Spring 2023

SPRING 2023

ReStauRante – tapaS

Set MenuS

ORDER ONLINE for Collection

Visit: www.elrincon-restaurant.co.uk

Opening tiMeS

Lunch (Tue-Fri) 12.00 - 3.00pm Dinner (Tue-Sat) 6.00 - 10.00pm

Closed Sunday - Monday

16 Highview House, Tattenham Crescent, Epsom Downs 01737 373 647

web: www.elrincon-restaurant.co.uk email: info@elrincon-restaurant.co.uk

NORK Quarterly

SPRING 2023

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NORK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

(Annual subscription £5.00)

Objects: To advance and protect the interests of the residents and the amenities of the district. The Association shall be non-sectarian and non-party political www.norkresidents.com

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH AT 8PM

VENUE: NORK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HALL, NORK WAY

As last year the committee has again decided not to invite any guest speakers. Although we appreciate that getting a professional to speak on a topical subject can be a great draw to a meeting it has been experienced that they have been unable to keep within their allotted time slot, with the result that meetings have seriously over-run and some members have felt obliged to leave before the end. We believe 10pm is late enough to conclude and our Councillors have sufficient to impart to you to fill all the available time when we allow for your excellent questions. So we will begin at 8pm as usual and aim to close the meeting no more than 120 minutes later. We think that you will find this year’s agenda interesting enough to ensure your attendance, and look forward to meeting you all on March 22.

Complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided. If you would like to assist with serving drinks, so that Committee members can spend more time talking to members, please contact our Chairman as soon as possible.

BOB FERRIS, CHAIRMAN

PROVISIONAL AGM AGENDA

5. Presentations from your Councillors

6. Ratification of NRA Candidate at the 2023 Local Borough Council Election on May 4.

7. Questions to the Committee

8. Refreshments - Complimentary tea and biscuits and a chance to chat

9. Any other business

COUNCIL TAX

BOTH THE COUNTY and the Borough Councils are raising council tax by 3%. The Police are raising their charge by just over 5%.

COUNTY COUNCIL

Councillors at the County, which takes the lion’s share - three-quarters – of your tax, voted for the 3% increase. This is despite the government loosening the reins and expecting a 5% increase to pay for social care for the elderly and disabled.

Residents Association councillors supported the lower increase because the council has a contingency in the upcoming budget and unused funds from this and prior years, totalling £60 million. Plus a general fund of £48 million on top.

However, in reviewing the detailed spending budget, Residents Association Councillors disagreed with the cuts and savings which are planned, preferring to find efficiencies elsewhere or to use some of these contingency funds. In our view the savings are a combination of the unachievable and the undesirable. There are cuts and savings of £19 million in the Adult Care budget. This is in the context of inflation, pay increases for care staff and added demand as the numbers of elderly grow, on top of the pressing need to get patients out of hospital. We thought this too much given that the Council is overspending by £18 million in care packages in the current year. The Council team itself describes this as “challenging” and agrees there are diminishing opportunities for savings.

In the Children & Families budget there are £11 million of savings planned, with the largest saving in the budget for children in care, with half ominously described as a “stretch target”. Again, in the current year the Council is overbudget by £4 million, and in our view there will be the same issues this coming year. We should not be implementing this level of savings for the growing number of vulnerable children, particularly as there are national difficulties in finding suitable accommodation, and OFSTED has yet to rate the service as good. There can be no more worthwhile cause than properly supporting our children in care.

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Borough takes a little over 10% of the total council tax. The council tax increase and the budget were supported by Residents Association councillors. The budget panel and scrutiny committee, both chaired by a Residents Association councillor, made a forensic review of the budget, and thought the extra spending and planned savings are achievable and realistic, and will not have a serious impact on services.

Some reserves will be used to balance the books, but this is much less than last year, and will be used to offset specific added costs, rather than used as a plug figure.

The Council rejected an amendment from Green Party councillors to spend an extra £500,000 of reserves in a plethora of extra projects. This would have cost the equivalent of an extra 3% on council tax.

NICK HARRISON

WHITEMARCH LANDSCAPES

FENCING AND LANDSCAPING SPECIALISTS

A sample range of our services is as follows:

Panel and Closeboard Fencing, Trellis, Walkways and Garden Gates, Pergolas and Gazebos, Pond and Fountain construction, Patio and Path construction, Established lawn programmes, Turfing and Topsoiling, Planting programmes, Annual maintenance contracts.

