Don’t leave it too late – make sure your valuables are security marked to deter burglars.

The Safer New Forest Partnership urges residents to protect items such as laptops, mobile phones, TVs and bikes, to make them less attractive to thieves in the event of a burglary.

Marking your property with your postcode and house number makes it difficult to sell on as it becomes “too hot to handle” by potential purchasers. It also greatly increases the chance of you getting it back as the police can return recovered marked items to the rightful owner.

There are many methods of security marking valuables to protect them against theft, including:

• Ultra violet (UV) or invisible marking with pens which put an invisible mark on your property that can only be seen under UV light.
• Engraving or etching using an electric engraving tool.
• Forensic marking solutions, such as Smartwater and Selectadna, which contain a unique forensic code, making it easy to identify marked items.
• Householders are also advised to take a note of any serial numbers on an item and photograph any items that are too small or difficult to mark – such as jewellery.

You can create a free and secure portfolio of all your personal property at www.immobilise.com Register your property details and this will enable the police to identify the owner of lost and stolen goods.

New Forest Police Chief Inspector Simon Tribe also advises protecting your home from burglars by carrying out a few simple measures:

• Check windows and doors are locked and use window limiters if windows are to be left open at night.
• Keep the hedges and fences low at the front of your property to allow passing traffic and pedestrians a view of any suspicious activity.
• Fit motion sensor lights in suitable areas around the house and five-lever mortice locks on exterior doors.
• Invest in a burglar alarm or home CCTV system.
• Use automatic timers to switch on lights and radios inside your home if it is left empty in the evening or while you are on holiday.

Cllr Jill Cleary, New Forest District Council portfolio holder for housing and communities said: “Home security devices are a great deterrent – when thieves see the extra security precautions, they may move on rather than risk breaking into your home.”

For information about the work of the Safer New Forest Partnership visit: www.safer.newforest.gov.uk

For more information:

Call the Hampshire information line where the friendly team of advisors will be available to offer information and advice.
Tel: 0800 804 8601
Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Email: staywarm@environmentcentre.com
Web: www.hants.gov.uk/cold-spots

We have updated our car boot sales page with the details of car boot sales that have been booked in for 2015, taking place at Moore Close / Fawcetts Field.

To view the those booked in, please visit the car boot sales page.

New Milton Town Council has applied to New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority to designate a ‘Neighbourhood Area’ covering the whole of the parish of New Milton. Within this area the town council intends to use the new neighbourhood planning powers introduced through the Localism Act in 2011 to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan. Neighbourhood plans give local people the opportunity to say what type of development is right for their community.

Part of the proposed neighbourhood area lies inside the National Park, focused on the area around Bashley. Before the neighbourhood area is confirmed there is a period in which representations can be made regarding the proposed boundary of the Neighbourhood Plan area. Further details can be found at

newforest.gov.uk/haveyoursay or newforestnpa.gov.uk/consultations

Comments on the boundary of the Neighbourhood Plan area proposed by New Milton Town Council should be sent to New Forest District Council to be received by no later than Friday 23 January 2015.

Comments can be e-mailed to New Forest District Council at: policyandplans@nfdc.gov.uk or posted to: Policy and Plans Team, New Forest District Council, Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA.

There will be free car parking throughout New Milton in NFDC car parks on Saturday 29 November and Saturday 6 December 2014. This free parking event coincides with the New Milton Christmas Festival taking place 12noon to 5.30pm on Saturday 29 November.

The Town Mayor of New Milton, Cllr David Hawkins and Fellow Councillors invite you to attend a Carol Service At St Mary Magdalene Church, New Milton On Saturday 6 December, 2014 at 6.00 pm. Everyone is welcome!

We are seeking 2 highly customer-focussed individuals to carry out an interesting and varied role within the council’s Estates and Facilities Department that will involve some weekend working and ‘out of hours’ attendance. The post-holders will be responsible for ensuring that the relevant sports grounds are opened on time and fit for use at the weekend and secured at the end of the day

Working within the Estates team, the successful applicants will be involved with maintenance of all the council’s facilities, including sports grounds and open spaces to the highest standard together with general grounds maintenance duties. Applicants must have building maintenance experience and previous experience of grounds maintenance works would be an advantage but full training will be given to the right applicants. The ability to deal in a polite and clear manner with all facility users is essential.

The starting salary for this post will be £16,604 pa and is based on a 37 hour week to include alternate weekends. For a full job description and further details please contact Mark Jeffries, Estates and Facilities Manager on 01425 619120. Closing date: 17 October 2014.

The New Milton Christmas Festival Artisan’s Market will showcase local produce, goods and arts and crafts from local sources in and around the New Forest.  It will be a gathering of up to 50 independent artists, designer-makers, inventors, vintage, arts and crafts and food and drink stallholders.

More information about the Artisan’s Market can be found at the New Milton Events website.

New Forest District Council has been made aware that several residents in the district have received cold calls from two individuals claiming to be working with the council on the Solent Green Deal scheme and asking for householders’ details. Reports so far have been from the Lyndhurst area. These individuals are not representing the council or Solent Green Deal. Neither the council nor Solent Green Deal use cold callers to promote schemes or services and all NFDC staff working on council business carry formal identification with them.

Residents who receive a cold call like this are asked to report it to the Police by telephoning 101. The police will share information with Hampshire Trading Standards. Concerned householders can also contact Hampshire Trading Standards Quick Response Team for further advice, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, on 01962 833666.

Anyone who encounters the bogus cold callers is encouraged to note as much information as they can to provide to the police and Trading Standards, such as the company name given by the callers, descriptions of the individuals or a vehicle registration.

Local people are urged to remain vigilant for individuals cold calling in their area and to keep a lookout for elderly or vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours.

Cllr Jill Cleary, New Forest District Council portfolio holder for housing and communities, advised: “Legitimate cold callers will carry identification, so always examine it carefully. Do not allow anyone into your home whom you are unsure of and do not give any personal details or sign up to any work on the doorstep.”

Solent Green Deal is a scheme developed for Hampshire residents by local authorities and supported by New Forest District Council, which can help people to make energy improvements to their homes. Solent Green Deal only works with a list of approved contractors and would not employ cold callers. For details of the scheme and approved contractors visit solentgreendeal.org.uk or call freephone 0800 052 2242.