MapRA newsletter

TV licence scam.

Emails are being sent to members of the public purporting to be from TV Licensing. Saying “Due to outdated licence details your account has been flagged and will be suspended if you provide no response to this Notification”. The email address used is fraudulent and has no connection with TV Licensing. The TV Licensing website says that their emails are sent from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk or donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk and will include the customer name and/or part of the postcode. The email received did not contain these details. You can report this or other suspicious fraud to Action Fraud website or call 0300 123 2040 Monday to Friday 8am-8pm

Police Advice on Schools Re-opening

Local police urge parents and carers to be mindful of a potential increase in robberies from children travelling to and from school. Parents and carers are asked to remind their children to be very alert. Children should look out for anybody who might seem suspicious for example, who is not travelling to work or school, buying food or travelling for any other essential purpose; people standing in doorways, watching them walk home or waiting around in a group. Children should avoid walking slowly so robbers cannot catch up with them from behind. Children should also avoid using their phone when walking home; they should keep their phone out of sight. Parents and carers should remind their children that COVID guidance is for them to travel straight home from school and not stand around in groups. As a precaution, police will be carrying out extra patrols at the times children are travelling to and from school.

International Women’s day

Today,  March 8; a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. For details of events see Culture in Brent below.

Brent – the Happy Borough!

Apparently we are the happiest Borough in England see link  Someone must be doing something right! The happiness is from a survey question “Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?” And it has some pretty wild speculation as to why people in Brent are happy! But 144th out of 149 areas for household overcrowding, 129th of 149 for air pollution, 137th of 149 for road safety.

Rogue Builders

Brent and Harrow Trading Standards team have had a number of complaints recently that rogue traders are knocking on doors and offering to carry out building work or repairs which are often unnecessary and usually overpriced. Once rogue traders have gained someone’s trust and started work they often begin to demand much larger sums of money, become aggressive and effectively hold the victim to ransom over unfinished or sub-standard work. Some traders who go door-to-door are also often responsible for distraction burglary and once they have their foot in the door they can often take cash or valuables from properties. Homeowners are advised that if they are considering building work, not to agree to have work undertaken by cold callers who travel door-to-door. To report a rogue builder or for further help and advice, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or link

Seven ways to spot a scam website

More activity online means the number of online scams and amount of money lost to online fraud is likely to rise this year, but if you know what to look out for, you can dodge these scam sites. Have a look at Which magazine tips

Theft from cars

Our local Police, Mapesbury SNT, have been informed by local residents that they have seen a suspicious male and female trying vehicle door handles late at night into the early morning. If you see this happening please report this to the police via 101 or police website. In an emergency call 999. Please do not leave any valuables in your vehicles overnight and always check your vehicle is securely locked. If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: mapesbury.snt@met.police.uk

NCIL grant open..

.. from 1 March to 3 May; the theme of this round is recovery. Total amount available for our Neighbourhood: £250,000. Further information see www.brent.gov.uk/ncil

Current local Planning applications

(For details search Brent Planning. New items in red)

  • App: 21/0449, Merrion House, 169-171 Cricklewood Broadway. Comments by 11 March. Removal of external metal staircase to existing flats.
  • App: 20/1667, 12A St Gabriel’s Road. Comments by  11 March. Revised plans. Proposed rear raised terrace to rear of flat and new boundary fence.
  • App: 21/0028, 18 Exeter Road. Comments by 11 march. Change of use from HMO ) to single dwelling with: demolition of front extension, single storey rear extension, conversion of loft to habitable space with rear roof extension connecting to existing tower, sash windows to replace non-original windows to front and rear, changes to side fenestration, new boundary treatment, bin storage to front garden area and associated hard and soft landscaping.

Other

Virus Support information. Book free covid test. https://www.brent.gov.uk/covidtesting
Guide to tradesmen and services. https://mapra.org.uk/local-traders
Ashford Place https://www.ashfordplace.org.uk/;
Cricklewood Library http://www.cricklewoodlibrary.org.uk/
Latest from Brent Council: We still need to follow the rules
Culture in Brent Celebrate International Women’s day
London National Park City Network Newsletter.

Gerry Weston:  https://www.mapra.org.uk/