COMMUNITY NEWS FROM NORTH DISTRICT COUNCIL OUTLOOK Waste and Recycling special pull-out What’s on this Christmas

winterFEEL Warm Inside & Out: in

winter 2015 www.north-herts.gov.uk Winter 2015 OUTLOOK 1 From the Leader At Christmas time, all those bag or electrical item put in your Finally, there presents and extra food can grey bin won’t make a difference, are lots generate a lot more waste and it can have serious consequences, of festive so we have provided a reminder as it increases the likelihood that activities going of what can go in each bin on materials will be rejected at the on in our town pages 7 to 10. While we know that recycling facility, meaning whole centres this the vast majority of residents are lorry loads can end up being sent Christmas, putting a lot of effort into recycling to landfill, having significant cost so if you as much as they can, we need to and environmental implications. are looking for inspiration for make sure that the right items are Don’t forget also to check your Christmas presents, fancy joining going in the right bins. We have Christmas waste and recycling in some carol singing or want to seen an increase in the amount of collection schedule which you will meet Father Christmas in person, items we can’t recycle in the grey be receiving shortly, as there will take a look at our Festive What’s recycling bins over recent months, be changes to your collections over on Guide for events near you in particular plastic bags and films, the festive period. You can also (pages 14-15). hard plastics and electrical items sign up to our text alerts service so Merry Christmas and wishing are being found regularly. This that you can receive updates about you a very happy New Year. causes us problems because our changes to your services and any recycling facility will only accept disruption due to severe weather. Cllr Lynda Needham, good quality, clean recycling. While Details of how to sign up can be Leader of North you may think that the odd plastic found on page 6. Hertfordshire District Council

In this issue... Page. 6 Winter weather tips Page. 3 New play area for Baldock Page. 10 Have a green Christmas Page. 5 Royston Leisure Centre is 10! Page. 12 Community Grants

DIRECT LINES • North Herts Leisure Centre, Contacting NHDC 01462 679 311 Benefits 01462 474597 letchworth@- Most NHDC services can be accessed online. Careline Community Alarms leisure.co.uk Find out the date of your next waste collection, 0300 999 2 999 • Royston Leisure Centre apply for a licence, report an issue, register 01763 255 190 Housing Advice 01462 474 682 to vote or pay a bill all through our website: [email protected]

www.north-herts.gov.uk Waste and Recycling Collection including: Other contacts: • Missed bins • Street cleaning Hertfordshire County • Graffiti • Litter Council • General waste & recycling queries Check call: Veolia 0800 328 6023 To report issues with streetlights,

out potholes, traffic lights and other our OUT OF HOURS NEW highways issues use the Herts website Out of Hours in an Emergency: Highways fault reporting system Homelessness, Environmental www.hertsdirect.org/faultreporting/ Health, Street Cleansing, Parks, Public Buildings and Car Parks: For general enquiries contact 01462 459368 0300 123 4040

Other ways to contact us: LEISURE CENTRES NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE By email: [email protected] Stevenage Leisure Limited (SLL) HOMES by Phone: 01462 474000 manages NHDC owned Leisure Centres. Tel: 01462 704100 Email: [email protected] www.nhh.org.uk Like our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/northhertsDC • Swim Centre 01462 441 646 HOWARD COTTAGE Follow us on twitter • Archers Fitness Centre, HOUSING ASSOCIATION Hitchin 01462 437 111 Tel: 01462 683307 @NorthHertsDC [email protected] www.howard-cottage.co.uk

2 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC winter 2015 Fantastic new play equipment for Common Play Area Clothall play area received some swings for younger children, with They did this fantastic new play equipment earlier stepping stones and a balance by conducting this year. The newly refurbished park bridge, along with a zip wire and an on-site in Baldock was officially opened with mega swing to keep older children consultation, a ceremony to mark the occasion. entertained. There is also a new gathering Trim Trail to help improve outdoor the views of The 10 week renovation was fitness for all ages. around 150 completed by Groundwork local people to Hertfordshire on behalf of NHDC. Ground formations were also find out the type of play facilities created in the play area so that The £120,000 project saw the tired the community wanted to see. wildflowers could be planted old metal play equipment removed Those elements and ideas were later in the year. and replaced with a range of new incorporated into the final designs equipment including timber play Before the designs for the new park and contributed to the final designs facilities that blend could start, NHDC together with of the park, with exceptional results. in more with the Groundwork Hertfordshire made it a surroundings. The priority to give the local community The new play equipment will provide Green area now features the chance to influence their hours of free fun for children of all Flags brand new cradle neighbourhood play area. ages, for many years to come.

