From Pc Andy Beresford:-

From mid June to mid July this year we have suffered a marked increase in crime across a number of the villages reached by this newsletter.

Criminals are mainly targeting vehicles and outbuildings (sheds, garages and barns) with some vehicles left insecure and an invitation to the thieves.

Although our area enjoys a relatively low crime rate, this recent spate confirms we are not immune and a timely reminder to secure your vehicles and if you are unable to remove valuables at least put them out of sight.

Criminals know that some people keep expensive items in outbuildings so ensure these are kept secure and checked on a regular basis. Please be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us.

If you need any advice or assistance with your security contact one of your officers or our specialist Crime Reduction team on the number below.

In response to the above we have increased patrols in the relevant areas and are gathering intelligence on suspects. We also work closely with our partners at the local Council to do all we can to reduce crime in our communities.

In the last few days we have arrested two men from Stoke on Trent in connection with vehicle crime in our villages.

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By the time you read this your local Police team will have moved from Waterhouses to the community fire station on the main road through Ipstones. If you are passing you are welcome to call in but please don’t make a special journey as it will not be permanently manned and we try to be out on patrol or dealing with incidents as much as possible.

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If you need any advice on Policing issues contact myself Pc Andy Beresford or one of my colleagues at Ipstones Fire Station;  Pc Bridget Kelly, Pc Paul Bolam or PCSO Paul Flowers.

For non-emergency matters contact us on 0300 123 44 55 asking for your local officers.

If I’m not in the office you can leave me a voicemail message. I check this every duty day. You can also email me on andrew.beresford@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk

In the event of an emergency you should always ring 999 and even if there are no Ipstones officers available there is continual 24 hour cover from one of our neighbouring stations.

Neighbourhood Watch have sent the following message:-

Between Thursday 14^th and Saturday 16^th July a garage burglary was committed at a dwelling in Wetton.  Entry was gained by forcing a padlock from the door.  Stolen were a Cement mixer, 2 Makita drills, a petrol Lawn Mower, a grinder and a Sthil Saw.  Which indicates that some sort of vehicle was used.  No one was seen or heard.  Please pass this message onto your neighbours since thieves are targeting barns, sheds garages in the Moorlands area.  Ask them to be extra vigilant and security conscious and to report any suspicious person, incident or vehicle to the Police immediately.

I picked up a leaflet about the above in Ilam today. It’s another invasive non-native species which the government are asking us to control. A local project is currently underway with the aim of tackling it in this area.

The plants have purplish-pink slipper-shaped flowers just now, and when the seed pods mature they explode when touched, scattering the seed up to 7m away. We think we found some in a corner of our garden and have dug it up.

If you think you might have some you could check the picture at http://www.invasiveweedsagency.co.uk/himalayan-balsam/

Take a look at the following link http://staffordshiredailyphoto.blogspot.com/2011/07/alstonefield-wakes.html

This photo was taken by Mark Righter of our Wakes Sports Day.  There is a lovely description of our village.

If anyone missed the Broadband Roadshow in Alstonefield on Monday 20th June and would like to make any comments, please go to www.staffordshire.gov.uk/broadbandconsultation to complete the survey and test your line speed.

I was out walking with my family this evening. While enjoying the local views we were confronted with a great display of six or seven Curlew’s calling and darting through the sky..

Great that the breeding pairs of Curlew’s have been successful this year.

The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable on winter estuaries or summer moors with its long down-curved bill, brown upperparts and long legs. There have been worrying breeding declines in many areas largely due to loss of habitat through agricultural intensification. It is included on the Amber List as a bird with important breeding and wintering populations in the UK.

It would not be summer in Alstonefield, without the call of the Curlew.

It has now been over four months that the abandoned Blue Ford Focus has darkened our streets..

After many calls and emails with the local council and local police we are no closer to moving this car! Yet, somebody from the council as been out and moved the yellow sticker in recent days. What a waste of time and money.
They have done this because the police state that it is not an abandoned vehicle.

The vehicle excise Act 1994 states that an offence exists if the EXCISE LICENCE MUST BE FIXED TO AND EXHIBITED ON THE VEHICLE IN A MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE REGULATIONS AND MUST BE CLEARLY VISIBLE FROM THE NEARSIDE OF THE ROAD.

This car is tax but the tax disc is not visible. Unfortunatley this is only a fixed penalty, with a fine of £100.

The police have the power to immediately remove any vehicle that is left abandoned in breach of local traffic regulation orders. They can also remove a vehicle that is causing an obstruction or is likely to cause a danger.

Looks like we are stuck with it for a few more months.

This is the low level of anti-social behaviour that we all hear about. Its not the end of the world but its bloody frustrating!

Its time for some good old direct action!!!

Cricket practice for the Village Cricket Match on Wakes Sunday, starts on Friday 10th June from 5.30 to 6.30 pm. and then every Friday at the same time until the match. Everyone aged 11 and over is welcome. This is NOT a match against the Gargoyles but girls/ladies v. boys/men of the village. Come along and have a go.

It is interesting to read the Alstonefield entries from the Domesday Projecte 25 years ago (on the BBC web page). I hope someone (or several people) will find the time to update these entries for the “Reloaded” version.

At the sale on the village green on Monday I was lucky enough to buy the most delicious lemon loaf cake ever – so delicious that I’m offering £5 to Dovedale House if the baker would be kind enough to share the recipe?