• The news of changes to the First 4/4B service is good and bad. The excellent news is that Sutton Poyntz has retained an hourly service into the village, with a review of the route in June. However no buses will now run down Oakbury Drive, a change that will only save First 4 minutes on every trip but will create great difficulties for many residents! Time for another protest?

• Over 50 people attended a Radipole Safer Neighbourhood Team Meeting at the Village Hall and were rewarded with a thoroughly professional presentation. PC Sally Ludlow and PCSO Clive Joyner of the team and PC Pete Moore, a rural beat officer discussed the recent spate of garage break-ins in the Oakbury Drive area. PC Ludlow knew of 4 reported cases and was made aware of 5 more similar but unreported cases. Half of these involved up and over garage doors, mostly in separate blocks of garages, with bikes and tools stolen. She stressed that all incidents should be reported, as this helped police investigations. She did however acknowledge that even when a culprit was caught the response of the judicial system might prove a disappointment. Asked if the lack of street lights had been a cause, she said the total number of incidents this year had a decreased significantly. Perhaps another reason for reporting all incidents? Police night patrols, of the drive-by variety, depended on pressures elsewhere. PCSO Clive Joyner described how he usually patrols on foot or bike and suggested taking some basic precautions by e.g. fitting motion or vibration detectors with an integral alarm, padlocks with a circular barrel type device that can’t be bolt cropped, and he demonstrated these devices. Most are self-fit, but any reputable locksmith can assist. Garage doors also can be protected with bolts, or even just by parking your car right up against it. So fit security measures, notify the police if you are away for a significant period, ask a neighbour to park on your drive and report all incidents.

• The Abbeyfield Society will be holding a Coffee Morning at their Macpherson House in Wyke Oliver Road on Saturday 23 March between 10am and 11.30am. Stalls will be offering Cakes, Books and Bric-a-Brac at attractive prices together with a Raffle. Entry costs 50p but this includes coffee & biscuits and all proceeds go to the residents’ amenities fund. Why not drop in and support them?