Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire have announced a new funding stream that is now available to support local Community and Groups within the NELC area which should benefit those groups who have not had access to large grants or donations in the past. As the name suggests, grassroots should help to grow and build sustainability in the future.

For further information about Grassroots Funding please visit North East Lincolnshire Third Sector Hub Website:

http://www.vanelhub.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=389&Itemid=137#what

Where you will find further information about the grants and downloadable application forms – good luck with your funding bids!

Funky moves, urban beats and booming rhythms combine to create some of the most cutting edge and cool dance routines.

 Bring along a sense of adventure and be prepared to strut you stuff across the dance floor. The Street Dance Workshop takes place on Thursday 14th August for Ages 11+ at the Central Hall 2pm-4pmAdmission £1. 

Pre-booking is essential.  Tel 01652 662057 for booking or 07743816276 for further information, or on the internet at:

 www.artsforumfestival.com

There will be a 2 day

Rock

School in the area on August 12th and 13th in which you can write and perform a new song and be a part of a band that will make that happen.

 Guitarists will need at least some experience and basic chord knowledge, but all other instruments can be beginners. Instruments will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own guitars, otherwise just bring your inspiration, enthusiasm and rhythm.  Rock School is forAges 11+ and takes place at Western Youth Centre 10am-4pm, Admission £1. Pre-booking is essential  

Tel 01652 662057 to book, or for further information look on www.artsforumfestival.com 

I can only apologise to anyone who has tried to visit this site over the last few days.  Apparently there was a major systems failure at our website host.  They have now recovered, and restored the site from one of their backups, but unfortunately any e mails, comments or posts made on July 24th have been lost.  Please accept my apologies if I have failed to respond to any of your comments.  If you don’t mind sending them again I will respond as soon as possible.  Hopefully normal service has now been resumed!

A BRADLEY Crossroads bus stop has undergone a total revamp following requests from residents that it should be made easier for all to use.

The transformation at the bus stop was made possible through funding awarded by the Government as part of the council’s second Local Transport Plan (LTP2).

The introduction of low floor buses fitted with ramps for wheelchair users has led to a need for appropriate kerbside access and the council has been upgrading bus stops across the borough to ensure they meet the needs of all bus passengers.

North East Lincolnshire Council is working to increase the number of bus stops that are fully accessible to match the introduction of the low floor buses. It’s important that we make it as easy as possible for people to use public transport; whether it’s getting to work, school to the shops or whatever.

Other successful council public transport initiatives include the upgrading of bus stops by route, for example the 13, 14 and 45 Lo Zone routes. Stagecoach also provided new buses and upgraded frequency on these services which has led to an increase in passenger numbers since their introduction in 2006.

The council also operates the Phone n Ride service which gives access to public transport to passengers who do not have a regular bus service in their area. Phone n Ride can be booked up to six days in advance by telephoning the council’s call centre on (01472) 324440, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm. For more information visit www.phonenride.com

North East Lincolnshire Council is urging elderly residents across the borough to be aware of doorstep callers posing as officials after concerns that there has been a recent increase in the area.There are concerns that there have been a number of recent cases of callers posing as council workers asking to check people’s energy bills and take the home occupiers’ bank details.And trading standards officers have reiterated warnings asking people to check callers’ identification details and to call police or Consumer Direct if they have any concerns.Andy Foster, trading standards manager at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “If people have any concerns they should not allow callers to access their property and certainly shouldn’t give out their bank details.“Reputable traders will have the appropriate identification – but people should always ask why checks are being carried out on their property. If they have any concerns they should contact police or Consumer Direct immediately.”Meanwhile, reputable traders can sign up to the Home Service Directory (HSD), a council-backed service that vets businesses and carries out widespread checks on their efficiency and value for money. Customers can ask traders if they belong to the HSD for added peace of mind if they have any concerns about a business.Councillor Steve Beasant, the council’s portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “It is worrying to learn of this increase in bogus officials. who often prey on vulnerable people within our community.“I can only re-iterate the need to ask for appropriate identification and ask occupiers to be vigilant and trust their instincts. If people have concerns, call Consumer Direct or the police.”If you would like to report any bogus calls to trading standards please contact consumer direct on 08454 04 05 06. For more on the HSD, go to www.hsd.org.uk 

New figures reveal that households throughout the UK could save over £600m a year if we sent as little of our rubbish for landfill as other countries in Europe.

The Local Government Association has compared the proportion of rubbish being thrown into the ground by people in 10 European countries, and it has found that the UK is sending almost twice as much rubbish per person to landfill as the French and 19 times more per person than the Dutch.

