Today’s Fayre at the Foxwood Community Centre has been a success despite changeable weather.

http://tinyurl.com/Foxwood-Fayre-2013

STOP PRESS UPDATE – North Yorkshire police are warning about bogus bankers who are ringing up elderly people and trying to get their bank account details. Click here http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/11470

The York Council is warning residents to be on their guard after receiving complaints about traders ‘cold calling’ residents, claiming there are problems with these individuals’ Council Tax.

Council officers have been made aware of these new cases just as the York-based Yorkshire and the Humber Trading Standards Group Scambuster team have begun proceedings against five individuals in respect of another alleged Council Tax rebate scam. The first hearing is scheduled for Thursday 27 June 2013 at York Magistrates Court.

This latest scam involves residents being approached and being told that they are entitled to a refund because they are paying too much council tax, while in other cases residents are told that they haven’t paid enough.

Complainants who have received the phone calls say that they were given an appointment and were told that the person who would call at their home would show council identification.

Residents in the YO24 postcode appear to be targeted in particular.

The Council says, “Do not be tempted to call us using a number given to you by the person before you. It’s a well-known trick for scammers to provide a number that goes back to them. Call us on 01904 551550. Do not give any personal information to these callers, especially your banking information.

Anyone who has been contacted in relation to a problem with their council tax is urged to contact the City of York Council’s Trading Standards team via the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) consumer helpline on 08454 040506.

There will be fun for all the family at the Bootham Stray Allotments Open Day on Sunday 23June from 12-2pm

Besides a chance to look round the allotments, there will be a range of stalls including crafts, tombola, raffle, cakes and refreshments, all based at the new community area, a fantastic green space at the heart of the area of new plots created by recent funding.

The open day will showcase the work of the BIG Lottery-funded Fresh Start Project which has transformed Bootham Stray over the last two years. In July 2011 Bootham Stray Allotments Association was awarded a £50,260 grant from the BIG Lottery fund plus an additional £4,530 from the BIG Supporting Change initiative, to rejuvenate the allotments and create a new community area.

The grant has enabled the Allotments Association to make some major improvements to the condition of the allotments. These include making the site more secure with a perimeter fence and hedge as well as improving the drainage by installing new land drains. The grant has also allowed for the creation of 22 extra plots in the area.

Parking on the site (just off Wigginton Road) is very limited so visitors are encouraged to use public transport, walk or cycle. The site can also be accessed from the end of Burton Stone Lane and Burton Green.