WH Life - Summer 2019

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INSIDE E-CARS | SPLASHLANDS | TOWN CENTRES | FOOD WASTE | NEWS Summer 2019

www.facebook.com/welwynhatfield

@WelHatCouncil

Issue No. 63

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We can provide LIFE in different formats if needed.

Call 01707 357271 or email media@welhat.gov.uk

COUNCIL UPDATES Work continues across the borough to keep Welwyn Hatfield a great place to live, work and study with a vibrant, growing economy.

FROM THE LEADER

I’m very much looking forward to leading this council over the coming months, further developing our positive relationships with all councillors to do what is best for our communities.

One of our top priorities is to put a Local Plan in place that delivers sustainable social and economic growth for the borough, ensuring future generations can benefit from a healthy, lively and vibrant place to live, a place full of opportunities to work and raise their own families. I know many readers are concerned about how our transport and healthcare facilities will cope and we are working hard to make sure the growth of our borough coincides with the growth of our infrastructure. The next page features a fuller update.

As you’ll see on page 13, Splashlands is on track to open in summer 2020 – a fitting celebration for Welwyn Garden City’s centenary year. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on our plans, it’s shaping up to be a very impressive facility indeed.

Over in Hatfield (page 15), the unveiling of the new look White Lion Square, in the heart of the town centre, is in sight. We really hope the finished result will draw more footfall to this part of the town, encouraging people to spend time in the square and enjoy the outside space.

This issue is packed full of summer events and activities, from historical happenings at Mill Green Museum to Xplorer navigational adventures around our green, open spaces. I hope you’ll find something that appeals – and fingers crossed for many sunny summer days ahead!

Tony Kingsbury

Leader of the Council 2 SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE NO.63

1

We hosted the annual Domestic Abuse Conference at Campus West, bringing organisations from across Hertfordshire together to tackle local issues. A new award was introduced in memory of late council leader, Mandy Perkins, who campaigned relentlessly to eradicate domestic abuse in the borough.

2

Residents filled their boots at our compost giveaway in May. Around 10 tonnes of the lovely stuff was shovelled up to help keep the borough’s gardens blooming!

3

This Girl Can made a triumphant return to Welwyn Hatfield. Aimed at increasing female participation levels in sport and exercise, hundreds of sessions took place to encourage women and girls to try something new.

4

Welwyn Roman Baths received a £9,600 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to fund a new community archaeology project that will help discover more about Roman life in Welwyn Hatfield.

5

Operation Balsam – our partnership with Herts Police and the University – returned, giving local residents additional protection from noise nuisance.

6

We launched a partnership with SignVideo, giving residents who are Deaf or hard of hearing access to council services in British Sign Language (BSL).

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Council to consider additional sites for new homes Thank you to everyone who commented during the recent consultation on sites promoted for housing and other development in the borough.

We are working through the responses, whilst also completing site assessments, infrastructure testing and sustainability assessments, to determine which sites are most suitable for development.

Our findings will be put before the council’s Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel in a report identifying sites officers recommend for inclusion in the Local Plan.

Councillors will decide which sites progress for consideration by the Planning Inspector at hearing sessions later in the year.

Find out more at

www.welhat.gov.uk/local-plan

Schools

As currently drafted, the Local Plan would deliver five new primary schools and expand a number of others. The plan proposes two new secondary schools; one north of Hatfield and one east of WGC. If we add new sites to the Local Plan, we will also need to identify locations for additional primary and secondary schools.

Roads, cycleways and public transport

A number of measures have already been identified in partnership with the county council to ease congestion and improve accessibility by bike and public transport.

Above: The 2019 Civic and Sapphire Jubilee Award winners.

2019 Civic Awards The 2019 Civic Awards were presented in May to local residents in recognition of their tireless work in the community.

Sponsored by Mears, this included a Community Award and a Young Person’s Award, sponsored by the University of Hertfordshire. The winners are:

David Treglohan (Community Award) – for his volunteering in the community with young children for twenty five years and as a Cub Scout leader.

Tony Skottowe – for his work in the community and as Chairman and a founder member of the WGC Heritage Trust, raising the profile of Welwyn Garden City.

Kaitlyn Foster (Young Person’s Award) – the five year old always thinking of others. At Christmas she asked to collect blankets, cushions and pillows to give to some homeless people.

Aimee McCormack – for juggling motherhood with helping homeless people on the street and others in the community.

Sue Jenkins – for the work she has undertaken in setting up Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Digswell Place Group and running it for nearly fifty years.

The Queen's Sapphire Jubilee Awards are presented to young people aged between 7 and 20 years old to support them to get started, improve and fulfil their potential in sport, art, dance or drama.

Congratulations to all 29 of this year’s winners!

Healthcare

We’re working closely with the NHS to ensure the plan delivers the new and improved facilities we’ll need locally for an increased population. This includes the potential for new doctors’ surgeries on the larger strategic sites at Birchall (the site east of WGC) and north Hatfield, and improvements to existing healthcare facilities serving the wider population.

A new housing company for Welwyn Hatfield The council is progressing plans to create a new housing company to give local people more housing options.

Councillors recently approved plans to set up the new housing company to provide a range of quality homes for rent at a price that local people can afford.

More details will be shared over the coming months.

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

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COMMUNITY

70th anniversary flight celebrated at Hatfield festival

Below: The Grosvenor House de Havilland Comet Racer will fly over Hatfield on 27 July at 10.30am.

