There are four notice boards in the Village: Village Hall, Village Green, Primary School and Chequers Public House.
—————————————————————————
The following from UK Power Networks will not appear on the noticeboards but may be of assistance:
Sign up for extra support during a power cut. Need extra support during a power cut or know someone else (maybe a relative, neighbour, patient, or friend) that would need extra support during a power cut? You may be entitled to free extra support from UK Power Networks.
Who can sign up? You need to live in London, the South East of England or the East of England (type in your postcode to check that you live in an area where UK Power Networks own and maintain the electricity cables that deliver electricity).
If you live in UK Power Networks area then the following can apply:
- Customers who are dependent on medical equipment
- Customers who are chronically ill
- Customers with a disability
- Customers who are visually impaired or blind
- Customers who are hearing impaired or deaf
- Elderly customers
- A nursing or residential home
- Customers with young babies in household
- Other cases will be considered too so please get in touch
What support can you get? This doesn’t necessarily mean we can get your power back on more quickly but you will receive:
- A priority phone number that you can call 24hours a day if you have a power cut
- A welcome pack with useful advice about preparing for a power cut
- Regular text message or phone updates during a power cut
- Extra support from the British Red Cross to visit your home (if you agree)
How to apply
- Sign up now online
- Email [email protected]
- Call 0800 31 63 105 or 0333 32 32 105 from a mobile
- Download an application to print off
- Priority Services Coordinator, UK Power Networks, Fore Hamlet, Ipswich, IP3 8A
Who are UK Power Networks?
UK Power Networks own and maintain electricity cables and lines across London, the South East and East of England making sure your lights stay on. You don’t pay your electricity bills to UK Power Networks. Your electricity supplier is the company you choose to buy your electricity from, and who you pay your bills to.
Power cut? Contact UK Power Networks 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- View a LIVE power cut map or report a power cut at ukpowernetworks.co.uk
- Receive updates by texting POWER and your postcode to 80876
- Call 0800 31 63 105 or 0333 32 32 105 from a mobile
- For advice about what to do during a power cut visit kpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut
—————————————————————-
—————————————————-
A Guide to Bonfires
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is an offence to cause a statutory nuisance. This includes smoke, fumes or gases “emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance”. This can include nuisance created by bonfires.
What constitutes a nuisance?
To be considered a nuisance a bonfire would have to be a regular problem and interfering substantially with your well-being, comfort or enjoyment of your property. Therefore if the fire is only occasionally it is unlikely to be considered a nuisance. Similarly if you are troubled by a series of bonfires from various sources this will not be considered a nuisance because no single individual could be held responsible.
If a neighbour is causing a nuisance then it is advisable to approach the person to try to resolve the matter as they may not be aware they are causing a problem and they may be more considerate in the future. However, if this approach fails the local council’s environmental health department should take reasonable steps to investigate a complaint. They have power to take action under the Environmental Protection Act and can issue an abatement notice. The Environmental Protection Act does also allow private action to be taken in the magistrates court.
What are the penalties?
Under the Highways (Amendment) Act 1986 anyone lighting a fire and allowing smoke to drift across the road faces a fine of £2000 if it endangers traffic. In rare instances there may be local bye-laws which restrict the times bonfires are allowed.
The following guidelines have been produced by the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners:
Good Bonfire Guidelines
- Let neighbours know when and where a bonfire is to be lit.
- Avoid lighting in unsuitable weather conditions e.g. windy days or damp, still days when smoke will hang in the air.
- Check the air quality and avoid burning when it is “poor” or “very poor”.
- Only burn dry material.
- Never burn household rubbish, rubber or anything containing plastic, foam or paint.
- Never use old engine oil, metholated spirits or petrol to light or encourage a fire.
- Avoid burning at weekends or on bank holidays when people are more likely to be in their garden.
- Never leave the fire unattended or leave it to smoulder – douse it with water if necessary.
- Remember to check for hibernating hedgehogs and sleeping pets!
