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Hertsmere News Hertsmere Borough Council’s Magazine Summer 2014

Inside this issue New councillors and mayor • Community awards Planning news • Economic updates • Do it online

Community news

Election results Thanks to everyone who voted in the local and European Parliamentary elections in May whether in person or by post – 34% of you voted, in line with national trends. The make-up of the council has changed slightly – Hertsmere has 39 councillors in total, of which there are now:

34 Conservative

Labour

The council's Executive, as below, make most major decisions within a framework approved by the council. Leader – Cllr Morris Bright Overall strategy and coordination and responsible for communications and consultation Finance and Property (Deputy leader) Cllr John Graham Community Safety and Performance Cllr Charles Goldstein Environment and Transport Cllr Jean Heywood Planning and Localism Cllr Harvey Cohen Housing and Economic Development Cllr Seamus Quilty Leisure, Culture and Health Cllr Brenda Batten

You can find the details of all your Hertsmere councillors on page 15. For more information about elections visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/elections

Registering to vote Please note voter registration has now changed so please make sure you are registered to vote in the run up to the general election in May 2015. If you register to vote each year when the council sends you a form and your details match with records kept by the Department for Work and Pensions, you probably won’t notice the difference. However, new applications to register to vote, for example if you move house or have recently turned 18, will have to be submitted on separate forms and you will have to provide your National Insurance Number and date of birth. Letters are being sent to all residents.

> Who does what?

For more information please visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/registeringtovote

Do you know the difference between the borough and county council? Although Hertsmere works in partnership with the county council, the two authorities are completely separate with different responsibilities, staff and councillors. Hertsmere Borough Council is responsible for services including benefits, car parking, community safety, elections, environmental health, housing needs, leisure and parks, licensing, planning, street cleaning and kerbside waste and recycling collections. Hertfordshire County Council is responsible for services including adoption and fostering, early years childcare, fire and rescue, health and social care, household waste recycling centres, libraries, public transport, registry, roads,

Better connected Residents are better connected to the council thanks to our revamped website which was recently rated by independent industry experts Socitm with three stars, out of a possible four. Socitm assesses all council websites every year to check their content, accessibility and usability. Hertsmere is in the top quarter of all councils in the country and one of only two councils in Hertfordshire to achieve a three-star rating. Recent improvements to our

website include a clearer layout and more intuitive wording as well as a number of accessibility enhancements following feedback from a group of people with various disabilities. We will continue to make improvements to our website so if you can’t find what you’re looking for or have any other suggestions please let us know via the feedback forms which are at the bottom of most pages. Visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk

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schools, street lights, trading standards and youth provision across the ten districts of Hertfordshire. And did you know, while you may pay all your council tax to Hertsmere, we only get 11% of it – the equivalent of £13 a month (for an average, band D property) – with Hertfordshire County Council getting 77%. The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire gets 10% and if you have a town or parish council in your area they get 2%.

Contact Hertfordshire County Council on 0300 123 4040 or visit www.hertsdirect.org. Our contact details are on page 3.

Do it online! Did you know you can:

• read our latest news • check what day your bin is collected • report issues where you live • pay council bills • watch our meetings live (and for six months afterwards) • and find a wealth of other information… ...all via our website available 24/7, either from the

comfort of your own home or while out and about on your mobile. If you don’t have internet access you can get online for free at your local library.

In this issue

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hertsmere

Welcome

Contents 4 Calling all landlords 6 Community awards

to the summer edition of Hertsmere News As you will see from our front cover and centre pages, this year marks Hertsmere's 40th anniversary. This milestone has given us an opportunity to look back and see how much we have achieved in this time. For me, I think the way in which we communicate with residents is something that has completely changed, and this magazine alone has come on leaps and bounds. We have of course been aided by the major advances in technology since the seventies, some of you might even be reading this on your smart phone or tablet thanks to the wonders of the internet. Digital communications is something the council has taken full advantage of and residents are now much better connected to what we do thanks to the likes of Facebook and Twitter. In addition our website, which recently received a positive rating by independent industry experts, is a great tool to find out what we are doing and you can learn more about what's available online on page 2. There have also been great changes in our environment since 1974, in the roads where we live, our green spaces and our

high streets. 40 years on the borough boasts award-winning parks, an array of leisure and cultural facilities, and an extensive recycling service to help residents live a more sustainable life. The way we shop has also dramatically changed and this has transformed our high streets, something that councils up and down the country are trying to manage. Hertsmere for one is working hard to drive economic regeneration and support local businesses as you will see on page 11. As always, please get in touch if you feel there is something we could be doing better, all of your councillorsâ€™ contact details are on page 15. Have a lovely summer.