The 70th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Comet – the world’s first jet airliner which was manufactured at the former Hatfield aerodrome – will be celebrated as part of the World Hatfield Festival, from 20 to 27 July.

Led by Hatfield Town Council, various partners and community groups (including the council, WH Chamber of Commerce, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Libraries, Potential Kids and others) have worked together to present a week celebrating Hatfield’s heritage.

There will be talks, exhibitions, sporting events and much more. Here’s just a flavour of what’s coming up…

Mill Green Museum Open Day & Cream Teas will be taking place on 22 July from 2pm-5pm.

On 24 July, beginning at 7.30pm in Hatfield Library, there will be a talk by Alistair Hodgson, Curator of de Havilland Aircraft Museum (this is

a ticket-only event available through Hertfordshire Libraries).

At Market Place, Hatfield Town Centre, ‘Give Your Town the Run Around’ takes place on Thursday 25 July. Join in with bringing together the local community in a festival-feel celebration of the town and its heritage centred on a walk or run.

On Friday 26 July at Ellenbrook Playing Fields is a special Fun Run, complete with inflatable obstacles, which will take participants on a 3-5k course through the fields.

The finale on Saturday 27 July will start with a special ParkRun at Ellenbrook Fields at 9am.

There will be a spectacular display by The Grosvenor Comet Racer, regarded as one of the most significant British aircraft still flying. Then at 1pm, entertainment will begin at Birchwood playing fields with the stage, funfair, sports and stalls. Fireworks will bring the week to a stunning close at 9.30pm.

You can view the calendar of events throughout the week at hatfieldherts.gov.uk/world-hatfield-festival.

Check out one.welhat.gov.uk/ Worldhatfieldfestival for details of the sports events.

Join the Hertfordshire Year of Culture It is being led by the Hertfor dshire Association of Cu (HACO) which ltural Officers is encouragin g organisations and individual s to get involved by pu tting forward their activity or ev ent for inclus ion in the Year of Cultu re.

s to: ject aim This pro re nd explo , share a culture and te ra b le , e s rt • C shire's a Hertford ation in heritage ess and particip new c c for a e g le herita • Enab ure and lt u c , s rt a ense of es audienc ellbeing and a s re and w se , cultu • Increa g through arts in g belon ucation, heritage pathways to ed in se case enterpri • Show ent and l industries m y lo p em ura and cult and new creative nerships and new rt a p w g ne ill sharin • Create rough sk work th working ways of

The Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020 will showcase Hertfordshire as a county of creative and cultural opportunity.

If you wo uld like t o or find o ut more, get involved please co Paul Und ntact er p.underw wood on ood@we lhat.gov .uk

4 SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE NO.63

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Interfaith project hits latest milestone In March this year, Welwyn Hatfield Interfaith delivered their 60th visit to local schools since launching their Whisper project in 2016.

The project sees people from the community receive training and visit schools so children get to meet and understand someone who is living by faith day by day. Visits have drawn from religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, and Islam – which are all covered in the Hertfordshire religious education syllabus. One aim of the project is to break down some of the stereotypes which form in young minds and help children to appreciate the wonderful diversity we have in Hertfordshire.

The group also holds a monthly topic meeting, open to the public, either in Welwyn Garden City or Hatfield. These include talks from different faith groups and discussion time.

What could a grant do for you?

The Welwyn Hatfield Small Community Grant is available twice a year to local community and voluntary groups involved in music, dance, drama, sport, youth, health and more.

Above: Hatfield's Crusaders Skater Hockey Club

At least once a quarter a social gathering is held, such as a BBQ or a walk.

This autumn will include a Peace Gathering on Howardsgate for International Peace Day on 21 September, Meditation in October, and a Shared Supper for Interfaith Week on 14 November at 7pm.

For details, please contact Theresa.whifg@gmail.com, or visit or www.whifgroup.co.uk

This special funding is for projects that make a positive impact on the Welwyn Hatfield community and the maximum amount awarded is £2,000.

Annual Grants are larger in scale and are available to local organisations to help fund core running costs of a project that makes a difference or an enhancement to the local community. Annual grants will be subject to an agreed Community Grant Agreement for the year of the award. The maximum amount of funding is £20,000.

Application forms for the Small Community Grant and the Annual Grant, plus details and the criteria for funding applications are available at www.welhat.gov.uk/communitygrants.

For enquiries about the grants, email grants@welhat.gov.uk or call 01707 357567.

Allsorts of things for all sorts of people Tuesday Allsorts is a free monthly adult social group that takes place on the second Tuesday of every month, from 10.30am-12pm, at Welwyn Garden City Library.

The group aims to tackle loneliness and social isolation by offering the chance for people to interact with each other, form friendships and even learn new skills. Each session has a different theme and there is often a guest speaker.

Future sessions are: Tuesday 9 July: This session will involve swapping recipes and ideas. There will also be a talk from an Age UK representative who will also be answering questions about the services the organisation offers.

Tuesday 13 August: A talk from Suzanne Potts MSc, BSc (Hons),

Specialist Occupational Therapist of `Sweet Pea’s Therapy Bunnies`, with her bunny Scamp.

Tuesday 10 September: A talk from Welwyn Garden City crime author Howard Linskey about his books and career as a writer.

Tuesday 8 October: A talk by Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

Above: The Allsorts group at WGC Library

The groups are free to attend, and there is no need to book – just turn up on the day.

