N E Ig H B O U Rh O
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
S W SUMMER 2020 E Issue 97 N y d t i n o u o m h m o r c u e h t o n b i e h c i g o v i r e u www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk o Sponsored by Sandridge Parish Council for everyone Y N in Sandridge, Marshalswick and Jersey Farm 2 SUMMER 2020 www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk Contents SUMMER 2020 4-6 CHAIR’S REPORT Councillor John Hale 7 PROJECTS AHEAD Throughout Sandridge Parish 8-9 LOCAL MUM MAKES HER MARK Adding a splash of colour to local pavements! 11 5K A DAY CHARITY CHALLENGE Local teen’s fundraising for South African village 12 NOTICEBOARD - SUMMER 2020 8-9 23 Listing of contact points throughout the area 13 WHO DO I CONTACT? Useful numbers for many issues that arise 15 ARTISTIC IMPRESSION Local man recreates beautiful parish scenery 16-20 EDUCATION NEWS Find out what’s going on at your local schools 21 MATCH FUNDING AVAILABLE Financial support for small businesses during pandemic 23 LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Don’t neglect your mental well-being during lockdown 34-35 24-25 LIFE OUTSIDE DURING LOCKDOWN Sharing photos for those who are self-isolating 36-38 LOCAL CHURCH NEWS Find out what’s going on at your local churches 27 VITAL NEW ROLES Library staff are redeployed to critical services 39 COUNCILLOR PROFILE Councillor Lyn Bolton 28 JERSEY FARM COMMUNITY CENTRE A listing of normal activities and regular hirers 40-41 RENNIE GROVE HOSPICE CARE We need you now more than ever 29-30 SPENCER HALL A listing of normal activities and regular hirers 42-43 WILLS, TRUSTS AND PROBATE Why you should seek qualified professional advice 31-32 SANDRIDGE VILLAGE HALL A listing of normal activities and regular hirers 44 MEET OUR NEW COUNTRYSIDE RANGER Tanya Dickson 33 MARSHALSWICK COMMUNITY CENTRE A listing of normal activities and regular hirers 45 ONLINE SERVICES From Hertfordshire Library Services 34-35 CREATE YOUR OWN GARDEN OASIS Tips on how to improve your outdoor space 46 FREE PENSIONERS’ BUS TIMETABLE Front cover image taken by Rebecca Pannese Published for and on behalf of Sandridge Parish Council Published by: LOCAL PUBLISHING LTD Tel: 01727 757475 Circulation: Over 4,750 homes in Marshalswick, [email protected] www.localpublishing.co.uk Jersey Farm and Sandridge. This is equivalent to Editor: STEFANIE HAYES [email protected] all of the AL4 9-- postcode area. EDITORIAL DEADLINE Advertising: NICK HAYES [email protected] If you have an article you would like to be Address: Neighbourhood News, c/o Sandridge Parish Council, considered for the SUMMER 2020 issue, please Marshalswick Community Centre, The Ridgeway, St. Albans, AL4 9TU email it to the editor by Thursday 27th August 2020 COPYRIGHT - Items in this publication are subject to copyright. Copying in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Unless specifically stated, views expressed in Neighbourhood News are not necessarily those of the editor or of Sandridge Parish Council. While sponsored by Sandridge Parish Council, Neighbourhood News is an independent publication. The editor reserves the right to shorten, modify or reject submitted material. All advertisements, photographs and artwork supplied to Neighbourhood News are accepted in good faith (free of copyright). Neither Sandridge Parish Council nor the editor can be held responsible for goods or services advertised. Chair’s report Councillor John Hale RADITIONALLY, we hold the Annual Community Centres Parish Meeting in April, and I would give Both the Marshalswick and Jersey Farm Ta report on the activities of the Parish Community Centres, which are managed by Council. This year, it has not been possible to the Parish Council, were well-used in 2019. hold that meeting yet, but I thought I should During the year, there were activities every still write the report so it can be published in evening Monday to Friday, and most days Neighbourhood News, as in previous years. throughout the week. I am looking forward to I am writing this report at the end of April, and, the many community groups returning to the by the time you read it, circumstances may centres. have changed. The council’s policy is to cover the running The report covers the period to the end of costs of the community centres from the fees March 2020, although the implications of the charged. As there are currently no fees being coronavirus disease (COVID-19) only started charged, the costs are having to be covered to impact here towards the end of that period. by the precept (council tax) and reserves. The I first wanted to thank everyone in our council has taken action to minimise those community who is playing their part in costs. protecting all of us; from those working in the