FREE ADVICE AND ESTIMATES

C. MARCH, B.Sc.

49 Yew Tree Bottom Road

Epsom Downs

Surrey

KT17 3NQ

Tel: 01737 219393

Mobile: 07802 355551

FROM THE CHAIRMAN SPEEDING

I was disappointed by the assertion in “Intouch”, the Conservative Party newsletter, that “the Residents’ Association councillors have done nothing about speeding”. County Councillor Nick Harrison submitted a scheme to SCC for Nork Way which was rejected as there was no record of accidents in the area. We invited the Surrey Police Borough Commander Alex Maguire to a meeting which he attended in June where he was pressured about speeding traffic, especially in Nork Way, Fir Tree Road and Reigate Road. Nothing has happened! And although as an association we are in total agreement with the Conservatives and residents about the problem, quite clearly we can do no more than ask the police and council to take measures to prevent and detect speeding offences. Some years ago we appealed to local residents to volunteer for the Community Speed Watch team. We had not a single volunteer.

CRIME AND SCAMS

One of the most prolific crimes locally seems to be the theft of high end cars, especially Land Rovers, using cloned keyless technology. It appears there is a huge market for such cars in Africa and eastern Europe and they are being stolen to order. Obviously keeping them in a garage is by far the best option, but many of them won’t fit. One option is to buy a good quality steering wheel lock, albeit they can be removed using an angle grinder. A more expensive alternative, or indeed addition, is to have retractable bollards installed in your drive. There are many on the market and although you might need to spend around £500 on them they might give you peace of mind.

If you have a car with keyless ignition, be careful with the keys. They should ideally be in a tin or better still a Faraday pouch, which you can get at Halfords or on the internet for as little as £5. They are also referred to as signal blocking pouches, lined with layers of metallic material that can block a key’s signals from reaching the outside world.

Scams are now widespread and I get at least one every day. They range from phone calls claiming to be from Virgin to income tax non-payment warrants, TV licence not paid, banking information – you name it, there is a scam out there. By and large, no legitimate organisation will EVER cold call or email you asking for information. If they don’t know your account number when they call or an email isn’t addressed to you personally, it is almost certainly a scam. Another common one is sending you information there is an undelivered parcel for which you need to pay a surcharge. This is yet another means of obtaining your financial information. Be under no illusion, spotting scams is sometimes difficult – I almost fell for one recently. But if you treat EVERY unsolicited communication as suspicious you are on the way of protecting yourself.

LOCAL GROUPS

Finally, if you are a member of any local organisation in the community, please write a short piece telling us about yourself for inclusion in Nork Quarterly. I

will be writing to some of them in the near future but I am sure there are many smaller groups that could do with a higher profile.

BLUE LIGHT CARD

To any of you who fit the criteria for membership, a Blue Light Card provides those in the NHS, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces with discounts, both online and in-store. See www.bluelightcard.co.uk to find out if you are eligible.

AGM

I look forward to seeing many of you at our AGM in the Community Association Hall on Wednesday 22 March. But please, if you need any help or advice we can provide, please contact us – see page 24 for contact details.

BOB FERRIS

YOU WILL NEED A PHOTO ID TO VOTE IN PERSON

THE UK GOVERNMENT passed the Elections Act which requires a photo ID to vote at the polling station. The act comes into effect for the first time this May. Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by checking they have an accepted form of ID which include:

• A UK European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport

• A UK EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence, some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, at electoralcommission.org.

uk/voterID

Residents who do not have an accepted form of ID can apply for a free ID either online or by completing a paper application form and sending this to the Electoral Services team at the Reigate & Banstead Council. To request an application form or need help with applying for the free ID contact the council on 01737 276794.

NORK VILLAGE CLUB

NORK VILLAGE Club, situated next to picturesque Nork Park, was built and founded by local residents over 50 years ago and is run by an elected committee of volunteers, staff and bar manager.

Our aim as an inclusive community focal point is to be a place to make new friends, meet other members of the community and enjoy an exclusive environment with much to offer.

