The Boundary Commission for England is currently reviewing parliamentary boundaries with a view to reducing the total number of constituencies in England from 533 to 501 and equalising the electorates as far as possible.  It is proposing to move Ashridge Ward (which includes our parish) from Hemel Hempstead to South West Hertfordshire.  Details of the review can be found on the Boundary Commission for England Website.  If you wish to comment on this proposed change you can do so there – but you only have until Monday 5th December.

The parish council has today installed the long-awaited handrail on the footpath below Browns Spring along the side of the Old Green. It has been designed to make it easier for pedestrians to walk up and down the slope, following requests from parishioners who use the path.

We’ve been advised by Dacorum Borough Council that the freeholder of The Plough wishes to dispose of the property.

The Plough was listed as an asset of community value which means that before the freeholder can proceed with an open market sale, the property is subject to a six week moratorium during which a community interest group may express an interest in acquiring it. This period expires on 22 June 2020. If there is no expression of interest then the freeholder will be free to dispose of the property on the open market.

If during this six week period a community interest group expresses an interest in buying the property then they will have six months to make a bid. That period expires on 11 November 2020.

Further details are contained in the attached letter from Dacorum.

Supporting papers can be accessed via the Agenda

The minutes can be found here.

We’re delighted to announce that the new playground is open for business! There will be a formal opening at 12pm on Saturday, 9th April but the fences are down and it’s all ready to be used. Once again a huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated to make the project possible – there’s a long list of donors here along with others who gave cash but didn’t want to be named, but it all counts. We’ll be marking those who gave £500 or more with a plaque shortly. Special mention must be made of Councillors Erica Spanswick, Hilary Smith and Roger Wright who have spent many long hours looking at options, planning the new layout, raising grant funding and managing the installation. The construction has left a few areas of bare ground which we’ll tackle after the holidays, and please keep children away from the remaining builders equipment and storage which will be removed later this week. Otherwise – ENJOY!