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

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ENVIRONMENT

Driving the e-car revolution Welwyn Hatfield residents can join the race to save the environment and hire an electric car from Welwyn Garden City town centre.

We have teamed up with E-Car Club to provide two electric cars available for public hire, with the aim of giving an alternative, more sustainable way of travelling that will help to reduce emissions and save money.

The electric cars are stationed at the Cherry Tree car park outside the council offices in Welwyn Garden City, with one

vehicle available for public hire 24/7 and the other during evenings and weekends.

The vehicles are bookable online or via the E-Car Club mobile app, on a 24/7, self-service basis – with no need for any car key handovers, you can unlock the vehicle directly from your smart phone or via a membership card. The electric cars can be

Garden waste subscriptions You can still sign up for a garden waste subscription for 2019/20. Subscriptions run from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, and the cost is £35 per year for one bin, or £95 for two. You can choose to pay via direct debit, or by credit or debit card. For more information and to subscribe, visit www.welhat.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call us on 01707 357000.

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used by different people throughout the day, and can be booked from minutes before or weeks in advance, for as little as an hour or for a number of days at a time. You can also book several slots at a time. The cost is from £5.50 per hour or £45 for the whole day.

Visit www.ecarclub.co.uk for more information.

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Food waste reduction Did you know, in the UK we throw away more than 7 million tonnes of food and drink every year? That’s enough to fill Wembley Stadium!

This costs the average person around £200 a year, and the average family £700.

Follow these simple steps to reduce the amount of food you throw away:

• Plan ahead: make a shopping list so you only buy what you need.

Planning meals in advance can help you to stay organised.

• Store food correctly: to ensure freshness and taste, and prevent bacteria from spreading (especially meat).

Almost half of the 5.1 million tonnes of good food wasted from our homes each year happens because it isn’t used in time – and in one third of those instances a date label is given as the reason why. Moving from a ‘use by’ to a ‘best before’ – where safe to do so – gives more flexibility to eat

Food waste collection coming autumn 2020

• Love your leftovers:

• Be portion precise: only cook what you need by measuring portion sizes.

food after the date, and it has already happened with some cheeses and pasteurised fruit juice.

A ‘use by’ date on a product is there for food safety reasons – and you can eat right up to the ‘use by’, but not after, even if it looks and smells fine. On the

New waste collection and grounds maintenance contracts have been awarded to Urbaser Ltd and Continental Landscapes, to start from April 2020. From autumn 2020, the new contract is set to include weekly food waste collections, as well as a

freeze leftovers for another day or use them to make a new meal.

other hand, ‘best before’ is all about quality and food should be safe to eat after the date, but it may no longer be at its best.

Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for a range of tasty ideas and more tips on how to reduce your food waste.

weekly collection of small electrical items, textiles and household batteries.

We will contact residents well in advance of any collection changes.

Further information, including FAQs, is available on our website: one.welhat.gov.uk/newcontracts

Grass verge parking Parking on pavements and grass verges can cause damage to the surfaces and at times force pedestrians to walk in the road.

To help keep the borough attractive and residents safe, people should not park or drive over these areas.

You may not be aware, but it can be an offence to obstruct or damage highway verges and pavements by parking on them. We ask everyone to be mindful of the problems caused by inappropriate parking and we will write to registered keepers of vehicles parking on grass verges to advise them not to park in these areas.

Enforcement is a last resort as we want to

encourage cooperation of residents; verge parking can be enforced when an officer witnesses someone driving onto the verge to park.

If you wish to report vehicles parking on verges in Welwyn Hatfield, you will need to provide the exact location and a photograph of the vehicle on the verge showing the

registration number to contactwhc@welhat.gov.uk. Please ensure you take care when taking a photo of the vehicle. If you need to report a car that is parked dangerously, please call the police on 101. If you live in an area covered by a verge protection order, you can report verge parking on 01279 655261.

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

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SPECIAL FEATURE

BIG mer’s

Sum back!

From 1 to 25 August From 1 to 25 August, ‘BIG Summer’ – a wide range of activities offered by local organisations and overseen by the council – returns to offer kids and young people three weeks of play, art, sport, drama and dance sessions and events.

Everyone involved can improve their health and wellbeing whilst having a feast of fun!

For up-to-the-minute information on activities and events, please visit the BIG Summer online calendar at one.welhat.gov.uk/bigsummer Here is a taste of the activities you’ll find as part of BIG Summer in Welwyn Hatfield…

WHAT’S ON! ctivity Name of A

ts er Presen BIG Summ ily m All the fa t SkateFes Age 4+ te Night WGC Ska 8 -1 Age 11

e & Info

Location ate Howardsg rden City a G n Welwy lace, Market P wn Centre o ld Hatfie T , e Car Park Cherry Tre rden City a Welwyn G aitrose) W to t x e (n

Date/Tim

1 August • FREE m 10am-3p 8 August • FREE m 11am-3p 9 August FREE • 4pm-8pm

lace, Market P wn Centre o Hatfield T Mob Hatfield Centre, d Leisure Age 4+ Birchwoo Hatfield d, Longmea ing ields, Girls Box Playing F e 8 rg -1 o n 1 e 1 G e Ag King yn Garde activities Beehive Ln, Welw rk a P V rge ports King Geo cademy S 8 A -1 y a 1 w 1 e e g Ag Rid ) rns Lane, ll Session entre, He en City a C b t o o F ( ard Kicks Welwyn G 8 Age 11-1 e, nald Centr Jim McDo atfield ,H lub Highview Boxing C Hatfield Age 7- 14 Golf ile Crazy

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ugust 12 & 19 A • FREE m p 11am-3 rsday Every Thu E E R 4pm • F ay Every Frid FREE • m 3pm-5p ay Every Frid 1 £ • 8-10pm ays Wednesd 5pm • £3 .1 -7 m p 5 6.1

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‘Wonderful WGC’ events from the BID The Welwyn Garden City Business Improvement District, or ‘BID’, is an organisation established by local businesses and the council with the purpose of improving and promoting the town centre.

