Register for e-billing for your Council Tax bill and save both time and money.

Braintree District Council’s e-billing system allows residents to register and receive their council tax bill and correspondence via email rather the post. Businesses can also register and receive their business rates bill online.

Register before the end of January 2014 to ensure your account is recorded for the 2014/15 bills, at: www.braintree.gov.uk/e-billing

Cllr David Bebb, Cabinet Member for Resources at Braintree District Council said:
“As with utility companies, many people prefer to receive bills and correspondence online, and via the e-billing system we want to significantly reduce the number of people receiving their bills through the post.”

Available to any Council Tax/Non Domestic ratepayer, e-billing is available to those that pay via direct debit or monthly.

Cllr Bebb added: “This is not about the way you pay your bill but rather how you receive the bill itself. We currently have over 62,000 live accounts paying council tax and almost 4500 business rate payers, and we estimate that around £25,000 is being spent each year in contacting people, to send their bill, and then in reminders or other correspondence.

“This is money that we would rather spend elsewhere and so the more people we can sign up to e-billing the better.”

Please click on the link below for details of the Christmas and New Year waste collections:

Christmas New Year 2013 14 waste collection schedule

Please click on the link below to read Cllr Finch’s latest Parish Update:

Parish Update June 2013

The following closure has been notified regarding Pebmarsh Road and Goulds Road, Alphamstone.

Closure due to commence on 25 June 2013 for 1 day, to enable a damaged pole to be replaced by BT. Details are as follows:

Pembarsh Road, Alphamstone:
for a distance of approximately 20 metres either side of its junction with Goulds Road

Goulds Road, Alphamstone:
from its junction with Pebmarsh Road, south east for a distance of approximately 20 metres.

Alternative route is via Lamarsh Road – Alphamstone Road – Springetts Lane – Lamarsh Hill – Ferriers Lane – Colne Road – Hornes Green Road – Peyton Hall Road, and vice versa.

The following road closures will occur from 15 April 2013, for the duration of the works. This includes surface dressing, pre-surface dressing patching and lining works:

Pebmarsh Road, Alphamstone: from its junction with Shalford Road to its junction with Bardfield Road, a distrance of approximately 1000 metres. Alternative route: Lamarsh Road, Henny Road.

Twinstead Road/Pebmarsh/Alphamstone/Twinstead: From its junction with Oak Road, north east for a distance of approx 700 metres. Alternative route: Oak Road, The Street, Twinstead Road.

Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure.

Closure scheduled to commence on

17 September 2012 for 5 days (approx)

Cock Road, Little Maplestead/Pebmarsh
from outside the property ‘Broomhill Cottage’ in easterly direction for approx 30 metres

Alternative route is via Sudbury Road-School Road-Gestingthorpe Road, and vice versa

Information received from Essex County Council

Please see press release below from Essex Highways regarding Gritting for today Fri 8 Jan, tomorrow and Sunday 10th Jan 10.

7 January 2010

ESSEX TAKING STEPS TO KEEP ROAD NETWORK MOVING

Essex County Council is revising its gritting programme this weekend to ensure that the county is kept moving in light of prolonged winter conditions.

 

In order to ensure that all major routes can be kept clear during the working week, Essex’s fleet of 65 winter gritters will be operating on a reduced precautionary network on Friday (8^th) and Saturday (9^th) evening.

 

The reduced network includes all ‘A’ roads, some ‘B’ roads and other additional roads serving larger towns and villages, as well as access roads to major hospitals, fire and ambulance stations.

 

Gritters will return to treating the full precautionary network on Sunday evening (10^th), so that all major routes are cleared in time for the start of a new working week.

 

The decision has been taken following latest forecasts which predict that the cold weather will continue over the weekend and into next week. The government has announced steps to control the national distribution of salt, so it is imperative that Essex manages remaining supplies carefully.

 

County Councillor Norman Hume, Cabinet Member for Highways & Transportation said: “Revising our gritting programme is a decision that I have taken extremely seriously. We appreciate that residents still need to get around the county during the weekend, but we must prioritise our service to keep Essex moving while the icy conditions remain.

 

“We started this winter from our strongest ever position in terms of readiness for these severe conditions with the highest ever levels of winter salt in stock. Our gritters and crews have been out night and day for three weeks treating 1800 miles of Essex’s primary network plus hundreds more miles of high footfall areas.

 

“We have been receiving fresh supplies of salt and will continue to take operational decisions to maximise the benefits of winter gritting on our roads and footpaths for our residents. I would like to ask the public to take special care on untreated roads, and continue to travel with extreme caution at this time.”

