The smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference to someone this Christmas. Bucks Council’s Christmas Angels campaign highlights six local charities which support some of our most vulnerable residents. If you are in a position to donate, please consider making a contribution to one of these worthy causes.

A Message from Brill Parish Council

It’s been a busy year for the new council. Fiona’s arrival, hedge cutting, car park resurfacing, floodlighting the MUGA - but far more important than our achievements is the tireless committment of Brill’s multitude of volunteers. On the common and on the sports fields; supporting older people, nurturing youngsters; in church and chapel and village hall - everyone, everywhere! We salute and thank you all most sincerely for all you do. Brill wouldn’t be Brill without you!

We wish everyone in Brill and their families near and far a very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..”
(but only with a fireguard &
a working smoke alarm)

Did you know we are 53% more likely to have a house fire on Christmas Day than any other day of the year? Here’s how to minimise the risk.

Inspect Christmas lights for damaged cables or loose connections. Only use lights that meet British Safety Standards Kitemark or the CE mark. Never overload sockets when plugging in extra lights and always unplug before going out or to bed.

Keep decorations away from heat sources. Tinsel, paper decorations and artificial trees can catch fire easily. Keep them away from candles, open flames and heaters.

Cook safely. Stay with your cooking, keep the hob clear, and avoid distractions. Don’t cook whilst under the influence of alcohol - this really is a recipe for disaster.

Use candles with care. Don’t leave scented candles burning unattended, even in the bathroom. Make sure all candles are in sturdy holders and kept well away from decorations, curtains, pets and children.

Charge gifts responsibly. Always use the correct charger and don’t charge electronics overnight or on soft furnishings. If you are giving or receiving an e-scooter, never charge it overnight or store it within your escape route. Talking of escape routes…

Keep escape routes clear. Keep hallways and exits free of decorations, piles of coats and shoes, and presents - and make sure guests know the best way out of the house in case of fire.

Check your smoke alarms. You should have a working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them weekly. DO IT NOW.

Take care with open fires and log burners. Use a fireguard and keep anything that could catch fire well away. Keep your chimney cleaned and checked regularly (a) for you-know-who, and (b) to reduce the risk of chimney fires.  And finally - and not just at Christmas time…

Look out for relatives and neighbours Check in on older people and those living alone. Make sure they have working smoke alarms and, with their consent, refer them for a Home Fire Safety Visit. 

Brill Common - free for all?

“I thought the common was common land - ie for all” wrote someone on Facebook recently. Well, yes - and no!

Brill Common, The Walks, The Square and The Green are all owned by Brill Parish Council. The Parish Council holds these parcels of land in trust “for the benefit and enjoyment of all Brill's residents” and our many visitors. As such, the Council has an obligation to protect these open spaces from “damage and misuse”.

The two quotes above are from the Brill Common & Walks Policy*, a detailed document that covers encroachment (annexation of common land, however minimal) and the following topics:

• Vehicle access and parking on common land

• Track maintenance

• Building materials and skips (placement during works)

• Planting, grass cutting and weed treatments

• Small structures (such as hen coops, boundary markers, tents and benches)

• Grazing rights (including the responsibilities of people owning land adjacent to the common)

• Events on the common (eg large celebrations and commemorations, fireworks, sporting events and filming including wedding and fashion photography)

ALL of these situations require discussion with, and permission from, the Parish Council - and we strongly recommend you initiate this process as early as possible to avoid misunderstandings and upset. If you’re not sure whether or not you need permission - just ASK! A simple email to the Parish Council will open a dialogue for everyone’s benefit and, provided your request is timely, reasonable and considered, permission is more likely to be given than withheld.

Let’s enjoy Brill Common - and make sure others can do likewise.

(*This document lumps Brill’s four grassed areas together as “common land”. This is not technically correct - but the description is adequate for the purposes of the Policy and its application.)

New to Brill?

Just moved? Got questions? Not sure where to start? Drop us a line using the contact form below and we’ll try and help.

HELP & ADVICE
Report a suspicious email but forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk 

• Read this Guide to reporting fraud

• Find out how to protect yourself from fraud

• Sign up for Thames Valley alerts, a free email messaging system where you can receive regular crime updates, information on ongoing incidents and crime prevention relevant to your local area

Quishing Fraud : A message from Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police are urging the public to remain vigilant to fraudulent QR codes which can easily turn from convenience to con.

‘Quishing’ or ‘QR Code Phishing’, involves tricking someone into scanning a QR code which once scanned, will take you to a bogus website where you innocently input your details thinking you are paying for a service or visiting the genuine site, when in fact, you are unknowingly sharing all your personal details with criminals, which could lead to Identity fraud. 

How to spot a fake QR code

QR codes are often found on things like parking machines, charging points, emails, even restaurant menus. 

If the QR code is on a poster in a public area, always check whether it appears to have been stuck over the original. If the sign or notice is laminated and the QR code is under the lamination or part of the original print, chances are it is more likely to be genuine.

If in doubt, download the app from the official Google or Apple store or search the website on your phone’s internet browser, rather than scanning a QR code to take you there. It may take longer, but it is more secure.

Check the preview of the QR code's URL to see if it appears legitimate. Make sure the website uses HTTPS rather than HTTP, does not have obvious misspellings and has a trusted domain.

Use your phone’s built-in QR scanner (available in most Camera apps) rather than downloading third-party QR scanning apps, which can sometimes be risky.

Trust your instincts!

Trust your instincts. If something does not seem right, do not scan, alert the owner of the QR code and police by calling 101 to report. 

Quishing can also occur on online shopping platforms, where sellers received a QR code via email to either verify accounts or to receive payment for sold items. 

Fraudsters may impersonate banks, or other UK government organisations such as HMRC. If you receive an email with a QR code in it, and you are asked to scan it, you should be cautious due to an increase in these types of 'quishing' attacks.