A Quintessentially English Day takes place on Howardsgate, at the Garden Fair on Saturday 20 July, with cakes and crafts, afternoon tea and a blooming lovely range of garden gifts!

Did you know?

Welwyn Garden City is now connected with FREE Wi-Fi throughout the town centre?

You can toast the end of the Summer Season at Oktoberfest on the 28-29 September, with a classic Oompah band and steins of beer (over 18s only). Tickets are available on the BID website (see below).

To keep up to date with all the events and activities in town visit wonderfulwgc.co.uk and follow the BID on social media @wonderfulwgc.

Back by popular demand and bigger than ever will be Cinema on The Green. You can enjoy the free outdoor cinema over three days, 22-24 August, in the heart of the town.

Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star is Born and The Greatest Showman: Singalong are just some of the films being shown.

It’s easy to sign up – just follow the instructions as prompted on your device.

Xplorer challenges!!

Xplorer is a fun, free, family navigation challenge that’s coming to Welwyn Hatfield as part of Big Summer.

It’s educational while giving children a sense of adventure as they explore the park to find a series of markers. Involving a healthy mix of physical activity and decision making, it’s the perfect outdoor activity for primary and pre-school children and their families.

Using a simple map the aim is to find a number of markers that are located around the park.

At each marker, children need to identify what is pictured and enjoy learning a fun fact to tell their friends.

Xplorer Summer dates: Wednesday 7 August 11am-2pm Moneyhole Lane Park, WGC Wednesday 14 August 11am-2pm Stanborough Park (South Side), WGC Wednesday 21 August 11am-2pm King George V Playing Fields, Beehive Lane, WGC For enquiries, please contact sport@welhat.gov.uk

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

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The Council In Welwyn Hatfield there are 48 councillors representing the interests of people in 16 wards.

The Cabinet The Cabinet is made up of seven members from the controlling political group. It draws up major plans, strategies and budget proposals, and implements them once agreed at council.

The actions of the Cabinet are reviewed and monitored by three Overview and Scrutiny Committees: Environment, Resources and Social.

Cabinet members for 2019-20 Cllr Tony Kingsbury Leader

Brookmans Park & Little Heath CABINET

We will publish details of all Welwyn Hatfield borough councillors here once a year. You may wish to keep these pages for reference. This information is also available online at www.welhat.gov.uk/members

Haldens

Stephen Boulton

Barbara Fitzsimon

01707 655999 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

01707 393013 46 Beauchamps Welwyn Garden City AL7 1FG

Jonathan Boulton

Mike Larkins

07790 007886 Flat 37 Empire House Times Square Bessemer Road Welwyn Garden City AL7 1HE

01707 323371 19 Westfield Welwyn Garden City AL7 1QZ

Rebecca Lass

Lucy Musk

07837 642100 40 Calder Avenue Brookmans Park AL9 7AG

01707 323775 90 Haymeads Welwyn Garden City AL8 7AE

Cllr Terry Mitchinson Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Communications Cllr Nick Pace Executive Member for Housing and Community Cllr Bernard Sarson Executive Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Partnerships Cllr Fiona Thomson Executive Member for Governance and Public Health

Hatfield South West James Broach 07800 553615 177 Clarkson Court Hatfield AL10 9GY

Lenny Brandon 07956 275405 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

Hatfield Villages DEPUTY

Cllr Stephen Boulton Executive Member for Environment and Planning

Duncan Bell 01438 712645 2A Hangmans Lane Welwyn AL6 0TJ

Drew Richardson 01707 709149 27 Elm Gardens Welwyn Garden City AL8 6RX

The Mayor

Kieran Thorpe

Samuel Kasumu

This year’s Mayor is Councillor Roger Trigg.

The Mayor is the borough’s first citizen and a vital link between the community and the council.

If you’d like to invite the Mayor to an event you are planning, please contact the Mayor’s office on mayors.office@welhat.gov.uk

07815 749026 38 St Etheldredas Drive Hatfield AL10 8BZ

01707 440539 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

Panshanger Ayesha Rohale 07742 108849 29 Parkhouse Court Hatfield AL10 9QZ

CABINET

Your Welwyn Hatfield Councillors 2019/20

Cllr Duncan Bell Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Resources

Peartree

Sherrards

Tamsin Jackson-Mynott

Jean-Paul Skoczylas

01707 709577 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

07851 346071 35 The Vineyard Welwyn Garden City AL8 7PY

Jane Quinton

Malcolm Cowan

Harry Bower

07528 367303 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

01707 324723 6 Lytton Gardens Welwyn Garden City AL8 6EG

07840 729876 23 Templewood Welwyn Garden City AL8 7HT

Terry Mitchinson

Jayne Ranshaw

Frank Marsh

07899 791242 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

01707 357000 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

01707 696470 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

If you wish to email a councillor, you can do so using the following email address format: fir

