St Albans Times issue 30

ST ALBANS TIMES

WE SPEAK TO HOLLYWOOD

LEGEND JOAN COLLINS

FLAMSTEAD SCARECROW

FESTIVAL IN PICTURES

FENCES AND FRUSTRATIONS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE VERULAM ESTATE

4 BEDROOM HOUSE TO LET IN BLANDFORD ROAD, ST ALBANS, AL1

3 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN OLD WATFORD ROAD, BRICKET WOOD, ST ALBANS, AL2

2 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN WINTON TERRACE, OLD LONDON ROAD, ST ALBANS, AL1

2 BEDROOM APARTMENT TO LET IN CHARRINGTON PLACE, ST ALBANS, AL1

4 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN BEECHWOOD AVENUE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1

4 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN HAMLET CLOSE, BRICKET WOOD, ST ALBANS, AL2

5 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN JENNINGS ROAD, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1

5 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN BRAMPTON ROAD, ST ALBANS, AL1, ST ALBANS, AL1

Editor's Note

It is with a profound sadness that I heard this week about the unexpected death of my dear friend, mentor and benefactor Roy Scott. Roy, who founded the St Albans Review, the Herts Ad Sunday Football League and the William Lawrence Agency, passed away suddenly while on holiday.

We shared a common passion in the importance of regional media, and during the course of our long friendship he provided an office space for myself and Laura Bill after our previous premises was terminated by our then-employer (continuing to work there despite attempts to force us to hotdesk in Hertford!). Roy and I attempted to buy the Herts Advertiser from its former owners Archant before their takeover by Newsquest, and he was subsequently reinvigorated by the launch of the St Albans Times and the opportunity it offered to provide quality local journalism free from the shackles of mainstream publishers.

He was a born raconteur, and delighted in regaling tales of his past triumphs to Laura and myself at every opportunity, often over the McDonald's Egg McMuffins he brought his team whenever he visited St Albans from his home in Guernsey.

He will be greatly missed by us all.

MATT ADAMS

Editor

This issue's contributors include: Jon Wilson Cooper, Laura Bill, Darren McCabe, Eris, Emma Kosh, Karen Snook, Will Tyrer, Peter Crumpler, Frasier Whieldon, Andy Cairns

Flamstead Scarecrow Festival was back for its 19th year at the weekend, and we have plenty of photos from the event in this week's issue courtesy of Frasier Whieldon.

Leader in the spotlight over key issues affecting district

St Albans MP Daisy Cooper and council leader Chris White were walking through the bustling crowds at a heaving Charter Market one Saturday morning about a month ago. Traders were touting their wares, customers were jostling for a bargain, and the sunshine blessed the street scene with a golden hue.

Daisy turned to Chris, and dryly quipped: “You’re doing a really bad job of shutting down this market ”

This anecdote captures not only the strong relationship between the Member of Parliament and SADC leader, but it also serves to highlight the flawed argument –bandied about on social media – that the market is being scrapped to make space for large-scale, alcohol-fuelled festivals in St Peter’s Street.

The Charter Market, St Albans Local Plan, Batchwood Hall and city centre road closures were just some of the topics on the agenda during the course of a recent interview with Cllr White examining the key issues affecting the district this summer and in the months ahead

Cllr White revealed: “The market's doing great, it's doing really well Last Wednesday [August 9], there was a 35 per cent increase on our previous year, and on the Saturday it was absolutely heaving We had 120 stalls, and we ’ re getting to full capacity actually I'm really excited by what’s happening

“I think a lot of the nay-saying is self-perpetuating, partly it's what they read on social media, partly people don't go there, so they listen to what Mrs Miggins say next door

“It doesn't come up much, but on the doorstep sometimes people will say ‘It's always only food shops’ or

‘There aren’t any food shops’! Come and have a look I went to the Local Government Association conference at the beginning of July and a couple of council leaders came up to me and said ‘Ah St Albans, it’s lovely, the market’s brilliant!’

“People really just have got to talk it up

"It's a great thing, there's no market like it anywhere in the rest of Hertfordshire and probably the surrounding counties as well ”

Cllr White said one of the biggest challenges of recent months has been getting the Regulation 18 consultation on the proposed Local Plan out to the public

“It’s an incredibly complicated document, there’s been loads of misrepresentation, and there are clearly things people won't like If everyone had said ‘Yeah it's great’, then you ' ve screwed up basically It's just a consultation, there will come a point where it's a real thing, but it won't look like that.”

Much of the emphasis from opposition groups has been on whether housing targets will actually be reduced in line with comments by Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove

“I don't actually think the government will change the numbers It could have been done by now, and I suspect there may be a change of government I mean, you know, call me Mystic Chris, but it is possible. And the Labour noise is that they're not going to either, but here’s hoping.

“You're not wrong to think there's still a possibility the numbers might change, but it’s smaller than it was I'll be the first to tell you if I'm wrong, with some delight, actually

“But Gove needs to put his money where his mouth is It’s not even a piece of legislation, it’s more or less a letter It’s an inspector saying ‘Can you use the 2018 figures not the 2014 figures?’ – so where’s the delay?

“But all sorts of things might change We have the formal responses from the county council, the Highways Agency, which could make a difference There's a couple of sites in Harpenden where I’m not wildly convinced by

the transport links, so it’s right to put it out to consultation

“Some sites will be taken out because they're rubbish and there’s stuff in the margins that will happen

“I mean, you can't quite say any Local Plan is better than no plan at all, but it would be helpful to know that if you turn something down because it's not on the plan, the inspectors will back it, and at the moment they won't So it's a free-for-all at the moment ”

“September is the key time because we have to have formal meetings with all our neighbours, including Central Beds, but our reputation in terms of dealing with authorities is really good now There’s the South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan which goes up to 2050 looking at broad areas of sites which I chair at the moment, which is quite a good thing to put in front of inspectors if they suspect we ’ re not talking to other councils

“The political landscape has also changed There are now eight leaders or deputy leaders from the Lib Dems out of ten councils in Hertfordshire, which is astonishing I’ve known the leaders of Welwyn Hatfield and Decorum councils for 20 years, and that just helps with communications ”

At the moment this is not reflected at county council level, but Cllr White believes there will be a regime change come 2025

“It’s been a while since the Lib Dems have been in charge, or semi-in charge, of the county council It was 1999 when that last happened with a Lab-Lib administration ”

The St Albans Times recently spent some time in Park Street, talking to residents of Hampden Place about the impact of the rail freight development at the ends of their gardens, and one of the things which came out was their feelings of abandonment and frustration that they don’t know what’s going on

“The view of the district, speaking carefully, is that at the end of the day the battle has been lost by the county council, or because of the county council, and therefore you ' ve got to start talking to the developers

“I spoke to Segro last year to learn a bit more and they were in total denial that they ever agreed to the Park Street roundabout signalisation, it was a bit shocking, and of course everyone who was in the county council at the time has gone. The massive worry is the A414, both as a road and parking up, which is already a problem There are no toilet facilities which means the district council has to shall we say clear up the consequences each morning which is horrendous

"We've raised that with the county council and they said ‘Oh yeah it's very serious, thank you very much’

“So I think creating some sort of liaison with some local representation would probably be quite a good idea I've been thinking about it for a while, and now we ' ve moved past the absolute point...

“A judicial review doesn't normally work, and if it does work, they just say ‘make a decision again, but dot the eyes and cross the tees this time’. It's not an appeals system Judges don't want to get involved

“It’s whether we need to do something which gives more reassurance "The danger is, you see, if you start sitting around the table with Segro then people start shouting betrayal and we get nowhere.”

The city centre's controversial road closures could also be coming to an end soon - at least in High Street

“I can't really comment on George Street because it’s incredibly complicated, but once the businesses in High Street fell out of love with it, it was a non-starter there.

So at some point in the next small number of weeks, High Street will open up, reserving the right to shut it for special occasions like the Alban Weekend

The weekend closure of High Street should be coming to an end soon

The jury is out whether the traffic displacement really took place. I think a lot of people perceived it did but some of that was traffic coming back after Covid, some of it was just bad driving and so forth But the whole purpose of the trial was to make this fabulous for all businesses, and of course we achieved that with Market Place.”

After months of delays, Jubilee Square technically completed at the end of last week, and although the cost implications have yet to be revealed, Cllr White is obviously pleased to see the project reach fruition “It’s starting to hand over and it'll be a few more weeks. The fencing is still there, we have some windows issues The district council is going to fix the roads to speed things along because otherwise you wait for the county council to do it ”

This raises another very important issue for local residents As we come to the end of the summer, there are still hundreds of pot holes across the district which haven’t been repaired, with no signs of the county highways department speeding up the works

Cllr White is less than impressed with the response from HCC: “I’ve had a row with them and complained to the chief executive and they sent me a list of their works for next year. There are about 70 sites on it and I said only four of these do I support, the rest are fine They said this was what the computer had worked out It's just astonishing "

The administration is currently reviewing SADCs entire capital programme, which covers major redevelopment works like Jubilee Square: "It’s never really been properly looked at There are still bright ideas in there which need to come out, as opposed to things which will provide more social housing, community services and which are good investments. So there's more to be done. We've got to understand that we ' re not property good developers, and therefore sometimes it's going to be easier to sell ”

On the back of this the administration is also starting to look at next year ’ s budget to avoid the shocks of 2022, which resulted in a swathe of cuts.