Like many other businesses, the unprecedented events of 2020 put a severe strain on the club and its survival. 2022 was a significant year of transition for the club as we rebuilt the vision for our values and what we offer as an important asset for the local community.

To help us prioritise, the committee has undertaken several surveys to find out what our members’ needs are and areas for improvement. This ensures that the reinvestment we make back into the club and how we prioritise this is aligned to the needs of the community.

We made the decision to focus on becoming a family friendly club. Unlike other social clubs, children are allowed in the club at any time accompanied by an adult. Throughout the year we run regular childrens events as well as having a large secure garden area that can be enjoyed during the warmer weather. Members can also hire out the main area of the club for their own childrens parties.

We’ve carried out an extensive refurbishment of every area of the club, fitting new radiators, brought our amazing hidden dance floor back to life and added HD screens all across the club meaning a good view of sporting events wherever you sit.

We’ve completely modernised our drinks and snack selection to offer members the best comprehensive quality and choice. We’ve got a wide range suitable for everyone’s taste.

Events have been a key part of this year and we’ve increased the number and quality of performers we feature at the club. We often have regular sell outs for great artists. We’ve also introduced regular monthly event nights such as Karaoke, Open Mic, Race Nights, Bingo, Pool Competition, Dart Competitions and we’re continually adding to this list.

Nork Village Club is open 365 days of the year. For less than 48p a week we offer remarkable value for membership. Members have priority access to tickets, free entry for certain events and cheaper member prices at the bar for drinks. You even get your first drink free on the club upon becoming a member.

Nearly 100% of our members surveyed agreed that the club offers a welcoming, friendly and enjoyable atmosphere. If you’ve not visited before, we would like to welcome you to pop in and try us out. You can learn more about us on our website.

https://norkvillageclub.com/

BEACON SCHOOL AND THE OFSTED REPORT

The Beacon School was inspected by Ofsted in June 2022 and received a disappointing report. Although Personal Development was rated “Good,” it was rated as “Required Improvement” for the quality of education, leadership and management and sixth-form provision and “Inadequate” for behaviour and attitudes.

The key message in the report was that whilst most pupils enjoy school they did not feel safe at the Beacon. The report stated that there had been improvements, but that poor behaviour had become accepted with high levels of truancy, disruptions in class and fights happening around the school.

The school has responded very positively to this report and has set in place an improvement plan led by the new Head of School, James Grant Duff and The Executive Headteacher, Matt Duffield.

James joins The Beacon this term from St Andrew’s Catholic School in Leatherhead where he was Deputy Head. Despite his youthful appearance he has 21 years of teaching experience.

He is facing the Ofsted report head on and has initiated a programme of “Getting Back to Basics at the Beacon”. He says I don’t want to make any excuses for the report but accept the findings and want to move on with a programme of improvements.”

Obviously, the quality of education is important, and this year’s results are showing an improvement on past examination grades including one pupil gaining a place at Oxford University. But James wants to make clear that inter-personal skills are also important. He believes in equipping his pupils with the life skills needed for a future successful life. These include leadership, organisational, communication and team player skills. Although there will be specific opportunities for life skills development these skills also come about from a well organised and structured school life.

He describes his approach as based on the following principles:

Qualifications – getting the best possible examination grades for students

Skills – equipping students with life skills for a successful future

Fairness – ensuring consistency throughout the school so that everyone gets the same experience

Systems – establishing and enforcing routines and processes to ensure the school is well managed

One initial step has been to change the length of lessons. Instead of three 100-minute lessons a day, the timetable now includes five 60-minute lessons. This should increase pupils’ concentration and improve variety across the school day.

He is also strictly enforcing the school’s procedure for dealing with disruptive behaviour which has been a problem in the past. He says, “One disruptive pupil

James Grant Duff

can stop a whole class from learning”. The rule now is that any disruptive pupil will receive two warnings in a lesson, and if the disruptive behaviour continues, they will be removed from class and isolated for the rest of the day. The key is for the children to learn from their mistakes and to be guided so they can be as successful as possible. There is a firm consistency in enforcing the school’s rules and all pupils are aware of this.

He is also keen to involve parents and students in the school’s objectives. He says “There is a saying that it takes a whole village to raise a child. It’s the same here. We are all involved, parents, teachers and also fellow pupils, in the success of our pupils. Every child is a potential genius, we just have to unlock it.”

