It’s time to take stock of your home security now that the clocks have gone back. The change to winter light always coincides with a rise in the number of house and shed burglaries being reported, but we’re also living in increasingly difficult times.

Burglars always look for an easy target, so if someone appears to be home then they are more likely to move on until they find a property in darkness or insecure.

Use light timers if you are going to return home after dark – these aren’t expensive. They can also be used on other electrical equipment to give the impression that someone’s home.

Make it harder to get into your home – Always lock doors and windows and think about whether you need to fit extra locks.

Use deadlocks, bolts and door chains if you have them.

Never leave door and window keys in or around doors and windows.

Extra lighting outside your home can make a big difference.

Make sure that your garden tools and furniture are put away, and that sheds and garages are locked with good quality padlocks. Thieves will often use tools from from sheds and garages to try and break into a house.

It’s a good idea to secure expensive items like tools and mowers using security cable, or chains and padlocks. You could go a step further by keeping all tools and equipment in a security chest or cage to provide added protection.

Put your car away at night if you have a garage.

These are simple examples, but may be the difference between being burgled or not. Your local Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) are available to provide a free Crime Prevention Survey on your home, which will help you to plan your home security.

For more information on crime prevention in Matson & Robinswood call the Safer Communites Team on 0845 090 1234.

Robinswood Primary has, at the time of this post, registered 234 tokens. This makes a total of £46.80 towards new cooking equipment.

Examples of what can be bought are:

3 tokens – a wooden spoon
10 tokens – a dinner plate
41 tokens – a saucepan

Anything which gets our children new equipment has to be worth it. Please collect all you can.

Tokens can be registered until 30th September 2009. More details can be found at:

www.cookingwithschools.com

Service 1 will operate via Park End Road and Tredworth Road (number 7 route) and rejoin the normal route at Reservoir Road. Services 3 and 4 will operate via Metz Way (number 5 route) and Eastern Avenue and rejoin the normal route at Coney Hill Road.

Buses returning to Gloucester will follow the reverse of these routes.

‘Don’t get in a spin over your washing,
come to your New Local Launderette!’

Spinners Launderette
opened on Tuesday 14th April

85 Matson Avenue, on the shopping parade
Next to Jane’s Pantry

Opening offers run until Sunday 31st May 2009.

Single duvets £4 each or 2 for £7
Double duvets £6 each or 2 for £10
King Size duvets £7.50

Service Wash – Your laundry washed, dried and folded
for £5 per 6kg. Payment is required in advance.

Dry cleaning and ironing will be available soon.

Opening Times

Monday to Friday – 8am to 8pm
Saturday to Sunday – 10am to 6pm

01452 300262

  Thursday 16th April 2009

3.00 – 4.00pm

See the flyer and programme for details.

In addition to this two community improvement days, known as Community Pride days, will be held shortly.

On Tuesday 19th May a wild flower garden and hanging baskets created at The Lampreys.

On Friday 5th June improvements will be made to the area surrounding the flats in Winnycroft Lane.

Residents are very welcome to help out on the days and we will also be at Winnycroft Lane to help improve our community.

Full details are yet to be confirmed, but more information will be posted here and available from Gloucester City Homes on 0800 408 2000.

Matson Baptist Church is holding an Arts Weekend on 25th and 26th April. The Arts Weekend is open to the whole community and details are still being arranged, but planned activities include:

Saturday 25th April

12-1pm  Poetry Slam at the Library                       

At the Baptist Church

Sunday 26th April

10.30am Morning service celebrating our creative skills

We’d like to remind parents that they may be entitled to free school meals.

The children of anyone on Income Support, Income based Job Seekers Allowance or Child Tax Credit are likely to be entitled to free school meals.

A copy of the Free School Meals leaflet can be found here.

Further information is available from Shire Hall or the County Council’s website.

Tickets are £4 per person. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.

To reserve a place for your son or daughter you’ll need to return the consent form and full payment by 22nd December.

For further details please contact Bob or Vanessa

at Matson Baptist Church
on 01452 381070
or download the flyer