Councillor Morris Bright Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council leader@hertsmere.gov.uk

You should receive a waste and recycling collection calendar for July to December with this magazine. If yours is missing please contact us or you can download one from

www.hertsmere.gov.uk/collectioncalendar

@HertsmereBC www.facebook.com/hertsmere 020 8207 2277

8 40 years timeline 10 Film future 11 Planning updates 13 Ladies get fit 15 Your councillors

Visit us Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices, Elstree Way Borehamwood, WD6 1WA Open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.15pm, Friday 9am to 5pm Bushey Area Office The Bushey Centre, High Street Bushey, WD23 1TT Open Tuesdays, 9.30am to 2pm

Collection calendar inside

customer.services@hertsmere.gov.uk

7 Your new mayor

On the cover: 40 years of Hertsmere News!

Potters Bar Area Office Wyllyotts Centre, Wyllyotts Place Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN Open Thursdays, 9.30am to 2pm

If you would like this magazine in a different format please call 020 8207 7445.

This magazine is produced by Hertsmere Borough Council three times a year. We welcome stories and photos â€“ email them to corporate.communications@ hertsmere.gov.uk The deadline for the next issue which is due out in December is 13 October. Each edition costs around 23p per copy to design, print and deliver. When you have finished with it, please recycle it in your blue box or at a local recycling bank.

www.hertsmere.gov.uk | Hertsmere News | Summer 2014 | 3

Community news

Learn at your local museum Two brand new interactive displays have been installed at Elstree and Borehamwood Museum to help young people, as well as adults, learn about their local area in a fun and engaging way.

Compost

giveaway Residents flocked to our annual compost giveaway in Radlett during international Compost Awareness Week in May, so much so that all 10 tonnes of it went in a few hours! Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a success, quite a few residents were able to swap their unwanted seeds and tools and our recycling officer gave out wildflower seeds and lots of advice. Thanks also go to our contractors John O’Conner who helped dish the dirt. Sorry to anyone who missed out – did you know you can compost at home with a discounted compost bin? Around 30% of a household's

waste can be recycled by composting fruit and vegetable peelings, shredded or scrunched up paper, cardboard, pet hair and even the contents of your vacuum cleaner. Composting helps divert waste from landfill and also helps your garden grow.

For more information visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/ composting or call 020 8207 7480.

Eight-year-old museum visitor, Ella Leboff (pictured above), said: "It's really interesting and fun!" Have you visited the museum in its new location on the top floor of 96 Shenley Road yet? It’s open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12pm to 6pm, and Saturdays 10am to 3pm.

For more information visit www.elstree-museum.co.uk or call 01442 454888.

Calling all landlords

Credit union open

If you have a property to rent out in Borehamwood, Bushey, Potters Bar or elsewhere in Hertsmere, we’d like to hear from you.

A special community bank has opened in Borehamwood to help all Hertsmere residents take control of their finances by encouraging you to save in a safe place and only borrow what you can afford to repay.

Hertsmere offers a great management service in partnership with Genesis Housing Association which will take the stress out of having tenants in your property. We take full responsibility for the tenant(s) and deal with all day-to-day maintenance issues. We are particularly looking for one, two and three-bedroom homes so if you’re looking for tenants, please get in touch. Call us on 020 8207 2277 or email housing@hertsmere.gov.uk 4 | Summer 2014 | Hertsmere News | www.hertsmere.gov.uk

Credit unions are small non-profit financial organisations set up to benefit the local community. The Borehamwood credit union is managed by local organisation Community Action Hertsmere in partnership with HertSavers, a financial cooperative. It’s based at Farriers Way Community Centre, Farriers Way, Borehamwood, and open on Tuesdays, 11am to 1pm.

For more information visit www.communityactionhertsmere.org or call or text 07565 533874.

Community news

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hertsmere

Planning enforcement Access to a dangerous driveway posing major risks to road safety has been blocked by the council after the owner refused to comply with planning regulations.