Page. 6 Winter weather tips North Hertfordshire Purwell Meadows in Hitchin and Ivel the Countryside Management Page. 10 Have a green Christmas is fortunate to have a multitude Springs in Baldock received their first Service (CMS) work extremely hard Page. 12 Community Grants of beautiful parks and open spaces. Green Flag award this year. Howard alongside the many volunteers This year, five of those green Park and Gardens in Letchworth and ‘Friends of’ groups to maintain spaces were rewarded with a received the award for a second the beautiful parks and open prestigious Green Flag award. year running and Norton Common spaces for everyone to enjoy. The five sites are proudly owned in Letchworth and Priory Memorial Congratulations and thank you to and managed by NHDC. Gardens in Royston received everyone who helps to keep those the national award for the sixth green spaces beautiful. The national Green Flag award consecutive year. scheme recognises the best parks and open spaces in the UK for However, maintaining those You can find information about having excellent facilities, being well award-winning parks is not all our parks and open spaces on our managed and maintained and for down to the Council. NHDC’s website www.north-herts.gov.uk engaging the local community. contractors John O’Conner and

Celebrating the Green F lag Award at Howard Park, Letchworth follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC Winter 2015 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 3 ADVERTISEMENT

NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE .co.uk DISTRICT COUNCIL

ONE CHILLY WINTER’S MORNING, MY CENTRE GAVE TO ME ... THE REST OF THE YEAR

FOR FREENew Splash Parks for Hitchin and Royston Work on the exciting new splash parks at Bancroft Recreation Ground in Hitchin and Priory Memorial Gardens in Royston is underway.

The work is expected to be completed early next year with the new interactive water parks due to be open to the public in May 2016, ready for the summer season. The addition of the two new splash parks will mean that all four of North * FREE MEMBERSHIPHertfordshire’s towns will now benefit from having aUNTIL wonderful water play facility for children to enjoy.

The splash park in Hitchin will be ‘buccaneer’ JANUARYthemed and will include*JOINING features FEE APPLIES. such as TERMS2016! interactive AND CONDITIONS APPLY.

NORTH HERTS LEISURE CENTRE

Fishponds Road, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1HA Woodcock Road, Royston, Herts SG8 7XT Baldock Road, Letchworth, Herts SG6 2ER

4 01462OUTLOOK 437111 01763 255190 01462 679311winter 2015 Royston Leisure Centre celebrates 10 years! Royston Leisure Centre celebrated its 10th birthday in style in September with a special celebration event weekend.

On Saturday 19 September, The £5m centre was officially Stevenage Leisure Limited, who opened by Sir Oliver Heald, MP manage the leisure centre for the for North on Council, invited the community 17 September 2005. to come and celebrate with free As the foundations were being dug, swimming, fun inflatables, a BBQ, children from nearby Meridian and sports challenges and face painting. Greenway schools were invited to On the Sunday there was a wide fill a time capsule with memorabilia range of free ‘Come and Try Us’ recording what it was like to be a activities on offer. student at their schools in 2004. NHDC’s Councillors were also The capsules contained photos, It was nationally recognised as a invited to celebrate the milestone poems and essays as well as school leading player in the leisure industry decade with an evening tour of dinner menus. By February 2005, in 2012, when it was presented the facilities and a special cake the steel frame had been erected with the Quest Excellence in Facility cutting ceremony. and the roof was attached. Management Award, receiving the top score of all centres inspected The centre now attracts over across the country. 379,000 visitors a year. It has hosted several special events, including an event in August For more information about what 2008 to mark the transfer of the centre has to offer go to the Olympic Flag from Beijing to www.sll.co.uk/enterprise/Royston , where Lesley Owusu, part Councillors and Stevenage Leisure celebrate the 10th Anniversary. of Team GB attended and spoke.

Work on the exciting new theme. Both facilities will include New splash parks at Bancroft features such as interactive Recreation Ground in Hitchin water jets and a play stream Splash and Priory Memorial Gardens in for younger children. Royston is underway. Parks The contractor working closely The work is expected to be with NHDC on both of the for Hitchin completed early next year with the exciting projects is Sun Safe new interactive water parks due to Play Systems Ltd. We hope and be open to the public in May 2016, Hitchin and Royston’s community ready for the summer season. The will love the end result when Royston addition of the two new splash parks they open next summer. will mean that all four of North Hertfordshire’s towns will now benefit Artists impression of Hitchin Splash Park Artists impression of Royston Splash Park from having a wonderful water play facility for children to enjoy.

