ABOUT ATFORD Summer 2019 Big Events return to Watford this summer watfordbigevents.co.uk Welcome to the summer edition of About Watford. According to an Office of National Statistics study last year, Watford residents were the happiest in Hertfordshire. Although not everything is perfect about our town, there are lots of great things about living in Watford. We have excellent local schools, good transport links, a strong family friendly community and fantastic parks and green spaces. Often residents tell me one of the favourite things about living in the town is Peter Taylor our parks. In Watford, we have the highest number of Green Flag awards for our Elected Mayor of parks and green spaces in Hertfordshire. Cassiobury Park is one of the most Watford popular parks in the country and it regularly wins national awards. None of www.watford.gov. this has happened by accident. Despite big reductions in funding from central uk/electedmayor government, we have invested in improving our parks and green spaces, which are so important to people living in our town. You can read in the pages of this edition of About Watford about how we are continuing to invest in making our parks even better. We have started work on improving Oxhey Park, including building a new café, creating new children’s play areas and skateboarding facilities for local young people. This work is already underway and the new facilities will be completed next year. This will provide activities for residents of all ages but particularly our young people. Throughout the summer, there’ll also be plenty of free events for residents to enjoy. This includes our popular Big Screen and Big Beach events on The Parade at the top of town as well as free swim and gym sessions for under 19s to take advantage of. I’m pleased that we are continuing to invest in the things that really matter to local people. You can find out more at watfordbigevents.co.uk. I hope everyone in Watford has an enjoyable summer and fingers crossed the weather will be as good as last year! If you have an issue that you think I might be able to help with, please get in touch at [email protected] or call my office number on01923 278371. Published by Watford Borough Council. This magazine is printed on chlorine free paper, made from sustainable forests and costs 22p to print and distribute. Please recycle it when you have finished with it. This magazine is available on our website. It can be downloaded as a PDF document and also as an audio file. 2 About Watford Summer 2019 ABOUT ATFORD Features Election update - Borough elections roundup 4 Audentior Awards - Celebrating the people of Watford 5 Watford’s green and pleasant land - Get out and about this summer 6 Getting green fingered this summer - Allotments and green gym 7 Young people inspired by Kicks Cup - Social inclusion for 6 - 19 year-olds through the power of football 8 Mayor’s Small Grants Fund - Apply now for up to £3,000 9 Dementia Friendly Watford - Give us your views to help improve the services on offer to people with dementia 10 Major projects update - St Albans Road, Clarendon Road, Watfod Riverwell, Croxley View 12 Waste and recycling - Help us to keep Watford green and clean 16 Get into the swing of things - At West Herts Golf Club 18 Big Bandstand - Head over to Cassiobury Park this summer to enjoy some great live entertainment for free 22 Combatting rough sleeping in Watford - Working with partners to help the homeless 24 News in brief - Pensioners’ Forum, tackling modern slavery, Herts Pride 26 What’s on! 28 Trishaw rides - For our elderly residents 30 Your councillors 31 WE’RE HERE TO HELP IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS Sign up to our www.watford.gov.uk e-newsletter to Email: [email protected] receive Telephone: 01923 226400 Watford Borough Council, Town Hall, Watford, WD17 3EX information of Customer Service Centre open Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.15pm and Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm interest to you. Visit www.watford.gov. uk/newsletter watfordcouncil www.watford.gov.uk 3 Residents have their say in 2019 local elections Five new councillors have won seats in the recent local elections and a new honorary Chair has been appointed to the council for the coming year who will carry out a range of ambassadorial and charitable duties on behalf of the town. 13 out of 36 councillor seats were l Oxhey – Cllr Imran Hamid l Tudor – Cllr Joe Fahmy (Liberal contested in the recent local (Liberal Democrat) Democrat) election on 2 May. Each ward – or l Stanborough – Cllr Tim Williams l Vicarage – Cllr Jagtar Singh area of town – is represented by (Liberal Democrat) Dhindsa (Labour) three councillors. Residents in Watford voted for one councillor The new Chair of Watford self-sufficiency skills and looking for each of the wards (except for Borough Council has been after their children’s health and