sign in sign up
<<
Home , Redbourn, Wheathampstead

Society of St Michael's & Kingsbury

St Michael's Village Newsletter

Winter 2020 no 68

Visit our new website: www.stmichaelsandkingsbury.co.uk

New Committee At the Annual General Meeting the former committee were all re-elected. However it was felt that a swap in roles would help invigorate things – so we have now reorganised, as follows: Chair Barrie Giles & website Vice Chair Bill Free & newsletter Treasurer Lynne Cockbill & membership Secretary Jan Giles Events Guy Marshall Archivist John Cadisch We always welcome more help with the committee. If you are interested, please contact Barrie via: Grebe House - St Michaels [email protected]

Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 13 November The outgoing Chair, Bill Free, reported on the year; highlights included: • Our walk along the river regeneration project with Liam Dennis of the Environment Agency – this really helped with our understanding of the plans. • Cleaning up the ford beach in St Michaels • Helping with and donating to “Conservation 50”, the celebration of 50 years since the establishment of the Conservation Area • Taking part in consultations on “ in the Park” and the river regeneration • Engaging with neighbouring residents’ associations via the “Combined Residents” group • Printing and distributing three newsletters (thanks to our outgoing Editor Lynne Cockbill) Following the AGM, we had a very interesting talk by Sue Gregory, the Archivist at St Albans School. Interesting points from the talk were that the school is probably older than had been thought, as there is a record in the Vatican that shows a school in place in 925AD. Also, the school was funded, between 1570 and 1922, via a levy on local – probably not a concept that could or should be reintroduced! We are planning a follow up visit to the school’s new museum in the summer, this will be on Friday 5 June between 7.30pm and 9.00 pm. For more details please keep an eye on our website and there will be more about our visit in the Spring newsletter. Planning Former Blue Anchor Pub: Plans have been resubmitted for this site. The original scheme was rejected by the council, but planning was granted on appeal. The new design is felt to be more in keeping with the area, taking inspiration from the Kingsbury Manor and Barn. The roof line is on average slightly lower, and it seems sightlines from the side of St Michael’s cottages will be less impacted. There is plenty of green space planned around the property. These plans do seem to take into account the many objections that were raised against the previous proposal and represent a significant improvement. Willow Trees off St Michael Street: The bridge and former ford over the in St Michaels are one of our most memorable and loved sites. The two willow trees on the northern side are a key part of this vista and plans, by Herts A winter view of the willow trees County Council, to remove these have caused a lot of with our Councillors Sandy controversy. The trees are a problem for the residents of St Walkington & Edgar Hill showing Michael’s Court but completely removing the trees was seen their appreciation as a step too far by many locals. Our Society and the It is nice to see a full river again! Fishpool Street Residents' Association worked together to mobilise opposition to the proposals and paid for advice on pollarding (cutting back) the existing trees. Our County Councillor, Sandy Walkington, stated “This is a case study in the value of our residents’ associations. They obtained independent advice and mobilised residents” . The application has been withdrawn and the two trees will now be “pollarded” instead! All in all a very satisfactory outcome.

Westminster Lodge Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre which is operated by Everyone Active in partnership with St Albans City & District Council has won Local Authority Gym of the Year Award at the National Fitness Awards 2019. The award recognises facilities that excel in providing services to the community with a wide offering for all types of members. Everyone Active General Manager, Lesley Garner said: “ I could not be prouder of my team who work so hard every day to deliver the best service they can to our members and visitors. The initial, written, application was submitted in May, followed by a wait to hear if they had got through to the finalists panel. Once chosen as finalists, there was a “mystery visit”, and a planned assessors visit. Everything went according to plan and the assessor was blown away with the facility, programming, support for the community and the “Can Do” attitude of the staff.