The splash park in Hitchin will be buccaneer themed while the Royston one will have a Maypole

Winter 2015 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 5 Animal Are you dreaming Boarding who is of a white Christmas? looking As autumn draws to a close, the weather and shorter after days can cause problems for residents. Here are your pet? some useful sources of information about some of the more common winter problems: With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, many people will be Waste services in severe weather Flooding - Even if you don’t planning to go away to see relatives live near a river, you could still If bins are unable to be emptied or friends. be at risk from surface water or partially emptied due to frozen flooding caused by heavy or We know that pets are also a part of the contents, a hanger will be placed prolonged rain. Find out if you family, but sometimes you can’t take onto the bin after attempting are at risk and be better prepared them with you. There are various types of collection. An attempt to recollect by checking the Environment places you can leave your pet to be cared will be made over the following two Agency’s flood map at for, including kennels, catteries or some working days and therefore bins www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood people offer boarding at their homes. should be left out for 48 hours. You can also sign up to their Whichever option you choose If we can’t access your road safely floodline service. - to ensure your pets will be because of severe weather, you For advice, to report flooding cared for properly, covered should leave your bins out for two or for contact information in an by the appropriate insurances working days and our crews will emergency visit and fed correctly, always re-attempt collection if conditions www.hertsdirect.org/services/ make sure that the animal improve. If we are unable to envplan/water/floodinfo/ boarding establishment is collect within the two working licensed by a Local Authority. days please bring your container back within the boundary and NHDC will only issue a license to an Even if you don’t live resubmit on the next scheduled establishment when they are satisfied near a river, you could collection day. If services are that pets are: cancelled we will communicate still be at risk from • kept in suitable accommodation this on our website. surface water flooding • provided with adequate food, caused by heavy or Text alerts drink and bedding prolonged rain • regularly exercised Sign up to text alerts to be kept informed in the event of any Streetlights, potholes and other • safeguarded in the event of disruption to services. Visit a fire or other emergency highways issues: The simplest www.north-herts.gov.uk/textalerts • protected from infectious disease way to report a faulty streetlight Highway Gritting – During periods is by using Herts Highways’ online Licensed animal boarding establishments of prolonged low temperatures fault reporting service. You can also keep a register of animals in their or snowfall, salt is used care, together with a record of their to help prevent ice owner’s names and addresses. forming on main Any establishment found without a licence roads. For the latest face fines of up to £500, imprisonment for information follow up to three months, or both. @Herts_Highways on Twitter. They use Make sure you know who is looking #GritterTwitter to keep residents also report after your pet this Christmas. up to speed. Information on issues with potholes in the road, Go to www.north-herts.gov.uk for salting routes and advice on self- pavements and traffic signal a list of licensed animal boarding help can be found by searching problems. www.hertsdirect.org/ establishments. for ‘salt’ on www.hertsdirect.org faultreporting/

6 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC winter 2015 Special pull-out Waste & recycling Recycling guide

Putting items that can’t be recycled In North Hertfordshire we have a into your recycling bin: fantastic community of keen recyclers, meaning that we are one of the • Can spoil the recyclable items. • Increases the likelihood of our leading authorities for recycling across Just think what a dirty nappy recycling facilities rejecting lorry the country. However, we know that could do to clean recyclables! loads and them being sent to it can be confusing as to what can landfill – which has both a negative • Get caught in the machinery and can’t be recycled at the kerbside effect on the environment and on at the recycling centre, for and even committed recyclers may council tax payers’ wallets. not get it right 100% of the time. example textiles cause major • Mean it can’t be reused—charity issues with this. In recent months we have shops are a good option for unfortunately seen an increase • Might mean they can’t be suitable items in good condition, in the wrong items being put in recycled. Some items such as such as toys, furniture and books. electrical goods need specialist recycling bins. While the odd plastic • Costs council tax payers more equipment to process them for bag here and there may not seem due to longer sorting times and recycling, which is only available like a big issue, putting even small processing costs amounts of the wrong items in if they are collected at a recycling bins can create a big Household Waste Recycling problem at the recycling facility. Centre (dump or tip). Turn over to see your handy recycling guide follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC Winter 2015 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 7 Keep it clean, Recycle keep it empty,

Right keep it right Got excess recycling? Put it out in a box alongside your bin Grey recycling bin and we’ll take it away. No black bags please. – No plastic bags or film please. We do not accept excess general waste Clean and squashed next to your purple bin.

