Quethiock Lane, St Ive will be closed from 24th to 28th October 2016 for water infrastructure work. South West Water will be working in the road outside Gorfenna all week.

For people who spend most of their time at home, keeping warm in winter (and cool in summer!) is an important part of staying healthy and happy.

Community Energy Plus has recently embarked on a new project called Smart Warmth to help vulnerable and low income householders keep warm in their homes so that any health issues are not made worse living in cold or damp conditions.  I would be most grateful if you would please promote these grants to your clients in order to help them enjoy warmer, healthier homes.

How you can see information about these grants

A leaflet about Smart Warmth Grants and the advice and support offered by Community Energy Plus is here Smart Warmth Grants

Also see the information about Smart Warmth Grants on the Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/CommunityEnergyPlus) and on twitter (www.twitter.com/CEPCornwall).

Eligibility

People may qualify if they live in a low income household which is struggling with its energy bills and a member of their household suffers from a long term health condition.

What types of things can be funded?

A variety of practical measures to help you keep homes healthy and warm in the winter (and cool in the summer!) and reduce energy bills, including:

• Heating repairs (eg broken boiler)
• Window repairs or replacement
• Draught proofing
• Extractor fans and dehumidifiers
• Chimney balloons and chimney sweeping
• Hot water cylinder jackets and pipe lagging
• Portable heaters (eg oil filled radiators)

The measures and help available will be dependent on individual need and circumstances and must be for home improvements which cannot be funded by other sources.
We can’t fund anything that is the responsibility of a landlord but for more information about what might be eligible, please give them a call.

How long is the funding available for?

Limited funding is available now and must be spent by October 2016, funding is allocated on a first come first served basis.

How can people apply?

Contact Community Energy Plus on Freephone 0800 954 1956 or 01872 245566, alternatively email at: advice@cep.org.uk

There will be a public meeting on Thursday 4th August 2016 at 7pm in Millennium House to discuss planning application PA16/00182 from Ocean Housing for 46 new dwellings on land between Amanda Way and Pensilva Industrial Estate, St Ive Road, Pensilva, Cornwall.

For detailed plans Link to Cornwall Council Planning Search use Reference: PA16/00182

St Ive Parish Council supports the Cornwall Council bid for Dark Sky Park status around Bodmin Moor AONB. Pensilva will be just inside the buffer zone. Have your say after reading the consultation-leaflet.

The Parish Council is looking at bus stops for the A390 near Parkfield, St Ive. The smaller will be more likely to be affordable and therefore actually installed. If you have comments, please also tell the Parish Clerk. I normally see people waiting here to head West towards Liskeard via Pensilva. Do we need another for going towards Callington?

Closure of 1st Pensilva Scouts

1^st Pensilva Scout Group

From the Group Scout Leader:  Barry Hocking

Group Closure

It is with regret that I announce the closure of the 1^st Pensilva Scout Group.

Efforts to increase our youth membership and adult support have not resulted in achieving the number required to enable us to continue.

In consultation with the East Cornwall District Commissioner it was agreed that the Group would close after the meeting on 9^th July.

There are groups in Callington, Stoke Climsland, Menheniot, Liskeard and Upton Cross.  Information about joining these groups is available by email:

enquiries@cornwallscouts.org.uk

In the last few days reports have been received from across Cornwall concerning doorstep scams, hard-sell salesmen and ‘back-of-a-van’ sellers. The number and range of frauds suggests that Cornwall is experiencing another spate of crime targeted at home-owners and in particular the elderly or vulnerable.

Fair Trading Team Manager, Nigel Strick explained: “We have received complaints about gangs offering to tarmac driveways with ‘leftovers’, about mobility-aid/recliner chairs salesmen spending hours and hours in a consumer’s home to force them to sign an order and about a gang selling ‘white goods’ out of the back of a van. Trading Standards already has a number of rogue trader investigations ongoing, but we fear that the number of complaints we get is simply the tip of the ice-berg as victims are often too embarrassed or afraid to come forward.

Cornwall Councillors can help to keep their constituents safe from these frauds and scams by alerting them to the current threats and by reinforcing the warning from Trading Standards:

“Not Sure? Don’t Open the Door!”

The best way of preventing this type of attack on Cornwall’s residents is to ensure that the public never deals with anyone who turns up at the front door or who rings out of the blue without an appointment.” No Cold Caller” stickers and leaflets are also available free of charge from Trading Standards. E-mail businesscomplaince@cornwall.gov.uk

If you suspect that a constituent has fallen victim to doorstep fraud or telephone/mail scam contact Trading Standards for assistance: 0300 1234 191

Doorstep crime incidents are typified by residents being cold called, whether on the telephone or at the door, and then pressurised into agreeing to buy services or goods.”

The types of goods and services that are often offered by Rogue Traders include:

• Roofing, guttering or fascia boards
• Carpet cleaning
• Tree surgery or gardening
• Driveway repairs or surfacing (both tarmac and block paving)
• Minor building works or odd jobs
• Painting, decorating or exterior wall treatments
• Power washing – roofs and driveways
• Cheap, unsafe power tools or white goods sold from the back of a van
• Unsafe Sofas

The criminals often prey on the fears of home owners who are worried about maintaining their property or persuaded into thinking they will get a good deal if they agree immediately. In the last few years we have seen some very serious cases in Cornwall, where vulnerable victims have been conned out of large sums of money for poor/non-existent work or goods that were unsafe.

Evidence suggests that rogue traders are often linked to distraction burglary and that they will operate across borders; sometimes as part of an organised criminal gang.

The key message we want to get out is simple: “Not Sure? Don’t Open the Door!”