THREE RIVERS a Giant of a Pantomime
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THREE RIVERS Autumn 2010 Autumn A giant of a pantomime page 7 Award winning website attracts Birds of a Feather Linda Robson pages 3 and 9 Freedom photography competition winners page 5 and back page Three Rivers Times costsand 20p distribute to print THREE RIVERS TIMES AUTUMN 2010 NEWS TOWARDS EXCELLENCE SAFE SUSTAINABLE Sweet streets Cuts- Council You can help the Council save money by reporting litter, dog fouling and fly- prepares for tipping. Our barrow beat and litter pickers cover over 130 miles every week, next two years emptying nearly 500 Residents can continue to expect a good range of high tonnes of rubbish per year. quality services over the next two years. That s the You can view their schedule message from the District Council which is seeking to and when your street will reassure residents after the Government announcement be covered at of 7.1% cuts in local government funding each year for the >> www.threerivers.gov.uk next four years. 01923 776611. Council Leader Ann Shaw said: W e are making plans TOWARDS EXCELLENCE based on a 15% grant reduction over the next two years, and we have also taken into account the Council Tax freeze. That means there are some tough decisions we will Magazine have to take over the coming months. Chief Executive Steven Halls said: W e ve had extremely cost cut careful financial management for a number of years. Police move The cost of Three Rivers Times has been cut by The Council reduced Council Tax by 0.5% last year and Rickmansworth Police will be based at Three Rivers House, £1,500 per edition by has saved £1.24M in the last two years. The District the District Council offices in the centre of Rickmansworth, changing the paper used. Council component of Council Tax has risen by 1% in the from early in the New Year. The magazine now costs last three years w ell below inflation. 20p per household per Full details of the Government grant, known as the Chief inspector Mike Marren said: T he changes will edition, including delivery, Settlement, will be known by the end of the year. improve services to the public, providing them with easier a total of 60p per year. and better access and the new joint offices are more £3,000 a year is raised Councils receive an annual funding grant from the central. The move will also free up our existing Rectory Government as well as raising funds directly through through advertising. The Road site to provide more money to re-invest in local Council has a legal duty to Council Tax. The District Council, together with the Parish policing. Councils, receive 14 pence in the pound from Council Tax. keep residents informed The remaining 86 pence goes to Hertfordshire County Three Rivers District Council s Chief Executive, Steven about local services. The Council and Hertfordshire Police Authority. Halls, said: T he move saves money for the Police and the new paper is made from Council while improving an excellent service in the centre wood grown in sustainable of Rickmansworth. This is a win, win, win situation. forests. >> www.threerivers.gov.uk You can help Three Rivers is one of the safest places in England. 01923 776611 You can help the Council reduce its running costs and protect frontline services. TOWARDS EXCELLENCE Use the website instead of ringing for routine information Red hot Sign up for e-newsletters to save paper and distribution costs lunch Register to receive your Council Tax bill by email Red Cross Volunteers from Pay your Council Tax by direct debit Abbots Langley will deliver Pay any Council bill on time * a special meal on wheels for Christmas. Organiser Report anyone you suspect of Benefit fraud Jeanne Johnson said: F or Register to vote before the Council has to send over 50 years Red Cross a reminder Volunteers have been Report any minor repairs to local facilities you think delivering a hot meal to are needed people who find it difficult Report dog fouling, litter, fly-tipping, vandalism or impossible to prepare and graffiti their own meals. There has never been a lack of willing volunteers ready to make sure their clients have a hot Maximise your recycling to reduce landfill tax.