“We had a discussion about transparency, you want to be frank with people and say, you know what, the alternative is horrendous We had a meeting amongst a number of councillors and senior officers on undesirable alternatives which we aren’t going to pursue, and we hope we won’t be forced into, but they needed to know what suggestions had been rejected ”

There is also some good news for the future of former nightspot Batchwood Hall

“It’s nearly signed off, it’s going to be a destination hotel It’s going to be really good It’s a well-known chain and we ’ re waiting for the ink to be dry but it’s really close and is the right solution.

"It’ll need quite a lot of work as it’s not been nicely looked after over the years But that’s on its way, it’s been a long time gestating ”

Residents picking up the cost after visitor parking scheme moves to online payments?

It might sound cynical but do the officers working for SADC just dream up ways to make people’s lives even more difficult on a daily basis? Everybody is feeling the pinch Should you really have to pay to go and visit your friend who has spent a fortune to live in ‘soughtafter’ St Albans?

Cannon Street residents - who live in a Controlled Parking Zone - are both frustrated and angered by changes to the council's visitor parking scheme

They already pay through the nose for everything from house prices or high rents to council tax – yet also have to have an annual permit to park outside their own homes and their friends and family have to pay when visiting.

Now a further layer of hassle and arguably cost is being added to that process which could mean only a privileged few will be able to afford to pop round to their friend’s house for a cuppa

The current system is a scratch-card type permit bought by home-owners and tenants, who can hand their visitor a pass revealing the time and date of their visit, in order to not get a parking ticket The new system, expected to launch soon, requires people to go online and pay to visit their friend or family member. While the same card could have been used across a day to serve several visitors - includes tradespeople - over different times, the new way means each individual will have to pay to park

Retired Mary McIntyre visits her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren regularly Mary said: “My daughter buys a book of parking vouchers and when I visit I put one in my car window

“Now it means going online Two problems with that Older people sometimes struggle with technology. As it is going to be done by car registration plate numbers, residents will no longer be able to use the same voucher in a day

“Say I go now in the morning and give my daughter the voucher back, a tradesman could use it in the afternoon and then a friend popping in in the evening could also use it The new way will thus arguably triple the cost to the householder.”

Many other residents of Cannon Street are not in favour of this either Michael Bateman told us: “The old system is not broken so let’s break it!! That’s the council for you!”

While Kate Bootsy said: “It’s a faff It’s a pity to have to keep going to the website. They run out after a year and they will be more expensive than the current ones ”

Joe Abdalla argued it is “yet another irritating and expensive change brought in by our useless council, making life more difficult for motorists” and Joanna Tatlock said that she thinks the whole of the street is unhappy about it

Another resident claims it could impact on her business

Claire Nolan Trulock said: “It will affect me greatly - I

Cannon Street is one of many roads around St Albans which uses visitor parking vouchers Residents will soon find themselves having to switch to an online scheme Photo: Google Street View

will seriously have to consider whether I take on any more clients where permit parking is digital.”

The St Albans Times asked SADC Albans District Council whether they thought the new system was acceptable and what would happen for people who have no digital access – which is still common for some members of society, especially more mature people They declined to refer to the second part of our question but strategic director for community and place delivery Chris Traill said: “Under the virtual permit system, the cost of a visitor parking remains unchanged at £1 75 per visit, covering the whole restriction period

“This is a considerable discount on the cost of public on-street parking which is £2 per hour, so is good value for money “A visitor permit is not transferable to different vehicles and that rule also remains unchanged. Our terms and conditions as well as charges are benchmarked against neighbouring councils and are in line with them.

“We are aware that some residents were on occasions unwittingly using the visitor permit scratch cards on more than one vehicle during the course of a day.

“This is not permitted and the instructions for use of the permit outlines one permit per parking period "

Come on St Albans district council – you haven’t even acknowledged that an online system is not accessible for some people! The completely lack of flexibility is also unlikely to have any major impact on council coffers, but for residents struggling during a cost-of-living crisis it will hit them hard

Cannon Street residents say the cost of visitor parking will greatly increase if it is calculated on an individual visit rather than a daily basis Photo: Google Street View

IT'S OVER THERE!

We were recently chatting with a colleague (Hannah) who has a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). This genetic condition affects about one in four thousand people and causes gradual decline and loss of the light sensing cells called photoreceptors in the retina There are over 100 genetic variations known to cause RP and people with it generally have some or all of the following symptoms:

* Deterioration and loss of night vision

* Loss of peripheral vision resulting in ‘tunnel’ vision

* Loss of central vision

* Problems with colour vision

Hannah was saying one of the biggest challenges she faces as she loses her sight is how people describe direction to her

“It’s over there” of absolutely no use to her whatsoever when people either point or nod in the direction of whatever it is – because she cant see those actions!

When she asks for more detail, the most common response she gets is ‘but you don’t look blind!’ – which again, is less than helpful and a great reminder to think before we speak!

We asked Hannah what the best way to help her is Quick to remind us this might not be useful for other visually impaired people, she said it really depends on whether she’s in a familiar environment or not

If she’s somewhere familiar, saying that it’s next to something that she knows (or can see – remembering that many visually impaired people have a degree of useful sight) or in the direction of an ‘anchor point can be really useful

If she’s somewhere new, giving an indication of where something is using a clock dial “it’s at about 4 o ’clock” is a much better way of explaining positioning than saying it’s behind you !

Finding things on a screen

Hannah works as an accountant and relies heavily on screen-readers for her computer work She really appreciates it when people use descriptive headings in bigger font (rather than just using bold text), puts things in lists and don’t put emojis in the middle of sentences

She’s also keen to remind us that using Camel Case in hashtags make her life so much easier Whilst MasterCard

and AstroTurf are both brand names that used Camel Case way before hashtags even existed, when you capitalise the first letter of each word in a hashtag, screen readers can cope with it

For example her screen reader can read #EyesOnStAlbans but not #eyesonstalbans

The importance of regular eye examinations

Yep – we ’ re on that message again Eye examinations are crucial in the identification and management of conditions like Retinitis Pigmentosa

As with all retinal conditions, this is where our extra tests come into their own! All aspects of the examination are included in the single charge for the examination – including the OCT (that’s Optical Coherence Temography) images that we can take of your retinas to see exactly what is going on The field tests, whilst often tiring, are also a great indication for us whether all is as it should be (when taking into account your age and other sight issues) or whether something untoward is going on

To book in pop into the shop or give us a call on 01727 838003

You can find Hannah on LinkedIn: https://wwwlinkedincom/in/hannah-campbell-088b5541/

County takes just £34m from £120m sale of rail freight site

One of the biggest arguments put forwards by Herts county council for selling the former Radlett Aerodrome for a strategic rail freight interchange has been the huge financial benefit it will provide for local taxpayers.

Campaigners argue that HCC has failed in its fiduciary duty, not only over the value of the land vs the price paid, but also by entering into agreements which will place unnecessary financial burdens on taxpayers, such as unfunded infrastructure improvements like the A414, Park Street and London Colney roundabouts.

Last December, HCC leader Cllr Richard Roberts stated: “We did not seek this development. We did not seek a rail freight terminal on this site and we did not encourage it The planning considerations have been considered and the only outstanding matter is that we meet our fiduciary duty towards our residents, in other words, we secure the best price for this land ”

But Radlett councillor Caroline Clapper refuted that this had been achieved: “We have a fiduciary duty to our taxpayers to protect and enhance the value of our assets, and selling this land goes against that very duty "

It has now been confirmed that the former airfield was sold to rail freight developers Segro for just £120m, with HCC only taking £34m as their share of the proceeds from this transaction The remaining £86m seems to be shared between other landowners Tarmac and the Gorhambury Estate, namely Lord and Lady Verulam

We asked Tarmac to confirm the percentage of this figure they had received but they refused to provide any confidential commercial information

Fifty per cent of HCC's share will be deferred for 12 months, and funds received this year will be used to support the overall HCC capital investment programme and delivery of essential services, so are likely to disappear into a financial black hole with no perceived benefit as a whole

Cllr Nuala Webb, one of the leaders of Save St Albans: Fight the Freight, said: “Now the council have finally admitted how much they’ve received for the land it confirms exactly how bad a deal it is They have sold 300 acres of valuable Green Belt for £34m when independent valuations say a site that size for 'big box' warehousing is worth £220m

Thameslink rail line will cope with the increase in freight.

A statement from Segro released at the time of the land sale stated: "Rail freight contributes £1.7 billion to the UK economy, with each train removing up to 76 HGV journeys from Britain’s roads, helping to ease congestion and meet the country s decarbonisation targets."

The St Albans Times challenged this figure, highlighting how the gauge height on the Thameslink line meant each train could only take half that amount, and asked what involvement Network Rail was having in the development.