Plastic Glass Cardboard bottles, bottles and brown pots, tubs and jars paper Textiles bag at the and trays side of your grey recycling bin Blue box – No black bags please White and All clean Paired coloured clothing shoes paper

Cartons Food, drink Clean tin foil and aerosol cans Magazines

Bed Curtains linen White envelopes (including windows)

Catalogues Towels

Brochures and directories

No thank you Food waste, No thank you plastic bags or No thank you film, textiles, Wrapping paper, electrical goods, Duvets, pillows, brown paper or polystyrene or toys and cushions cardboard

8 OUTOUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC winwinterter 2015 Have you seen this sticker on your bin? Please don’t Can’t see your item? put plastic carrier bags or No plastic Use our handy A-Z guide on Keep it clean, @NorthHertsDC film in your bin. 0800 328 6023 bags please www.north-herts.gov.uk If they do go in this bin then all the Unfortunately we can’t recycling may end up in landfill our website to find out recycle plastic bags so please  So please don’t let your keep it empty, If in doubt, don’t put them in your recycling bin efforts go to waste! what bin to put it in: keep it right leave it out. www. north-herts. gov. u k

Brown compost bin Purple bin

Crisp Polystyrene All food Garden packets and waste waste and sweet bubble Nappies including wrappers wrap cooked and uncooked food

Cling film Pet food General Your food waste can be pouches or waste – contained in compostable pet faeces everything else caddy liners, as long as they have the seedling logo on

No thank you

No thank you Anything that can be repaired, reused or Cardboard, pet faeces, recycled. Donate quality soil, plant pots, bags items to charity shops or household refuse and furniture schemes.

follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC WWininterter 2015 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUOUTTLOOK 9 This Christmas tree was made from 600 recycled plastic bottles! Why not reuse Some handy your recyclables to make tips for a green decorations? Christmas

• There are plenty of charity shops • Make your own gift wrap by Christmas Tree with hidden gems in so consider using old newspapers, Recycling buying presents from them. Plus, magazines and other packaging. you know your money will go to a If you have a real Christmas tree • Recycle your Christmas cards good cause. you can cut it up and place it inside in your grey bin or make them your brown bin, or if your real tree • Buy experiences, vouchers or into gift cards for next year is too large, it can be placed next charitable donations as presents (unfortunately wrapping paper to your brown bin on one of the to minimise packaging and can’t be recycled). two collections following Christmas. production You can also take it to one of the • Make your own decorations using following garden centres during • Try to only buy and cook the old materials, like newspaper opening hours until 17 January— food you need to avoid waste. snowflakes or paper chains, or Tapps (Baldock), Bickerdikes If you do have any left overs decorate your home using holly (Norton), Wyvale you could make tasty meals and pine cones that can be (Hitchin and using recipes found on composted after Christmas. ). www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Your refuse and recycling bins/ Is the item reusable? Can it be recycled at my box collection will be changing between 19 December and 9 If so, consider taking them to a kerbside? January due to the Christmas local charity or service so they can Recycling at your kerbside rather and New Year bank holidays. be used again. If you have large than going to your local household Look out for your bin hanger or items, the charity Furniture Link in waste recycling centre saves time check our website to find out Letchworth collect bulky items free of and money. If you’re not sure, your collection days over the charge. To find out more visit check our handy A-Z guide online festive period. www.nhcvs.org.uk/furniturelink or at www.north-herts.gov.uk www.north-herts.gov.uk call 01462 689400. Or you could consider the Council’s Bulky waste If the answer is no to the collection service. www.north-herts. above questions then the HWRC gov.uk/home/waste-and-recycling/ could be a good option. Before Household Waste Recycling bulky-waste-items you visit it is advisable that Centres (HWRC) you pre-sort your recyclables If you’ve got items that can’t be If the item’s broken, can it to help cut down on queuing recycled in your kerbside bins then be fixed? times. Details of HWRCs it’s possible that some items can be You’d be surprised what you can including opening times, in taken to your nearest HWRC (run by learn by searching online for how to Letchworth, Royston and Herts County Council), but before fix things. It’s best to extend the life Stevenage can be found at: you do ask yourself these questions- of an item than to replace it. www.wasteaware.org.uk

10 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC winter 2015 ADVERTISEMENT Local Plan update Over 8,500 representations from local residents, businesses and developers were received during NHDC’s Local Plan Preferred Options consultation. It is vital that we have a sound Local Plan in place to deliver the homes, jobs and infrastructure needed for our growing population and we thank everyone for taking the time to give their feedback on the Preferred Options.