The school circulates a weekly newsletter to all parents which includes a letter from James as well as highlighting star pupils throughout the school.

The Beacon has decided to close its Sixth Form college for new pupils because the number of pupils are insufficient to offer a comprehensive and varied curriculum. It may restart in the future but for the time being, a partnership has been agreed with colleges such as, Reigate College for pupils to transfer there. Reigate College specialises in providing high quality education for 16 to 19-year-olds. It offers a fantastic range of courses across all disciplines which would not be possible at The Beacon.

One issue that educators have been aware of in recent years is the impact of the COVID pandemic on pupils. Whilst learning has suffered so has discipline as children have not been used to the rules needed in a school environment. This has probably not helped The Beacon. There is also the issue of a few disruptive children having a serious negative impact on the whole school. This is where parents can help by supporting the teaching staff when issues arise.

The Beacon is on the road to recovery and to meet its vision statement: “By 2026 excellent leadership will ensure The Beacon school will be a high achieving and thriving inclusive community which has a relentless focus on excellence. We will deliver excellent teaching which will holistically prepare our students for life by preparing them to achieve excellent qualifications, as well as to acquire the skills and confidence that they will need to succeed in the wider world.”

IT’S BEEN AN INCREDIBLY BUSY ELECTED TERM

THIS ELECTED TERM has been an incredibly busy period, full of ups and downs. With covid hitting less than a year into my first term as a Nork Ward Councillor, it was a difficult time for all. The positives taken from this was the shift in focus - it encouraged our community to come together. It enabled me to liaise with local residents who work long hours all week and be unavailable during the day much more frequently than normally. This highlighted several areas we needed to re-focus our efforts on as Councillors and with their support work towards a better Nork once all the restrictions were finally lifted. Many great projects were born in these unprecedented times and have been a great success.

TATTENHAM RECREATION PAVILION

A further update on Tattenham Recreation Pavilion that has been fully renovated thanks to our successful bid made to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund at RBBC. I worked closely with the CIL, Greenspaces and Asset Management teams to ensure that a purposeful refurbishment took place. Securing a new tenant for the property has taken longer than we had originally hoped – however, it has allowed us to properly asses the surrounding facilities and incorporate them into further plans for Nork Park and Tattenham Recreation Ground. I am confident we will have a new tenant to occupy the premises later this year and that will be a great addition to the grounds and to the local community.

PUMP TRACK

Plans still continue for the Pump Track to replace the old skateboard ramps, also at Tattenham Recreation Ground. Revised plans are being drawn up, with costs constantly changing - the new plans will reflect this. I’ve laid great importance on ensuring this area is suitably landscaped to complement the surrounding character of the park. Once the new plans are available they will be sent out via our new e-newsletter which we hope to launch soon.

Tattenham Recreation Pavilion

LOCAL CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS

As part of the above projects I have been working with local clubs and organisations, as well as reviewing all the current in-depth reports from the Football Foundation to establish how we best move forward to improve the pitch provision at Tattenham Recreation Ground. I have voiced my concerns for some time that this site being used for adult teams, generally travelling from outside of the Borough, is far from ideal and reiterated the great need for children’s pitches in the local area. This continues to be my main focus moving forward and I hope to bring this recreation ground and park up to a much better standard for all to enjoy.

LOCAL SCHOOLS

I continue to work with our local schools to discuss future plans for 3G pitch installations to replace their existing facilities. These comprise synthetic turf, sand infill and rubber infill. I have received much feedback on the matter and appreciate that we must find a balance that works for the local residents, whilst also meeting the needs of the students. This will need much more time to reach a suitable plan that accommodates all involved.

FLOODING

Flooding continues to be a hot topic. Whilst we have enjoyed a somewhat dry winter it does not eliminate the fact we are likely to see further flooding in many areas of Nork. County Councillor Nick Harrison has been working tirelessly on this matter and we continue to highlight all areas at risk and to establish what measures may need to be undertaken in the future.

E-NEWSLETTER

We hope to be able to give details in the next Quarterly of the launch of our exciting new e-newsletter. This will be sent to members and subscribers on a bi-monthly basis to give more frequent updates on local issues, alongside your quarterly updates in these magazines. It will include a short summary of Residents’ Association and Councillor updates, arising local matters, planning updates and other matters of local interest.