Watching the World Cup? Some pubs are automatically able to stay open later than usual this World Cup so people can watch any England games that start after 8pm GMT in their local. The government’s relaxation of licensing hours means that premises can stay open for up to four hours after kick-off, up to the latest time of 1am, if an England game starts at 8pm or later. The relaxation does not apply to other World Cup matches. It is hoped the relaxation will help customers leave premises gradually after a game, minimising any nuisance to the public. The relaxation affects two of the three England games in the group stages and if England progresses further, it would also apply to the proceeding knockout match(es) as well as the final. Hertsmere News went to print before the tournament in Brazil had even started but the council will be working with local police

to ensure any nuisance is kept to a minimum with an increased police presence in town centres and known hotspots. The message from your local authorities is enjoy the football but please drink responsibly, or you could face a criminal record or worse. Know your limits and never drink drive.

If anyone is affected by domestic violence at this time or any other time please call freephone 08088 088 088 in complete confidence. The line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm, or you can email hertsdvhelpline@ hotmail.co.uk at any time.

A Shenley resident concreted over their front garden without planning permission and had been using the space as a drive, despite it being inappropriate. With road safety concerns in mind, the council repeatedly asked the resident to comply with planning regulations with correspondence spanning four years – this included appeals against the council which were dismissed by independent inspectors and judicial reviews which were dropped. The householder ignored an enforcement notice requiring them to remedy the work so our last resort was to take direct action and physically reinstate the front lawn ourselves. Brett Leahy, Planning Team Leader, explained: "We don't take pleasure in taking action like this and ideally would like to see residents complying with planning regulations which are there for a reason. The driveway that had been built illegally presented major concerns in terms of highway safety, visibility and the visual impact on the green belt.” The householder is liable for all the costs incurred. If you are planning alterations to your home and you’re not sure if you need permission please visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/planning or call 020 8207 2277.

Blue Badges Are you entitled to a Blue Badge parking permit? The Blue Badge scheme – run by Hertfordshire County Council – helps you park closer to your destination if you’re disabled, whether you’re a driver or passenger. Find out if you qualify and apply online at www.hertsdirect.org/bluebadge. If you already have a Blue Badge you can also easily renew online. People without internet access can get online for free at their local library where staff will be happy to help copy and certify your documentation as required by the application process. For telephone queries please call 0300 123 4042. www.hertsmere.gov.uk | Hertsmere News | Summer 2014 | 5

Civic news

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hertsmere

Protecting your privacy

...and the

The council has succeeded in a legal battle to help protect the privacy of residents on the electoral register.

Civic Award

There are two versions of the register – the ‘full’ version, which is used for elections, and the ‘edited’ version, which must by law be available to buy, usually by companies who want the contact details. The directory website 192.com objected to the general practice of councils pre-ticking annual electoral registration forms where electors had previously indicated that they did not want their details included in the edited version of the register, wanting as many people as possible not to opt out of the edited register. Hertsmere joined forces with 14 other local councils to fend off a legal challenge from the company which could have prohibited us from pre-ticking the box. This would have meant that people who had previously opted out of the edited register would have had to remember to tick the box again in order to continue to have their choice respected.

Councillor cash Every Hertsmere borough councillor has £500 to spend on local projects this year – can you help them spend it? Each councillor is allocated this pot of money to spend in their ward or they can pool their money with other councillors to support local causes in the borough. Money can be spent on equipment, repairs to premises and to fund special projects. Last year various organisations benefited from our Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme including scout groups, sports clubs and local charities. If you have any ideas for how the money can be spent in your area please contact your local councillor – turn to page 15 – or visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/findmycllr or call 020 8207 7558.

goes to…

The great and the good of Hertsmere have been commended at a special award ceremony as part of the council’s annual Civic Dinner and 40th anniversary celebrations. More than 10 volunteers from across the borough received a Civic Award for their outstanding contribution to the local community from former Mayor, Councillor Paul Morris OBE. He said: “The awards are all about saying thank you to those who give up their time for the benefit of others. I hope their example inspires other volunteers to come forward and help make Hertsmere an even safer, happier place to live.” As well as the usual award categories, there was a special award for 40 years of continued community involvement which went to a very special person, Stuart Nagler from Radlett. Stuart’s voluntary community and charity commitments include being a trustee for various local boards including Community Action Hertsmere and the Domestic Violence Helpline. He is heavily involved with the Peace Hospice and is also a magistrate. In addition, over the years he has completed various runs for charity raising an incredible £120,000 for the likes of Cancer Research, Macmillan and Crimestoppers. Stuart said: “You get a lot out of volunteering, it enriches your own life and helps bring communities together. An ode from John Wesley in the 1700s sums up what I believe