Highway Works Traffic congestion was caused on Mount Pleasant at the beginning of November last year when contractors re-laid considerable stretches of road surface between Branch Road and Hill Street. Amazingly it was all done in one day, with the old being taken up Before, planing up the old road, and after, laying the new and the new being laid; even the tarmac – thanks to Herts CC and their contractor Ringway yellow lines were put in place. Lake and River The Environment Agency (EA) have pledged £300,000 to fund the design and further development of the revitalisation of our river and lake (our website has links to the relevant news releases: www.stmichaelsandkingsbury.co.uk ). This is very positive development! We have asked Liam Dennis, of the EA, to explain more about plans for the river, he writes: “As part of our plans to revitalise the River Ver we are planning to create a gravel beach access point in Verulamium Park which we hope will balance the needs of people and wildlife. I thought it may be useful to introduce a similar scheme we completed in 2018 on The River Misbourne, near Denham. Just like the River Ver, the Misbourne is a chalk stream and is home to one of the last remaining water vole colonies in Buckinghamshire. In order to protect banks and reduce sediment entering the river, we wanted to reduce access to most of the channel. At the same time we were keen to ensure that people and dogs were still able to safely access and enjoy the river without causing damage. In order to balance the competing needs, we created a 20 metre gravel beach in front of the popular Colne Valley Visitor Centre. This included a path to allow wheelchair access. The new beach area was officially opened April 2018 when local children took part in river dipping events. We hope it will be a very valuable educational and recreational resource for many years to come”. What do you think? Good or bad idea!? Any thoughts on where it should be? If you have any comments or concerns, please get in touch with Liam by emailing [email protected]

The River Misbourne Beach – our park could have something similar Civic pride The last issue of this newsletter raised a concept we call “Civic Pride”; this is an initiative to improve the local environment by tidying up our shared spaces. Many of us think that the Council should do this, but their resources are simply too stretched within tight budgets so local action is needed! Local resident, Kevin Keenan, set the ball rolling and has ably taken on cleaning the parking bays in St Michaels, near the bridge. SSMK have cleared the southern side of the ford, at St Michaels, and the Fishpool Street Resident’s Association continue to do the same on the opposite bank. Another, anonymous, resident has swept up the leaves from “Cock Alley” which runs between Offa Road and Fishpool Street. “Before and After” photos show the difference! Volunteers are always welcome at ford clearing events – see websites for details. Why not arrange, with your neighbours to clean up your shared areas? But, please let us know so we can help with publicity ! Post Box Decorations St Albans Post Boxes Trail Christmas 2019 surpassed themselves this year, with an annual fund-raising trail that included St Albans, , , , Park Street and this December. A staggering total of 54 post boxes were treated to a festive make over! The project is masterminded by Clare Suttie, and the fantastic crocheted and knitted creations are the handiwork of the hugely talented Candy Stuart (who personally made a staggering 32 toppers), and her team of yarn bombing elves, who tirelessly donate their time and resources. The public were encouraged to share their post box photos and tag@stalbanspostboxes; and to visit the fundraising page and donate. Three local charities benefited from the funds raised: Small Acts of Kindness, Age Concern St Albans and Earthworks. This year £10,747 (£12,343 including gift aid) was raised - an impressive 50 % increase on 2018. It isn’t too late to donate: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stalbanspostboxes Kingsbury residents Bailey and Nancy Hopkins were thrilled to be nominated as caretakers of the Hillside Road letterbox - a beautiful creation made by Claire Toms on behalf of the Business Community. Next year – they hope to dress a more local box!

Message from our new Chair Barrie Giles I am pleased to take on the role of Chair of our society. On behalf of the committee members of SSMK, may I wish you all a successful and enjoyable 2020. I write this note in the middle of January after two bright, clear winter mornings, uplifted by the view of the Abbey from St Michael’s village, set against the backdrop of a colourful sunrise. Mornings like this remind me that this is a view we must treasure and protect for the enjoyment of all of St Albans’ residents One of the aims of the society is to publish and distribute this newsletter to over 600 homes in our area, three times a year. To help us in our work may I ask if you would volunteer to deliver some copies to your neighbours. If this is something you would consider please contact me at [email protected] What’s on: The Friends of St Michael’s Church have been allocated 110 tickets to sell, in aid of church funds, for a play “A Bunch of Amateurs” which will be performed at The Abbey Theatre, St Albans, on Thursday 14th May, 2020. Start time 8.00pm. Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village. And instead of Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench, the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested to the limit by the enthusiastic am-dram thespians. Tickets are available, for £12.00 / head, via Guy Marshall: [email protected] ,or at 3 Kings Road.

Newsletter: We welcome ideas for future articles or comments. Please send these to our new editor Bill Free, contact via [email protected]