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23 CON

Hatfield Central

12 LIB DEM

Hatfield East

Siobhan Elam

Maureen Cook

Peter Hebden

07773 274759 6 Marsden Close Welwyn Garden City AL8 6YE

01707 665720 59 Wildhill Hatfield AL9 6EA

07949 626858 10 Lowlands Hatfield AL9 5DY

Anthony Dennis

Pankit Shah

Caron Juggins

01707 357000 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

07763 728383 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

01707 357000 44 Park Meadow Hatfield AL9 5HB

CABINET

Fiona Thomson

Glyn Hayes

Edward Boulton

01707 395932 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

07757 935412 45 Knella Road Welwyn Garden City AL7 3NA

07506 244328 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

Hollybush

Howlands

Margaret Birleson

Northaw and Cuffley

Alan Chesterman

Simon Wrenn

01707 334157 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

07974 398540 8 Briary Wood End Welwyn AL6 0TD

Lynn Chesterman

Max Holloway

01707 334157 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

07949 770505 35 Homestead Court Welwyn Garden City AL7 4LZ

George Michaelides

01707 328887 2 Carve Ley Welwyn Garden City AL7 3HJ

Jill Weston 01707 692420 25 Meadway Welwyn Garden City AL7 4NQ

Welham Green & Hatfield South

Welwyn East Julie Cragg 01438 714752 10 Chestnut Walk Welwyn AL6 0SB

Helen Quenet

Steven Markiewicz

01707 694975 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

MAYOR

Paul Zukowskyj

01438 717377 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

: firstname.surname@welhat.gov.uk

Bernard Sarson 01707 266836 69 Selwyn Crescent Hatfield AL10 9NW

Welwyn West LEADER

Jaida Caliskan 07517 991595 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

01707 256262 107 Birchwood Ave Hatfield AL10 0PT

CABINET

CABINET

Nick Pace 07909 524438 Maynard House The Common Hatfield AL10 0NF

01707 644221 19 Great North Road Brookmans Park AL9 6LB

Tony Kingsbury 07540 608844 7 Blakes Way Welwyn AL6 9RE

Sunny Thusu 07855 286952 Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE

Roger Trigg

Paul Smith

01438 716392 8 Tanglewood Welwyn AL6 0RU

07779 297020 7 Blakes Way Welwyn AL6 9RE

Your Welwyn Hatfield Councillors 2019/20

Handside

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YOUTH & SPORT

WelHat Sports leads the way Right: A big thumbs up from local children taking part in the annual Primary School Games.

An exciting new organisation – WelHat Sports – has launched to support local sports clubs and organisations to increase physical activity across the borough.

If you’re a club, organisation, school or leisure provider, you can become a member free of charge and stay up to date with local sports news, events, campaigns, courses and workshops. You can also receive valuable information and advice – whether you’re looking to attract new club members, find out more about equality, or are looking to set up a women’s team. The

! steering group leads have knowledge and experience that can support you.

WelHat Sports also hosts a club forum each year which focuses on club development and support, including local and national funding, volunteering, marketing and promotional tools.

The Welwyn Hatfield Youth Council aims to makes a positive difference in our community and raise awareness about issues that matter to young people.

Struggling to find a local club to suit you?

WelHat Sports can help with that too!

You can follow them on Twitter @WelHatSports or email: sport@welhat.gov.uk

Check out the new Youth Council blog The Youth Council now produce a weekly blog.

It details what campaigns the group are involved in, the events they are running and their current priorities – what they see as key for them and the young people they represent – including: mental health awareness, young carers and climate change. You can read the blog at: welwynhatfieldyouthcouncil. home.blog/

Congratulations to our champions of champions!

Get involved Any young person aged 11-19, who lives, works or is educated in Welwyn Hatfield can join the Youth Council and take part in the weekly meetings. For more information about the youth council and how to join email youthcouncil@welhat.gov.uk or call 01707 357 168.

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Huge congratulations to the year 12 students from Chancellor's school who we crowned Challenge 12 winners last month.

We ran the challenge in all six of the borough’s schools over the course of the year and the winning group from each was invited to attend a grand final at Barclays HQ in Canary Wharf. Each team pitched an event plan for the Welwyn Garden City 2020 celebrations, putting their presentation, teamwork and financial planning skills to the test.

Thank you to all the pupils who took part throughout the year – we hope you enjoyed it and learnt some vital life skills along the way!

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LEISURE

Splashlands

Cominegr summ !

2020

A brand new splash park and adventure playground in Stanborough Park is on track to open in summer 2020.

1 2

The new facility is free for all.

Spraying showers and spurting jets surround a meandering river that makes up the 600m2 splashpad.

3

We’ve added shaded areas and changing facilities following public feedback on the original designs.

4

The giant ship is just one of many new pieces of play equipment to capture the imagination of budding captains and pirates!

5

All equipment is designed inclusively, for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

6 7

The existing playground will remain open during the summer of 2019.

We’re already working to refurbish the toilet block and kiosk.

For more information – and to keep up to date with all Splashlands news – visit one.welhat.gov.uk/splashlands

Take a trip to Stanborough Park this summer Located just off the A1, Stanborough Park is set in 126 acres of picturesque parkland in Welwyn Hatfield.

