Issue 42 of Redbourn News Spring
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The Newsletter of Redbourn Parish Council Spring – Summer 2017 Redbourn Parish Council In this edition of Redbourn Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourn, REDBOURN News St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR The Parish Council office opening hours: Monday – Thursday 10.00 - 4.00 Fridays 10.00 - 1.00 Tel. 01582 794832 CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Nish Khanna [email protected] DEPUTY CLERK: Chris Kenny FACILITIES OFFICER: Zoe Urrejola COMMUNITY OFFICER: Becky Firth Development on Green Belt p2 WEBSITE: www.redbournparishcouncil.gov.uk Beating the Bounds p9 TWITTER: @Redbourn_Parish FACEBOOK: Redbourn Parish Council Fun Run p12 ROOM BOOKINGS: 01582 794421 Redbourn in Steam p16 Hire charges on page 26 Classic Motor Show p22 COUNCILLOR CONTACTS: Folk on the Common p25 See back page And much, much more on council and CHAIRMAN & NEWSLETTER EDITOR: community activities in Redbourn! Cllr. David Mitchell 7.30 pm, Monday 8th May 2017, Redbourn Parish Centre. Your chance to hear about Redbourn Parish Council activities and ask questions of your councillors. All welcome. Page | 1 Redbourn News Published by Redbourn Parish Council Issue 42 Spring – Summer 2017 CHAIRMAN’S NOTES Cllr. David Mitchell Annual Parish Meeting This year’s Annual Parish Meeting is taking place on Monday 8th May starting at 7.30 (doors open 7.00). Everyone is very welcome to come and hear the reports from myself and the chairs of committees. There is also the chance to ask questions of your councillors about the last year and make suggestions for future parish council work. In addition we will be presenting cheques to those who have made successful grant applications, as well as revealing our Community Champion 2017! Housing development latest Three different planning processes are going on at the moment. There is Redbourn’s Neighbourhood Plan for around 144 houses on several small scale sites around the village, and you can read more details about the progress of this plan this on page 6. This is the plan that will only go forward if Redbourn residents vote ‘yes’ at a referendum – though we are not at that stage yet. In the meantime, St Albans District Council (SADC) has had problems with its new Strategic Local Plan (SLP). This is the one that includes 1500 new houses on our green belt between Redbourn village and East Hemel Hempstead, and to which Redbourn Parish Council is objecting. It forms part of a wider cross-boundary development at East Hemel of some 4000 houses – that’s twice as big as Redbourn village. SADC submitted their SLP to the government inspector for his approval but he said they had failed in their Duty to Co-operate with neighbouring planning authorities, and that the Plan was also likely to be found unsound. He said he would fail it if SADC continued with the SLP, and suggested they withdraw it. However SADC disagreed with his views and intend to take the government to the High Court. The judicial review is scheduled for early June, so we won’t know what is happening with the SLP until later in the year. Whilst that legal process is happening, the land owners and would-be developers, the Crown Estate, is continuing to put together a masterplan. They say they will be submitting a planning application in the autumn regardless of the situation with the SLP. Redbourn Parish Council will continue to object to any significant loss of green belt in our parish. I am having regular ‘stake-holder’ meetings with them, and having seen drafts of the Crown Estate’s masterplan, they are proposing even more land for housing than is allocated in the SLP. They also have plans to create a ‘country park’ around a number of drainage reservoirs that will be sited just off the Hemel Hempstead Road. There is also a new spine road that, in effect, links junction 8 of the M1, through the new development and up to Redbourn. The Crown Estate has arranged for another public consultation, and an exhibition will take place at the Redbourn Village Hall on Friday 26th May between 4.00 – 8.00 pm. Hertfordshire County Councillor I’m sorry to say that Cllr Maxine Crawley is stepping down as our County Councillor in May after 8 years in the role. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for all she has done for Redbourn over the years. This includes dealing with highways, transport, education, and many other county issues. She has always been a great champion for Redbourn and has done a magnificent job for our residents. I’m sure you will join me in wishing her all the best for the future. The good news is that she is still one of our three District Councillors. The County Council elections in May will see a new County Councillor for Harpenden Rural, the constituency that covers the Parish of Redbourn. We look forward to working with him or her on issues that concern Redbourn. AUDIO VISUAL AERIAL SERVICES T.V & Radio Aerial Contractors 24 hour service – fully guaranteed Family run business, established locally for 40 years Tony Browne Telephone 01442 216885 Page | 2 Redbourn News Published by Redbourn Parish Council Issue 42 Spring – Summer 2017 Refurbishment of Flamsteadbury Lane Play Area Following on from the success of the revamp of Long Cutt playground, the Parish Council is now turning its attention to Flamsteadbury Lane/Stephen’s Way play area. This project is being funded by section 106 money for leisure facilities as a result of the Fish Street development and Parish Councils’ earmarked reserves. In addition to this we are applying for some grant funding in order to regenerate the whole area and provide improved free leisure facilities for all age groups. The plan is to totally refurbish the playground, removing all the old equipment apart from the swings, and installing up to date apparatus in two zones, one for babies/toddlers and another for juniors /older children. We recognise the importance of and interest in health and fitness in the community and so would like to widen the range of leisure facilities at Flamsteadbury Lane with the addition of an outdoor gym and some goalposts. There is a recognised footpath which runs along the top end of Flamsteadbury Lane play area and an outdoor gym could be easily incorporated into a fitness trail/route and used by the growing number of running/fitness groups in the village as well as individuals. We are currently in the process of obtaining proposals and quotations from recognised suppliers and once this is completed will be consulting with residents when we have some designs and plans. In the meantime any ideas or recommendations welcome. Please contact the Parish Council office on 01582 794832 or email the Community Officer – [email protected] Left to right: Chris Kenny, Deputy Clerk; Becky Firth, Community Officer, Nish Khanna, Clerk, Zoe Urrejola, Facilities Officer Ken Hodson Computer Hardware and Software Repairs, Individual Tuition Upgrades and Advice for Home and Business Tel. 07974 156743 / 01582 794723 Email: [email protected] No fix, no fee for all repairs – you have nothing to lose. Low hourly rate. Most repairs carried out in your home, if not the computer will be picked up from and delivered back to you. Problems with Windows / Applications / Games / Internet / networks fixed. Friendly training and instruction available in plain English Advice given on upgrades – many older computers can be upgraded at a fraction of the cost of a new machine. Upgrades of hardware and software carried out. Page | 3 Redbourn News Published by Redbourn Parish Council Issue 42 Spring – Summer 2017 COMMONS COMMENTS Cllr Colin O’Donovan, Chairman of Commons & Open Spaces Committee PARKING The overflow car park adjacent to the main car park will be opened at the start of the cricket season. If you need to use the overflow car park, please ensure you drive on via the main car park and not drive up the kerbs from the road. The Common is suffering from erosion caused by private cars, lorries, etc. and we are aware of this and repairs are being scheduled. We are considering other measures to protect the Common to try and alleviate the problems. Parking asas everever seems seems to to be be an an issue issue around around the thevillage village so aso Car a ParkCar Parkworking wor partyking has been set up to try and partyfind a hassolution been to set this up problem. to try and If you find have a solution any thoughts to this orproblem. ideas that If wouldyou have be helpful,any please contact me. We thoughtswill also be or undertaking ideas that repairwoulds tobe the helpful, car park please on corner contact of Lybury me. Lane/NorthWe will also Common. be undertaking repairs to the car park on corner of Lybury Lane/North Common. CUMBERLAND GARDENS New chippings have been laid around the flowerbeds to prevent weeds and the bulbs are just starting to come through – I think you’ll agree that it looks nice! A new pergola has been installed around the main seating area to replace the previous structure which was in poor condition. We are considering carrying out repairs to the entrances of the Garden – quotes are currently being obtained. PLAY AREAS East Common Play area We are aware that the grassed area on the mound is in poor condition and investigating ways to deal with this in a cost effective manner. Long Cutt Play area The 40k refurbishment continues to be a success with the children, however there is an ongoing serious problem with dog fouling and general littering of the area.