Preston – Hertfordshire

Notice Board

Voluntary Emergency Telephone System

If someone is unwell, especially if you think they may be having a heart attack, even if it is in the middle of the night

DIAL 999 IMMEDIATELY

If the ambulance service tells you that the defibrillator is required and you need help, ring the VETS number

One of the trained volunteers will talk to you and arrange to bring the defibrillator from the Red Lion car park and will assist until an ambulance arrives.

You only have a few minutes to save a life.

Documents for the Community Facilities Project

Preston Parish Council is maintaining a page on the village website to post documents relating to the proposed new community facilities so that residents can keep up to date with the project.

The first documents are now on available at: https://www.prestonvillageherts.com/community-facilities-project/

Please share the information with any neighbours who do not have internet access, if possible.

Scarecrow Festival – The Winners Are

Seven awards were given this year. The winners are shown with scarecrow entry number and name followed by their award:

1. Beetle Juice - Best In Show, All judges combined including those who didn't give their age.

7. Breaking Free - 1st Place, Senior Judges Award

3. Phone Home - 2nd Place, Senior Judges Award

12. Johnny 5 - 3rd Place, Senior Judges Award

13. Super Mario Village Style - 1st Place, Junior Judges Award

22. Masters of the Universe - 2nd Place, Junior Judges Award

21. Morph - 3rd Place, Junior Judges Award

Click here to see larger pictures of the winning entries...

Preston Primary School Nature Guide

Dear All,

One of our classes created a nature guide for the area and they wanted to share this with you. Please see their letter and link to their guide below. It would be wonderful if you could let the children know what your thoughts are and how useful the guide is. You can find our Contact Page here.

Thank you,
Inneke Luitingh - Headteacher, Preston Primary VC School, Back Lane, Preston, Herts, SG4 7UJ

Dear Preston Trust,

I am writing to you to ask you to read and use our Nature Guide and place them around Preston and on your website.

Our class has worked very hard to create our brilliant nature guide and we would love if we saw them all over Preston. This class has worked so hard on lots of projects and we would be so proud if you listen to us. This nature guide has lots of information about Preston's nature and we believe they will help visitors and locals as well!

Please listen to us and let our Nature Guide be seen and read all around Preston.

Yours sincerely,
Maple Class (Year 3 and 4)

Parish Council: Planning Applications

Preston Parish Council would like to make residents aware of the process by highlighting the following points:

Planning applications are a key role of the Parish Council. It informs residents of planning applications via the Parish Council database and PNS. Brief details are posted on the Parish Council section of this website. Full details are on the Planning section of the NHDC website, including how to comment.

NHDC contact those living in adjoining properties to the application site, and others if NHDC deem it appropriate to the particular application.

Anyone can respond to NHDC regarding any planning application. Comments can only be about the specific application and must be relevant to planning law. Residents are also welcome to make their views known to the Parish Council which will incorporate them into its response, if appropriate.

Those submitting planning applications are welcome to discuss them with the Parish Council if they wish.

The NHDC consultation period is three weeks. The Parish Council has to submit any comment within this time limit. The Planning Officer decides on most applications. Some large applications go to the Planning Control Committee where NHDC Councillors make the decision.

Decisions are posted on the Parish Council section of the village website and in further detail on the NHDC website. Only the applicant has the right of appeal against the decision.

To register for the Parish Council database contact Lisa Lathane via our contact form. To register for PNS use the PNS contact Form.

Stay Safe From Phone Fraud

Phone fraud or ‘vishing’ is when a fraudster calls pretending to be your bank, supplier, customer, internet service provider or the police. They’ll often call pretending to be from your bank, highlighting there is a problem with your accounts or online banking. They appear genuine as they’ll already have information on you.

159 is a new fraud hotline which will let you check whether a call from your bank is genuine. If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details……Stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank. Call 159 if:

Someone contacts you saying they’re from your bank – even if they are not suspicious. You receive a call asking you to transfer money or make a payment – even if it seems genuine
You receive a call about a financial matter and it seems suspicious

Remember, 159 will never call you. But you can rely on 159 to get you through to your bank. If 159 doesn’t work, for any reason – You should contact your bank in the normal way, using the number on your bank card. Calling 159 will cost the same as a national rate call; usually part of the included minutes in most phone tariffs.

