Preston News Service (PNS)

The Preston News Service is free and can be used by anyone in, or connected to, the parish to amongst other things:

• Pass on a message or information which would be of benefit to our community – including Neighbourhood Watch notices, advice of road and footpath problems, information about Luton Airport Expansion – nice things too, like thank you notes
• Promote or ask for help with a local event and advise of date or venue changes
• Say something has been found or more urgently seek help if something (or someone) has gone missing
• Offer things for sale or free (rhubarb plants and seed potatoes being most recent) that might otherwise go to waste or ask if anyone has spares (notably, mint for the school camp over)

In the current situation – more so than usual

• The Red Lion and Kings Walden Stores are using PNS to send updates of what is available and when.
• The Parish Council and The Preston Trust are sending messages about giving and getting help – via both the PNS and the Parish Council mailing database

The PNS was set up by and is run by The Preston Trust who moderate requests by third parties, who are not connected with the parish, to use the PNS as a means of marketing. We may occasionally offer advice on wording messages. Whilst we loved the subject line sent of “Killer Cows are back” and knew you would too, we thought it might not get taken seriously on the morning of April 1st.

To subscribe please follow this link to the Preston News Service Contact Form. We do ask for your address and a contact number since in these strange times we have had a few dubious requests. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Are you still getting your PNS messages?

After the technical problems last December, when we then had to move the PNS to Google Gsuite, a small number of users have said they stopped getting messages. If you have not had a message for a few days or think some are going missing please do contact us for help.

Streaming Of Church Services For April

The Red Lion

Details of the Red Lion offers are available in the print edition of this newsletter and via the PNS.

Kings Walden Stores

With only one person at a time in the shop I found there was no demand for the extra opening hours. The current Shop and Post Office opening times are:

• Monday – 8.00 am to 1.00 pm
• Tuesday – 8.00 am to 12.00 noon
• Wednesday – Closed
• Thursday – 8.00 am to 12.00 noon
• Friday – Closed
• Saturday – 8 am to 10.30 am
• Sunday – Closed
• Papers are available to order 7 days a week

The telephone orders with appointment times for collection are working really well. Please bear with me if the phone is busy or leave a message on the machine. Telephone number is 768511

Some of the Preston volunteers are regulars and have said they would be happy to collect your orders for you. If you don’t already have a friend or neighbour who shops here, please go through the published Preston Parish Council / Preston Trust contact number or e-mail to be put in touch with a volunteer.

I have most household items in stock, as a random sample – kitchen rolls, firelighters, dishwasher salt, foil, cling film, loo rolls etc. I have good stocks of: frozen veg, milk including soya & uht, dog & cat food, bread, cheese, local eggs, crisps, chocolate , biscuits etc etc. I haven’t got space for lots of different brands and varieties – for example cheese would be: mild, mature, strong & vintage, bread: white, brown or Katie’s low GI.

I have a fresh fruit and veg delivery twice a week. For orders please let me know what you need two or three days in advance of collection to have a good chance of getting everything – I will always try but cannot guarantee availability at the moment.

If anyone can’t get to us in opening times I can open (by appointment) for 10 minutes if you need to look at things before buying.

Thank you all for being kind to each other and patient when there are two or three people in front of you. Stay safe and well.

Kind regards, Amanda

Help Is Available

Please remember that if you need help with shopping or collection of prescription, there are willing volunteers available.  Anyone who requires help should make contact in one of the following ways:

The phone line and emails will be monitored from 7.30am to 9.30pm.

Neighbourhood Watch

The number to contact at North Herts Police for all non-emergencies (including witnessing of fly-tipping) is 101 or 01707 354000.
For removal of fly tipping which has already occurred, call NHDC 01462 474000 or online at www.north-herts.gov.uk, then follow the links to Transport and Streets, Street Cleaning and Fly Tipping where there is a form to complete to report the details.

PC Johnie Streeter and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues. Their contact details are as follows:

PC Johnie Streeter: 07525 905431 or 01438 757604 Johnie.streeter@herts.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Heather Burrows: 07740 745168 or 01438 757604 or heather.burrows@herts.pnn.police.uk

In the event of an emergency or if you witness a crime taking place please call 999.

Reporting suspicious activity

Please report any suspicious activity or vehicles you may witness in the locality.

Call the police on the non-emergency number 101 or report it online by using the website www.herts.police.uk/report and follow the links.

Register With The Owl System

Keep up to date with what’s going on in your neighbourhood by signing up to the OWL System (Online Watch Link). Information about crime, the latest crime prevention advice and local community news is sent by email from Herts Police.

Visit www.owl.co.uk for further information or email the Watch Liaison Officer at WLO@herts.pnn.police.uk.

Details are also available on the Neighbourhood Watch page of the Preston Village website.

Preston Village Hall is Closed

As you may be aware the Village Hall is currently closed. This is in line with the restrictions and governmental advice for managing the Coronavirus situation. The Hall will remain closed until further notice.

Preston Parish Council: Wednesday 22 April

The next meeting of Preston Parish Council will be held on Wednesday 22 April at 8pm via Zoom video conferencing. Any member of the public who would like to raise an issue to be discussed at this meeting should contact the Clerk. Anyone who would like to join in the electronic meeting should also contact Lisa Lathane, Clerk to the Parish Council:

Contact Us – Preston Parish Council

A link to join the meeting will be emailed about half an hour before the meeting is due to start.

Anyone who would like to join the Parish Council database which keeps residents informed of Parish Council matters, including planning applications, should also contact Lisa Lathane, Clerk to the Parish Council, details as above.