Highways

After the very strong support for a raised platform at the Potten End crossroads Caroline Smith-Wright, our county councillor has asked whether the Parish Council will help fund the development.

Interestingly we’ve been asked to respond to a survey from Herts Highways who are revising the Speed Management Survey which sets the policy for things like speed limits. The focus of the survey is very much about reducing speed limits and whether they should be dependant as now on physical speed reduction measures. 

As I’m sure you’re aware, the gas main replacement programme has kicked off again with work along Hempstead Lane. The current plan is for the work at Church Road to be undertaken during February half term … but frankly who knows.

All roadworks over the next three months are summarised here or for more up to date information please refer to Causeway one network.

Planning

At its meeting on Thursday the Council will consider the following applications:

• Gutteridge Farm – variations on previously agreed plans ( 25/03116/ROC) 
• Brickwall Cottage, Frithsden Gardens – conversion and minor extensions to existing stable to create annexe dwelling and merging of existing annexe back into principal house (25/03120/FHA)
• 15 The Back, Potten End – work to trees (26/00054/TCA)

Open Spaces

I’m afraid that I can’t explain why the fencing around new safety surface underneath the swings and the remains of the old surface and other surplus material has not been removed since the work was completed in early December – it’s not been for want of chasing the supplier.

Planning permission has been received to undertake the works to trees identified by the tree survey earlier in the year on Frithsden Green and that section of The Green to the west of Hempstead Lane.

Finance

The Parish Council sets the precept it requires to fund its activities in 2026/27 at the January Council meeting. ‘Precept’ is that part of your Council Tax which is collected by Dacorum but paid to the Parish Council.

Dacorum is reducing the level of grant received by parish and town councils across the borough, and is planning to reduce it still further in the future. The Parish Council has decided that it wants to maintain the level of service and asset management (that is grass cutting, litter picking, tree maintenance etc) at current levels, and as a result it will discuss a proposal to increase precept by 10%.

The parish council is responsible for maintaining, and ensuring the safety of, the equipment on the Spencer Holland Recreation Ground. It has recently replaced two swing seats and chains, and resurfaced the area under the climbing frame. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has just given both the play area and sports ground clean bills of health following its annual inspection.

Hertfordshire County Council has announced closures of Nettleden Road in Little Gaddesden from 09.30 to 15.00 during a period of around ten days starting on Monday 21st November.  This is to carry out kerbing works to prevent encroachment of vehicles onto the grass verges and some carriageway patching to stop water ponding.  Full details of the closures and their exact location can be found here.

Hertfordshire Constabulary now has a mobile phone app that you can download for free and is available on both Android and iPhone.  As well as enabling you to report crimes in a convenient way, the app will keep you up-to-date with all of the latest news from around the county and our district, as well as providing details on finding your nearest police station, who your local officers are, the latest scams to be aware of and much more. More details of the app, and instructions for downloading can be found here.

We’ve been advised by the National Trust of the following plans for their properties in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Ashridge – small, outlying car parks:  all open as of Mon 11 May, with the exception of Little Gaddesden where we are keeping it closed to minimise dog fouling in the adjacent meadow while the cattle are grazing and Northchurch Flats, where we are trying to promote some grass restoration following a lot of abuse during the wet weather.

Ivinghoe Beacon and Dick’s Camp: these will open by Saturday 16 May. There will probably be third-party operated ice cream vans in both of these car parks on fine days and at weekends.

Ashridge, Monument Drive: this will remain closed until Monday 1 June.  This is because it is a very difficult site for us to try to manage numbers and any kind of social distancing. We will operate it at 50% of the usual capacity and will turn people away once it is full. We will open the toilets; if people do not observe social distancing whilst using them, we will close them again. The shop and visitor centre will remain closed. There may be a reduced, take away offer available from the café. The Juice Dub is likely to be on site at weekends from 1 June.

Dunstable Downs: we will open the main car park and the beach car park at 50% of their usual capacity from 10am – 4pm daily from Monday 18 May. The car park machines will be operating using the ‘Pay by Phone’ facility and the charge will be £3.50 per visit.  The toilets will be open and we will monitor use to ensure social distancing is being observed. There will be a third party operated ice cream van in the beach car park on fine days. Cars that cannot be accommodated will be turned away.

Sharpenhoe, Totternhoe, Whipsnade Heath: all open from Wednesday 13 May.

Sundon Hills and Morven Park: still open – never closed.  There is no parking at Morven.

Whipsnade Tree Cathedral: this will remain closed for now.

Shaw’s Corner: this will remain closed for a long time yet. There is little prospect of us re-opening until social distancing is no longer required. We may look to operate some kind of pre-booked visits later in the season.