Dates for your diary – Paul Miller, the Chief Executive of the NT Ashridge Estate will be giving a presentation on their plans for Ashridge before the March council meeting at 7:30pm on Thursday 19 March. If you’re unable to attend there will be a public engagement event at Berkhamsted Civic Centre between 10am and 4pm on 8 March.

The Government has launched a consultation into the preferred structure of local government in Hertfordshire – this is the replacement of the county and borough (ie Dacorum)/district councils with two, three or four Unitary Authorities. The consultation is open until 26 March. It’s not the most accessible document but it will inform how many key services are delivered to us for years to come and so is very important; try to find the time to express your opinion.

Highways

The Parish Council has agreed to joint fund a detailed feasibility study into a raised platform at the Potten End crossroads with Caroline Smith-Wright, our county councillor.

It’s well worth looking at the summary of roadworks over the next three months because in addition to the Cadent-related road and lane closures, Highways are planning resurfacing work along Nettleden Road and Gravel Path (leading into Berkhamsted). They all need doing, and there’s no good time, but keep an eye out for the yellow signs.

For more up to date information on road closures please refer to Causeway one network.

If it’s not road closures, it’s potholes. Please report any problems at Report a street light, pothole or other problem | Hertfordshire County Council

Planning

Since the last meeting the Council had a flurry of planning applications to which it needed to give a response in advance of this week’s meeting.

i. 25/03120/FHA – Brickwall Cottage, Frithsden Gardens, Frithsden, HP1 3DE – Conversion and minor extensions to existing stable to create annexe dwelling and merging of existing annexe back into principal house – no objection

ii. 26/0096/FHA – 2 Little Heath Cottages, Little Heath Lane, HP4 2RT – Single-storey rear extension and loft – no objection

iii. 26/00105/LDP – Roseheath Wood, Bullbeggars Lane, HP4 2RS – Proposed metal vehicular gates, brick piers, and a pedestrian side door. Installation of 1.0-metre-high timber flanking posts and creation of permeable gravel driveway and visitor parking bay – no objection

iv. 26/00108/LDP – Roseheath Wood, Bullbeggars Lane, HP4 2RS – Demolition of existing gates with flanking walls and the erection of 1.0-metre-high brick walls at the property entrance – no objection

v. 25/01428/ROC – Old Kiln Meadow, Water End Rd, HP4 2SG – Variation of conditions 11 (Approved Plans); 2 (Surface water drainage); 3 (Tree protection) attached to planning permission 22/02468/FUL – no objection

vi. 26/00125/FHA – 42 Hempstead Lane, Potten End, HP4 2SD – Single storey rear extension, front porch and detached garage – no objection

vii. 26/00147/LDE – 58 Hempstead Lane, Potten End, HP4 2SD – Garden shed, used for general storage, garden furniture and garden tools – no objection

At the meeting on Thursday the Council will consider

i. 25/02826/RET – 3A Water End Rd, Potten End, HP4 2SH – Retention of replacement window with French doors, installation of decking and fencing to facilitate the change of use of the land for residential use.

The Council will be considering a proposal from Dacorum to change the process by which some planning applications will be managed, reducing the amount of local input to certain applications.

Open Spaces

At long last we saw the back of the fencing around the new safety surface underneath the swings and the remains of the old surface and other surplus materials and the play equipment is fully functional again.

The Council will be considering approaches from Berkhamsted Raiders to use the football pitch and from the PE Cricket Club to allow a second club to use the sports field.