GEMMA ADAMSON

Tattenham Recreation Ground

SUSSEX COMES TO SURREY FOR 2023

THREE BEAUTIFUL Sussex cattle arrived in Nork Park mid-February to make use of the lush grazing until early summer, while also keeping a lot of other plant species under control.

Speaking of control, if you walk your dog in the meadow, please keep it on a lead because we did have some cases of worrying last year. These are older bullocks and well able to take care of themselves,while generally being very calm in nature. Please respect and admire them as they are doing a good job for us.

NATIONAL WOMEN’S REGISTER

YES, THERE’S CERTAINLY LOTS going on at our local Warm Hub, Banstead Centre! Our group has been made very welcome for our Tuesday morning meetings. Are you looking for a lively discussion on topics like The Beautiful Game, Care in the Community or Triumphs and Disasters in the Kitchen or just to have a laugh and a coffee?

Memories to share of NHR or NWR? Were you a member in the 1960s? Were you a new mum at home wondering whether you would ever have a conversation about anything other than nappies or teething? Two lively-minded mums decided that they wanted a lifeline, some time to talk and think about something other than their homes and children. They started The National Housewives Register (NHR) later updated to the National Women’s Register (NWR) so that those returning to work could be included.

NWR ASSOCIATION WITH NORK

Our association with Nork began when the local branch of the National Housewives Register (NWR) was established in 1970. Since then over 250 women have been members. We chose the name Burgh Heath after the local telephone exchange. Many longer-standing members recall that they were introduced to the group through ‘the school gate’, local Toddler groups or friendships with neighbours. The enticement of a cup of coffee and a discussion about a topic of interest or even the luxury of a presentation by a speaker on Excavating the Thames Embankment, Nuclear Energy for the Future? or A Journey along The Nile was very welcome.

The meetings were held in our own homes during the school day with pre-school children looked after by the much-loved Audrey. By 1980 the group benefitted from Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) short course lectures which were offered twice a year on various topics including The Art of The Underground and British Economic and Political History 1945 to 1979.

We plan our termly programme in teams to give everyone an opportunity to ‘have their say’. We discuss issues which impact on our daily lives, learn something new or to see from a different perspective by sharing opinions or listening to someone else’s experience, but most importantly to meet and make new friends and keep our minds working.

This is an amazing friendship network and was a support throughout the pandemic. We maintained our ‘meetings’ through emails, phone calls and letters which meant all our members could remain in contact throughout those strange times. It was delightful to begin actual meetings in September 2021, albeit with appropriate Covid guidance, in our very comfortable and accessible venue.

We meet on Tuesday mornings, 10.30 to 12.00 in term-time at Banstead Centre in The Horseshoe, Banstead or contact us through office@nwr.org.uk

Please come and meet us, perhaps this is an opportunity for you too!

SALLY CROUCH

FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE EXPANDED ULEZ ZONE

IN DECEMBER 2022 London Mayor Khan had decided to extend the ULEZ zone to the borders of Greater London from 29th August 2023. It is estimated that 160,000 cars and 42,000 vans will be impacted facing a daily fee of £12.50 to access the enlarged ULEZ area.

This is clearly an unpopular decision, and a number of actions are underway to attempt to resist Mayor Khan’s plan.

Firstly, the move could face a legal challenge from the Conservatives in the Greater London Assembly. They claim that 60% of respondents to Khan’s consultation opposed the expansion which was subsequently voted through by the Greater London Authority by 14 votes to 9.

Another legal challenge is being considered by a new campaign group called Action Against ULEZ Extension. It currently has more than 18,000 members and is reviewing the possibility of crowdfunding a judicial review.

And thirdly, outer London boroughs are threatening to refuse planning permission for the installation of ULEZ cameras. Sutton Council is one of the London Boroughs planning to block the cameras. Sutton Liberal Democrats argue that the scheme will negatively impact small business owners and key workers in the area.

And more recently, the Prime Minister has registered his concerns in the House of Commons. Whilst the concept of reducing pollution is essential, this implementation is possibly not the best way. There will clearly be an ongoing battle against Mayor Khan’s proposals.