Representations were made on the proposed policies Have you been and allocation of land in North Hertfordshire for housing and employment for the period up to 2031. a victim of crime? Being a victim of crime can be distressing. That is We are now carefully analysing all of the representations why Beacon offers free and confidential support to anyone in Hertfordshire who has suffered as a and reviewing the evidence base, as we work towards result of a crime – even if it has not been reported. preparing the submission draft of the Local Plan. The The Beacon helpline is open seven days a week next stage of the Local Plan will be presented to Full from 7am to 10pm. Council on 21 January 2016. Helpline 0300 011 5555 All 8,500 representations can now be found on the (calls charged at local rate) NHDC website at www.north-herts.gov.uk by searching www.hertfordshirebeacon.org for ‘Local Plan Preferred Options’.

Beacon Victim Care Centre is provided by Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner

A Pension Wise appointment may Be Pension Wise help you if you: Pension Wise is a new Government • are approaching retirement or service designed to help people make are 55 or over sense of their pension options and Guidance appointments are also empower them to make the right • have a defined contribution available on the telephone, delivered choices. Following recent reforms, pension by the Pensions Advisory Service those approaching retirement have • are thinking of accessing your and information and general greater freedom over how they can pension in the next six months guidance is also available online use their pension pots which means at www.pensionwise.gov.uk. being able to take a lump sum, take out an annuity, or a mixture of both To book a telephone or face to face and the choice can be confusing. appointment, call 01438 721760. One Pension Wise Stevenage Citizens Advice For queries on any other Bureau are offering Pension Wise customer, Mr Strachan, advice issues, contact Citizens appointments across Hertfordshire, said Pension Wise was: Advice North Hertfordshire giving free and impartial pension “very easy, and clearly on 03444 111 444 or www.northhertscab.org.uk guidance to help plan for the explained. It has made future. The free, face to face, 45 minute appointments are tailored to my life a lot easier the individual, taking into account and I would definitely the value of their pension and recommend the service.” their plans for retirement and are available to book now. follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC Winter 2015 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 11 Helping community projects NHDC provides grants to community groups and not-for-profit organisations through its local Area Committees. The grants could be used to kick start a project or advance an existing project to a new exciting stage. Some of the grants recently awarded include:

Letchworth Royston and Heritage Centre. The grant will cover the costs of installing new A grant of £1,000 was awarded The organisers of Royston Arts equipment to stage higher quality to the Letchworth branch of the Festival, Creative Royston, received productions by BAHG’s own amateur Royal British Legion to honour the £1,500 to assist with the costs of drama and professional arts groups, Armed Forces and Veterans. The putting on this year’s festival in as well as other local groups who funding was used to help to stage September. The annual festival may wish to use the facilities. a community event in Broadway embraces all forms of art by local Gardens with stalls, exhibitions and individuals and attracted over family entertainment. 5000 visitors in 2014.

A church in Wilbury ran a lunch Hitchin project over the school holidays Hitchin’s African Caribbean Seniors to help local children who would and Carers Lunch Club benefited normally receive free school meals from a grant of £1,500 to fund a during term time. The ‘Kids Cook’ day trip to the seaside, to celebrate project invited the children to join in October’s Black History Month. with food preparation and families The lunch club, who meet every were given tips and advice on how Friday in Bancroft Hall, play a key to prepare low cost nutritional meals Essential repairs were carried role in the diverse nature of the on a budget. The Council gave £300 out to a children’s play area in town. They are also using the in support of the project. Ickleford after NHDC awarded the funding to hold a community Parish Council £1,190. The grant open day to help celebrate also helped to cover the costs of inspirational black resurfacing a car park which was individuals. causing problems and proving to Baldock be dangerous during long periods of rain. Baldock’s Arts and Heritage Centre Codicote will be updating its This year’s bad weather proved lighting and sound problematic in Codicote after large equipment thanks holes appeared in two of the to a grant of £1,000. three tennis courts at Bury Lane Baldock Arts and recreation ground. The Council Heritage Group awarded Codicote Tennis Club (BAHG) took over £1,500 to help towards the costs of the running of the repairing the courts so that the 160 former Baldock members can continue to play. Town Hall from

the Council If you would like to know more, in April 2012 search for ‘Area Committee Grants’ and reopened at www.north-herts.gov.uk or call the facility in the Community Services Team on 2013 as the 01462 474000. Baldock Arts