A Segro spokesperson responded: “As the owner of Britain’s railway infrastructure, Network Rail has been consistently supportive of the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Radlett throughout all stages of the statutory planning process. We have been working with them on the technical design of the railway infrastructure, including the connection to the Midland Mainline and gauge enhancement works that they will need to implement

"Network Rail’s remit includes ensuring the interests of all stakeholders in the rail network are properly taken into account when considering the execution of the rail works that are required for Segro to meet its obligations to deliver the Radlett SRFI scheme, and we will continue to work closely through this process and to ensure the successful completion of this crucial element of the overall scheme ”

Meanwhile campaigners are now preparing a series of legal challenges following the sale of the land by Herts county council

Save St Albans: Fight the Freight say they have identified

correspondence dating back 70 years or more and there are plenty of clauses and covenants that insist there should be no development or building work on the site other than agricultural units.

“Herts county council have either not bothered to look through these or have tried to ignore them “

Lawyers acting for Save St Albans: Fight the Freight have written to HCC demanding they undertake a thorough review of the legal status of the land which the council bought for £1 in 1985

“It’s unlikely that anyone would sell 300 acres of land for £1 if there was potential future development value there," said Cllr Webb “This decision affects St Albans and the surrounding district and we feel Herts county council in their rush to sell have failed the public they’re supposed to serve ”

Campaigners also claim the council have failed to comply with a legal obligation to properly investigate the potential impact on local people through the additional pollution the development will create Lawyers say that under the 2010 Equality Act the council has a legal duty to consider the pollution impact on vulnerable people in the area, especially those living next to the terminal

“From what we have seen there is no sign the council has complied with its responsibility and obligations,“ added

Cllr Webb “It’s quite clear that HCC has not acted in the public interest. They rushed to sell valuable Green Belt that should be protected on behalf of the people who live here and for future generations,”

Lawyers are now sending the council a pre-action protocol letter which could halt the any development until a proper pollution impact assessment is undertaken and evaluated

COMING SOON...

Step behind the curtains: unveiling magic of theatre at open day

Drop in for a friendly taster of the world of theatre at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans on Saturday 2 September. The Company of Ten team are inviting curious minds and aspiring artists to experience the passion that fuels the creative process. Imagine how you might play a role, onstage, backstage or front of house.

See the most elaborate costumes; press a button and make a theatre fill with sound; meet directors who bring plays to life; turn dusk to dawn from the lighting box; and learn secrets handed down through generations of props managers. Many giants of the stage started out in amateur theatre, including Keira Knightley, Daniel Craig, Idris Elba and Judi Dench.

Several of performers at the Company of Ten, including, in recent years, Chloe Brown, David Ijiti and Conor Gray have gone on to drama school and careers in the performing arts.

"From the first reading of a play to its opening night, theatre is a rewarding, exciting, team effort for everyone involved" says theatre stalwart Andrew Baird.

"It’s a thrilling feeling hearing applause for a high-quality performance to which you've contributed.

"When you’re working together on a show you put aside your own daily life and cares to focus on creating a production of which you feel proud."

Will you make your theatre debut on September 2nd? The Abbey Theatre Open Day runs from 10am to 4pm.

A fence too far for corner of green space on Verulam Estate

Things have been quiet for a while following the great Verulam Estate land sale, which saw various areas of green space auctioned off for development.

Vast swathes of what was previously thought to be public land were sold across the estate in June 2021, including one lot around Mayne Avenue, Samian Gate, Flavian Close, Icknield Close, Glenum Close, Hadrian Close, Lindum Place, Augustus Close, Claudian Place, Antonine Gate and Ermine Close, and a second in the vicinity of Windridge Close, Westfields, Deva Close, Dubrae Close, Rowlatt Drive, Mayne Avenue and Corinium Gate. Efforts to develop the land have met with swift rebuke from the district council in the past, but now a retrospective planning application has been submitted to permanently fence off a piece of previously open green space where Windridge Close meets Westfields.

Timothy Beecroft, chair of Verulam Residents Association, said: “This is yet another episode in the seemingly endless saga of the green spaces on the Verulam Estate, ownership of which was supposed to have been transferred to the then-St Albans Council around 50 years ago

“For reasons that remain unexplained, either this didn’t happen, or if it did the records can’t now be found Which means that residents have to be prepared to fight on a case-by-case basis to defend their much-loved green spaces

"An application to build a house on this sight was refused fairly recently, following which this unsightly fence was erected – now the owners are applying for retrospective planning permission for it to stay

"The arguments against the fence, which have been raised by well over 100 local residents in comments on the application, are largely the same as those that led to the application for the house being refused

"The fence would lead to the loss of a prominent area of landscaping and open space which is an important feature of the character and appearance of this residential area just as much as a house would

"So we hope very much that the council refuse this application too, and then take prompt and vigorous enforcement action to get the fence removed."

Some of the objections received include one from Edna Howe, who lives in Westfields

She said: "I have lived in my house directly opposite the site of the illegally constructed fence for 60 years For the whole time since the development of Windridge

Close the area has been an open green space there for the benefit of the whole community It has several mature trees and has been maintained by the local council for a long as I can remember

"The fence, which is an eyesore visible from my living room, serves no purpose other than to prevent access to local residents

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"The developer is not maintaining the site - I can see this very clearly from my bedroom window which overlooks the site - and the fence prevents council workers from doing so

"The developer lost his recent application to build a large house on the site and is now presumably trying with the erection of this fence to establish the fact that no one uses the site so that in the future he can reapply to build a house there and the argument of community usage will no longer apply

"I also feel that it is an abuse of the planning system to build a fence illegally and then seek to have it approved retrospectively It sets a terrible precedent if it succeeds and would undermine my faith (and other local members of the public) in the planning process and in St Albans city and district council.

"I strongly support the campaign by the Verulam Residents Association against this and other encroachments on green open spaces in the area I also wholly agree with their point that the fence restricts visibility at what I know to be a very busy junction, which includes my driveway access "

Nicole Onyems of Rowlatt Drive added: "The estate was built with green spaces to add a sense of space and greenery with planting to this estate These small green plots were not designed to be built on...

"If developers and private purchasers start fencing off and then potentially building on these plots the whole

character of the estate will be changed and in our opinion ruined "

Neil Dunkin of Samian Gate agrees: "When the Verulam estate was built, it was laid out with grass verges and grassed areas that defined the development as one on which a maximum number of properties had not been shoehorned into the minimum amount of space

"Those grass areas are integral to the appearance of Verulam and were intended to remain unobstructed so that residents could enjoy the open aspect of their surroundings and stroll through the areas unimpeded

"The fencing-off of any of these spaces would represent an act of vandalism on Verulam’s community, inflicting an eyesore on all its residents "

Colin Page, of Windridge Close, fumed: "This retrospective planning application should have immediately been thrown out, given the previous rejection of the application for development on the site, whose ownership is uncertain

"Enforcement action was also promised - and committed to - when the fence was erected Considering the retention of the illegal fence now risks setting a dangerous precedent - ie you can ignore an enforcement decision and reapply for what you have already been told is not permitted

"Notwithstanding this, the fence application in its own right should be rejected for various reasons: - the height exceeds what is acceptable on a pavement/road

boundary and creates a negative impact on visual amenity in the estate - the fence encloses what was previously a community green space - the fence creates a dangerous lack of visibility at the junction; already, a number of near misses have been witnessed with vehicles turning into and out of Windridge Close

"Allowing the retention of the fence would be the first step to allowing development of the plot for housing, which it is not suitable for This would also inevitably lead to the loss of ecology and biodiversity, as the established trees on the site would be removed " Christopher Cox from Westfields said: "There is no reason to fence off this land, which is now not being maintained properly All the houses on the Verulam Estate have a right of access to the side of their property so that they can maintain them in good condition This is not happening for 1 Windridge Close

"These open areas were always meant to be maintained to provide green spaces to enhance the appearance of the estate and for the well being of the residents. Now they are also needed to absorb rainfall and prevent flooding If retrospective planning permission for a fence is allowed it will be claimed that there is a structure on the site and therefore it can be built on Planning permission should have been gained before anything was allowed on the site "

Cllr Edgar Hill, who represents Verulam ward on the district council, has also called-in the application, stating:

"This retrospective application is for a fence that exceeds permitted height limits and is a barrier to designated open space "

Timothy Beecroft added: “I’d love to think that this would be the last case like this, but sadly this is not the case We have just heard that someone has submitted a highly speculative application to build a three bedroom house elsewhere on the estate on what was long thought to be public green space.

Frankly given the small size of the plot, this seems ridiculous, but here we go again

“It seems very unfair that because of some sort of messup 50 years ago we now feel that we are under siege To preserve our environment, we have to win every time –the developers only have to win once

“One thing I can be sure of is that residents, in large numbers, will remain vigilant and will continue to do everything they can to prevent the frittering away of such important open spaces ”

The latest proposal is for the construction of one threebedroom dwelling with outbuilding on green space adjacent to 24 Lindum Place (pictured above).