OUR BELOVED QUEEN ELIZABETH II

THANK YOU, DEAR Queen Elizabeth, for this lovely memory that my colleagues and I will always treasure of you. We were all Student-Nurses in training to achieve SRN status towards the close of the 1960’s, and resident in the Nurses’ Home at Epsom District Hospital.

On the eve of The Derby, weather reports promised a glorious day for this Grand event in Horse-racing and, penniless as we all were to even think of trying our chances at improving our personal fortunes, we sat up attentively as someone intelligently aired that it seemed a very good idea to take advantage of a costless healthy stride up to the Downs to watch the races and perhaps even catch a glimpse of our Queen!

There was much excitement at the thought, and those of us who were fortunate enough to have been allocated our weekly ‘Day-off’ coinciding with Derby Day, began to feel particularly favoured by our Heavenly Creator until, that is, another sensible soul in our midst whimpered about what we were expected to wear to such an event!

A frantic search into Wardrobes and Drawers ensued in the Nurses Home. It was most dispiriting to find that hardly any of us possessed outfits of sufficient grace or suitability in those mini-skirted days, for such elevated occasions.

However, being Nurses (albeit in training!) who were generally expected to be capable of coping with just about ANY emergency, we unitedly fell in with the decision that we would all (eleven of us in number) attend the Races in Full Official Summer Outdoor Nurses Uniform.

Derby Day dawned brightly, and with much laughter we skipped up to the Downs, enjoying surprise meetings with many former patients and friends similarly bound. We did see our Queen but at some distance though, until someone’s hushed whisper nearby remarked that Her Majesty was “just over there!” We all stretched our cervical vertebrae to extreme, so as not to miss out on such luck.

Yes, indeed! Her Majesty was moving closer in our direction whilst smiling and chatting, accompanied by officials. Silenced by our astonishment, we just gazed in appreciative wonder at our radiantly beautiful Queen Elizabeth, as she stopped in front of us, smiling at our neatly attired uniformed Group.

“You do look smart” Her Majesty beamed. “Are you all from our local Epsom Hospital?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we are” “That’s nice to know that I shall be in good hands, should I need assistance.”

With the ice having been broken by such charm and encouragement from our gracious Queen, we all felt more at ease and were surprised at how relaxed Her Majesty was, talking to us as a group but skilfully managing to make each one of us feel included in the short but heart-warming wise chat that followed about ‘Days-Off’ and the usefulness of smart uniforms!

Without exception, we were all indeed impressed by Her Majesty’s kind and practical thoughtfulness and good-natured humour! She was indeed, for no small reason, our muchloved and hugely respected Queen Elizabeth, a Queen to ALL the World.

NORK WAY POTHOLES

NORK WAY is the spine road through the residential area of Nork, with many smaller roads branching off it. It bisects the triangular area between the A240 Reigate Road, the A2022 Fir Tree Road and the A217 Brighton Road. It is the access route to about 2,000 properties. It is also on the 318 bus route.

The condition of the section of the road between the junctions with Parkwood View and Nork Rise has deteriorated substantially in the last three years. This section, plus the section on to the junction with Beacon Way, has been on the Horizon programme for quite a while. The condition has been poor enough (by far the worst in Nork) for me to have nominated funding from my allowance, both from this year (22/23) and the coming year (23/24).

The Parkwood View to Nork Rise section has many pothole repairs and the whole surface is fractured and delaminated. This came to a head with the freezing spells before and after Christmas. I requested a full inspection on 10 January and, in the absence of action, a second request on 1 February. On 9 February I was told that repairs would be actioned within 7 days. Their speed of response is much slower than the published timescales explained by the council by the volume of reported potholes.

Some repairs have been marked as “Temp” but many have not been attended to, especially those in close proximity to the Temp repairs. There are also many loose stones that need sweeping away and gulleys which are blocked by the stones. An Inspector has also visited Nork Way to review whether there are some temporary works that can be carried out in addition to the pothole repairs to make the road serviceable until the main works take place.

The main scheme will cover the section from Parkwood View to Beacon Way which unfortunately will not be done until the summer. The SCC roads team will also be carrying out a walkover of the scheme in the next few weeks in order that they can have it designed and ready for when the road is resurfaced.

NICK HARRISON

A CLEVER SCAM

I WAS SCAMMED recently and I am writing this to warn others. After all the advice that I followed in the past, this time I became a victim.