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– ‘do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’ And I shall continue as long as I have breath in my body.” The other award winners were: Sue Pearlman, chair of Community Action Hertsmere; Jim McKean, chair of Elstree, Borehamwood and District Community Association; Gill Connell for volunteering in Potters Bar; Patrick Forsyth for his work with Bushey Festival and Bushey Museum; Sixty Plus Potters Bar and South Mimms; Alan Lawrence, Ann Lawrence and David Armitage from Elstree and Borehamwood Museum; and Valerie Kane and Loran Kingston won The Dave Rankin Award for Community Safety for their involvement in Hertsmere Volunteer Police Cadets.

Watch the winners' stories on our YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/HertsmereBC – and check out the photos from the event on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/hertsmere

Civic news

Follow the Mayor on Twitter @HertsmereMayor

New Mayor

If you would like the Mayor to attend one of your events please contact the Mayor’s secretary on 020 8207 7477 or email mayors.secretary@ hertsmere.gov.uk

The mayoral chains have been passed on to Cllr Carey Keates who becomes Hertsmere’s Mayor for the year. Cllr Keates takes over the role from Cllr Paul Morris OBE who raised a record-breaking £35,000 during his term of office for The Ben Kinsella Trust, which campaigns against knife crime, and learning disability charity Langdon. Charity events organised by Cllr Morris included a charity golf day last year and a charity bike ride from Paris to London and on to Borehamwood in May. The ride was completed by The chari two former ty the House cyclists outside EastEnders s of Parlia ment actresses – Brooke Kinsella MBE, who also founded The Ben Kinsella Trust after her brother was stabbed to death, and Louisa Lytton – as well as local singer Lemar. During his year as The former Mayor, Cllr Morris also Mayor attended over 200 with Brooke community Kinsella engagements. He said: “This has been a challenging but rewarding year. It has given me the opportunity to meet many members of the community and understand their issues. My year to me has been about understanding these local issues whilst

fundraising. In particular, I have used the opportunity to understand the needs of regeneration in Hertsmere, particularly the high streets, and I will use this knowledge to spearhead the needs of both local residents and businesses.” New Mayor Cllr Keates (pictured right) is looking forward to his year as Mayor during which he will be raising money for the National Kidney Research Fund and Hertsmere Mencap. He said: “Both of these charities are dear to my heart. I ran a local weekly evening club for adults with learning difficulties for seven years and, having been the recipient of a transplanted kidney, I am very aware of the 8,000 kidney patients who may die unless they receive a donor kidney. I am already planning a charity golf day and quiz evening and have other ideas in mind." The new deputy Mayor is Cllr Martin Worster.

Your new Mayor Cllr Carey Keates

The former Mayor congratulating Lemar in Borehamwood having cycled 189 miles from Paris

A lesson in democracy Nearly 100 pupils from schools across Hertsmere attended the council's annual Youth Conference at the Civic Offices earlier this year.

The young people, aged between 11 and 17, learnt about their local council and decisionmaking by quizzing councillors and taking part in an interactive game ‘I'm in a democracy, get me out of here!'. One student from Dame Alice Owen's School in Potters Bar said: "The best bit of the Youth Conference was meeting the councillors because it was really interesting and insightful."

www.hertsmere.gov.uk | Hertsmere News | Summer 2014 | 7

Hertsmere was formed as a result of the Local Government Act 1972, merging the local authority district areas of Bushey, Elstree and Potters Bar with the parish of Aldenham. The district of Hertsmere was then awarded borough status by Royal Charter in 1977.

Chief Executive, Donald Graham, commented: "We’re enjoying having a nostalgic look back as well as reflecting on what has been achieved across Hertsmere during this time. Residents who have lived in the area since 1974 will have seen a huge transition.

"During that time we have seen major improvements to our infrastructure, parks, museums and leisure services, significant developments in our waste and recycling services and many advances in the way we communicate with our residents. "The council has always strived to listen to residents and shape services accordingly so we’d like to thank everyone for their input over the years and we hope you continue to give us your views and feedback.”

1999

1998

1997

King George Recreation Ground in Bushey is the first park in the county to win a prestigious Green Flag Award.

The council, police and other organisations join forces to create Hertsmere Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) to improve community safety in the borough.

Hertsmere’s leisure facilities are redeveloped.

Sir Steve Redgrave opens a redeveloped Furzefield Centre in Potters Bar.