** Christmas dinner. The Watford Lions help to make Christmas more special, paying for a * Residents should contact the Council as soon as possible if they are Christmas meal. Meals on Wheels are funded through the year by Three Rivers District having genuine difficulty paying Council Tax. Council and are available from Abbots Langley 01923 263 598, Sarratt 01923 264618, ** Landfill tax is paid by the County Council. Chorleywood 01923 283426. Other areas 01923 711548. Page 2 Contact us on 01923 77661 1 AUTUMN 2010 THREE RIVERS TIMES Contents page News 2-5 SUSTAINABLE Leisure 6-7 Climate site Sustainability 8-9 wins Gold Community Safety 10-11 The District Council s environmental website Local Development Consultation 12 www.ourclimateischanging.com won Gold in the national Green Apple Environment Awards. The Council was presented with the Community Action 15 Gold Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice at the Houses of Parliament on 15 November. Towards Excellence 16-17 The Council now has the chance to represent the UK in an international green event. A-Z of services 18-19 SUSTAINABLE SAFE Cold cash Christmas opening times 18-19 Residents and businesses Young Three Rivers back page are being asked to give badly needed cash to help Editor KEVIN SNOW pensioners in Three Rivers Deputy Editor RYAN WATSON this winter. Each year in the Designer DIANE BUGEJA UK thousands of pension- Main Photographers PATRICIA RAYNER ers die of cold in their ANNIE SIMONS homes. The Council s Beat the Killer Cold project is a We welcome your ideas and feedback on this magazine. not-for-profit fund which Ring the editor on 01923 727255 or email provides money to the least [email protected] well off pensioners in the Front cover: Linda Robson as Fairy Organic - see pages 7 and 9. Three Rivers community to help provide extra heating. If you would like this information For each pound donated, translated into another language please Dig deep the Council donates an- contact us on 01923 776611. This winter will see lots happening down on the allotment. other pound. Last year 200 The Dig Deep project, based at a disused allotment site pensioners received grants. near ASCEND in South Oxhey, also provides training The Council is asking opportunities in horticulture, bush craft and conservation better-off pensioners to to ASCEND clients and other community partners. consider donating some or Annie, a student who completed the gardening course, all of their Winter Fuel Al- said: B eing on the allotment gives me confidence, I feel lowance to the scheme. more relaxed in and around the group. It s great working To donate see page 19. at the allotment. Explorer Ranulph Fiennes has Funding and support was provided by Three Rivers District helped to publicise the scheme If you need this information Council, Thrive Homes and other partners. >> www.ascend.org.uk 020 8420 1364 in large print, braille or another format call Planning Christmas 01923 776611 e-newsletter events and Minicom 01923 727303 monthly updates about Printed on chlorine-free paper from sustainable forests. planning decisions markets www.threerivers.gov.uk This publication cost 20p per copy including delivery. also See www.threerivers.gov.uk or your nearest Council receive weekly updates at noticeboard to find out www.twitter.com/threeriversdc what s on. You can also 01923 776611 follow us on Twitter www. twitter.com/threeriversdcw www.threerivers.gov.uk Page 3 THREE RIVERS TIMES AUTUMN 2010 NEWS SUSTAINABLE TOWARDS EXCELLENCE New club on track The first phase of building work for the new Clitheroe Club and homes project is being completed on schedule. 14 homes should be ready for occupation by South Oxhey tenants in February. The District Council is now discussing the next building phase with South Oxhey Methodist Church and partners which will include another 31 homes. The popular Clitheroe pensioners cl ub continues to be open during the works. A new club building will be open in early 2012. One member said of the Club: I t is somewhere to go instead of watching just four walls. Christmas choir There s friendship and company and it s good for a laugh. The building work is being undertaken by Three Rivers The South Oxhey Choirs will be spreading festive cheer as they entertain patients at District Council, South Oxhey Methodist Church and Watford General Hospital with a series of carol concerts. Sanctuary Housing Association. The carol singing comes hot on the heels of their successful concerts at the Central Hall, Westminster and in South Oxhey precinct. South Oxhey Choirs are calling for trustees. >> http://southoxheychoirs.org/ Trust is a must TV - are Trustees are needed in a range of local charities and the you ready? Centre for Voluntary Service has been raising awareness The digital switchover is of the unpaid role. coming to Hertfordshire. Fabian Hiscock, a trustee of the Waterways Trust in North Herts will be first Rickmansworth, said: I ve always been interested in the with the Anglia TV region waterways. When I was asked to become a trustee, it was a (Sandy Heath transmitter) chance to help out with a really worthwhile group. due to switch over in March Personal liability - trustees should make sure they are 2011. Residents in South clear what responsibilities they are taking on. Herts, including Three 01923 711174 Rivers, will be included in >> www.cvs-threerivers.org.uk/ the London TV region digital switchover in 2012.