News

Get back in balance

11 September 2016 0 Comments

It's OK to talkWe all think we know people who never seem to lose control. But the truth is those people don’t exist.

The reason they seem to take it all in their stride is that they know how to react, how to get back in balance, get a decent night’s sleep and go again the next day.

Odds on they’re using some of the ideas on the back of the NSPA smartcard.
www.nspa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/WSPD-smart-card.pdf
(If you’re feeling wired right now try the three minute time-out below.)

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 which proves just how serious not dealing with this stuff can be.

 

3 minute time—out

This will lower heart-rate and blood-pressure and help put you in control.

Minute 1. Deliberately refocus attention. Change position or stop moving. Perhaps close your eyes. Ask yourself:
what is happening to me right now?

Minute 2. Now you’re aware of what’s going on and how you feel. focus on your breath. Follow the air in and out of your body.

Minute 3. Move awareness back out again like the lens of a camera getting wider. Slowly take ln the world.

Get on with your life. You’ll make a far better decision now than before the time-out.

NEED SUPPORT?

Samaritans – call 116 123
free anytime day or night

CALM — call 0800 585858
free 5pm till12 midnight

NHS non emergency:
Call 111

Contact your GP

Download Stay Alive app at prevent-suicide.org.uk

#wspd16 #ItsOkayToTalk

Health, News, Wellbeing

Life out of control?

10 September 2016 0 Comments

It's OK to talkA little stress is healthy but too much is too much.
When life feels out of control, it’s not unusual to feel down or have suicidal feelings — many men do. What matters is not letting it drag on.

Stuff happens

We can’t control what happens to us in life. You just need to look at the news headlines to know that. But we can control how we react to it. That means recognising when you’re feeling out of control and doing something about it.

This card will show you how. Keep it in your wallet.
www.nspa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/WSPD-smart-card.pdf

Why it matters

As well as making you miserable, long-term overload will increase your risk of serious disease including cancer, heart disease and high-blood pressure.

It will lead to poor decisions which will make you less effective at work and at home and will even follow you into bed, disrupting sleep and your sex-life.

Health, News, Wellbeing

Blue Badge Scam

9 September 2016 0 Comments

Blue badgeKCC Trading Standards continues to receive reports of bogus Blue Badge websites offering to assist with applications and charging £49 for a Blue Badge.

These websites are not associated with the Blue Badge Service and the application form supplied by these websites is not accepted by Local Authorities.

The official Blue Badge costs £10.

Information about the Blue Badge scheme including how to apply or renew a Blue Badge can be found by visiting the Kent County Council website.

Contact Details

Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

KCC Trading Standards 9 September 2016
http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ce2871176f2cf0da723a750b1&id=f296f6d8af&e=5d620a3416

Crime, Disability, Kent County Council, News

#ParksMatter

8 September 2016 0 Comments

Our Parks Matter video

Action is needed to avert a crisis that will undermine more than two decades of investment in the UK’s public parks, according to a new Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) report. www.hlf.org.uk/state-uk-public-parks-2016

Thanks to National Lottery players, our parks are in great shape. With the Big Lottery Fund, HLF have invested over £ 850 million in more than 800 of the UK’s public parks, improving facilities, renovating historic features and making them more popular than ever.

But according to our new State of UK Public Parks 2016 report, there is a growing deficit between the rising use of parks and the declining resources available to manage them.

Two years on from the first report into the state of UK parks, the downward trend in condition and maintenance we predicted in 2014 looks set to continue and many of our precious parks and green spaces face an uncertain future. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Environment, News, SACF, Victoria Park

Annual river maintenance

6 September 2016 0 Comments

River Stour weed cuttingContractors for the Environment Agency are cutting back weeds along the both the Great Stour and the East Stour as part of the annual maintenance regime.

We reported last January on the major bankside cutback that was undertaken following a long period without any maintenance that had led to concerns regarding the capacity of the river to carry flood water. The EA said that that annual maintenance would be undertaken ahead of the winter period.