———————————————–
Need help practicing for your driving test – check out the following:
———————————————
TREES AND HEDGES
The Parish Council has received complaints regarding overgrown trees and hedges within the Village, some of which, they are told, are damaging the buses.
The Council would therefore ask all landowners to check their trees and hedges and cut them back as necessary.
Overgrown trees and hedges cause visibility issues for both vehicles and pedestrians and the Council do not want to be in a position where the buses refuse to come through the Village because of the damage being caused by trees and hedges.
Parishioners assistance in this matter would be much appreciated.
————————————————-
VILLAGE VERGE CUTTING
The cutting and strimming of the verges within the Village is the responsibility of Norfolk County Council’s Highways Department.
Should you wish to make any comments or complaints regarding the verges please contact NCC Highways on 0344 800 8020 or contact them via their website at: https://online.norfolk.gov.uk/highways where you will be allocated a reference which you can then track for progress.
If all complaints could be copied to the Clerk to monitor it would be useful.
———————————————
REPORTING OF PROBLEMS TO ANGLIAN WATER
Following recent correspondence with Anglian Water regarding issues experienced in the Village, the Parish Council have been informed that Anglian Water schedule their work on merit, which is dictated by telephone calls and problems reported etc. and the work with the most cost benefit will be scheduled.
It is therefore imperative that any residents experiencing problem report them to Anglian Water to ensure the problems are logged and taken into account, even if Anglian Water do not need to attend.
Problems should be reported to Anglian Water by telephone on 0345 714 5145.
Backing up of sewerage should also be reported to Environmental Health as they have more legal powers than Anglian Water.
Sewerage problems can be reported to Broadland District Council Environmental Services on 01603 430488 (not 24 hours) or the Environmental Health Agency on 0800 807060 (24 hour).
It would be useful if photographs could be taken to show the extent of the problem and all complaints raised copied to the Clerk via email @ [email protected] for monitoring.
——————————————————-
A new local community website for Hainford
streetlife.com, the local social network, has a simple aim: to help people make the most of where they live by connecting with their neighbours. The website provides a free and easy place to share local news, views, recommendations and resources, enabling people with busy routines or reduced mobility to keep in touch with their community.
Conversations started on streetlife.com have helped unite lost pets with owners, expose doorstep scammers, save threatened public services and recall local history. The site is also encouraging real-world friendships, with neighbours sharing gardening equipment, IT advice and dentist recommendations, organising craft groups, street parties and book clubs.
streetlife.com has just launched in Hainford, and everyone – residents, groups, local government representatives and businesses – is invited to share their knowledge, discuss the local issues they care about, and help build a stronger, better connected community.
Get involved!
· Sign up at www.streetlife.com with your postcode and email address
· You’ll automatically be linked to the people and conversations where you live
· You can post messages, events, polls and pictures, and locals will be able to respond
· You can customise your account so you control how often you receive local updates
Sign up and join the local conversation on streetlife.com.
Emergency Heaters: BDC has a small number of emergency heaters that can be loaned out to vulnerable residents whose heating has broken. The heaters are meant as an interim solution until the heating is mended. BDC have 5 oil filled radiators and residents can borrow one for up to two weeks. BDC will require a £10 deposit when the heater is borrowed, which will be repaid when the heater is returned. Should you wish to borrow an emergency heater please contact the energy team on 01603 430627 or [email protected]. Heaters can be collected from reception of the Council offices or delivered if necessary. Additionally, halogen heaters are kept by some Parish Councils to lend out, so BDC may be able to refer residents to a closer source. There are heaters available from the Parish Councils in: Frettenham, Coltishall, Strumpshaw, Marsham, Thorpe St Andrew, Ringland, Sprowston, Hevingham and Acle. You can contact the parish directly or go through BDC whichever is most convenient. In some cases BDC will be able to help find funding to have the heating repaired/replaced.
—————————————————————————-
Tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence
