HertsLynx

For those unable to attend the March Council meeting here’s a brief summary of the HertsLynx presentation. There are currently three operational buses with one in reserve handling approximately 100 trips per day. Over the next few months this will increase to five buses (still with one in reserve). HertsLynx have identified that they have overestimated journey times and believe that this is the main cause of customers being told that buses are not available, when they are, and of buses operating at low capacity. They are working on a software upgrade to increase the efficiency of the booking system. They are looking at extending the limited fixed time service currently operating between Castle Village and Berkhamsted to include Potten End. There was a change of policy after the service was launched and pets are now allowed on the buses at the discretion of the driver – that’s a standard caveat for public transport and HertsLynx aren’t aware of it being applied. A good session with HertsLynx clearly open to feedback.

Local Government re-organisation

The Council will be considering a response to Dacorum BC about Local Government re-organisation along the following lines 

• There is insufficient information to form a view about the five options they’ve sent to government, although the single unitary model which would see Herts County Council staying and all the borough and district council’s being abolished seems the least attractive
• (Existing) Parish and Town Councils should be used to balance the increased ratio of residents to Unitary councillors rather then creating (new) local administration areas run by unelected officials
• Need to keep a distinct voice for rural areas
• Need clear and timely communication and involvement

Highways

There continue to be a plethora of road closures in and around the parish over the next three months for a variety of reasons, in particular along Hempstead Lane and Water End Rd. Rather than list them here you can see them summarised at https://drive.google.com/file/… or for more up to date information on roadworks please refer to Causeway one network.

Planning

The Council will consider the following applications at its meeting (reference numbers relate to the Dacorum Planning Portal)

• The Barn, Little Heath Lane – change of use and alteration of existing barn to a residential dwelling (25/00719/FUL) – although technically this property falls just outside the parish.
• Orchard Cottage, Frithsden Lane – re-model the rear elevation, rooflights and addition of a sun room to the rear of the property (25/00816/FHA)

The Dacorum Local Planhas been submitted to the government for the next round of evaluation. Over 1,600 comments were received from the public which is considered high, the majority relating to the proposed expansion of Tring. In the absence of an agreed plan there is an increase in speculative development proposals. In an interesting insight into government thinking, a development being considered to the west of Leighton Buzzard Road and north of Galley Hill is likely to be classified as ‘grey’ rather than ‘green’ belt

Infrastructure investment in our Parish: Have your say!

This has been the subject of a separate email but just to remind you that the Parish Council will be considering investing in one or more of seven infrastructure projects around the village and would very much like your views on which you consider most important. You can express your vies usuing the online survey at https://docs.google.com/forms/…

VE Day – 8 May

The Parish will be celebrating VE Day on Thursday 8 May by raising a flag at the church at 9am, ringing the bells at 6.30pm, and lighting a beacon on The Green at 9.30 followed by a short service.