In the UK, councils are charged £40 in tax for every tonne of rubbish they throw in the ground, and at current rates this costs £620m a year or £30 for every household in the country.  Figures show that if we matched the Germans, by only sending 1% of our rubbish for landfill, householders would save £609m and pay just 53p a year each in landfill tax.  If we were matching the Dutch, we would pay just £1.60 a year.

Councils say that the tax they pay on landfill goes straight into Whitehall coffers and there is reason tothink that  they having the money returned.

Town hall leadersd say thatb they could improve recycling services across the country and push the UK up Europe’s landfill league table if the landfill tax money was returned to them.

Cllr Paul Bettison, Chairman of the Local Government Association Environment Board, said:

”When it comes to throwing less rubbish in the ground Brits are languishing in the lower leagues. If councils knew they were getting landfill tax back, they could build the recycling facilities that would help this country compete with our European rivals. 

“Being the recycling champions of Europe could save council taxpayers across the country a staggering £609m.

“As well as being bad for the environment, throwing rubbish in the ground threatens to hit council taxpayers in the pocket unless we cut back.  Councils and council taxpayers could soon face further fines of £150 for every tonne of rubbish that is landfilled above a set amount.

“It’s more important than ever that people recycle as much as possible and councils are working with residents to make this happen.  Despite numerous requests, the Government won’t show how landfill tax is being given back to councils.  This cash could be used to keep council tax down and build the waste and recycling facilities this country needs.

”Local people deserve great credit for boosting our recycling rate in recent years.  If it wasn’t for the hard work of UK households, we’d be throwing even more rubbish in the ground.  It’s time the Government showed everyone where landfill tax is going and helped the UK become the recycling champions of Europe.”

North East Lincolnshire Council will soon be offering a fortnightly garden waste collection service to all residents of the borough.The provision is part of the council’s planned expansion of services and will be phased in between now and spring 2009. It is being offered on an ‘opt in’ basis only.

In order for North East Lincolnshire Council to deliver an economic and efficient service, a minimum of 30 percent of households in each street are required to register for this service for it to come to fruition. If less than 30 percent of households register then the council may not be able to provide the service to properties in that street.

Nathan Vear, acting head of neighbourhood improvement, said “The expansion of the green waste service will be rolled out to those areas where demand for this service is highest. This ensures that those residents who express a commitment to recycling their green waste get the opportunity to do just that.”

The authority is going to distribute a ‘Garden Waste’ postcard to around 25,700 households during the week commencing Monday, July 28. To register interest in receiving a garden waste bin, residents are reminded to return the pre-addressed ‘tear-off’ part of the postcard as soon as possible before Friday, August 15. Postage is pre-paid so no stamp is required.

Ian Graham, recycling officer for the council, said: “We continuously strive to improve the performance of our services. In doing so, we are actively seeking to encourage residents who do not, at present, have access to North East Lincolnshire Council’s garden waste collection service, to look out for the postcards which will soon be sent out to home addresses.”
Residents can also register online at www.nelincs.gov.uk.

As part of a critical research study, local people and businesses are being encouraged to email through their stories of how the Humber Bridge and its tolls impact on their lives.
Does it make it easier to visit family and friends on the other side of the water or does the cost of the tolls mean you don’t visit them as often as you would like? How do the bridge and the present level of tolls affect where you live, work, shop, go to college, and go out for an evening? Has the toll prevented you from taking up a job, college place or health appointment on the other side of the water?
While for businesses does the toll impact on where you can recruit staff and where your customers and suppliers come from? Anyone who has a personal account is encouraged to email in their views and make them count.
Colin Buchanan has launched an email address: humberbridge@cbuchanan.co.uk to which people can email in their stories of how the bridge tolls impact their lives.
People and businesses have until the end of July to respond and all responses will be treated as confidential.
Paul Buchanan, Director at Colin Buchanan, said: “This is an opportunity for people and businesses to tell us what impact the present level of tolls on the Humber Bridge has on their day to day lives.
“Real life stories help bring to life the hard economic numbers that we will also be producing for this study making it easier for decision makers to better understand the impact of any decisions they may take on the level of future tolls.”

The next meeting of Yarborough Forward, your local neighbourhood forum will take place on Thursday 24th July at 6.00pm at the Yarrow Road Community Centre.  Any resident of the Yarborough Ward who is interested in making the place a safer and better place to live is welcome to come along.  Yarborough Forward is a place where residents and representatives of agencies working in the area can meet and discuss ways of working that influence the way that local services are provided in the area.  Regularly attending meetings are representatives from the Police, Shoreline, Neighbourhood Wardens, local Councillors, and others.  Many other agencies and organisations attend when they are invited to explain the work that their own departments carry out to address particular concerns.  The forum is one of the best places to have your voice heard.  Why not come along and let us know what can be done to improve the piece of the ward that you live in ?