News | Highley Parish Council

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Online safety advice - shopping and job seeking

20th November 2025

We all know or have heard about someone who’s bought clothes, tech or even a car on the internet … only for it to never arrive. Sometimes it’s because of an admin error, but more often than not, they’ve been manipulated by a fraudster. Maybe it’s even happened to you. Buying online is convenient and often cheaper — but it’s also one of the biggest hunting grounds for fraudsters.

Ahead of Black Friday, why not take some time to read Get Safe Online's latest online shopping tips either via the leaflet attached or on our website:

Purchase Scams - Get Safe Online https://www.getsafeonline.org/purchasescams/

Secondly, if you, or someone you know, are seeking a seasonal job this Christmas, try our new Job Seekers Tool Page - featuring seven free-to-use tools to check if the job you are looking at is a genuine opportunity or a scam. With a massive increase in employment scams, coupled with pre-festive season demands for extra staff in certain sectors, this new page will help stop you becoming a victim in this way if you are looking work.

Safe Jobseeker Tools - Get Safe Online https://www.getsafeonline.org/safejobseekertools/

Many thanks

the Get Safe Online team

B4555 ROAD CLOSURE - see events notice

20th November 2025

Please be advised that the B4555 south of Highley will be closed for structural repairs from Monday 24th November to Friday 28th November, between 9.30am and 4.00pm daily.

Key Information from Highways Dept:
Gatemen will be stationed on Borle Mill during peak times:
7.30am–9.30am and 2.30pm–4.00pm
While the closure begins at 9.30am, gatemen will be in place for the afternoon school run to help manage traffic and deter build-up.
A gateman will also be positioned at the B4555/B4363 junction to reduce unnecessary traffic heading toward Borle Mill during the closure.
Access will be maintained for the farm at the east end of Borle Mill throughout the working day.
Advance warning signs will be installed on both approaches to the works area by the end of this week.

The official diversion route will be shared as soon as it is confirmed.

Highley Parish Council have requested response to the following and will update you as soon as we receive answers:
• Will the 125 bus drivers and users be notified?
• Will buses be able to pass through the closure during the day, or will a diversion or satellite minibus (e.g. to/from the Severn Centre) be arranged?
• Will “No Through Route” signs be placed at both ends of Bynd Lane and Covert Lane?
• Will the “Road Closed” signs at the Bridgnorth end clearly state that the closure is after Highley Village?
• Will diversion signs provide clear, location-specific guidance — rather than simply directing traffic back and forth along the B4363 — to help unfamiliar drivers and HGV drivers who cannot use Borle Mill to plan accordingly?

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to minimise disruption. Please feel free to share this information with your networks, and we’ll continue to provide updates as they become available.

Highley Parish Council

Beware of winter fuel payment scams

18th November 2025

Between April and September 2025, Action Fraud has received 2,790 crime reports relating to Winter Fuel Payment scams, with victims reporting losses totalling over £27,000.

Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, you do not need to do anything. If you receive any text messages about Winter Fuel Payments, it’s a scam.

Not sure if a message is real? Contact the organisation directly using the contact details on their official website, not the number or web address in the message. Your bank (or any other official source) won’t ask you to supply personal information by email or text message.

If you have spotted a suspicious SMS or RCS message, you can report it for FREE by forwarding it to 7726.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.

Is your vehicle insurance valid?

13th November 2025

Is your vehicle insurance valid?
This week is #OpDriveInsured – a national road safety operation to highlight the issues of driving with no insurance.

Enforcing the law around insurance is a 24/7 commitment for us. The consequences of being caught without valid insurance can lead to drivers having their vehicle seized and potentially crushed along with a £300 fixed penalty notice and six points. They can also face court and receive a driving ban and an unlimited fine.

Not everyone means to drive uninsured, but life can be busy and small slip-ups can happen. Unfortunately, the consequences will be the same regardless of your intention so a quick check of your policy could save a lot of stress – and expense – in the long run.

Innocent mistakes motorists may be making include;

• Forgotten when your insurance expires? Check your renewal date today.

• Assumed your policy auto-renews? Not all do, and expired payment cards can cause lapses.

• Kept a vehicle off the road without declaring it SORN with the DVLA? Make sure it’s officially off-road.

• Thought fully comprehensive cover lets you drive someone else’s car? It often doesn’t - check your policy first for coverage and any restrictions.

• Using your car for work or deliveries on a social-only policy? You’ll likely need commuting, business or hire-and-reward cover.

Is your vehicle showing as insured on the Motor Insurance Database? Check for free at www.askMID.com

https://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/west-mercia/news/2025/november/pro...

Black Friday Scams

13th November 2025

Whilst Black Friday is nominally a one day event and one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Black Friday “deals” appear in abundance throughout the month of November.

So once again, it does not take long for criminals to seize another opportunity to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned cash. Therefore, just holding back, taking a few minutes to double check the Black Friday bargain is a genuine offer from a genuine retailer, can protect you from joining the increasing number of people who fall victim to these scams.

· In the heat of the moment, it can be hard to tell if it is a bargain or a scam, especially in the run up to Black Friday!

· Criminals may try to trick you into purchasing goods/services that do not exist by advertising them at too good to be true prices.

· Protect your money and information by only using retailers you trust, or authorised sellers named on official websites when shopping for deals online.

· Beware of Phishing emails that appear to come from reputable retailers with “too good to miss” offers, never click on links in emails from unrecognised senders

· Check out the security of the Website by looking for the https:// in the website address and the padlock symbol which should be in the address bar, and not in the body of the site, as confirmation of a website’s security

· Fake websites can copy mainstream online retailers and enticing buyers with unbeatable prices, so always stick with well-known, reputable retailers online and check the URL is for the genuine retailer.

· Some online sellers may be selling counterfeit products at Black Friday prices

· Beware of limited time offers which create a false sense of urgency to get you to act quickly - Take Five before you buy.

· Criminals are making use of Artificial Intelligence – (AI) – more and more , to present much more convincing emails, adverts and fake websites, so check, check and check again

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