Environment, Flood, News

105 is the new number to call if you have a powercut

5 September 2016 0 Comments

Power Cut Call 105DO YOU KNOW WHO TO CONTACT IF YOU HAVE A POWER CUT?

105 IS THE NEW NUMBER TO CALL.

It’s free of charge and will put you through to your local network operator who can give you help and advice.

WHY 105?

Many people don’t know they should contact their local electricity network operator if they have a power cut. They often mistakenly call the electricity supplier they pay their bills to.

That’s why the electricity network operators have introduced 105 – to give you an easy-to-remember number to call that will put you through to the local people who can help.

You can call 105 no matter who you choose to buy electricity from. (more…)

Emergency, News, Utilities

Community Toilet Scheme

5 September 2016 0 Comments

Sign displayed by Community Toilet Scheme MembersVisitors to Ashford town centre will soon have more choice on where they can use the toilet as Ashford Borough Council, in conjunction with local businesses including County Square, Debenhams, McDonalds and Pizza Express, will be rolling out the Community Toilet Scheme in early September.

We can all appreciate using clean and pleasant toilet facilities when we are out and about, whether we are shopping in town or visiting a restaurant or café. That’s why Ashford Borough Council is working with local businesses to improve the provision of safe and hygienic public toilet facilities in the town centre.

The Community Toilet Scheme sees local businesses including shops, cafes and restaurants working in partnership with the council to open up their toilet facilities to the public free of charge for Ashford shoppers, residents and visitors.

The council will provide each business in the scheme with a window sticker to display in their shop front. The stickers will indicate the business is participating in the scheme and specify the type of facilities available.

There will also be posters displayed around the town and a dedicated area on the council website www.ashford.gov.uk/community-toilet-scheme providing details of participating businesses, the facilities available and their opening times.

There are initially 12 locations included in the scheme including County Square, Debenhams, Muffin Break, McDonalds, Stag Coffee, Little Tea Pot, The Phoenix, Pizza Express, Paper Duck, the Civic Centre, Ashford Gateway Plus and New Rents. More businesses also are likely to come on board in due course. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, News

ABC Boundary Proposal to go to Council

3 September 2016 0 Comments

ABC warding proposal for South Ashford

ABC ward boundary proposal for South Ashford

On Thursday, Ashford Borough Councillors will be shown proposals for ward boundaries that are being submitted to the Local Government Boundary for England (LGBCE) by the Council. South Ashford Community Forum (SACF) believe that the ABC proposal fails to use the opportunity to address issues with the existing warding arrangement, identified in SACF’s submission and in some respects makes them worse.

The submission is the Councils’s response to the LGBCE’s consultation on warding arrangements, undertaken as part of an Electoral Review of the Borough.

Proposals have to be submitted to LGBCE by Monday, after which they will consider all submissions and produce their Draft Recommendations. A consultation on these is due to start on 8 November 2016.

The ABC proposal can be viewed on the Council Agenda page on the ABC website, https://secure.ashford.gov.uk/committeesystem/ViewAgenda.aspx?MeetingId=3030&MemberRef=23. We have shown an approximate representation of the proposal for South Ashford wards in the attached plan.

SACF’s submission can be viewed under Local Information / Representation / Electoral Review on the South Ashford website https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2016/08/09/sacf-electoral-review-proposal/

Ashford Borough Council, Democracy, News, SACF

Tell us why parks in South Ashford matter

2 September 2016 5 Comments

Victoria ParkSouth Ashford Community Forum (SACF) are asking for your help in telling a parliamentary committee why parks in South Ashford matter.

South Ashford Community Forum (SACF) is considering submitting evidence to the Inquiry into the Future of Public Parks being undertaken by the Commons Select Committee for Communities and Local Government (CLGC).

CLGC Chair, Clive Betts MP, has said: “Whether it is kicking the ball about with friends, joining a parkrun, walking the dog or just relaxing with a paperback, people value their local parks, but with councils under enormous financial pressures and with no legal obligation to fund and maintain public parks, these precious community resources may be at risk. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Consultation, Environment, Government, News, SACF, Wellbeing