The Green Flag award-winning park includes two lakes, a river, nature reserve and a multi activity centre. The centre and parkland offers a unique and adventurous setting for a wide range of water sports and recreational activities.

During the school holidays, the Youth Holiday Club is one of a kind with days full of water sports tuition, team challenges and unique sports – attendees are sure to keep moving!

Activities are also available at the centre from April – October. These include: adult and youth courses (sailing, paddle sports and

powerboating), taster sessions in water sports activities, and unique party packages such as raft building and stand up paddle boarding. Or why not try an aqua splash inflatable session, running throughout the school holidays?

For a lazy day in the sun, the pay and play

North Side activities include a children’s play area and – at weekends and school holidays from April–September – there are also rowing boats, pedalos and bouncy castles!

For more information please call 01707 276276 (Opt. 3) or email stanborough@gll.org.

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

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TOWN CENTRES White Lion Square

Town centre transformation continues at pace Come autumn, White Lion Square will boast a completely revamped centre, with exciting new features like table tennis, children’s play equipment, seating areas and cycle parking.

The £1.2m project – funded by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership – will improve the town centre environment and help boost footfall to local shops and businesses.

We’ve reinstated the historic Pearl statue and she will enjoy a prominent position in the heart of the town centre once more. Pearl will be officially unveiled when all the work finishes, complete with a lectern to recount her fascinating journey from original commission in the mid-60s through to her recent restoration.

The next generation have also been given unique opportunities to put their stamp on the town. Three local primary schools – Green Lanes, Howe Dell and Sir Philip Howard – are busy making time capsules to bury in the square, ready for a grand unearthing in over a decade’s time. And artwork created by young local artists from Oaklands College is set to go on display, brightening up key walkways leading through to the square.

Welwyn Garden City

2020 bulbs for 2020!

A fantastic year of celebrations lies ahead for Welwyn Garden City in 2020, planned by the Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation and supported by the council, to celebrate the town’s rich and diverse history.

From a fabulous ‘Festival of Light’ to launch celebrations, to a much requested Carnival, a programme for schools, sports for all, centenary walk, city of trees walks, music and performing arts, international symposium and wonderful new sculpture of Welwyn Garden City’s founder Ebenezer Howard, there truly is something for everyone to get involved in.

This autumn our primary schools will be planting bulbs and trees, a project which all children can enjoy. Each school will receive 2020 bulbs and, under the instruction of 14 SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE NO.63

the Groundwork Trust, will plant the bulbs ready to bloom in the spring of 2020. The schools will also plant 100 trees between them to celebrate 100 years of Welwyn Garden City.

All the celebrations are being privately funded by sponsors and donors with generous support.

For more information, visit www.wgc100.org.

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WGC Town Centre

Ambitious plans for WGC town centre As the centenary year of Welwyn Garden City approaches, the council has embarked on an ambitious programme to develop the town centre and take the world’s second garden city into its next one hundred years.

Hatfield

HatTech: a new place to do business A new business incubation centre offering flexible workspace for start-up and growing companies is opening in Hatfield.

HatTech will provide 1,400 square metres of employment space – including co-working spaces, private offices and meeting rooms – creating over 150 jobs locally.

NEWS

It is hoped HatTech will open its doors to new businesses later in the year. If you’re interested in finding out more, call us on 01707 386123.

On Saturday 6 and Tuesday 9 July local residents and businesses can come and see how plans have developed – as well as leave feedback on the proposals.

The town centre north site, between John Lewis and the bus station and to the top of Campus East car park, will receive £6m from Homes England’s Accelerated Construction Fund to develop and expand on existing principles outlined in an agreed planning document (known as an SPD) from 2015.

The site (marked within the red-line boundary, pictured) is an addition to a site currently allocated for a mix of housing and retail development in the council’s emerging Local Plan. This funding will help develop more ambitious proposals for the larger site, potentially delivering up to 410 homes, new retail space, and supporting infrastructure in the heart of the garden city.

To help deliver on this vision, we have appointed Inner Circle Consulting to

lead a team that includes Allies & Morrison, Arup, and Collier’s International. These companies have longstanding ties to the garden city and will support the development of the plan, working closely with local people, businesses and the wider community to put proposals in place that build on the town’s rich heritage while looking forward to the future.

For additional information, please contact towncentrenorth@ welhat.gov.uk and keep an eye on one.welhat.gov.uk/ towncentrenorth for more info as the plans evolve.

Hatfield Town Centre

Link Drive and 1 & 3-9 town centre have received a £4.6m investment from Homes England to bring forward Exciting regeneration plans plans for new homes, for other key sites – including public spaces, shops and Link Drive, 1 & 3-9 Town restaurants. Their redevelopment are crucial steps in Centre, and The Common car the ongoing town centre regeneration park – will be on display this plans to breathe new life into the town month in The Hub. and its economy – regeneration which has already seen £15m invested by the council.

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

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HEALTH NEWS New bungalows off Cowper Road, WGC

Breathe easy If you suffer with asthma or another respiratory condition, you can now sign up for free air pollution alerts straight to your mobile.

An early warning when pollution levels climb makes it much easier to manage the effects. The Air Pollution Alert System provides a text or email when local levels increase to moderate or above.

To find out more, visit: www.welhat.gov.uk/air-quality

!

The air quality in Welwyn Hatfield is generally good and we are working hard to maintain that. We currently use diffusion tubes to monitor nitrogen oxide levels at 33 locations across the borough.