It was a weekend. I received an email from my neighbour which asked me if I used Amazon. I replied that I did. Then he asked if I could help as he could not access his Amazon account to send a friend a gift card. It was this close friend’s birthday and she had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

I rang my neighbour and left a message on the answer phone. Then I walked to his house and rang the bell but nobody answered. I thought they must have already left for this birthday celebration. So, I went home. I then mailed my neighbour again, asking if he wanted me to choose a gift card. The next mail said, Yes please! Send it to my friend’s address below. It all looked probable. So, I sent £250 in a gift card with good wishes from my Amazon account.

It was only when the reply came, saying “Hurray, the money has arrived”, that I became suspicious. My neighbour would not have said Hurray and an ill person would not say that either. My suspicion was confirmed a few minutes later when I was asked to send another £200 by the same procedure.

More than anything, I was really cross with myself not to have been more cautious. I immediately rang my credit card provider and described it all. I was later reimbursed. I also went into the Amazon website where I also found a way of letting them know about the scam. The credit card provider responded with stopping the card and sending me a new one. Amazon didn’t respond at all.

I also reported the scam to the police. I had to fill in my own details which I did somewhat reluctantly because it asked me a lot of information. A few days later I had a phone call from Reigate Police Station asking if they could come and visit me and talk to me about the fraud. I had a visit from a police officer who explained to me that Surrey police are running a special anti-scam operation. I was told that a lot of people don’t report scams because they are ashamed or embarrassed that it happened to them. I understand that very well, but for the sake of stopping these criminals, I think reporting it is absolutely crucial. The police officer left a booklet with me which is very informative. The following day I had another call from the police, this time from Guildford, making sure I was feeling okay.

From my lovely neighbour I learned that he had just gone on holiday and that his son informed him while he was there that his email account had been hacked. I also learned that I was not the only person who fell for this scam which made me even more cross.

I know one other person who had been sent the same scam. His first reaction was better than mine.

“It is none of your business whether I shop on Amazon or not.”

He knew how to check it out, found that the mail originated from the neighbour but that all subsequent mails were to be sent to another account with my neighbour’s name.

I am not savvy enough to work out how to do that. I will, however, find out how to do that and to protect myself even better.

IT’S TIME TO PAY YOUR 2023 SUBSCRIPTION

PLEASE JOIN the Association and help us to advance and protect the interests of Nork Residents and the amenities of the district. The Committee members give their time for free, but your money allows us to support local events and organisations, to promote our candidates in the local elections, and to produce the Nork Quarterly - although we aim to cover most of the printing costs through advertising.

You can join by returning your £5 subscription in the envelope provided to your Road or Area Steward. If your envelope doesn’t have your Road Steward’s address written on it, please find the addresses of Road and Area Stewards in the back of this Quarterly. Subscription envelopes may also be given to the Treasurer at 2 Beacon Way. If you would like a receipt for your subscription, please write your email address on the envelope. Alternatively, you can pay your subscription online by clicking on the big red box on the Association’s website, www.norkresidents.com.

NORK PARK CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

DAVE GILL

OUR GROUP has been blessed with good weather for all its weekend jobs since last October. We have carried out our annual clearance work in the pond below the tennis courts – it is amazing how many tree branches find their way into the water. There was also an unhealthy growth of grass in the water due to shallow water levels through the last summer, as well as a lot of bankside vegetation to cut back and the decking to be cleaned.

We have also done a lot of scrub clearance along the Church Lane bridle path, and opened up a glade alongside the path that leads down from near the Allotment Society huts to the picnic area. This will hopefully let in a lot more sunlight, helping to dry the area out, as well as providing a habitat for meadow plants to get established. Our most recent work was to cut back a lot of the invasive laurel on the fringes of the woodland beside the path from car park to picnic area, and more scrub clearance in the Spinney.

We only have one more task weekend at the beginning of April before our winter programme comes to an end, but we will be starting up again in late September or early October once the bird nesting season is totally over. Details of dates and tasks will appear in a future edition of this magazine and on our website. If you would like your name added to or mailing list, please contact me either by telephone or through the NRA Website.

GEORGE HINTON

Before clearing the scrub

After clearing the scrub