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DATCHWORTH PUB BUCKS THE TREND With 31 pubs closing every week across the UK1 the Plough in the picturesque Hertfordshire village of Datchworth is bucking the trend having been re-opened under new ownership. Local residents Nick & Diana Collingridge seized the opportunity to purchase this village pub after Greene King placed the freehold on the market. Nick said “A good pub is an important part of the community in any village, and this is especially the case in such a friendly village as Datchworth. It is great that we have been able to secure this pub which had been somewhat unloved in recent times, and I know from many conversations with locals that its rebirth is warmly welcomed” The pub was closed for a short while to allow refurbishment to take place and is now under the management of the team from the Good Beer Guide listed Our Mutual Friend in Stevenage. Nick added “We are delighted to have such a well-respected, experienced and enthusiastic team as our tenants at the Plough” Andy Rawnsley, licensee of both pubs commented “We are delighted to have the opportunity to run the Plough and will work hard to deliver a welcoming pub that is a focal point for the village.” The Plough now has an emphasis on quality real ale and cider including the popular Highwayman, a locally brewed beer, from Buntingford Brewery. Local celebrity Barry Norman formally reopened the pub to cheers from a large crowd of locals last month. http://camra.org.uk/camra-urges-55000-festival-goers-to-lobby-government-over-failure-to-close-planning-loopholes-as-pub-closures-rise-to-31-per-week/
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RIVERS BEANE AND MIMRAM CAMPAIGNS ARE SO CLOSE TO SUCCESS The Rivers Beane and Mimram are two of only 200 chalk rivers left in the world and for many years they have been running dry in our area. The River Beane Restoration Association and Friends of the Mimram have long been raising awareness of the issue of over-abstraction. This occurs when the water companies take too much water from the river. Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, said, “I have campaigned alongside these groups for some years now and actually walked along the River Beane’s dry riverbed with over 50 local campaigners to highlight how much water is being taken. “We are making huge progress here in Hertfordshire, and I am delighted that the Environment Agency has announced they are proposing to change Affinity Water’s licence. They have served notice on the water company to significantly reduce the amount of water which is allowed to be abstracted at Whitehall Pumping Station for the River Beane. To protect the River Mimram they want to completely revoke the licence to abstract water at Fulling Mill. The notices will take effect from 1st April 2018, but we hope to see progress before then. “We are so close, we just need to keep on campaigning and our rivers will flow again locally.” 4
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September 2014