You can see the plans by searching on the SADC planning portal using the reference 5/2023/1606

There is still time to have your say about the unauthorised fence before the closing date of August 26 by commenting on the planning application at: https://tinyurl com/Windridge-Close

Emma Kosh is an Interior Designer and award winning Designer on CBBC's The Dengineers Emma has a passion for creating one of a kind Interiors and Empowering people to celebrate their Uniqueness through design. She joins us to share her thoughts on Home and Interior Style

OWN IT LIKE EK INTERIORS AND HOME

TREND SPOTTER

I am not a trend follower myself, I think it is important to develop a style that makes your heart sing and is unique to you. However it is nice to dip my toe into what style trends we will start to see emerge over the next six months, just for fun. So what is the Interior forecast for the next six months? I will do my best Mystic Meg impression and predict the future.

EARTHY BIOLIPHIC GOODNESS

This one seems obvious as we slip towards autumn but there has been a surge in the use of earthy tones such as warm browns, deep greens, and rusty oranges in Interiors irrespective of the changing seasons. These colours bring a sense of grounding and tranquility to any space. Incorporating earthy tones through accent walls, furniture, or accessories can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Biophilic design, which focuses on incorporating natural elements into indoor spaces is not such an obvious prediction. This trend emphasises the connection between humans and nature, promoting well-being and reducing stress. Expect to see more indoor plants, natural materials like wood and stone, and large windows that bring in ample natural light.

Connected to the above is the focus that remains on sustainability. A little like fast fashion if we followed trends then style becomes disposable. With an increasing focus on sustainability, interior design is shifting towards ecofriendly materials. Look out for furniture made from recycled or upcycled materials, as well as sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and linen. Incorporating these materials into your home not only helps the environment but also adds a unique and conscious touch to your space.

Abdullah | Minimalist Aesthetic | Art, Design, and Decor

TAKE IT TO THE MAXIMALISM

Now here is a trend that gives me thrills upon thrills baby, one I am totally onboard with. maximalism is making a comeback. Bold patterns, vibrant colors, and eclectic decor will take centre stage. Mixing different textures, layering patterns, and incorporating statement pieces will create a visually stimulating and personalised space.

The staircase on the left via Apartment Therapy is an extreme example but please indulge me. The photo below may be more achievable - image from Pinterest

LOOK UP

I have spoken before about the ceiling being an overlooked space to decorate and it seems trends have caught on. They offer a great opportunity to make a statement. From bold colours to intricate patterns, expect to see more attention given to ceilings in the next six months. Wallpaper, textured finishes, or even exposed beams can transform a plain ceiling into a focal point of the room. I am thinking about wallpapering the ceiling in my bedroom which sounds saucy for some reason. Not with mirrors though, no one needs that trauma.

PHOTO

Design By Chloe Dominik

IN OTHER NEWS...

New signage is unveiled at the top of St Albans Clock Tower

Have you climbed the Clock Tower recently? You may be in for a welcome surprise...

The Clock Tower is undoubtedly a landmark symbol of St Albans. A medieval treasure unique in England. St Albans City Tour Guides have the pleasure of describing it to visitors from ground upwards during their guided walks but also from roof downwards on Saturday mornings, when they tell visitors to the rooftop about the story of the tower and the panoramic view.

From glimpses of Roman Verulamium to an eye level view of top of the Cathedral tower or a bird’s eye view of the higgledypiggledy rooftops of the Tudor Inns and buildings of the Market Place.

Visitors were originally able to work out their bearings and identify significant features from a table type ‘toposcope’ up on the roof. This has not stood the test of time, but now the Tour Guides Association is delighted to announce that clear, informative signage has been installed to enhance visitors’ experience.

The new signage was officially unveiled by the Mayor and patron of the Tour Guides Association, Cllr Anthony Rowlands and chairman of the St Albans Tour Guides, Terry Turner. They were joined by teams from St Albans Museum + Gallery and the Clock Tower itself, on the roof of the tower for a special ceremony last Friday.

The Mayor said: “The Clock Tower is one of our most loved and instantly recognisable landmarks as well as a great visitor attraction. I was very impressed by the new signage and thank the Tour Guides for providing it.

"It will help explain the fascinating history and importance of the tower to all who climb to the top to take in the panoramic views.”

One of his major themes in his mayoral year is recognising the work done by so many local community organisations to promote the history of the city, particularly as an ex-history teacher himself, and he thanked all the associated groups for providing these services to local residents and visitors to the city.

This new signage, funded by the City of St Albans Tour Guides, is a collaboration between the Tour Guides, the Clockateers, St Albans Museums and the district council.

It has been produced by local graphic designer, Roy Bellamy, working with Terry Turner and Clockateers chairman, Robert Osborne. It features photographs taken by local photographer Ricky Barnett.

Each year any surplus funds from ticket sales are donated to local good causes or charities. In recent years donations have been made to the Highfield Park Trust, the Harpenden Trust, the Redbourn Community Group and the Museum + Gallery. As well as providing the new signage, St Albans Tour Guides continue to bring local history to life on guided tours – both public and private – from just £6 per person. All the guides are fully trained and qualified as Blue or Green Badge Guides with the Institute of Tourist Guiding.

For more information about walks and talks from the St Albans Tour Guides, and to book, visit www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk The Clock Tower is open 10.30am – 5pm every weekend and bank holiday Monday until Sunday October 1. Entry is £2 for adults. For more information visit www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/visit/clock-tower

One of the four signage panels with the group (from left to right): John Morewood - president SAHAAS; Sarah Keeling -St Albans Museum Service; John Johnson - City guide; Mayor Cllr Anthony Rowlands; Terry Turner - chairman City Guides; Robert Osborne - chair of the Clockateers; Freda Chalonerchair of the Civic Society; Caroline Howkins - Clockateers and SAHAAS

'THE BLOOD IS THE LIFE': RISE OF THE VAMPIRE FACIAL

LAURA BILL LITERALLY SHEDS BLOOD IN HER QUEST FOR THE LATEST INNOVATIVE BEAUTY TREATMENT...

The dark circles under my eyes have always been there, and no amount of concealer takes them away. Being told I look tired all the time, often by almost-strangers isn’t great for my self-esteem.

I recently turned up to a primary school for a day’s supply teaching declaring: “I know I look like a heroin addict but I assure you I am not.” Luckily the head just laughed. It was near the end of term which will have helped.

One of the suggested non-surgical treatments for dark under eyes is a new procedure known as a ‘vampire facial’ and despite this somewhat scary name I decided to give it a go in the name of journalism and out of sheer desperation to be honest!

I went to Prestige Medical Beauty in St Albans' Village Arcade, where my treatment was carried out by owner and aesthetician Stacey Harris.

Stacey told me that the vampire facial - or platelet-rich plasma therapy, its proper namehas gained popularity with celebrities like Kim Kardashian but was originally developed to treat sports injuries.

It is important for me to stress that Stacey was recommended to me by several trusted patients – I would never just walk-in off the street to get anything like this done.

Nowadays, more than ever, it is crucial to know the credentials of the practitioner who is carrying out any work. The face is full of sensitive nerves and sticking any kind of pin or needle into it is obviously something only the skilled can do.

First things first was a blood extraction from my best vein in my left arm. My choice. I always like to offer up my non-writing hand for such occasions.

(You know in case a tiny blood extraction is so debilitating that it puts me out of action for a few months. I blame the women at St Albans City Hospital. They always earnestly ask which is the non-writing arm. I thought maybe they had heard about my extraordinary literary genius but it turns out they ask everybody that question.)

Anyway, it is a tiny butterfly needle and she is clearly an excellent phlebotomist because I don’t feel much at all.

My face and neck are then liberally covered in lidocaine cream which is similar to the stuff they use at the dentist to numb your mouth. I start to feel very relaxed and excited about my treatment. I love trying new things and just chatting with Stacey and Melissa – her qualified colleague who is still learning certain practices – really puts me at ease.

There are two angel fish having some sort of stand-off (can you have a stand-off without legs?) and I see a huge tower of Chupa Chups lollies in the corner of the treatment

room which I hope I'll qualify for if I'm brave! Stacey carries out about four of these treatments on average each week:“It is not uncommon for people to combine this with radiofrequency micro-needling for lifting and tightening the skin, especially when targeting the reduction of fine lines under the eye area.” She added: “I have experienced the treatment under my eye area myself and am looking forward to having the full vampire facial one day when I can find the time.”

Stacey is a busy woman, owning three clinics – St Albans, Dundee and Aviemore. She is qualified in anti-wrinkle injections, fat dissolving products, lifting and firming treatments and a range of other procedures all aimed at improving health and/or increasing confidence.

The blood removed from my arm is spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the red blood cells. I can see it in a tube and half of it is red and the other half is yellow. The plasma is the yellow liquid which is injected back into my skin on my face. It contains a higher concentration of platelets, growth factors, and other proteins believed to stimulate tissue repair and healing.

The plasma is injected under my eyes - four times on each side. Stacey then adds exosomes and B12 before she applies this to the rest of my face through a process known as micro-needling. This technique involves using tiny needles on the end of a pen to

Laura's face is injected with her own blood plasma to stimulate tissue repair and healing

create micro-injuries on the skin, allowing the plasma to penetrate deeply and stimulate collagen production.

I feel pressure across my cheeks, chin, forehead, nose and neck, but it is then massaged in and off I go. It really was that easy.

You can see from the images that my face was very red and sensitive. This stuff has to stay on for 24 hours and my eyes are nicely bruising up now, prompting some stares from members of the public in Market Place before I swiftly don my sunglasses. My editor did say that these photos will be what makes this article. (Thanks, Matt. It’s words of encouragement like that which keep me motivated!)

I am given aftercare instructions such as to drink plenty of water and not to use any skincare with actives like retinol, AHA or salicylic acid for a few days at least. Wearing SPF is important as the skin is more vulnerable to sun exposure afterwards – but did you know we are all supposed to wear SPF all year round to give our skin the best chance of staying healthy?

Stacey first opened up her St Albans salon in 2019 and loves her job: “I am so privileged to connect with people on a daily basis and have the opportunity to make them feel truly amazing. To be honest, it doesn't even feel like work.”

This treatment is a slow-burner in terms of witnessing results. Because of the nature of the healing process and new skin turnover, it takes a minimum of six weeks to see any difference and can take up to six months to see the full effect. For the first week, my skin was quite dry and peeling a little which is supposed to happen. I applied a non-active moisturiser regularly throughout the day. Many beauty treatments including the vampire facial started out as a celebrity-type indulgence, yet Botox, filler, injectable fat dissolvers and facial procedures of all kinds are increasingly becoming lunch-hour activities.

Although the PRP facial is more involved than

an aromatherapy back massage, for example, it really wasn’t a frightening procedure and I would happily repeat it.

I felt like my skin was fresher and clearer after two weeks though so that was a good feeling. I am looking forward to noticing the changes to my fine lines, elasticity and dark circles as time goes on.

Stacey added: “For anyone who may feel apprehensive about the treatment, I strongly encourage them to schedule a consultation and I will comprehensively explain the process and ensure you are fully informed and confident in your decision.”

Prices for a PRP facial start at £200 at the moment which is an introductory offer.

(Above) The blood is removed from Laura's "non-writing arm " and (right) microneedles are used to enable the plasma to penetrate deeply and stimulate collagen.

Laura's face was very red following the procedure, prompting some strange looks from shoppers in Market Place

Street photographer reveals secrets of 'On the Night Bus'

Renowned street photographer Nick Turpin - the man behind an acclaimed series of images of London commuters known as 'On the Night Bus' - is the special guest at the first meeting of Harpenden Photographic Society

A street photographer for over 30 years, Nick founded the first international Street Photography Collective “inpublic” in 2000 His renowned book On The Night Bus, published by Hoxton Mini Press in 2017 was met with huge acclaim and has been inspirational to many photographers

Originally titled 'Through a Glass Darkly' Nick's photographic series of people travelling home to the suburbs from the financial district of London, was shot over three winters

Long lenses were used to achieve an intimate portrait of the cities workers returning home, capturing them in a kind of no man ' s land between work and home where they are, perhaps for a brief period, themselves. Nick is also a professional photographer and was a fulltime photographer with The Independent newspaper in London for eight years before a long career as an

advertising photographer shooting for clients such as Sony, Jaguar, Range Rover, VW, Barclays Bank and IBM

He will be sharing tips and techniques on street photography at the Harpenden Trust Centre from 7.45pm on September 5.

HPS chair Steve Collins said: "HPS always enjoys a wonderfully varied programme with something for everyone, regardless of your photographic interests. Our new season is no different, and is shaping up to be our best ever, with a truly exciting array of speaker presentations lined up I am absolutely thrilled that we are able to open this season with an in-person presentation by Nick Turpin.

"Nick is highly regarded in the field of street photography, and his famous On The Night Bus project has been an inspiration for many photographers, myself included "Later in the season, we have some excellent presentations on topics such as minimalism, underwater photography, the art of macro photography, creative iPhone photography, monochrome photography and

even one on the wildlife of the Yorkshire Coast If you ' ve ever thought about joining HPS, please do come along and see what we ' re about."

Now in its 87th year, Harpenden Photographic Society caters for all abilities – from beginners to more advanced photographers. Meetings are held from September to June on the first and third Tuesday each month, usually at the Harpenden Trust Hall in Southdown, or sometimes via Zoom

A full season membership costs just £54 single, £98 joint

and £24 for junior / full-time student, and includes access to all speaker presentations, free internal competitions, special interest groups run by the society, and a chance to have your work featured in the very popular annual print exhibition

Contact the club’s membership secretary for more information about attending Nick Turpin’s presentation or HPS membership at harpendenphotographicsociety@gmail com or visit www harpendenphotographicsociety co uk

Yesterday Once More: photos from our archives

Beagles assemble at The Cross Keys in Gustard Wood ahead of a hunt and The John Dankworth Band practice for their St Albans Organ Festival concert at the Cathedral in this week's pictures. The late Dankworth was married to singer Cleo Laine, was close friends with Duke Ellington, and wrote the themes for TV shows The Avengers and Tomorrow's World. Both photos by Tony "Greg" Gregory.

Wine Times

DARREN MCCABE OFFERS HIS WEEKLY WINE RECOMMENDATIONS (@DMC UNCORKED)

Welcome to this week’s Wine Times

As the summer bank holiday draws near, I’ve put together a carefully selected a quartet of BBQ wines, designed to be enjoyed in the company of great friends. These wines beautifully complement the rich flavours of grilled dishes, whether the sun graces us with its presence or clouds add a touch of cozy ambiance. From bold and robust to elegantly smooth, this selection caters to a variety of preferences, ensuring a delightful experience for all

Il Brutto Negroamaro Primitivo 2021 - 13% ABV, Puglia (£12 99 from Laithwaites www laithwaites co uk)

Venture to Puglia and explore the legacy of historic vines revitalized by winemaker Angelo Maci.

Maci's conviction that the onceconsidered unprofitable Negroamaro and Primitivo vines could yield magnificent reds has borne fruit in this blend With 80% Negroamaro and 20% Primitivo, the vines bask in abundant sunshine, infusing the grapes with the warmth of their terroir A ruby-red hue unveils notes of ripe red fruits, bramble, smoke, and rich herbal spice. On the palate, elegance and smoothness prevail, supported by balanced acidity and matured tannins. As you fire up the grill and try this wine with lamb chops or BBQ ribs

Raúl Pérez Ultreia Saint Jacques 2020 - 13.5% ABV, Bierzo (£14.68 from Justerini & Brooks www justerinis com)

Discover the spirit of reinvention and innovation in winemaking with Raúl Pérez's Ultreia Saint Jacques 2020 A true gem from the Bierzo region, this Mencia-based red, named after the Camino de Santiago, captures the essence of old Bierzo vineyards revived by Pérez's vision

Blending grapes from clay and sand

bodied red with cherry notes. A perfect com soils, it matures in traditional oak vats, delivering a refreshing medium-panion to the sizzle of charcoal-grilled pork cutlets in your summer bank holiday festivities

Ramón Bilbao Viñedos De Altura 2019 - 14% ABV, Rioja (£17.75 from The Great Wine Co greatwine co uk)

Elevate your wine experience with Ramón Bilbao's Viñedos De Altura 2019, a testament to the art of pushing viticultural boundaries Crafted by winemaker Rodolfo Bastida, this blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes from high-

altitude vineyards in Rioja expresses red fruit elegance and freshness A thoroughly modern and expressive wine, it complements late summer barbecued beef and even pairs splendidly with Stilton maybe one for the end of the evening!

Kalfu Molu Pinot Noir 2021 - 13% ABV, Chile (£10 95 from Frontier Fine Wines frontierfinewines co uk)

Embrace the cool coastal influence of the Kalfu Molu Pinot Noir 2021, a creation from Ventisquero Wine Estates The name, meaning "where the sun sets" resonates in this coastal wine from the Casablanca Valley.

Crafted by winemaker Alejandro Galaz, it's a pure expression of the region's terroir Notes of cherry and raspberry with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon from oak aging make it a delightful partner for barbecued chicken with thyme or richly marinated vegetarian kebabs

And did you know? The indigenous Mapuche people didn’t know the Earth rotated, so thought the stars they saw over the Pacific Ocean dropped into the sea and became starfish - hence the starfish on the label Have a cracking bank holiday weekend and I’ll be back next week with some

amazing wine recommendations from a new venture in St Albans

If you are a wine retailer or an events company who would like me to feature your range of wines, then please contact me via mccabetwe@gmail.com or @dmc uncorked

CITY DIARY ALLEYWAYART

The latest mural by St Albans artist Ant Steel reflects on a grim period in the city's political history

It references the election scandal of 1851, in which successful candidate Jacob Bell was found to have spent £2,500 on his campaign, a large proportion of which was used by his agent to buy votes

The end result was an embarrassing disenfranchisement for St Albans with the town losing its MP until 1885 It all happened down Sovereign Way, hence its name and Ant has recreated the scandal in his new work of art, transforming this previously grim and depressing alley into something worthy of visiting

The curse of 8 George Street strikes again It's sad to see the bailiffs have been called in at cocktail bar Number 8 The premises was previously occupied by Ology Brasserie and before that The Abbey Restaurant, both of which shut down over the past few years

Let's hope whoever moves in next has better success - it's a fantastic old building in a prime location and deserves to do well

ENVIRONMENT>

NOTREALLYCLEANERANDGREENER

Herts county council leader Richard Roberts popped up on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this week proudly explaining why he would not be allowing any signs in the county to warn drivers they would be entering the ULEZ Zone when they cross unmarked boundaries into London It’s all very well being opposed to ULEZ as an unjust tax on people who can’t afford new cars but when pressed on how his policy benefits drivers from Herts, Cllr Roberts had no answers Nor could he explain what would happen to those drivers who would now be liable for the £12 50 ULEZ charge because they had no warning to turn back And despite claiming that he wants a cleaner greener and more environmentally friendly county Cllr Roberts was equally flummoxed when asked what policies he would introduce instead of ULEZ to reduce air pollution

We shouldn’t be surprised Despite his catchy slogan, Cllr Roberts seems to be intent on making Herts less environmentally friendly He and his colleagues blocked an initiative to stop cars idling outside school gates – one of the biggest air pollutants in the county and one which directly impacts our children One of his fellow Tories said such an initiative would be a “ war on motorists"

And Cll Roberts has also laid the foundations for increased traffic congestion and corresponding air pollution by selling 300 acres of Green Belt to developers for a freight terminal that will bring another 12,000 vehicles a day to the St Albans area – many of these vehicles diesel-guzzling HGVs and white vans It doesn t really tally with cleaner and greener

IS ST ALBANS A GOOD PLACE TO GROW OLD?

“Don’t grow old,” a parishioner of advanced years warned me some while back. “You won’t like it.”

Sadly that woman is no longer with us, and I’m a whole lot older than when she offered me that kind advice. But was there wisdom in her words?

It’s true that generally people are living longer and in better health than in generations before, but there are increasing challenges for older men and women in our community.

So I ask the question: is St Albans district a good place to grow older?

I’m not talking about the quality of the care homes or the NHS services, but about the everyday lives of older people.

My friend, Maggie Dodd is the ‘Anna Chaplain’ for older people in St Albans. She is one of around 300 such chaplains up and down the country. They spiritually support people – of strong, little or no faith – in care homes, sheltered housing or in their own homes. Maggie’s important work is backed by the city’s two Methodist churches.

Maggie has told me how life is becoming harder for older people in the area, and we’ve swapped notes on what we have both observed.

She explained: “Some of the basic services older people need are becoming more difficult to access. I hear about doctor’s surgeries asking for patients to print out their own forms

or send photos to or from smartphones.

"Banks are phasing out high street branches, pushing everyone towards online bankingmany older people feel very uneasy about going online, worried of being scammed out of their savings.

“A trip to the shops is also becoming more complicated. Checkouts in supermarkets are increasingly self-service. Mobility can also be affected as car parks often need an app to be uploaded onto a smartphone to park. Many city car parks ask for payment by app – and at St Albans City station there is no option to pay by card or cash!”

It’s not just older men and women who are disadvantaged by the move away from people and cash to technology and smartphones. People with poor eyesight or reduced cognitive abilities can also struggle.

Plans to remove the ticket offices at train

stations will make matters worse for many would-be rail travellers.

Maggie told me “This gradual marginalisation of people can leave them feeling lonely and isolated. Loneliness can have a huge detrimental effect on health and wellbeing. Prolonged social isolation and loneliness are the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” I agree with Maggie, and I’m grateful to her for raising this issue. Older people are being increasingly marginalised when, alongside people of all ages, they should be able to play a full part in our community.

It’s good that many churches run special events and activities for older people, as well as groups for all ages. Christians are called to follow Christ’s example and speak out for those on the margins of our society.In today’s St Albans and Harpenden, that could be anyone reaching later life

REV PETER CRUMPLER, ASSOCIATE MINISTER AT ST PAUL’S CHURCH IN FLEETVILLE, LOOKS AT HOW OLDER PEOPLE ARE BEING MARGINALISED.

Haveyoueverwonderedwhyyourrivalssucceedin securingmediacoverageandyourcompanynever getsalook-in?

Doyoustruggletounderstandhowtoengagewith yourfollowersonsocialmedia?Oreventoattract followersinthefirstplace?

Whatmakesaninterestingstory?Howdoyoumanage badnews?Canyouwriteapressreleaseorpublicity material?

It’simpossibleforanybusinesstoignoretheneedfora strongmediapresence,butactuallyachievingthis goalisbestlefttotheexperts,qualified-professionals whounderstandhowtobeattheforefrontofthenews agendaandreachthewidestaudiencepossible.

WorkingalongsidetheStAlbansTimes,StAlbans MediaPartnershipoffersbespokemediatrainingby qualifiedjournalistswhoknowthelocalmarketplace andhowtoattractreaders.

Weareexperiencedindamagecontrolandmanaging badnews,andwecanshowyouhowtoturneventhe driestannouncementintoapressreleasewhichsings.

THE FEELINGS FORUM

WEEKLY THOUGHTS ON FEELINGS AND RELATIONSHIPS

BY JON WILSON COOPER, DIRECTOR OF COUNSELLING TRAINING, THE ALBANY CENTRE, ST ALBANS

ATYCHIPHOBIA: THE FEAR OF FAILURE

A couple of years ago I was sitting on the edge of a hotel pool with my children on a very hot day when a man with his female partner walked by.

He was clearly in some discomfort because he was barefooted on very hot tiles, so he stopped and grabbed the nearest towel to wipe his feet. I very politely said “Excuse me that’s my towel” to which he immediately said sorry; however, as he was walking away, I heard him mutter some obscenities about me and when I challenged him, he became even more abusive. After I calmed myself and my young children I started to wonder about the man’s anger. What had happened? Clearly his first reaction was to apologise which suggests that he did feel that what he had done warranted an apology, but then he felt the need to aggressively lash out, although admittedly only verbally.

He felt the need to robustly defend himself, but from what? I think he was feeling some shame and was angry about being seen as being wrong. This is a fairly extreme defence against being wrong, however I think being wrong or at least being seen to be wrong can be very uncomfortable for a lot of us. Most people have had experiences of being ridiculed, being downgraded, or even punished for failing at something, even the look of disappointment in the eyes of those we might look up to can feel devastating and shaming. These experiences can lead to us not wanting to take the risk of being bad at something because we fear the consequences. The potential loss of face or at least the criticism that we might give ourselves for not being as competent as we feel we must be.

What to do then? One possible strategy is to not admit when we are wrong, and maybe make other people wrong instead. I can quickly look around to see how my mistake was someone else’s fault - “I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t distracted me” or “I would have succeeded if it wasn’t for them”. A second perhaps safer strategy could be to dominate in the fields that matter to us and that we might base our self-esteem on such as being the most knowledgeable person on a subject in the room, although there is always the risk of somebody better coming along.

A third tactic that we might employ is to avoid doing anything new that we are not good at. This of course means that we can’t learn anything new because in order to learn a new skill or acquire knowledge that we don’t have already we have to face head on our ignorance and ineptitude, and we have to tolerate the uncomfortable feelings that go with that. In most classes that I’ve taught there is at least one person who would admit that they are a perfectionist, and they will often agonise over an assignment and may procrastinate to a painful extent.

Starting the work means that they are taking the risk of producing something flawed, substandard, and therefore they might fail at something that really matters to them.

Digging a little deeper, what is beneath this is a fear or even terror that if they fail, they will be rejected, be considered invalid.

In short, they often have a core belief that if they are not competent, they are unlovable. A challenge that I have often offered is for them to do a bad piece of work and see what happens (the worst that would happen on my course on a first submission would be to be given some further input and guidance and be asked to re-submit).

The students don’t typically do this, but the thought experiment does seem to challenge the internal belief system enough to free the individual to flow more freely and take more risks which greatly increases their learning.

It can even be fun to attempt something you are bad at such as learning to ice skate with someone who is equally bad at it (as long as you’ve got the pads!) It can be a joy to be bad at something and a delight for others to be better than us from time to time!

10 FROM 50 SHARON LINNEY

We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: St Albans Action for Homeless community action worker and social media doyenne Sharon Linney.

Where do you walk when you want to think?

When I need to reflect or ponder I go for a brisk walk to the lakes. That has been my go- to for years or the "Cow field" (you will know where that is if you live in Cottonmill).

If you could have a conversation with someone who had died who would it be?

Jenny, my friend, my neighbour. One of the Cottonmill Witches. I just want to tell her that everything is OK, her children are well and that she has a grandson to be proud of.

Who was your first best friend?

Karen Lewis.We were at primary and secondary school together. She lived just up the road from me . Her family had a boat and I went away with them often and we had great summers together. We are still in touch via Facebook.

If you had a time machine, what year would you choose to visit and why?

The 1980s were a magical time for me, going out clubbing, finding out who I was and just enjoying life with my friends.

Are things getting better or worse?

Worse. The cost of living crisis is impacting so many and food poverty is at an all time high. Homelessness is rising and people are struggling to pay their bills. I myself am using my car less to save fuel and have had to cut my shopping bill.

Which three people, living or dead, would be your ideal dinner party guests? My ideal dining partners would be someone to make me laugh , Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett with John Bishop. Doing what I do all day means I need to kick back and laugh and these are my fave three.

Who is your favourite St Albans musician or band? Maida Vales, Maclaren Wall, Friendly Fires, Enter Shikari

When have you been most scared?

I had a scare many years back. I had lots of troubles with my kidneys, eventually they found a growth resulting in a full nephrectomy. The wait for the biopsy results were scary but thankfully the growth was benign.

What is your most-missed St Albans shop, pub, café or restaurant?

Baker's Oven, top of town . My mum worked there. The custard-filled doughnuts and wishy-washy tea served on red formica tables with tinfoil style ashtrays are a big part of my childhood.

What's your favourite meal?

Roast beef dinner with all the trimmings.

The custard-filled doughnuts and wishy-washy tea served on red formica tables with tinfoil style ashtrays are a big part of my childhood.

ART in THE BARN

Join us for an exhibition of paintings by a local group of artists within this charming setting of St Albans.

St Albans

Art Exhibition

A charity event

22 - 24 Sept 2023

Opening Night: Fri 22nd, 7–10pm

The Barn

Kingsbury Mews, St Albans

Telephone: 07740 471883

Kingsbury Barn

Entering Kingsbury Barn for the first time, people are amazed at its size and height There is no hint of its scale from Branch Road. Following the Black Death, St Albans monastery became short of labour and built a group of similar barns on their farms, possibly to entice new tenants. There are about seven so far discovered

Kingsbury Barn, constructed in 1374, is the closest of these to the Abbey It served Kingsbury Manor farm and is built over a Roman building, which stood along the Roman road to Colchester.

As with the other barns, it is massively over engineered. The frame stands on dwarf walls which helped preservation The barns follow the same design but differ in size. Kingsbury’s north aisle was demolished sometime in the eighteenth century, but it remains impressive, like an unexpected wooden cathedral.

Jill Singer

ERIS: OPINION WITH BITE

There is a long list of NHS failures with the vulnerable dying because of ineptitude and incompetence.

Lucy Letby is just one extreme example. Others include Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (200 babies and nine mothers dead), the cover-ups and lies about maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust and the deaths every year amongst patients detained under the Mental Health Act (32 under 30s in 2021) due to ‘unnatural or undetermined causes’. The NHS gets a lot of practice covering- up failure. It is a huge, change resistant and self-serving bureaucracy, spawning organisational complexity, policy/process overload and unclear decision making.

There is no leadership in the NHS. There are many over-promoted and over-paid middle managers who follow the HR rulebook. There cannot be leadership, because this needs hierarchy, clear demarcation of authority, willingness to take responsibility and accountability and above all a shared set of values to base decisions on. The lack of all of these is clear in Letby’s case.

The Letby review of what went wrong will inevitably talk about lack of communication, poor exchange of information, unclear responsibilities and accountabilities, lack of clear policies and processes etc, etc. What it probably won’t highlight is the lack of ethical values amongst managers leading to poor decisions.

The four principles of medical ethics are clear: patient autonomy, the duty to do ‘good’ (beneficence), the duty to ‘not do bad’ (nonmaleficence) and treating all people equally and equitably (justice). In practice, the NHS is obsessed by the fourth and fails on the first three. There are no consistent and coherent ethical values.

For example, how should the NHS handle pregnancies of 22 weeks and over?

If the foetus is disabled or presents a danger to the physical or mental health of the mother, feticide is recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Doctors stop the foetal heart, then evacuate the uterus, or stop the heart during evacuation. In 2021, 1,330 abortions were performed at 22 weeks and over.

However, if the mother spontaneously gives birth before this can happen, the baby will be taken to a neo-natal unit and given extensive medical help.

In the UK, Stella Haigh was born at 22 weeks and three days and survived. So, should doctors and nurses perform 22 week and over abortions? It is legal, but is it ethical? Should a disability be grounds for death? How can they kill one foetus and save another of the same age?

At the other end of the age range, why did doctors and nurses implement the Liverpool Care Pathway?

Did nobody stop and think about what they were doing? Was withholding food and drink from sick people until they died ethical? How many elderly people die in our hospitals because of basic lack of nursing care?

NHS staff have god-like powers of life or death. These need to be constrained by clear, agreed ethical standards and external scrutiny of their actions.

Currently, there is neither. Perhaps we get the NHS we deserve.

Mushroom coffee which won Dragon's Den backing comes to city

Coffee made from mushrooms which won backing on TV's Dragons Den, and essential oils featured in Tatler and Vogue are both being officially stocked by a St Albans therapists.

Nadya Giffen Therapies in The Quadrant, Marshalswick, are now selling London Nootropics and Lock & Latch.

Established in March 2020, London Nootropics offers innovative adaptogenic coffee blends that enhance cognitive function and manage stress.

Founders Shez Shaikh and Zain Peer gained major recognition and support after a successful Dragons' Den appearance in 2022, where offers were secured from Dragons Deborah Meaden and Sara Davies. Their subsequent quest for excellence led them to the Kaapa mushroom farm in Finland, where they explored extraction processes resulting in potent mushroom extracts.

Lock & Latch was inspired by a significant event in 2017 when a family member faced adrenal fatigue breakdown. Their journey toward healing led them to craft essential oil blends that eased symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, and insomnia. Recognising the effectiveness of their creations, they expanded to offer a diverse line of products promoting tranquillity and renewal.

Nadya explained why she is so excited about stocking these products: "I am passionate about health and well being and I have made a real point of stocking UK brands which are 100% natural, free from parabens, free from synthetic fragrances and are sustainable.

"I wanted to stock these two products as their ethos around wellbeing and taking a holistic approach aligns with ours.

"I have tried the flow blend of adaptogenic coffee which is good for clarity of mind, concentration and brain fog. Being a perimenopausal woman, I experience brain fog and I have to say this blend really works for me. London Nootropics make a point of saying that their blends help people through ADHD, menopause and caffeine sensitivity. "Anyone wanting to try any of our Lock & Latch wax melts, diffusers or London Nootropics adaptogenic blends can expect a very high end product without a high price tag."

Fun day raising cash for Hearing Dogs

Dog lovers are invited to a fun day out in aid of a remarkable charity.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is running a novelty dog show taking place in Greenwood Park on September 3.

The event takes place from 12 noon to 4.30pm and will feature various stalls and activities, including the actual dog show itself.

Registration takes place at 11.30am with judging from 1pm. Admission to the park is free, but there may be a small charge for some of the activities.

The St Albans branch of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People was established 25 years ago in 1988, and since that time has raised over £850,000 for the charity.

Nadya Giffen and colleague Rosina Basile and (below) two of the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

The St Albans Times is now arguably the go-to media to find out what is happening in the district, providing content which harks back to the core principles of journalism: accuracy, balance and accountability.

Readers can access either the weekly online current affairs magazine or stories on a dedicated website and it is promoted extensively through social media.

The Times is produced with a sense of positivity and passion for the Cathedral city and the surrounding district. It offers an editorial oversight calling on years of accumulated local knowledge and understanding of both the marketplace and the local news agenda.

It has already cemented a reputation for quality and expertise which cannot be found elsewhere, and is widely referenced across local Facebook groups

FROM ALEXIS TO THE ARENA

WE SPOKE TO SOAP OPERA LEGEND DAME JOAN COLLINS AHEAD OF HER 'BEHIND THE SHOULDER PADS' TOUR - COMING TO THE ALBAN ARENA ON OCTOBER 9.

To coincide with the release of her muchanticipated memoir 'Behind the Shoulder Pads', global superstar Dame Joan Collins is embarking on a new tour giving audiences the opportunity to have an intimate chat with the world-famous actress.

Featuring seldom told tales, enchanting anecdotes, and rare and fascinating footage from her seven decades in showbusiness, it promises the usual wit, candour, and of course glamour that we have come to expect from this British-born Hollywood legend.

As an award-winning actress, author, producer, humanitarian and entrepreneur, Joan Collins' career places her in the unrivalled ranks of an international icon. She took time out from her busy schedule to answer some questions for the St Albans Times.

Looking back over such a rich and varied career must have created its own challengeshow did she decide what was worthy of greater attention?

"My children have always been my number one priority. I always put them first."

What was the working environment like for a 17-year-old actress in the early 1950s?

"Rife with sexism and misogyny. I was referred to as 'the girl' for practically all my young career at Rank and had to insist on being called by my name. The press was patronising. I caused shockwaves when I declared, on my first marriage, that I would 'do no cooking or cleaning'. I actually received hate mail. I just stood my ground and demanded what I thought was due. I had the stubborn streak instilled by my father." Her Star Trek episode (The City on the Edge of Forever) is rightly considered not just one of the best of the original series, but an all-time science fiction classic - did she have any inclination when working on the show how good it was? What are her recollections of working with William Shatner?