 

Essex County Council is constantly monitoring weather forecasts and supplies of salt, with further operational decisions being taken as required.

-ENDS-

 

 

Michael Page 

Press Desk Officer

Communications

 

Essex County Council | telephone: 01245 438418 | extension: 22418 | email: michael.page@essex.gov.uk

 

 

Mid Area Highways

Environment, Sustainability & HIghways

 

Essex County Council | telephone: 01245 240068 | extension: 50068 | email: Jenny.Engalls@essex.gov.uk

Please also see additional message below from Cllr David Finch 

There have been a spate of Burglaries and Break ins this August 09 in nearby villages of Lamarsh and Alphamstone and it looks like the Burglars are heading this way. A Local Pebmarsh house was broken into on Sunday night ( 16th Aug 09). 

Please be on the look out and lock all your doors and windows at night or when you go out.  Do not forget to lock your garden sheds. Please also look out for our elderly residents.

No cause for alarm….just be extra vigilant and if you see anything suspicious, please call the Police.

Joe

  

Suffolk Housing Society 

  

Information and Invitation

A new development of affordable homes will shortly be available to rent in Pebmarsh and this is to tell you how you can rent one and invite you to an openevent to view the new properties.

The affordable housing scheme at Water Lane has been developed by Suffolk  Housing Society in partnership with Pebmarsh Parish Council and Braintree District Council for people with a local connection who have a housing need. There are ten properties which are a mix of flats, houses and bungalows, ranging in size from two to four bedrooms and will be available to rent for between £305 and £368 per calendar month.

 See below for details of what you need to do now if youwish to be considered for one of these properties.

 The properties will be allocated by Suffolk Housing Society through the Gateway to Homechoice choice based lettings system. In order for to you to be considered you must first be registered on the scheme and show you have a housing need.   Contact Braintree District Council on 01376 552525 now to register. 

When allocating the properties priority will be given to those people with a local connection who have a residential, work or close family connection to the village of Pebmarsh. If necessary the selection criteria will also allow us to consider people from neighbouring parishes of:

Alphamstone     Bures Hamlet      White Colne     Colne Engaine    Greenstead Green          Halstead Rural     Little Maplestead          Great Maplestead Gestingthorpe     Wickham St Paul   Twinstead       Lamarsh    Great Henny

 We will be holding an Open Event at the scheme on: 

Monday 24th August 2009 between 3pm and 7pm 

to which you are invited. There will be representatives available from Suffolk Housing Society, Braintree District Council, Pebmarsh Parish Council and Iceni Homes to show you around and answer any questions you may have about the development. 

We will advertise the properties so you will be able to register your bid for a property type on the Gateway to Homechoice system from 25 Aug ,  but only if you have previously registered with the scheme.

If you are a single person, this does not exclude you from bidding for a property type, especially if you have a local connection and housing need. 

We will be looking to start tenancies from week beginning 7thSeptember 2009. 

We have made arrangements with the contractor for them to allow access on this day, please do not try to gain access to the scheme at any other time.  

Suffolk Housing Society  

Old Mission HouseSt Botolph’s LaneBury St Edmunds    Suffolk IP33 2AX 

Phone: 01284 767224         E-mail: customerservices@suffolkhousing.org  

This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want. Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you’ll be better prepared to protect yourself.
Someone I know was called on Wednesday from VISA, and one of their friends was called on Friday from MasterCard. The scam works like this: Person calling says, “This is (name), and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London ?” When you say “No”, the caller continues with, “Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be applied to your account. I just need to confirm your address (gives you your address), is that correct?”

You say ‘yes’. The caller continues – “I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the number listed on the back of your card and ask for the Security & Fraud Department. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. “Do you need me to read it again?”

Here’s the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, “I need to verify you are in possession of your card.” He’ll ask you to ‘turn your card over and look for some numbers’. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he’ll say, “That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?” After you say, ‘No’, the caller then thanks you and states, “Don’t hesitate to call back if you do”, and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after my friend  was called, he called his credit card company back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Was he glad he did! The REAL VISA Security Department told him it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of  £497.99 was charged to his card.

Long story  short, he made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is re-issuing him a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don’t give it to them. Instead, tell them you’ll call VISA or Master Card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told him that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN number, you think you’re receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you’ll see charges for purchases you didn’t make, and by then it’s almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that last Friday, he got a call from a ‘Jason Richardson of MasterCard’ with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time he didn’t let him finish and hung up! He filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged him to tell everybody he knows that this scam is happening .

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.

Joe Burlo

Chairman PPC.