Background

At its May 2024 meeting the Council agreed to fund improved accessibility to The Green and Spencer Holland as one of the projects on which to spend the CIL money (24/065.a). Both areas are surrounded by low banks and/or kerbs which make accessing them for residents with mobility issues difficult. The objective of this project is to improve accessibility by constructing sloped access to both areas and potentially creating short pathways to the pond and play equipment.

Possible locations

The Green

The preferred option is number 1 on the map below because it is by the bus shelter and opposite the dropped kerb outside the church. Although there’s no scheduled bus service the bus stop is used by HertsLynx. The option of running a path from this point to the pond has been dismissed because of the disruption it would cause to The Green.

Option 2 from the layby opposite the Village Hall is impractical because it may be blocked by parked cars.

Option 3 from the layby opposite Martins Pond is impractical because the layby is owned by the pub and it would be inappropriate to encourage non-pub users to use the car park, it is also very difficult to reach without using the busy Hempstead Lane.  The upside to this location is that it has the shortest route to the pond.

Option 4 is a possible option in addition to option 1. The slope access could be located opposite a driveway on The Green and a relatively short path could lead to the new information board by the pond (which should be installed ion the 1 August).

Spencer Holland

The preferred option is number five on the map below because it gives the easiest access to the play equipment and is located on a quiet stretch of road despite being farthest away from the centre of the village.

Options six and seven have been discounted because of their distance from the play equipment and because Vicarage Rd is relatively busy.

Other issues

If it is agreed to include pathways in the final scheme their design and surface would be sympathetic to the location.

The Green has protected status and is in the conservation area and whilst it is believed that improving access would be allowable this will need to be confirmed before work commences.

There are no restrictive covenants in the conveyances of either piece of land which would restrict this work.

Option 5 involves work to land owned by Dacorum BC, and any work which requires changes to kerbs will require Highways approval.

Both option 1 and 4 would require traffic light control whilst the work is being carried out.

Way forward

The community is invited to express its views by email to clerk@nettledenpottenend-pc.gov.uk by 8 September 2024