Visit our website to find out more.

Nominate your favourite place for healthy grub!

Grabbing lunch on the go, or meals out socialising with family and friends can be a minefield if you’re trying to watch the waistline. We’re encouraging food businesses in the borough to offer a wider range of healthy options – and we need your help!

Have you recently eaten at a restaurant, pub or café that has offered a choice of healthy meals in addition to a normal menu? Were you impressed by the quality and range of the healthy options?

If so, you may like to nominate the business for an Eat Out Eat Well Award. The Eat

Out Eat Well Award rewards catering businesses that provide a healthy alternative on their daily menus. If you would like to nominate a catering business please email e.health@ welhat.gov.uk with the heading “Eat Out Eat Well nomination” and include the business name and address.

Taking action on dementia The number of people living with dementia in Welwyn Hatfield is expected to increase to 1,600 by next year.

Everybody wants to feel safe and happy where they live, and with dementia affecting so many around us, we all have a responsibility to try and do more.

Why not get a group of friends or colleagues together for a ‘Dementia Friends’ session where you can learn more about how to help people living with dementia? These sessions are particularly useful for anyone who works in hospitality, retail, or is often out and about in the community.

12 SUMMER 16 SPRING 2019 2019| ISSUE | ISSUE NO.62 NO.63

Our Facebook page ‘Welwyn Hatfield Dementia Action Alliance’ is also a great source of information for those living with dementia – and their carers – posting regularly about events, services and support available locally.

For more information on the Welwyn Hatfield Dementia Action Alliance, please contact us by emailing e.health@welhat.gov.uk or calling 01707 357403.

Right: The Dementia Friendly Cafe at Digswell Village Hall.

Above: Campus West in WGC was one of the first food businesses in the borough to receive an Eat Out Eat Well Award – check out our new pull-out guide to everything your local entertainment venue has to offer.

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KEY HELPLINES

You can report many of the issues people most frequently contact us about on our website at

www.welhat.gov.uk You can also contact us by email via

contact-whc@welhat.gov.uk If you wish to speak to us regarding subjects listed in this box, please call our main number

Welwyn Hatfield Housing Neighbourhood Team 01707 357796

Income Management Team 01707 357088

Maintenance and emergencies (24 hrs) 0800 111 4484

Homelessness and housing needs advice 01707 357613

Independent living services 01707 357696

01707 357000 Council tax Benefits Business rates Cemetery services Litter Graffiti Household waste and recycling Street cleaning and grounds maintenance

Parking Abandoned cars Parks, green spaces and woodlands Trees Lost/found/ contained dogs Garages Planning

You can also contact some departments directly, using the details below: Allotment lettings and enquiries 01707 357329 Electoral services 01707 357300 Public health and protection (air and noise pollution, health & safety at work, food inspections and licensing) 01707 357242 Noise nuisance 0800 111 4484 (Out of hours on Fri & Sat) Street Wardens 01707 357420

Hertfordshire County Council Highways – Potholes, roadworks and streetlights 0300 123 4047

Adult social care (including Meals on Wheels and Bus Passes) 0300 123 4042

Libraries 0300 123 4049

HWRCs (tips/dumps) 0300 123 4051

Schools 0300 123 4043

Other useful numbers

Fraud investigation (confidential line for reporting suspected benefit fraud) 01707 357606

Citizens Advice (Hatfield) 03444 111 444

Hackney carriages 01707 357982

Electricity Loss of Supply 0800 7838 838

Stanborough Park 01707 276276

Energy Efficiency Advice Centre 0800 512 012 (free advice on energy efficiency & grants)

Panshanger Golf 01707 276276 Hatfield Swim and Leisure Centres 01707 276276 Museum Service 01707 357850

Domestic Violence/Abuse Line 08 088 088 088

Floodline (Environment Agency) 0345 988 1188 Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999 Hertfordshire Police 101 (all areas for non-emergencies)

Jim McDonald Centre 01707 270066

NSPCC: Childline 0800 1111 HelpLine 0808 800 5000 NHS non-emergency 111 (24-hour healthcare advice)

www.facebook.com/ welwynhatfield

General enquiries 0300 123 4040

@WelHatCouncil

Pest Control – Dial-a-Pest 03444 828 334

RSPCA 0300 1234 999 (24-hour service for reporting mistreated, injured or distressed animals) Samaritans 116 123 Shopmobility Hatfield Town Centre 01707 275751 Shopmobility Galleria 01707 278301 Shopmobility Howard Centre, WGC 01707 336688 Thames Water 0800 980 8800 (sewerage problems, blocked main drains) Water Emergencies (Affinity) 0345 357 2407 Leakspotters (Affinity) 0800 376 5325 Women’s Refuge and Advice 01707 373743

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

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WHAT’S ON Music, Dance and Drama WGC ORCHESTRA CONCERT WGC Orchestra will give their annual concert in the beautiful and historic setting of the Tythe Barn. James Ross will conduct a selection of glorious music – not to be missed!

Sunday 13 October, 7pm at The Tythe Barn, Tewin Bury Farm.

Tickets call: 01707 391224 tickets@wgcms.org.uk

01707 357850 www.welhat.gov.uk/museum

BALLROOM, LATIN, SEQUENCE DANCING North Mymms Memorial Hall, Station Road, Welham Green, AL9 7PG. Every Wednesday evening 8-10pm, £4.

