callers offering to carry out property repairs on their homes. An elderly park home owner in the Fylde area was targeted by traders who knocked on his door offering to replace the skirting. The work was unnecessary and overpriced and was luckily stopped before any money changed hands.

In Lancaster a householder was cold called and agreed to the roof and gutters being cleaned. The trader then tried to escalate the job by claiming there was a problem with the pointing which was not true.

Always use local known traders. Make sure to get paperwork including full contact details, if you agree to the contract in your own home you will, in most cases, have 14 days to cancel.

Trading Standards advice is to always say no to cold callers. The Safetrader scheme can help you find a trader in your area, contact 0303 333 1111 or go to www.safetrader.org.uk

Switch to Cycling

'Switch to Cycling' is a new campaign from Lancashire County Council aiming to build on the momentum of those of you who have started cycling during lockdown and encourage more people to take up cycling for short journeys.  It promotes the benefits of cycling including fitness, saving money and beating the traffic as well as providing advice and information on starting cycling, cycling routes and free training sessions. This is part of the council's Active Travel work to encourage walking and cycling instead of using the car or public transport where possible, which is aligned with current government advice.  Now is an ideal time to start cycling with the school run starting up again and more cars on the road. The County Council has put in a range of measures including temporary pop up cycle lanes throughout the county to help people get around by bike.  For more information and advice about making the switch to cycling, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/cycling

Join the Prinnce's Trust Team Programme and they can help you achieve your potential!

Team is a free 12 week personal development course for young people aged 16 - 25.
Gain new skills, a nationally recognised qualification, meet new people and have fun!
Take part in a community project, team building activities and gain workplace experience -
all aimed at your successful future.
Contacts:  Team Leader & Office: 07900268708 - Programme Support Worker: 07799114688
E-mail:  PTMorecambe@lancsfirerescue.org.uk

Did you know that there were quarantine restrictions in Bolton-le-Sands in 1720?

Check out our Facebook page to learn about this issue and its affect on Bolton-le-Sands.

UHMBT's Director of Finance leaves to take up new role in North West

Keith Griffiths, Director of Finance at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), will be leaving the Trust later this year to take up a new role in the North West. 

From Bodeltone to Bolton-le-Sands

Follow the story of our village on the Lancaster City Museum website or, if you have Facebook, log on to Bolton-le-Sands Village and follow the articles written on the history of Bolton-le-Sands.

Temporary road and car park closures on Lancaster hospital site due to operating theatre building work

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is preparing to temporarily close an on-site road, a small public car park, a large staff car park and a smaller staff car park at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) due to building work on a new operating theatre.

On the weekend of Friday 21 August and Sunday 23 August, a large crane will be brought onto the RLI site which will necessitate the temporary closure of a site road leading off Ashton Road and down the road to Medical Unit 2. The Trust will also be temporarily closing a public car park outside Medical Unit 2, a large staff car park to the rear of Medical Unit 2 and a small staff car park at the rear of the Pharmacy.

Staff, the public and any other drivers will not be able to access the road leading from Ashton Road down to the car parks. Ashton Road itself will not be affected by the closure of the road.

As the road will be closing at 8pm on Friday 21 August, the Trust’s Capital Services Team and Car Parking staff will be on site to make sure that nobody attempts to drive down the road and park.

Members of the public and staff who want to park will be directed to the Ashton Road pay and display car park opposite Medical Unit 1 and can use the pedestrian access routes marked on the map of the site (please see our illustration of the pedestrian access routes).

The new operating theatre is being built to provide capacity while existing operating theatres at the RLI are being upgraded and it will result in an enhanced experience for patients and a greatly improved working environment for staff. It is being sited between the Cardiac Centre and the existing operating theatres.

When the crane is on site the North West Air Ambulance Service (NWAAS) and other services will be temporarily redirected to other hospital sites.

Beware Fraudulent Gas Bill Emails

Householders are being warned about a national scam. Fraudulent gas bill emails are being sent to members of the public informing them they owe money. The message threatens the recipient with a fine if they do not pay. It reads 'if we do not receive a payment or hear from you in the next 2 days and we have to contact you again, you will be charged £140 to cover our reasonable cost'.
This is a scam, do not respond. Do not feel panicked or pressurised into responding.
Contact the Trading Standards Service via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133

Reduce Your Council Tax Email Scam

Rossendale residents have reported receiving an email claiming to be able to provide you with a refund for the last 2 years for a council tax reduction that it states you are entitled to due to being on a low income or on benefits. The email is headed up GOV.UK and shows how much money you can apply for. You are asked to click on a link which requires your bank details.
This is a scam. To find out if you are eligible for a council tax reduction go to www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction

Scam Visa Telephone Call

Please be aware of current telephone scams many of which are targeting elderly people in Lancashire. It involves phone calls or messages from a withheld number claiming to be from Visa or your bank about an unusual £600 transaction on your card, followed by fake calls from the police or your bank's fraud department. If a message is left, you will be asked to press 1 if you did not authorise a recent payment to a particular shop (such as Harrods) or to a foreign country. This will then be followed by a second call from 'police', 'Fraud Team' or similar where they try to obtain personal and banking details.
A Lancashire householder received a call claiming they were owed £3500 in bank charges. The caller explained he had got the information from a government website but was unclear who he was calling on behalf of. The caller knew the householders address details and said an officer would be visiting at lunchtime that day and would need to see the householders passport for photographic ID. The householder put the phone down and reported the incident to the Police.
Please ignore all such calls. If you receive an unsolicited call claiming to be from your bank and are unsure if it’s legitimate, always call your bank via its official contact channels instead of following any instructions. Also note that the scammer can leave your line open, so even if you think you have put the phone down there is a risk that when you dial again you may just end up speaking to the scammer- try using another phone or a mobile to make checks if possible.
Scams can be reported to Action Fraud, contact 0300 123 2014 or go to www.actionfraud.police.uk.
To reduce telesales calls join the Telephone Preference Service on 03450 700707. Many telephone service providers can also offer help to reduce the number of scam calls you receive.

