Police in Mid Ulster are asking all residents to be vigilant in relation to their home heating oil. Everyone in NI is affected by increasing fuel costs, but none more so than the elderly and vulnerable. Unfortunately, as fuel increases in price, it becomes more attractive to criminals, who may seek to steal it. Police are asking that households carry out a check to make sure their oil tanks are secured and padlocked, along with any access gates. If you have CCTV covering the back garden, try to ensure it covers the oil tank. If you have a family member who may need help checking their security, please help them out. If anyone calls to your house, unexpectedly, asking to inspect your boiler or oil tank, be suspicious and contact police. If someone is offering fuel, or fuel stamps, at a price that is too good to be true, be suspicious and contact police. If you need help or advice contact PSNI on 101 and ask for your local neighbourhood Policing Team.
Good news for us in the mid-ulster area, the council have agreed to generate almost One Million in saving and additional income which in turn gives them the ability to keep the rise at 3.9% making us one of the lowest of the 11 councils.
A welcome chink of light with the cost of living rising at a devastating rate. The council deserves a pat on the back for the projects completed, the projects in progress and the ones soon to begin. We can also be grateful for their control of debt and borrowing, once again a leader in the field.
Details Below:
The Council has confirmed its commitment to the continued delivery of an ambitious capital investment programme, valued at more than £80M in the next 3 years, building on the multi-million pound investment across Mid Ulster in the previous 18 months.
While 2021 saw the completion of extensive work at Maghera Leisure Centre to create a new 3G pitch and floodlighting, an upgraded play park and a trim trail at a cost of more than £1M, in 2022 the focus for leisure will turn to Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown with plans for a new £2.6M athletics track and pitch expected to go live and further developments expected in the realisation of the £6.5M Gortgonis leisure and community health hub.
Also in the year ahead, a £1.9M refurbishment of recycling facilities in Magherafelt will be completed, together with a £2.6M ‘small settlement’ scheme which will see a dozen villages benefit from new facilities.
Currently there also 10 projects, representing a spend of £1.8M which are due to be completed by late spring this year.
They include a £340K revitalisation scheme in Coalisland which will bring environmental improvements to the Lineside area of the town, creating a new pedestrian walkway, with the towpath also receiving a complete landscaping make-over.
Coalisland will also join Cookstown, Dungannon and Magherafelt as one of the towns where ‘shared community spaces’ are to be created, with retractable awnings, barriers and planters, heaters, and benches and seating areas to be installed at the start of the canal.
£197K improvement works to the courtyard area and car park at Pomeroy Forest are currently also underway and a £210K scheme at Iniscarn Forest has also started to create an all-ability play area, covered outdoor seating area and parking.
The final phase of the redevelopment of Ballyronan Marina is also underway, as Ballyronan Wood becomes the latest part of the marina site to be rejuvenated in a £175K project.
Play parks in Moygashel, Cookstown and Magherafelt are the latest to be earmarked for redevelopment in 2022 as part of the Council’s £2.6M Public Parks and Play Five Year Strategic Plan (2020-2025) and the work follows the upgrade of more than 20 play parks since 2020.
The overall rates which residents pay is based on the district rate set by local councils and the regional rate which is set by the NI Assembly. In Mid Ulster, only 42% of the domestic rates paid go towards funding council services and facilities. 58% funds the services provided centrally. This means the overall aggregate rate increase for Mid Ulster ratepayers (that is, the total of the district rate and regional rate) is estimated to be 1.69% (domestic) and 1.82% (non-domestic).
To note:
1. A domestic ratepayer in a property with an average capital value of £125,000, would see their annual rates bill increase by £16.75 per year or £1.68 per week.
2. The regional rate which is set by the NI Assembly accounts for 58% and 54% of the rates which residents and businesses pay (respectively) and is not increasing in 2022-2023. This means the overall aggregate rate increase for Mid Ulster ratepayers (that is, the total of the district rate and regional rate) is estimated to be 1.69% (domestic) and 1.82% (non-domestic).
3. The Council’s net expenditure for 2022-23 is £49,319,866.
4. In 2021-22, Mid Ulster District Council had the 2nd lowest domestic rate of all 11 district councils here. The Council anticipates this will continue to be the case (to be confirmed when all other councils have struck their rates).
5. The Council has the lowest level of debt and the lowest level of borrowing as a percentage of revenue income.
Police are urging members of the public to talk to older family members following a rise in phishing text, phone call and Whatsapp messages.
The scams involve usually a WhatsApp message, but sometimes a text or phone call, from a person claiming to be a family member, and have the common aim of encouraging the recipient to transfer money.
The renewed warning comes after numerous new reports received from victims across all districts in Northern Ireland. While anyone can fall victim to scams, we are seeing this type of scam targeting older people in particular.
Superintendent Gerard Pollock, Chair of the ScamwiseNI Partnership said: “We are noticing more and more reports in recent months of this type of scam from individuals across Northern Ireland.
“In each case, a person purporting to be a family member, often a daughter or son, asks for money. Typically, the ‘child’ is short of money or late paying bills, and asks the recipient to transfer money into an account. This is backed by a story that he or she has recently changed their phone or phone number.
“It’s a despicable act, which takes advantage of a person’s willingness to help out loved ones who are perhaps away from home.
“In some of these cases, the victim has been careful enough to check with the relative and therefore realise it’s a scam before departing with any money. Sadly, however, this isn’t always the case. Just last week, one victim lost £6,000 after receiving one of these messages.
“It’s really important that if you have older members of your family, talk with them and warn them about this particular type of scam. This is a really important conversation to have.”
Superintendent Pollock continued: “Fraudsters will try anything to trick people. Scams may come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common – scammers rely upon the good faith and vulnerability of those they target. Hard-earned savings can easily be gone in a flash and, with it, one’s confidence.
“Please don’t get caught out. If you get a message make contact with your son or daughter on their usual number. Don’t get into a text or WhatsApp conversation with the scammers. Spot it. Stop it.”
For further advice and information visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni. If you have any concerns about unsolicited calls, emails or letters then please report it to Action Fraud via their website www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phoning 0300 123 2040. You can also call police on the non-emergency number 101.
If you receive a suspicious message, whether by email, website or text message you can take the following actions:
· Email – if you feel unsure about an email you have received, you can forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Services at report@phishing.gov.uk
