a time to look back

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This week is our last planned post before Christmas so we are repeating the Festive council information we shared last week. Please remember to take care of yourself, family and neighbours in the cold, especially if any are elderly or vulnerable. This link will take you directly to the latest Met Office warnings.


The AA advise drivers to: -

  • Map out journeys in advance, and allow extra time.

  • Take a few handy essentials like a blanket, shovel, torch and extra snacks.

  • Take it slow – stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice & snow.

  • Check your tyres and see if you need to change to winter or all-season ones.

  • Help your battery - turn off electricals before starting and wait 30 seconds between attempts. 


The UK has had a dark cold snap with little or no wind, which has greatly reduced the output from wind turbines and, with continental problems reducing what we can import, necessitated ramping up gas and coal electricity generation. We have not done so well at realising our plans to develop other renewables like nuclear and carbon capture in tandem with wind, but there have been two sets of good news this week: firstly, researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a new technique to build high capacity, long lasting sodium-sulphur batteries made with molten salt that can be processed from sea water; secondly, researchers at the US National Ignition Facility in California have said fusion experiments have released more energy than was pumped in, something known as ignition or energy gain.


Christmas and the end of year are a time to look back, and to think of others: -


This week Mick posted something quite apt which is doing the Facebook rounds: "I remember being broke for Christmas one year, after food shopping and paying the bills and wrote a post dated cheque to make sure I could provide a good Christmas for my family. I’ve lived as high and as low as it’s possible to go. There were times I’d put £10 worth of fuel in my tank and other times £50. I’ve had £5 to just feed myself and I’ve also had £200 to go out to eat. I’ve had a house full of food and times I didn’t have any. I’ve been in stores cashing out with no worries and I’ve also had to add it up and put things back on the shelf. I’ve paid my bills in full and I’ve had to pay them late too. I’ve given money and I too have had to ask for it.


"We all have highs and lows in life. Some certainly more than others, but we are all just trying to make it. No one is better than anyone else and my heart is sad for those people who think that they are. No matter how big your house is, how new your car is, or how much money sits in your bank account - we all bleed red and will eventually fade from this earth. Death has no discrimination and neither should your life.

     

"Be kind to others. We are all here to serve. Stop the power tripping. Your oversized ego won’t get you anywhere. Be humble. And keep faith going." 


There is free Ancestry access to Sussex electoral registers at the West Sussex Record Office and West Sussex Libraries. 


You can access a variety of services online even though CDC’s contact centre will be closed from 2pm on Friday 23 December until Tuesday 3 January 2023 at 9am. If you have a district council related emergency during this time, call 01243 785339.


Civil Enforcement Officers continue to work through the Christmas closure, but CDC’s parking administration office will be closed. Digital services for season tickets, parking payments in car parks and some permits will remain available online.

 

Parking issues can be reported online. 

 

In regards to roads, pavements and street lighting, please contact WSCC.


Print your waste, recycling and garden recycling collection dates here.


Online applications for primary, infant and junior schools are open until Jan 15.


Following the reporting of the recent inquest into the heart-breaking death of Awaab Ishak, who died of exposure to mould in his house in Rochdale, CDC has produced this leaflet.


Beginning with this article about Doxxing, as a lot of time at Christmas can be spent online, it seems right to include appropriate advice: -

  • The children’s media use and attitudes 2022 report revealed that YouTube was the most widely used platform by children, but YouTube Kids allows Under-12s to consume content more safely.

  • A recent report, over a 5-day period, found 896 cases of children as young as 7 were coerced into making the most severe sexual abuse videos and images; teach young children not to get changed or undressed on camera and make sure you use parental control settings on devices.

  • Scams can include fake texts inviting claims for cost-of-living payments, bogus emails, texts or calls claiming to be from the local council requesting bank or card details so that the £150 council tax rebate can be paid and fake messages about energy payments relief or cheaper energy deals.

  • WhatsApp scams involve you receiving a message from someone on a number you don’t recognise claiming to be a family member or friend, informing you they have changed their phone number. A short while later, they request money to solve ‘a problem which needs payment’ (made more believable by the cost-of-living crisis), also known as the ‘Friend in Need’ or ‘Mum and Dad’ scam.

  • Advertisements, emails, texts or social media posts offering either non-existent loans or those with incredibly high interest rates, to help you through a period of financial hardship or invitations to join ‘get rich quick’ schemes or jobs, with seemingly impossible returns, e.g. high return pension and other investment schemes.


Protect yourself: -

  1. Don’t send money to strangers or buy anything you’re not entirely sure of.

  2. Look out for spelling and grammatical errors, e.g. in emails, and poor layouts.

  3. Never reveal usernames, passwords, PINs, or ID numbers.

  4. Don’t open attachments or links from unknown sources.

  5. Keep your antivirus software up to date and scan anything suspicious.

  6. Always update software, apps and operating systems when prompted.

  7. Think before you click: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.


Shopping online: -

  • Ensure that any online retailer unfamiliar to you is reputable.

  • Pay by credit card as it offers greater protection against fraud.

  • Do not reply to unsolicited emails from companies you don’t recognise.

  • Before entering card details, check for a padlock symbol in the browser window frame (not on the page) and the web address begins with ‘https://’.

  • Do not pay for goods when using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection.

  • When making a payment, never transfer money directly into a bank account - use a secure payment site like PayPal..

  • Check sellers’ privacy policy and returns policy.

  • Always log out of sites you have logged into - don’t just close your browser.


In brief, some other news that might interest you: -


Finally: - 


As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.


Tim

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