"Not a clue! For me it was just another job. When I was asked if I knew who Mr Spock was, I mistook him with Dr Spock, the famous '60s child-rearing expert. It was my daughter Tara who insisted that I MUST do Star Trek as she was an avid fan. Bill Shatner was charming, although the day after we did our kissing scene, I didn’t recognise him because he had divested himself of corset and hairpiece."

Why did she request to be released from her contract with 20th Century Fox in 1960, and did this have an impact on her career?

"I did not so much request it, as I was requested! Fox was in a terrible state after Cleopatra.

"They had bet the bank on that production, and it flopped (initially, although it has since become a money maker).

"They had to make massive cuts and I was just another contract player, amongst many, that they had to off-load talent. But at the same time I had become fed up with the roles I was getting and I felt I had to move on." The Stud really thrust her into the public's eye again, after a period of smaller roles. What was it like working on a storyline written by her younger sister?

"Fantastic. It was a wonderful book and Jackie said she had me in mind when she wrote the role of Fontaine Khaled. She very kindly wrote a treatment which I carried around for two years, pitching it to various producers. When I was promoting Empire of the Ants in Cannes, I found George Walker and the rest was history."

Dynasty obviously played a huge part in Joan's career during the 1980s. Aaron Spelling famously said Alexis was a character nobody else could have played, and other critics said the role was tailor-made for her. Was it immediately obvious to her what a powerful role it was going to be? She is also credited for saving the show and making it such a huge hit - did she feel the responsibility for this when making it?

"I did not realise when I started what a powerful role it would be. When my daughter Katy was in the hospital in a coma, I rented a

The legendary Dame Joan Collins Photo:Fadil Berisha

trailer and parked it in the hospital parking lot so I would be close to her.

"When visiting hours were over, I would tune into Dallas and remember thinking 'I wish I could be in a show like that'. But when my agent called me about Dynasty, he told me it was languishing in the ratings and it would be a six-month job...well, nine years later I finally returned home! They do credit the role of Alexis as having lifted the show, but her popularity took me completely by surprise." What were the highlights she recalls over the nine seasons? People always remember the catfights, but there was a lot more to the series than that: the Moldavia wedding, evicting Blake and Krystle from the mansion, her car plunging off a bridge etc.

"The highlights for me were off the set: winning my second Golden Globe after a 40year dry spell, then the People’s Choice Awards. When I was driving down Sunset Boulevard and stopped next to a busload of children at a red light, I noticed they were all screaming 'Alexis, Alexis!' so I yelled back 'I love you too!' and they replied, 'No, we haaaaate you!' Such was the impact of the character they really though I was her – a lovable scoundrel."

In the final year her appearances were reduced to save costs - was it obvious the writing was on the wall at this stage? What was the atmosphere like on set?

"Yes, and further aggravating matters, they created a sister show, 'The Colbys' and tried to cross-pollinate the characters. Charlton Heston and Barbara Stanwyck led the cast but it mixed John James and Stephanie Beacham. "I resisted because I knew it would kill Dynasty. Linda [Evans] soon bailed and my episodes had been cut in half to save money, even though I was barely earning the same as John Forsythe, so it quickly went down in the ratings.

"The atmosphere was the same as any atmosphere on a show that’s quickly going down. Everyone knows it and starts concentrating on the next project."

After Dynasty she made her Broadway stage debut in Private Lives - was it refreshing to be returning to theatre?

"I cherished returning to my first love, the theatre – I wrote about this in 'My Unapologetic Diaries'."

The last few decades have seen her take on a very diverse range of roles - what have been the stand-outs for her?

"I would say 'Decadence', where I played several roles with Steven Berkoff. It was an hit play and amazing script, but didn’t quite translate to the silver screen.

"I fondly remember 'Clandestine Marriage' where I made lifelong friends with Nigel Hawthorne. I financed the show by mortgaging my flat when the money fell out – it was a very dramatic time.

"And of course, 'Love Letters' when I met my now husband of 21 years."

Finally, is there any part or production she wishes she had done but missed out on?

"I’ve always wanted to play Judith Bliss in 'Hayfever'. Who knows? It may yet happen one day, when I look older. I was also eager to play the role of Clara in 'Sons & Lovers' but the producer who I had to meet made some unwelcome advances on me, which I refused.

"This was made worse by my boyfriend of the time, who told me the script was awful and I should turn it down because he wanted me to be with him while he was shooting in England.

I reluctantly abandoned the project and my replacement, Mary Ure, won an Oscar for it!"

For tickets to her Arena show, visit https:// www.amickproductions.co.uk/dame-joancollins

Joan Collins is coming to the Alban Arena

Photo:Joy Strotz

COMING SOON...

Band promises beafy choons at Pub in the Park after Horn victory

Imagine winning the opportunity to showcase your musical talents on a festival stage before an audience of thousands?

That's exactly what has been afforded local band BEAF after they won the chance to appear at St Albans' Pub in the Park.

They will be rocking on the same bill as chart toppers such as Craig David, Rudimental and Sam Ryder after coming first in The Horn's Battle of the Bands competition.

Beating stiff opposition from three other local music artists, the band has won a recording session with Mix926 Radio

One of the competition’s judges, Russell Phillips from Pub in the Park, said: “We’re so excited to be showcasing local talent at Pub in the Park St Albans and we can’t wait to see BEAF. take to the big stage doing what they do best. Having seen their amazing performance at Battle of the Bands last week, we know they’ll be great and we’re thrilled for the local community to see them in action.”

The band responded to their victory: "We’re all local to Herts and met at West Herts College forming the band there. We’ve played at The Horn several times in the past year, as well as a gig at The Pioneer Club. We always love coming down to St Albans and tearing it up with our beafy choons."

Stone the crows! Festival is back

A village was packed with famous faces ranging from Elton John and Del Boy to Wednesday Adams and the Incredible Hulk this weekend

But closer inspection revealed they were all entries in the 19th annual Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, as created by villagers to raise funds that will protect the ancient Grade I listed St Leonard’s Church for future generations Visitors made their way around Flamstead using a map highlighting the different scarecrows, and had a chance to vote for their favourites at the end The winners will be announced at a later date

All photos by Fraser Whieldon

GULLSPECKAWAYATTHESAINTS'DEFENCE

St Albans City would come to regret their profligacy in front of the goal as a strong Torquay side ('The Gulls') claimed all three points at the Park. David Noble was forced to make a number of changes from the starting line-up which faced Havant & Waterlooville in midweek as Weiss James and Georgiou all dropped out due to injury This saw Wyatt and Dunn brought in as replacements as well as Shaun Jeffers who earned his first league start of the new campaign

Torquay began the game the stronger of the two sides and worked a good opportunity early on as Dunn was pressured into giving the ball away This allowed Stobbs to run freely through on goal wasting his chance by firing straight into the arms of Johnson

The Gulls continued to dominate but the Saints were given a sniff at goal when Dunn’s header put Jeffers in behind a high Torquay backline He would ve had

an excellent chance to open the scoring if not for Halstead who was quick of his line to clear away the ball Stobbs continually found openings down City’s right flank and would create a chance for De Silva at the back-post, whose leaping header went marginally wide of the target

The away side would be rewarded for their continued pressure opening the scoring through a corner, as a ball into the front post wasn’t dealt with allowing Ollie Tomlinson to lash it past Johnson Wyatt came close to bringing the Saints back on level terms as he received Fage s cross, sending his first-time attempt straight into Marshall who made a crucial last- ditch block to put it behind David Noble’s side opened the second half with another opportunity to draw level as Jeffers received the ball with his back to goal drawing numerous defenders in before firing it through for the onrushing Fage – with the wing-back proving unable

to convert one-on-one as Halstead s save took it behind for a corner

It would be Saints talisman Jeffers who would uncharacteristically miss the best goalscoring chance of the game as Fage’s cutback found him free inside the box, before blasting his first-time shot clear of the target

Torquay would soon regain a foothold in the game once again finding Stobbs in space out wide, as he opted to cut inside his man and shoot – firing his attempt whiskers wide of the upright corner

Johnson’s side continued to come forward breaking into the Saints box and firing it across the face of the goal to Stobbs who couldn t find the open net thanks to Sam Brown’s excellent lastditch block

The travelling side were happy to see out the rest of the game with a compact defence denying City the chance to find their leveller, as they sustained their first home defeat of the season

St Albans City:

Johnson, Brown, Smith, Bowry (C), Rasulo, Jeffers Dunn (Blackman 52′) Fage

Carlyle, Wyatt, Hoddle

Subs(not used): Bentley Clark

McDonald, Da Silva

Bookings: None

Goals: None

Torquay United:

Halstead, Martin, Lapslie (C) (McGavin 85′), Marshall (Hanson 77′) Collins Ash

Donnellan, De Silva (Crowe 69′), JenkinsDavies Tomlinson Stobbs

Subs (not used): Lovett, Thomas

Bookings: Ash 50′ , Collins 89′ , JenkinsDavies 90+2′ Halstead 90+5′

Goals: Tomlinson 38′

Attendance: 1,635

Referee: George Laflin

The next bit of action at the Park comes on Bank Holiday Monday as the men s side face off against Bath City on 28th

August