Prince Charles visits Elstree Studios to officially open ‘the George Lucas stage’. A training ground for Arsenal FC opens in Shenley which is extended in 2008 and sees the club enter into a long-term community agreement with the council to help provide sporting programmes to young people in the borough.

Arsenal player Jack Wilshere with local schoolchildren

2000

2001

Elstree and Borehamwood Museum is established in Borehamwood.

Bushey Grove Leisure Centre officially opens to the public.

2010 Brown bins are rolled out across the borough making it easier for residents to recycle even more waste at home.

2009 Bushey Rose Garden is re-opened after a £1.5m restoration.

Bra banks are installed across the borough so they can be recycled to raise money for the Breast Cancer Campaign or sent to women in poorer countries.

Our Take Pride in Hertsmere campaign is launched with the introduction of fines for dropping litter and not picking up after your dog. Hertsmere CDRP is rebranded as Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership with a renewed focus on community initiatives to actively reduce crime.

The water tower in Shenley is included within a conservation area.

2013 2012 To mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, a special cycleway is laid in Parkfield, Potters Bar.

8 | Summer 2014 | Hertsmere News | www.hertsmere.co.uk

The Paralympic torch goes through Bushey ahead of the London Games.

The council’s website is re-launched with various improvements including a new mobile-accessible version.

Share your Hertsmere memories on Twitter by following us @HertsmereBC

1974 Hertsmere forms on 1 April 1974 and our Civic Offices are built in Borehamwood.

1977 Hertsmere is awarded borough status by Royal Charter.

1987

1988

The first edition of our residents’ magazine, then entitled ‘Hertsmere Connection’ is issued, keeping everyone up to date with council news and information.

The first wheeled bin is rolled out in Hertsmere. The ‘Save our Studios’ campaign is set up and receives 25,000 signatures with 600 people attending a public meeting showing a strong desire to protect the area’s film and television heritage.

1996

1995

1994

1989

The council takes ownership of Elstree Studios.

Work to improve Aberford Park in Borehamwood starts.

The council’s housing stock is transferred to Ridgehill Housing Association (now Affinity Sutton).

Construction begins on a new theatre, the Wyllyotts, in Potters Bar.

The council-owned and Grade II listed Oakmere House in Potters Bar re-opens to the public as a pub and restaurant.

Recycling banks are introduced across the borough.

2003

2005

2006

The council starts funding a number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) for the borough.

Webcasting is introduced meaning residents can watch council meetings live from the comfort of their own homes via our website (or for six months afterwards).

Additional bin collections are rolled out across the borough increasing the amount of waste residents can recycle at home.

2008 Our Twitter account is launched – we’ve since tweeted nearly 5,000 times and have around 3,500 followers. You can keep in touch with us at @HertsmereBC

The council is chosen as the Regional Centre for Excellence for Youth Homelessness.

‘Scores on the Doors’ is launched, allowing residents to check how hygienic local food premises are.

2014 96 Shenley Road, a community facility in Borehamwood and new home to the town’s library and museum, opens in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council and Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council.

Hertsmere Connect, the borough’s chamber of commerce, is launched by the council to help support local businesses and enhance economic regeneration.

d using the hashtag #Hertsmere40yrs

The council publishes a draft economic develop strategy to help build skills, increase jobs and improve local high streets to further develop Hertsmere’s economy. Borehamwood Police Station relocates to the council’s Civic Offices to increase partnership working and help both organisations save money.

Here's to the next 40 years!

www.hertsmere.gov.uk | Hertsmere News | Summer 2014 | 9

Economy news

Film future bright in

Borehamwood Borehamwood’s 100-year history of film and television production which is being celebrated this year is set to continue well into the future with the forthcoming expansion of the councilowned Elstree Studios.

Before

A project to develop four acres of disused land at the studios has been completed, on time and on budget, representing an enormous economic boost for the borough. The area of land hasn’t been used for nearly 30 years as asbestoscontaminated materials had been buried there before the council took ownership of the site in 1996. But having secured funding for the project, including a £2m loan from Hertfordshire's Local Enterprise Partnership, all contaminated land has been safely removed so that new media facilities can be built there.

During

After

The council's Chief Executive, Donald Graham, said: "This work and investment highlights the importance of Elstree Studios to the borough and will help supply the industry’s demand for more production space and media facilities in the area. The impressive clearance has been achieved without disruption to any of the high-profile productions that are made at Elstree and will make way for even more big names." Managing Director of Elstree Studios, Roger Morris, added: “Elstree Studios has re-established itself as one of the top UK studios attracting work from across the film and television industry including many major Hollywood productions. This new development will allow the studios to take advantage of an expanding market.”

