Council News

Newberries Car Park, Radlett to remain free for first hour

For a number of years, Aldenham Parish Council (APC) has subsidised the cost of parking at Newberries Car Park. This is to enable residents to park free for the first hour.  The cost is £2 for the second hour. The council hopes that people will be encouraged to use local shops, knowing that the first hour’s parking is free.

Some months ago, Hertsmere Borough Council (HBC), who owns Newberries Car Park, informed APC that as there had been no review of the subsidy for many years,  an increase was required. HBC proposed that a subsidy of over £20,000 was required to reflect the loss of revenue by having free parking for the first hour.  Such an increase would have had a significant affect on the budget for 2022/23.

After negotiation, the increase has been agreed from £8,511to £10,000.

APC councillors hope that residents agree that this is a good use of their council tax.  In 2022/23, the precept for a Band D property will be £124.29 per year, an increase of 2.17%.

APC planting for the Queens Green Canopy

Aldenham Parish Council are pleased to be taking part in the Queens Green Canopy project. The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

APC have already, with the Association of Jewish Refugees planted an Oak tree in Salters Field (part of the King George V Playing Fields off Cobden Hill. Now they have planted two lime trees on the edge of Salters Field where it borders Watling Street.

Over the next few weeks 105 native trees will be planted in the Picnic Field by local youth groups, and we have also had enquirers from local charities who wish to add to our collection.

Council Offices

The Council Office is now back open from today, Monday 31st January 2022.

Our opening hours are Monday – Thursday 10am – 1pm.

“80 Trees for 80 Years”

This morning some 35 people gathered at Salter’s Field near the Cricket Club to witness the planting of an oak by Dr Peter Brent, in memory of his parents who came as refugees to England from Nazi Germany in 1939.  The tree planting was part of a national project  “80 Trees for 80 Years” by the Association of Jewish Refugees. The event was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss, the Mayor of Hertsmere, Ann Swerling, faith leaders, members of the Council and community leaders.

Sad news

With great sadness, Aldenham Parish Council announces the loss of our long-standing employee, Open Spaces Team Member – Garry Hall who passed away on Boxing Day after a long-term battle with illness’. He worked for APC for over forty years and will always be remembered travelling around in the council tractor cutting the grass on the open spaces wearing the woolly hat come rain or shine.

His memory shall live forever.

In this interview in May 2020 for Around Radlett he reflected on his time working for the council, including all the changes, funny moments and other memories. To read the full interview please visit https://aldenham-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Garry-Hall-APC-August-Newsletter-2020.pdf

Hertsmere’s draft Local Plan – Aldenham Parish Council’s letter to Oliver Dowden MP and his reply

Dear Mr Dowden, 
We are writing to you to express Aldenham Parish Council’s grave concerns about the draft Hertsmere Local Plan and the effect the Plan would have on Hertsmere, and in particular the part of Hertsmere which the Parish Council represents, were it to be adopted. 

We appreciate the importance of having an up-to-date plan and the risks of not doing so. We also understand the complexities involved in preparing the draft Plan, the work undertaken by officers and Borough Councillors, and the requirements imposed on the Borough Council by Government targets and planning policy.

However, we strongly oppose key elements of the draft Plan, in particular the excessive number of new homes proposed, and the allocation of huge amounts of Green Belt land for housing and the consequential impact on the borough and wider afield.

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