Environment Agency SALMON AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES ACT 1975, AS AMENDED BY THE ENVIRONMENT ACT 1995, MARINE AND COASTAL ACCESS ACT 2009 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (LIMITATION OF LUNE ESTUARY NET FISHING LICENCES) ORDER 2020

Notice is hereby given that it is the intention of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to confirm an Order made by the Environment Agency under section 26 of the above Act. The Order will: Expire 10 years after the date on which it first comes into force: Limit the number of Heave or Haaf net licences, and drift; hang; or whammel net licences to be allocated for fishing for salmon and migratory trout in any one year in the specified area.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, a copy of the Order may be obtained free of charge on application either by telephone please dial 03708 506 506 or by email sent to LuneSalmon@environment-agency.gov.uk and we will be happy to provide you with a copy to view either electronically or by post. 

A copy of the order and consultation can also be viewed at https://consult.environmentagency.gov.uk/fisheries/river-lune-net-limitation-order-and-byelaw-2020 Any objection to the confirmation of the Order should be made in writing and addressed to Migratory & Freshwater Fisheries (Salmon Byelaws), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Area 8A/B, Millbank, c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR or sent by email to: freshwater.fish@defra.gov.uk not later than 10th September 2020 

Please send copies of any objections to LuneSalmon@environment-agency.gov.uk.  Copies of any responses may be made public. The information contained may also be published in a summary of responses. If you do not consent to having your response published, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in email responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there may be circumstances in which DEFRA will be required to communicate information to third parties on request in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations.

Library Re-opening - Lancashire County Council

Lancashire County Council will be reopening 12 of its libraries, one per district, in the first phase to make sure there is a good geographical spread of libraries across Lancashire.

The following libraries will open Monday to Friday between 10am–1pm.

• Accrington - Hyndburn district
• Ansdell – Fylde district
• Chorley – Chorley district
• Coal Clough - Burnley district
• Fulwood – Preston district
• Garstang – Wyre district
• Leyland – South Ribble district
• Morecambe – Lancaster district
• Nelson – Pendle district
• Rawtenstall – Rossendale district
• Skelmersdale – West Lancashire district
• Whalley – Ribble Valley district

Other libraries will remain closed but you can book an appointment at any of the above libraries, even if you don't normally use them. 

The Harris library has re-opened and you can find more details on the Harris library website.

The Countryside Code

Respect other people

• Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors
• Park carefully so access to gateways and driveways is clear
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Follow paths but give way to others where it’s narrow 

• Protect the natural environment
• Leave no trace of your visit, take all your litter home
• Don’t have BBQs or fires
• Keep dogs under effective control
• Dog poo - bag it and bin it 

• Enjoy the outdoors
• Plan ahead, check what facilities are open, be prepared
• Follow advice and local signs and obey social distancing measures

Helping to keep Lancashire moving....

You can have your say on your roads and transport locally by completing a short survey. As part of a new campaign to promote the work of their highways service, Lancashire County Council is encouraging people to complete the National Highways and Transport (NHT) survey, which measures public satisfaction with services across different local authorities.
The campaign will also focus on their work maintaining Lancashire's roads, this year the team will fix around 36,000 potholes and resurface 175 miles of roads. But following a wet and stormy winter the council are finding more potholes than usual this year, so they are also asking people to help them by reporting potholes their website.
In 2020/21, the county council will spend £26m to maintain our 4,600 miles of highways and 5,300 miles of footways. They are continuously introducing new techniques to fix potholes and supplement the traditional repair teams. They have also introduced a new deep insitu recycling process for resurfacing and this year will recycle 19,000 tonnes of asphalt in resurfacing our roads. At 20 tonnes per wagon load that’s an amazing 900 loads diverted from landfill and 1800 return journeys eliminated.
Find out more about how Lancashire's roads are improving and complete the survey at www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/pothole

Beware Free Trials

Take care when signing up to free trials – there can sometimes be pitfalls where we find we have signed up to more than we bargained for. Ask yourself:
• What am I agreeing to in order to claim this offer?
• Is the trial really ‘free’? Or could I have money taken from my bank account or card?
• Do I have to provide my payment details? If yes – stop and ask why.
• If there can be a charge, do I know how much it is and when the payment will be taken? Also, what exactly will I get in exchange for that charge?
• What must I do to stop the payment and by when?
• If I do get charged – what does the company say about giving me my money back?
• If I do get charged and do nothing, what happens next? Might the company take more payments in the future?

Look carefully at the wording of the ad and always check the terms and conditions to make sure you fully understand the extent and nature of an offer. If you think you may not want to pay to continue after the trial period, it’s a good idea to set a reminder to cancel.

Suspicious Email Reporting Service

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched a suspicious email reporting service in partnership with the City of London Police. The service makes it easier than ever to flag suspicious emails

Members of the public can send their suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and the
NCSC’s automated programme will immediately test the validity of the site. Any sites found to be phishing scams will be removed immediately. As well as taking down malicious sites, the service will support the police by providing information and identifying new patterns in online offending.