Work being carried out near the Big Brother house, left

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The studios currently generates over £1.35m in rental income for the council, the equivalent of almost 20% of the council tax subsidised for every home in the borough. The income from the studios helps to pay for important services and keep council tax low.

Special lamppost banners celebrating the centenary of local film-making have been put up in Borehamwood town centre

Local v oluntee r the lea d in org group Elstree Screen anising of loca He l fi th Council lm-making a e celebration ritage has tak longsid s for th e and Els eH e cente n t Events nary include ree and Boreh ertsmere Bo ro amwoo a specia Boreha d Town ugh m le Council 13 Sep wood Museum xhibition at . tember Elst located . www.e in 96 S ree and lstrees For more info h e nle creenh eritage rmation plea y Road until se visit .org

Planning news

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hertsmere

Developing a thriving and vibrant economy Improving high streets, supporting businesses, building skills and increasing local jobs are just some of the things the council is working towards as part of a new economic development drive.

Future planning

Borehamwood Shopping Park

Thanks to everyone who got involved with our recent planning consultations on where new development could go in the borough and the Elstree Way Corridor in Borehamwood. The next steps will be publicised on our website, on our social media feeds and in local newspapers.

Site allocations To help us achieve these aims, we have recently consulted on a draft economic development strategy which sets out how we will improve the local economy. Greg Macdonald, Head of Economic Development, explained: “Hertsmere is a great place to live and work and already has a diverse and relatively strong economy but we have enormous potential to grow even further. We want to ensure we have a thriving and vibrant economy for the benefit of all residents and to attract further investment in the area.” The council has also developed a business charter in consultation with the private sector to establish how we can support local businesses. Part of our work to help businesses that may be struggling in our local high

streets already includes discounting business rates for the next two years using funding from central government. This will benefit more than 650 small retail businesses across Hertsmere such as small convenience stores, hairdressers, dry cleaners and travel agents. So whether you’re a local business person, a recent school leaver, an investor or developer, a local resident or from a public, private or community organisation, please get in touch and get involved in helping to improve our local economy.

For more information on economic development please visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/ ecodev or call 020 8207 7801.

Is your business connected? If you own or run a business in Hertsmere did you know you can get free help and support from your local chamber of commerce? The council has helped set up Hertsmere Connect to benefit local businesses so if you’re not already a member, sign up! Visit www.hertsmereconnect.co.uk or call 020 8207 7581.

Around 300 people attended drop-in sessions in March and April, as detailed in the last issue of this magazine, to find out more about our draft Site Allocations and Development Management Policies document and give their comments. We are now reviewing all responses and are aiming to publish a revised document within the next year ready for submission to the Secretary of State. But before it’s submitted to the government, residents and interested parties will have another opportunity to comment on the revised plans during an additional six-week period for making representations. An independent inspector will then examine the document and a public examination will be organised; this means anyone who has made representations on the document could be given an opportunity to present their views in person. Once the examination process is complete and any modifications have been made to the document, it will be adopted and used to guide development in the borough up to 2027.

Elstree Way Corridor Residents have also given their views on our Elstree Way Corridor Area Action Plan, which the council is currently considering. This document will also be submitted to the Secretary of State before which an independent inspector is likely to hold a public examination later this year. Anyone who has called for major changes to the document could be invited to attend to give their views. If you haven’t already, please sign up to receive our planning updates via email or post – email local.plan@hertsmere.gov.uk or call 020 8207 7527.

For more information visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/planningpolicy www.hertsmere.gov.uk | Hertsmere News | Summer 2014 | 11

Community news

School parking problems eased by banners Several more schools have got on board with our banner campaign for safer school parking following a feature in the last issue of this magazine. Thanks to all the parents and local residents who got in contact with us, we hope the banners are having an impact and are improving any parking problems outside your local school. The banners, which are fixed to railings in prominent positions, aim to raise awareness of the dangers of thoughtless and obstructive parking and stopping, even if only for a minute to drop off or pick up children. Representatives from Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership have also attended school assemblies as part of the campaign, to encourage pupils

to help educate their own parents on the matter. We ask everyone to please adhere to restrictions around school premises which include yellow zig zags as they are there for a reason, to help keep you and your children safe. The campaign has now been rolled out to schools in Borehamwood, Shenley and Bushey as well as Potters Bar.