12 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC winter 2015 New rules about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rented properties

As of 1 October 2015, all privately If you are a private landlord and wish rented properties must be fitted to obtain a free smoke alarm and with smoke alarms on each floor carbon monoxide detector for your and a carbon monoxide alarm in any rented property contact Hertfordshire room containing a solid fuel burning Fire and Rescue Services: appliance e.g. a coal fire or wood www.hertsdirect.org/services/ burning stove. Landlords must ensure commsafe/commprotect/hfrs/ that they are in good working order at Further guidance is available at: the start of every new tenancy. www.gov.uk/government/ It is good practice to test alarms publications/smoke-and-carbon- monthly to ensure that they are monoxide-alarms-explanatory- working correctly; if they aren’t, check booklet-for-landlords or replace the battery. If it is still not

working and you privately rent, then If you are a tenant in a private contact your landlord directly. rented property and your property Landlords found renting out a does not have a smoke alarm fitted, property without the correct smoke please contact the Environmental and carbon monoxide detection Health team at the Council on may be fined up to £5,000 if they 01462 474000. fail to comply.

Now that the days have drawn in and is available through the Energy it’s cold outside, it’s a good time to Companies Obligation (ECO). ECO think about insulating your home. funding offers free or subsidised insulation and heating improvements Loft insulation is a simple and to residents with homes that effective way to cut heat loss and leak heat and to low income and then arrange to visit your reduce your heating bills. If your loft vulnerable households. property to undertake a home is already insulated, you may wish to energy assessment. This will top it up to ensure that it meets the The amount of subsidy available identify potential energy saving recommended depth of 270mm. through ECO will vary, depending improvements and tell you whether on factors such as the type and Heat is also lost through uninsulated you are eligible for ECO funding location of your property and walls, which are a feature of many and if so, how much. You can then existing insulation. older properties (most homes decide whether or not you wish to built since the 1990s will have ECO funded installations are proceed with any improvements. wall insulation). If your home was provided through authorised Green Please note that some organisations built after 1920, it is likely to have Deal Installers. A full list of installers may charge for a home energy cavity walls which can be filled with in your area can be found on this assessment so make sure you insulation to keep the warmth in and website: http://gdorb.decc.gov.uk/ check first before you go ahead. save energy. It may also help reduce consumersearch The current round of funding is condensation inside the house. open until April 2016. Home energy assessments Help with funding For impartial and independent If you are interested in finding out advice on saving energy in the home Central government funding to more, contact one of your local you can call the Energy Saving help with the cost of insulation Green Deal Installers. They will Advice Service on 0300 123 1234. follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC Winter 2015 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 13 WHAT’S EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

