Thames Water is appealing to customers to help identify privately owned sewage pumping stations.

The utility, which serves 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley, will take responsibility for around 4,000 pumping in October 2016, but needs to track down 1,800 currently off its radar.

New legislation means sewage pumping stations, which power wastewater away from properties and out into the public sewer pipe network, currently owned and maintained by customers will become legally owned and operated by the local water company.

The pumping stations are found in all shapes and sizes, and can be in places where there are a number of properties needing to connect to the public sewer network. Customers will know they have one as they’ll be paying to maintain and power them.

We’d urge anyone who thinks they may have one to get in touch so we can check they are eligible for the transfer of ownership. In some cases, as well as electricity savings, maintaining and replacing pumps can cost thousands of pounds so it’s an excellent deal for them.

We believe we know where approximately half of the stations we need to take over are, but really need help to find the other 1,800. Please get in touch if you think this applies to you and we can take on the responsibility forever.

Anyone with a private pumping station can make Thames Water aware at thameswater.co.uk/pumphunt

As the finer weather (hopefully) approaches, we know that some residents will choose to have bonfires to get rid of rubbish and cuttings.

Whilst there are no laws restricting the time and length of bonfires in private gardens, we ask that those planning bonfires follow the sensible guide below to ensure all residents can continue to enjoy their gardens:

• Please inform neighbours that may be affected that you intend to have a bonfire to allow them to take in washing etc
• Wet or green materials on bonfires will cause excess smoke.
• For safety purposes, and to reduce annoyance, it is best to burn a small bonfire and then adding to it as opposed to making one great big bonfire.
• Keep a hosepipe handy or have buckets of water prepared in case the fire gets out of control
• Never leave a bonfire unattended.
• Never burn anything which is likely to cause excessive and pungent black smoke.
• Rubber tyres and plastic containers should never be put on a bonfire.
• Avoid lighting bonfires on windy days as the wind will blow the smoke further causing annoyance to even more of our neighbours.

South West Ambulance Trust are appealing for volunteers to train to become First Responders within South Marston.

The Community First Responder scheme is made up of groups of volunteers (the CFRs) who within the community in which they live or work have been trained to attend emergency 999 calls on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT). They provide basic care and if necessary life support until the arrival of an emergency ambulance, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Every ambulance service in the UK works with volunteers in this way.

The role is highly rewarding and offers opportunities to meet new people and learn valuable life and lifesaving skills through the on-going training and support provided by the Trust.

This is a link to an excellent video which gives a real flavour of what we do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ZkfbAbX3I&feature=player_detailpage

Within SWASFT’s borders, CFRs are predominantly active in the less urban areas of the region. At the moment, we aren’t recruiting for CFRs in central Swindon, but we are seeking new volunteers in a number of the Borough’s satellite towns and villages, including Highworth, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wroughton, Chiseldon, Purton and Cricklade. We already have small numbers of volunteers in some of these communities, but not nearly enough.

If you can help or would just like to learn more, please contact Dave Wilmot on david.wilmot@swast.nhs.uk or 07831100606.

Please note that from Friday 5th February 2016, the official contact address for South Marston Parish Council will be:

1 Brind Close, Swindon, SN3 5EJ.

All other contact details remain the same.