If you would like to see the banners outside a particular school in Hertsmere please call 020 8207 7801 or email partnership.support@ hertsmere.gov.uk

Banners ha ve been put up at various Woodlands Prim schools incl uding Primary Scho ary School in Boreha mwood and ol in Potters Oakmere Bar

Car parking changes Car parking charges are set to rise slightly from August. This will include: Parking at the side of the road

Residential permits

• The first 30 minutes will remain free, with a 50p charge for up to an hour. • Where a second hour is permitted, it will be £1.50 and slight increases apply to any additional hours. • In Bushey Heath, pay and display machines have been installed recently in the High Road to aid traffic flow and make it easier for people to stop outside the shops. This means you can park for free for 30 minutes if you display a ticket, and a 20p charge applies if you want to stay for an hour.

• The first annual residential permit will be £25. • An increase of £10 will apply to the second, third and fourth permit. • Annual visitor permits will be £40.

Parking in council-run car parks • In Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Bushey Heath an hour will cost 70p and two hours will cost £1.50, with slight increases on subsequent hours. • In Radlett the first hour will remain free (as subsidised by Aldenham Parish Council) with slight increases applying to additional hours.

We hope residents appreciate that we have kept the first halfhour of on street parking outside shops free and that the charges are still low in comparison with neighbouring local authorities. The changes are being made to help the service become more self-financing in light of continued cuts in government funding. The council has had to change the way some services are provided in order to continue to freeze council tax for residents. So we asked residents what services they wanted prioritised and protected, and what services they didn’t mind paying a little extra for, in two independent surveys – one in 2010 and

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one last year. In both surveys, people said they didn’t mind paying a little extra for car parking if it meant we could continue to fund vital services such as Hertsmere Citizens Advice Bureau as well as local Police Community Support Officers. Changes will come into effect from Friday 1 August.

For more information please visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/cpz

Community news

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Oh my

dog!

Unfortunately dog poo can be a problem on our pavements and in our award-winning parks due to a minority of irresponsible dog walkers who can’t be bothered to pick up after their pooch.

Hertsmere, along with councils across the country, work to tackle this issue with a mixture of enforcement and education as well as clearing up dog poo on a daily basis from main shopping areas and most parks. There are enough dog poo bins and litter bins out there for people to use – remember, any bin will do! Dog Warden Lesley Lee said: "It’s a real shame that a few dog walkers don’t care about their local area and are spoiling our streets and parks by not picking up after their pet. We want everyone to take pride in Hertsmere so we're fighting back with a new campaign in the coming months so you've been warned, watch this space!" Dog walkers and owners are also reminded that dogs are not allowed in exclusion zones such as play areas, sports pitches and tennis courts to help reduce the risk of dog poo where children play and keep them safe. A £75 fine applies if you don't pick up after your dog and if you allow your dog to enter an exclusion zone.

Please report dog poo to us on 020 8207 7480 or at www.hertsmere.gov.uk/reportit

• Do you want to help tackle dog poo and sniff out other crime with your four-legged friend? Then join Dog Watch, an initiative similar to Neighbourhood Watch run by Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership. For more information please visit www.owl.co.uk/herts

Walk this way Want to improve your fitness? Meet new people? Or just get out more? Then check out the latest Hertfordshire Health Walks programme, run by the Countryside Management Service (CMS) in partnership with the council.

Ladies get fit! Women and girls from across Hertsmere are getting fit and active thanks to a special project managed by the council with funding from Sport England – don’t be left out! So far around 200 ladies have ability is, everyone is welcome signed up to the ‘We move, she and having fun is incorporated moves’ campaign and are into the sessions. Some taking part in activities such as sessions are even free so pop dance, boxercise, boot there’s no excuse not to join in camp and yoga. Some and have a go! sessions take place at leisure centres in partnership with To get moving Hertsmere Leisure and some check out take place in parks. And it www.wemoveshemoves.com doesn’t matter what your or call 020 8207 7801.

Walking improves your physical as well as your mental health and is great fun in a group! The free walks are led by friendly volunteers and take place around Borehamwood, Bushey, Potters Bar and Radlett. They’re suitable for all ages and abilities and range from 20 minutes up to around two hours. Just turn up!

Visit www.hertfordshirehealthwalks.org or call 01992 588433.

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