Meriden ward where there were named as Cllr Asif Khan education. two vacancies). (pictured below) who represents Leggatts ward. Cllr Khan said: “I am honoured Five new councillors and privileged to be made elected Cllr Khan will spend his year Chairman of the council. I will in office fundraising for his work with my fellow councillors, l Callowland – Cllr Dawn Allen- chosen charities. These are the the whole community and Williamson (Liberal Democrat) Starfish paediatric ward at West charities to advocate and l Holywell – Cllr Favour Ezeifedi Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust highlight the very best of Watford (Labour) and the Rwandan Sisterhood, a - a town that is inclusive, tolerant l Meridan Cllr Jennifer Pattinson small charity in Rwanda set up and caring for all its residents.” (Liberal Democrat) to support and educate women For a full list of councillors and their contact l Park – Cllr Jessica Stiff (Liberal about their health, developing details, see page 31. Democrat) l Woodside – Cllr Richard Wenham (Liberal Democrat) Seven councillors retained their seats l Central – Cllr Rabi Martins (Liberal Democrat) l Leggatts – Cllr Asif Khan (Labour) l Meriden – Cllr Amanda Grimston (Liberal Democrat) l Nascot – Cllr Mark Hofman (Liberal Democrat) 4 About Watford Summer 2019 Celebrate the stars of our town! Do you know an individual, group or organisation who is working to make Watford a better place to live and work in? If so, nominate them for an Audentior Award, which recognises and celebrates their commitment, hard work and positive impact on our town. You can nominate time to working in the following behind the scenes at categories: local sporting clubs and groups. Carer of the Year Chairman’s This award Culture Award recognises the For an individual or selfless carers who organisation that has have gone above contributed to raising and beyond to help the profile of the others - whether as arts in Watford; art, Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor (centre), with Watford Observer part of their job, as Editor Victoria Birch (second right) and previous Audentior Award winners amateur dramatics or a volunteer or as a family music. This person may be member looking after a loved one. someone who takes pride in their the star of the show or they could local area by creating community work behind the scenes, helping to Charity Worker of the Year gardens, painting local spaces, make it happen. This award recognises the upcycling or encouraging others amazing contribution a volunteer to recycle. Mayor’s Award or paid worker has shown to A very special achievement the charity sector. Whether it’s Young Achiever of the award celebrating a person for volunteering in a shop, fundraising Year (25 and under) their outstanding contribution or operating a helpline, there are The winner of this award could and dedication to the town. The hundreds of people in Watford be a young person who has Elected Mayor will nominate three giving back on a daily basis. overcome personal difficulties and people and the public will vote for now helps others to make good their favourite. Public Service Award choices; someone who organises This award could be an out-of-school activities to divert Nominations close outstanding teacher/teaching young people away from crime; or Friday 19 July 2019 assistant, a police officer who an outstanding apprentice. has shown remarkable courage/ Shortlist is announced and bravery or a dedicated NHS Contribution to Sport and public voting for the Mayor’s worker. It could also be a Healthy Living Award starts Friday firefighter or bus driver that has For an individual or club that has 6 September 2019. gone the extra mile. contributed to helping people Awards dinner: Friday 11 in Watford to lead healthier lives Pride in Watford by promoting or encouraging October 2019 at Watford This award recognises residents more participation in sport or Collosseum. who dedicate their time and by representing Watford in their Nominate and vote at: energy keeping Watford clean and chosen sport. It is also to celebrate audentiorawards.co.uk green. Get nominating if you know and thank those who give their www.watford.gov.uk 5 Enjoy the award-winning great outdoors in Watford 12 of Watford’s 40 parks and open spaces have been recognised by the national Green Flag Award Scheme as being amongst some of the best in the country. For the fourth year running we have more flags than anywhere else in Hertfordshire! Watford’s Green Flag Parks Cassiobury Park, Woodside Playing Fields, Cheslyn House and Gardens, Waterfields Recreation Ground (centre), Callowland Recreation Ground, Orchard Park, Oxhey Park, St Mary’s Churchyard (left), Goodwood Recreation Ground (centre, bottom), Paddock Road Parks and open spaces play Allotments, North Watford a crucial role in enhancing Cemetery and Harwoods the quality of life for local Recreation Ground.