The Spring Park Shirley Bowling Club

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The Spring Park Shirley Bowling Club at Shirley Church Recreation Ground is planning for the 2024 season and the future!

If one of your goals for 2024 is to be more active here is something for you to seriously think about …. Signing up to try Lawn Bowls at Spring Park Shirley Bowling Club.

“But that’s for old people!!” I hear you cry. And I’d reply “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”

This humble game, played May – Sept, is very capable of having a positive effect on your co-ordination, core strength and flexibility as well as your mental wellbeing.

Bowls is a sport for everybody – it takes seconds to learn, but a lifetime to master – as shown in…

THE DIARY OF A NEW BOWLER
“Day 1 – Visited the Spring Park Shirley Bowls Club today with my husband for a taster session. We were welcomed, assigned a coach each and after some basic coaching my bowl was stopping relatively near the Jack (the small white target). We stopped for tea and the other members came to chat with us. Just when I thought it was over a challenge was issued – I was to play against my husband. My bowls were nearer the Jack than when I started, but nowhere near in comparison to my husbands! He seemed to step forward and release the bowl like a swan nudging it’s offspring ahead in the water, the bowl glided across the green and came to rest much nearer the Jack than mine. There was much banter over dinner. This game is not as easy as it first appears.”

“1 Month in – Visiting a couple of times a week over the last month and receiving more coaching, my husband and I are hooked. My husband is now settled into his bowling stride. He makes the delivery of his bowl look effortless whilst my bowls continue to visit all areas of the rink I am playing on as well as those I am not. Despite the challenges, my teammates laugh with me and continue to offer never ending support. This game is addictive and so enjoyable, why did I not take it up earlier? Oh yes, I remember now, I thought it was just for old people – how wrong I was!”

“April 2023 (1 year later) – We’ve decided to enter a number of club competitions this year and are excited to challenge ourselves against some of the club’s top players. We’re also looking forward to joining some of the away days, visiting some coastal bowls clubs (Herne Bay and Eastbourne) and pitching our wits against their teams.”

Visit http://www.springparkshirleybowlingclub.co.uk/ to find out more about us and our programme of taster sessions starting on Sunday 5th May 2024!

Croydon Trading Standards – An Ill Wind Blows Nobody Good

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Residents will be quite aware of the recent bad weather, of which Storm Henk was the latest in a series of weather events. Croydon may not have suffered the widespread flooding which has hit large parts of the country, but evidence of the wind was widespread with fallen branches, fence panels and some damage to houses.

Trading Standards are urging householders, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, to be on their guard for rogue traders who might try to take advantage of any damage to property actually, or allegedly, caused by recent storms

Sadly, it is a fact that some unscrupulous traders see an opportunity to take advantage of people when they are vulnerable – particularly the elderly and infirm – and this is particularly the case following incidents of bad weather.

Trading Standards always advise consumers never to deal with cold callers on your doorstep, whatever goods or services they are offering. This is particularly the case where householders may feel that work is required immediately to deal with an issue and persons describing themselves perhaps as tree surgeons or roofers seem the answer.

If damage is weather-related, always speak to your insurance company first before agreeing to have work done. The company is likely to have a list of approved traders and may well want to instruct them to undertake any necessary repairs. The fact is that it is better to wait for the work to be done properly, rather than it be done badly and have to be redone.

If you do not have insurance, or want to get the work done as soon as possible, then we would always advise –

  • Do not agree to have work done by anyone who cold calls.
  • Ask friends and family for recommendations.
  • Try to get at least three quotes for work.
  • Make sure you know the trader’s name and address. If things go wrong, it is usually easier to arrange a repair or refund with a local trader.

If you feel you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.
Further advice can be obtained by emailing
trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk

 

Online Safety Bill – Scam Adverts

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The Online Safety Act 2023 is an act of the Parliament of the United
Kingdom to control online speech and media. It passed on 26 October
2023 with a view to being able to deal more effectively with harmful
online content including scams and scam adverts.

Speaking on The Martin Lewis Podcast, the money-saving expert
himself said he was ‘heavily involved’ in the campaign to get scam
advert regulation included in the Online Safety Bill.

He said: “Always be vigilant when you’re approached by a person or
company selling you something you have not requested, cold calling is a
warning. Never click links or call numbers, emails or texts, if you don’t
know who it’s from.”

For further information and advice on financial issues
and saving money please visit the Money Saving Expert
website: www.moneysavingexpert.com

Please pay extra attention to adverts or ‘sales’ that
are too good to be true! The Christmas and New Year
sales are tempting but if you never receive the item
you have not saved any money!

If you have been scammed or misled into contracting with a business or a
trader and parted with money, please report to Citizens Advice Consumer
Advice Line on 0808 223 1133 or go to the following website to report online:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/

 

Planning Report – January 2024

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To find out the latest news on what is being planned in your local area, check out our latest Planning Report with up-to-date information on Planning Applications including developments in:

  • Addiscombe Road
  • The Glade
  • Gladeside
  • Oak Way
  • Orchard Avenue
  • Orchard Rise
  • Orchard Way
  • Round Grove
  • Wickham Road and Woodmere Gardens.

You can also take a look at information about the latest London Plan Guidance Consultation.