December 2021

6 Buckden Roundabout December 2021 Buckden Neighbourhood Watch Great Opportunity At times you must have thought I could do better with more interesting articles bringing Neighbourhood Watch to life. If you would like to take over as Village Coordinator, helping to reduce crime and work with National Neighbourhood Watch to develop new ideas, please contact me, Richard West, on 01480 811467 or 07841 866630. The time commitment to be the village coordinator varies and brings you in contact with village residents. Don ’ t get complacent about home security I do urge residents to take home safety precautions during the darker winter months. Police work around the clock to catch criminals, and burglaries overall are continuing to decrease. However there is typically an increase in reported break - ins during autumn and winter. Most burglaries are a result of a thief spotting an opportunity. Often a lack of security, empty homes and the cover of dark- ness is all the invitation a thief looks for. Simple things like installing good interior and exterior lighting, together with timer switches or motion sensors, keeping valuables hidden and entry points secure are all ways to put off a burglar. Close your blinds or curtains at night to prevent people from looking into your home. Don ’ t leave spare keys hidden outside – a burglar may look for these first – or leave car keys near the front door or anywhere easy to find. Consider installing a driveway alarm and a visible burglar alarm. Please don ’ t rest on your laurels Check your home security – it could save you lot of time, stress and money. RICHARD WEST Village Coordinator 01480 811467 / 07841 866630 To contact the police: 999 in an emergency; 0800 555 111 Crime Stoppers; 0300 123 2040 Action Fraud. EMAIL burglarycrackdown@cambs.pnn.police.uk or visit www.crimestoppers.uk.org or you can telephone 101 Suspicions or concerns can be reported via the police force ’ s online web chat function here https://bit.ly/3tfssQF Or via the online reporting forms here https://bit.ly/3ck9z85 Village News Overlooked Winter Wildlife The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust invites you to a fascinating talk on the more unusual aspects of wild- life that we may sometimes overlook. This illustrated talk will be hosted via Zoom on Wednesday 8 th December at 7.30pm and given by Brian Eversham, who is the Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and North- amptonshire. Brian has held this position since 2009 and prior to this was Conservation Director of the Trust during which time he was involved with the launch of the Living Landscapes projects at The Great Fen and Nene Valley. Brian ’ s interests and knowledge are extensive, including birds, botany, lichens, insects and molluscs. Tonight, Brian will in- troduce us to the small but fascinating world of insects, fungi and lichens that are best in winter. Brian will explore the com- plex interactions between species and show us how a typical nature reserve might support between 3,000 and 5,000 spe- cies. Anyone who is interested is very welcome to attend. Please book by emailing Pat (jp.doody@ntlworld.com). He will then send you a link to join before the meeting is due to start. Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Registered Charity No: 1000412 even Buckden. Residents of Perry Road are worried about their loss of view across fields half a mile from them and hoping hedges will be planted, and I have passed on their requests. More worrying to me is short term and immediate grey water run off into Diddington Brook in a thunderstorm scenario. Comments from older residents on the capacity of this channel to handle million - gallon flow surges would be much appreciat- ed. (Yes, it is 106 acres of glass, and I am sceptical that dumped at once onto any soil platform it will just absorb and take its time to go away.) Are there links into the Perry Road Stream under the Shell Garage that are lost to memory, but in a worst - case scenario, could flood central Buckden and the Graveyard, and Surgery areas? I know that Alan Manes, Chair of Southoe PC played in this area as a boy, but I am not sure he ventured this far north? Thanks for all your recent comments, on the Marina, access bridges and rail crossing and every thing else, hopefully by the time you read this, the tarmac will be completed around the Valley Restoration, EV users will be able to have a race and thanks to John at number 84 for donating about a two thou- sand daffodil bulbs! There will be a formal opening of the Val- ley in the Spring, when all the flowers are hopefully in bloom, hope to see you all then! As always, be in contact about problems. Hamish Masson, Councillor, Buckden Ward, HDC (Continued from page 5)