ON EXHIBITIONS 12 December 1pm - 5pm Christmas Street Fayre, High Street 5 December, 10am - 4.30pm With special guests Punch and Judy WW2 Xmas Party and Santa’s Grotto, entertainment from the MUSEUMS AND Royston Museum served as an American Town Band and a steel band, stalls and more. Red Cross Service Station in WW2. GALLERIES 16 December Step back in time for a WW2 themed Market British Schools Museum Christmas party, complete with 1940s Wednesday’s market in Market Square 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 9T style music, refreshments, games and will take place as usual. 01462 420144 craft activities. Adults £2, Children £1. www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk No need to book in advance. 19 December Christmas Market, Market Square EXHIBITIONS 11 December, 10.30am - 11.30am Christmas entertainment and market stalls Toddler Music and Dance 16 February with everything you need for the big day. Carrie Washington from Dance Digital Life in Miniature leads a toddler music and dance HITCHIN Delightful doll’s houses, charming workshop themed around the Museum’s 5 December castles and marvellous models of collections. Free admission, but spaces Young Enterprise Fair many types. It’s a small world! limited so please book in advance. Entrepreneurs of tomorrow from schools EVENTS across Hertfordshire display their goods 12 December, 10.30am -12pm and services for sale as part of their 10 December, 7pm for 7.30pm Crafty Kids: Xmas Craft business studies programme. Come and The History of Christmas Christmas cards and traditional help judge Best Product, Best Service, Emily Shepperson will be telling the story decoration making. Best Display and other categories. of how our Christmas customs came to £2 per child. Drop-in session, no need be. From meaty mince pies to toppling to book in advance. Gavioli Organ trees and the year Christmas was The Gavioli Organ hosted once again by cancelled, enjoy some unexpected truths 15 December, 10.30-12pm Hitchin Lions in their annual fundraiser for and some seasonal objects to illustrate. Royston Reminiscence the Christmas Meals on Wheels service. Prompted by photographs and objects Tickets: £5 to include tea/coffee 12 December from the museum’s collections, come on arrival. Snow Globe & Santa Express and reminisce about Royston’s past. A giant snow globe experience 17 February, 10am-12pm Why not bring a photo or something will be in the Market Place all weekend. Dancing for Fun else to share that brings back Have your photo taken throwing Come and enjoy Maypole Dancing and memories? Tea, coffee and biscuits snowballs at your friends! Meanwhile English Country Dancing for children provided. Free Admission, but please the Santa Express Land Train will depart 6+. Cost £3 per child to include light book in advance as spaces are limited. from the Market Place taking passengers refreshments. An adult must on a ride around the town. accompany children. Adults free EVENTS – OUT AND ABOUT IN admission. Numbers are limited, NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE 13 December so please book in advance. ROYSTON Festive Food & Funday Contact 01462 420144. The Snow Globe and Santa Express on the Market Place together with street ROYSTON 5 December 10am - 4pm Rudolf Christmas Trail, entertainers, choirs, live music on stage Royston & District Fish Hill Square. and delicious street food and drink. Museum & Art Gallery The children’s Christmas Trail leads 16 December 5 Lower King Street, Royston, SG8 5AL the children to clues hidden in shop Rotary Carols, 8pm 01763 242587 windows throughout the town centre. Hitchin’s oldest Rotary Club hosts the www.roystonmuseum.org.uk When all the clues are collected they open air carol concert in the Market Opening hours 10am-5pm every assemble into a model. Children receive Place with a bucket shake for good Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday a gift from Santa at the end. Free. causes. In St Mary’s Church if wet.

14 OUTOUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC winwinterter 2015 6 February Love Letchworth’s Christmas Live entertainment to get you in the mood Pancake Fayre Activities for Christmas with food stalls, Christmas Stalls, amusements and music as a Christmas activities such as walkabout fun fair, live music, carols around the tree precursor to the races on Tuesday. street performers, live acoustic acts, and a vintage and craft market. mulled wine and mince pies in the Leys 9 February 28 February Square and around the Town Centre. Pancake Races Baldock Beast Half Marathon Businesses and organisations from around 19 Dec 2015, 8am-1pm the town take part in these popular Farmer’s Market PIRTON Pancake Races down the High Street. Monthly Farmer’s Market selling 26 December LETCHWORTH locally produced meats, vegetables GARDEN CITY and other foodstuffs. Pirton’s Boxing Day Fun Run For more details visit: For event details visit BALDOCK www.boxingdayrun.co.uk www.loveletchworth.com or See www.baldocktown.co.uk for www.shopletchworth.com event listings ICKLEFORD Every Saturday, From 5 & 6 December 4 December 6.30pm 5 December – Christmas 3pm-7pm Baldock Christmas and Vintage Craft Fair Christmas Tree Lights Switched on Special guest, Father Christmas will be turning on the Christmas tree lights in Council Meetings Ickleford on Upper Green. Children will 2 DECEMBER 2015 TO 25 FEBRUARY 2016 (7.30pm unless stated) also have an opportunity to meet Father An audio recording is taken at all Council meetings (excluding confidential parts). The press and public also have a right to film and record at Council meetings and Christmas on this special evening. a protocol on this can be found here: www.north-herts.gov.uk/recordingmeetings DATE COMMITTEE Venue Wednesday, 2 December 2015 Royston & District Committee Royston Town Hall, NHDC is committed to equal Melbourn Street, Royston opportunities and our aim is to Thursday, 3 December 2015 Southern Rural Committee John Clements Sports and make our services easy for all Social Centre, Bury Lane residents to use. If English is not Monday, 7 December 2015 Baldock and District Committee Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock your first language or you have difficulty reading this document Tuesday, 8 December 2015 Overview & Scrutiny Committee Council Chamber please contact us to discuss how Wednesday, 9 December 2015 Letchworth Committee Committee Room 1 / 2 we may be able to assist you. Thursday, 10 December 2015 Finance, Audit & Risk Committee Committee Room 1 / 2 Tuesday, 15 December 2015 Cabinet Council Chamber Please call: 01462 474000, or email [email protected] Wednesday, 16 December Joint Staff Consultative Committee Room 1 / 2 2015 (3.00pm) Committee Textphone (for textphone users) Thursday, 17 December 2015 Planning Control Committee Council Chamber on: 01462 474800 Tuesday, 12 January 2016 Hitchin Committee Community Centre, OUTLOOK is published by John Barker Place, Hitchin the Communications Team, Wednesday, 13 January 2016 Council Tax Setting Committee Committee Room 3 North Hertfordshire District (7.00pm) Council, Council Offices, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 Overview and Scrutiny Council Chamber Gernon Road, Letchworth, Committee Herts, SG6 3JF.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016 Planning Control Committee Council Chamber Tel 01462 474552 Thursday, 21 January 2016 Council Council Chamber email [email protected]