159 has been set up by banks and telephone companies who want to fight fraud. It’s a pilot scheme at the moment. The following banks are part of it: Barclays, Lloyds (including Halifax and Bank of Scotland), NatWest (including Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank), Santander and Starling Bank.
That covers over 70% of UK primary current account holders.

Preston Parish Neighbourhood Plan Complete

Preston Parish Neighbourhood Plan
Our Parish – Our Future – We voted YES
2019 – 2031

The journey to develop and make The Preston Parish Neighbourhood Plan is complete. It will now be used by NHDC when determining planning applications for the Parish of Preston.

To find out more, visit: www.preston-np.org.uk

Tatmore Hills Loop Preston – Circular Walk

Starting from the Red Lion Pub,
a walk of approximately 4.8km / 3m and 1 hour long.

This is a circular walk starting an d finishing at the Red Lion Pub. Details and map are available as an A4 leaflet from the Red Lion Pub and on the Village Green next to the Notice Board.

Follow this link - Tatmore Hills Loop Preston - to open, print or download a copy (PDF, 573 kB).

Produced by Preston Parish Council as part of the Parish Paths Partnership,funded by Hertfordshire County Council.

Supported by the Parish Paths Partnership.

Parish Newsletter - September 2023

New Community Facilities
Beds & Herts Bike ‘N Hike 9 September 2023
The Preston Trust – October Dates
Preston Parish Council
- Parish Council Meeting: Thursday 7 September
- Community Facilities Documents
- Voluntary Emergency Telephone System
Harvest Supper On Friday 22 September
Red Lion – Harvest Auction
Preston Village Society: Thursday 21 September
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St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
Letter From The Vicar
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2023/2024
Hitchin Foodbank Shortages
Neighbourhood Watch… Read More

Parish Newsletter - August 2023

Preston Parish Council
- Voluntary Emergency Telephone System
New Community Facilities
The Preston Trust Needs Your Time And Energy To Keep Going
Our Village Day 2023: Saturday 1 July, 12 noon – 5.30pm
The Preston Trust Position On The New Community Facilities Project
Why The Preston Trust Matters
Preston History Website Recently uploaded pieces to the Preston History Website include:
Bottle Tombola At Village Day
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St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
Letter From The Vicar
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2023/2024
Neighbourhood Watch
Hitchin Foodbank Shortages… Read More

Parish Newsletter - July 2023

Parish Council Meeting: Thursday 13 July
Preston Parish Council Bottle Tombola
Register With The Owl System
Police Surgery – Village Hall – Saturday 8th July
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Village Day – Saturday 1 July, 12:30 on The Green
- Timetable for Village Day
- Scarecrow Trail
- Parking on Village Day
- Help for Village Day
- Cakes and Goodies for Village Day
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St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services ~ With Scarecrows from Friday
Letter From The Vicar
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2023/2024
Neighbourhood Watch
Hitchin Foodbank Shortages… Read More

Preston News Service

The Preston News Service (PNS) provides fast email distribution of events and notices concerning the parish and its people. Please contact the Preston Trust, using the link at the bottom of every page, or use the following link to:

Subscribe (or change your subscription details) to the PNS

The Preston Website

Please contact the Preston Trust, using the link at the bottom of every page, or use one of the following links to:

Add new Diary Dates to the Calendar, tell us about changes or request a message on the home page above – then select the option to contact The Website Team – About the website
Ask questions and/or give us feedback.

Weather

Visit the Met Office website to view the latest forecast for Hitchin

Or visit BBC Weather for the latest forecast for SG4 postcodes

In conjunction with the Ambulance Service and with the support of the Directors of the Red Lion, Preston Parish Council installed a defibrillator in the Red Lion car park in April 2015 which is always available for emergency use.

The defibrillator is checked weekly to ensure that it remains in perfect condition.

The cabinet is locked and can only be opened with a code which is provided by the ambulance service if the defibrillator is required by a patient.

In case of emergency, residents should dial 999 and explain the situation. The responder will decide whether the defibrillator is required and will provide details of its location and the code to access it.

If you need help to get the defibrillator, call the Voluntary Emergency Telephone System:

and a trained volunteer will bring the defibrillator to you and support you until the ambulance arrives.