During 2019, the council continued its NHS and care services, to our police officers programme of improvements to the and firefighters, shop workers, refuse community centres with the replacement of collectors, other essential workers, and all who windows in the Jersey Farm centre. have volunteered – thank-you. To those who have lost a loved one, I send my Sports and Recreation sympathies. In normal times, the Parish Council provides a One of the many benefits we have as range of facilities to local residents, and some residents of Sandridge Parish are the parks we of those facilities have had to close, but they can enjoy. While it has been necessary to will reopen as soon as allowed. close the children’s playgrounds, I know residents have been using the parks for exercise. In 2019, we made further improvements to the playground in Harness Way and have also installed football nets on the goal posts in William Bell and Harness Way. There has been no vandalism and very positive feedback from residents, who can now play football without hunting for hours in the bushes for the balls! 4 SUMMER 2020 www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk The decision of the Parish Council to proceed beginning to mature, there is no longer any with plans to install a skate ramp on the Jersey programme of tree planting. Farm Open Space has not been popular with I have also been told that the bees a local some residents. However, I am confident that beekeeper has on the site flourished in 2019. this is an appropriate location for a skate Also, in 2019, the Parish Council supported ramp. It will help to address the responses to and participated in the SuStAinable St. Albans the survey carried out by the residents’ festival and had planned to do so again in association that confirmed a lack of outdoor 2020. facilities for teenagers, and support for a skate Earlier this year, the Parish Council started to ramp in Jersey Farm. At the time of writing, I install some raised beds at the Marshalswick do not know when the ramp will be installed. Community Centre where we plan to have a community garden, but work on them has ceased due to the restrictions from COVID-19. Verges, trees and green spaces The last part of the year saw significant rain, which resulted in very soft ground. As a result of inconsiderate behaviour by a few in driving and parking on those verges, there has been significant damage done, which is not going to be easy to repair. I am very grateful to those residents who have made repairs to the verges outside their homes. Our Green Spaces The Parish Council has raised this issue with In addition to the recreational areas, we the District Council and has asked that have a number of green spaces where consideration be given to introducing legal the Parish Council has for many years restrictions on parking on verges. encouraged wildlife. This includes the The planting of bulbs at the road junctions Jersey Farm Woodland Park, but also near the Quadrant resulted in a welcome smaller areas around the parish. splash of colour early in 2020. The bulbs The council is very grateful to all the should spread and provide a better show in volunteers who have helped out future years. throughout the year with a range of activities. This has included; Neighbourhood Plan •Planting of a wildlife hedge and native In 2019, we completed the drafting of the trees in William Bell Neighbourhood Plan, and, following local •Planting of orchard trees and native consultation, it was submitted to the District hedge in Harness Way Council in March. The next step is for the •Bird boxes erected in Skyswood and District Council to complete a further oak trees transplanted from Jersey Farm consultation before it goes to an inspector to Woodland Park (as well as volunteer be examined. The impact of COVID-19 means clearance of brambles and hazel that the consultation phase has been coppicing) delayed. This is a significant disappointment to those who have worked extremely hard, voluntarily, on getting it to this stage. The In the Jersey Farm Woodland Park, volunteers working group is pressing the District Council have helped with tree thinning and other not to delay and to make full use of modern maintenance projects. As the wood is now technology to consult. www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk SUMMER 2020 5 Grants Each year, the Parish Council provides grants to local organisations. In 2019/20, grants were provided to: •Parkbury House for the community garden they have opened at the surgery in Sandridge Village •Jersey Farm Day Centre to help with the costs of providing the weekly events •St. Leonards PCC towards the maintenance of the cemetery •Sandridge Cricket Club for the maintenance of the cricket pitch •St.