Monday, 25 January 2016 Finance, Audit & Risk Committee Committee Room 3 © Unless otherwise stated, articles and photography are copyright of North Hertfordshire District Council.

Tuesday, 26 January 2016 Cabinet Council Chamber Every care is taken to ensure accuracy, but the publisher

Wednesday, 27 January 2016 Letchworth Committee Committee Room 1 / 2 or manager cannot be held responsible for errors or Wednesday, 10 February 2016 Finance, Audit & Risk Committee Committee Room 1 / 2 omissions in editorial content. Thursday, 11 February 2016 Council Council Chamber “ MAKING NORTH Tuesday, 16 February 2016 Cabinet Council Chamber Thursday, 18 February 2016 Planning Control Committee Council Chamber HERTFORDSHIRE A Tuesday, 23 February 2016 Standards Committee Council Chamber VIBRANT PLACE TO LIVE, “WORK AND PROSPER Thursday, 25 February 2016 Council Tax Setting Committee Committee Room 3 (7.00pm) follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC WinWinterter 2015 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTOUTLOOK 15 North Hertfordshire Museum

Here are a few of the many hundreds of objects which will be displayed in the new North Most of these Hertfordshire Museum, next to fascinating items Hitchin Town Hall. Most of these have never before fascinating items have never before been seen by the public, and been seen by the public In contrast with the old Letchworth staff and volunteers have spent and Hitchin Museums, all floors are the last few years photographing, accessible by lift. After you have researching, cataloguing and enjoyed your visit, why not pop in to cleaning them, so that they will securely designed to enable the the museum shop, with its unique look their best in the new museum. museum to borrow works from range of gifts and cards, and have a Thanks to a million pound grant national collections. drink in the new café. from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Upstairs, you will see objects from all museum has been designed with over the District displayed together Watch this space for news of the top-of-the-range showcases, and in themed groups. Discover Hitchin’s opening of the Museum and superb interactive exhibits, giving wool trade, or remember 1950s Town Hall. the District one of the most exciting green enamel kitchen ware. There new museums in the UK. are sections on the market towns, on Hertfordshire Yeomanry drum (about 1902)

local agriculture, toys and games, birth to death, peace and conflict, and local trades and industries, with clips of Pathé newsreel throughout. Roman candlestick, The Perks & Llewellyn chemist’s shop (AD100) Toy sewing counter, and shelves of drug jars and colourful potions, has been carefully ma chi n e, (1955-1960) moved from Hitchin Museum. On the Terrace Gallery, visitors can watch On the top floor animated folk tales from this area Downstairs will be our Local Studies is a wonderful Centre, where local and family in a mini-cinema, and children can historians will be able to explore enjoy the dressing-up clothes. There new Learning the archives. On the ground floor, are displays on local Suffragettes, on Centre, ideal the ‘Discovering North Herts’ gallery world cultures, local artists, and of course, the famous Hitchin football for talks and takes you on a journey through the workshops history of the District, from millions collection. The Arches Gallery here of years ago to the 21st century. caters for local and community for all ages. Did you know that mammoths artworks. once roamed through Baldock? The On the top floor will be a wonderful ground floor is also home to the new Learning Centre, ideal for main temporary exhibition gallery, talks and workshops for all ages.

16 OUOUTTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC winwinterter 2015