Contact: Russell 01707 264154

Arts and Crafts WGC TUESDAY ART GROUP The Friends Meeting Hall, Handside Lane, WGC. Every Tuesday, 9.30am-12pm.

Contact: Carolyn 01707 373994

CLASSIC CAR AND VINTAGE DAY Sunday 14 July, 12–5pm A day of fun and nostalgia. Gleaming classic cars, live music from Jeep Jump Jive and talented singer Lianna Haynes.

Lindy Hop demonstrations by Jive Swing who invite you to learn a few moves too!

Vintage style refreshments, plus a Pimm’s tent and ice cream! Get into the spirit of the day and come along in vintage dress.

Entry fee £5 per adult, children 16 years and under FREE. Includes admission to mill and museum.

TEDDY BEAR FUN DAY Wednesday 21 August, 11am–3.30pm If you come down to the Mill today you’re sure of a big surprise!

Refreshments, children’s activities, storytelling and a children’s entertainer.

Entry £5 per child (2+), adults FREE. Includes admission to mill and museum.

HERITAGE OPEN DAY AND MURPHY RADIO DAY AT MILL GREEN Saturday 15 September, 2-5pm Join us for our Heritage Open Day as we take a look behind the scenes at Mill Green Museum.

The event is combined with our Annual Murphy TV and Radio Day. See the fantastic display of vintage Murphy TVs and radios manufactured by one of Welwyn Garden City's biggest employers during the twentieth century, and speak to the experts. FREE admission.

Leisure and Recreation HERTFORDSHIRE HEALTHWALKS Various locations across the borough.

Visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/healthwalks for more information.

WELWYN HATFIELD DEAF CLUB Ludwick Family Centre, Hall Grove, WGC, AL7 4PH. Last Friday of the month, 7-9pm.

Club for deaf, hard of hearing and those learning British Sign Language.

Small fee for adults, free for children.

More events can be found at one.welhat.gov.uk/events 18 SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE NO.63

MILL GREEN TOTS Relaxed and fun-packed sessions for 0-5 year olds Toddler mornings run on the last Thursday of each month, from 1011.30am Join us for songs, stories, craft and play at Mill Green.

Cost: £3.50 per toddler (includes museum entrance and a drink and biscuit).

No need to book - just come along!

25 July

Sunshine and rainbows 29 August

Bouncing balls 26 September

Friends and family 24 October

Little monsters

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SUMMER HOLIDAYS AT THE MUSEUM! Cost: ÂŁ3.50 per activity per participant includes one free adult.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. No need to book - just come along!

Mill Green Museum and Mill - Sessions run Tuesdays to Thursdays between 10.15am-12.15pm and again at 1.15-3.15pm Welwyn Roman Baths - Sessions run on Mondays from 2-4pm

Week one Seaside crafts

Week two Deadly dinosaurs

Mon 29 July

Mon 5 August

Welwyn Roman Baths

Driftwood noughts and crosses

Learn how the Romans played board games and make your own game from wood and pebbles.

Welwyn Roman Baths

Dino dig

Mill Green

Tue 6 August

Beach pebble painting

Use your artistic flair to decorate stones to put in our garden and your own.

Mill Green

Spiky Stegosaurus

Wed 31 July

Use clay to create a sequined dinosaur sculpture.

Mill Green

Wed 7 August

Squawking seagulls

Make a moving wooden bird model to hang up in your room.

Thu 1 August Mill Green

Origami boats

Try out different materials to test for sink or swim followed by a boat race challenge.

Mill Green

Footprint puppets

Use your own paint footprint to make a dinosaur stick puppet with snapping jaws.

Thu 8 August Mill Green

Flick-o-saurus

Use your drawing skills to create a dinosaur inspired flick-book animation.

Week five Fabulous fabrics

Mon 12 August

Mon 19 August

Mon 26 August

Welwyn Roman Baths

Welwyn Roman Baths

Welwyn Roman Baths

Go on a bug hunt and recreate them from natural materials.

skills to make a fabric wall-hanging.

Magic doorways

Decorate a fairy or elf door to place around the trees.

Tue 13 August Mill Green

Magic at the mill

Make a magic wand and write your own spell or charm.

Wed 14 August Mill Green

Wings and things

Create some wings or elf ears to wear and take home.

Pine cone critters

Roman weaving Practise your weaving

Tue 20 August

Tue 27 August

Mill Green

Mill Green

trees and create collages from tree rubbings.

at wet felting.

Tremendous trees Learn about our need for

Felt beads and dragon eggs Try your hand

Thu 22 August Mill Green

People of the world

Create a textured map and add people of the world.

Thu 15 August

Wed 28 August

Mill Green

Mill Green

Sew your own wallet

Make a shadow puppet and act out a scene at our puppet theatre.

Be inspired by our Cresta Silks exhibition.

Puppets and plays

Published by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Council Offices, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6AE.

Tue 30 July

Find bones and make your own fossil out of salt dough.

Week four Our wonderful world

Week three Garden fairies and woodland elves

Thu 29 August Mill Green

Fabric printing

Create a unique t-shirt design to take home.

HERITAGE OPEN DAY AT WELWYN ROMAN BATHS Saturday 14 September 2-5pm

www.welhat.gov.uk | 01707 357000

Tel: 01707 357000

Tunnel through time to the world of the Romans this Heritage Open Day at Welwyn Roman Baths.

Try out our outdoor trail and activity all about Roman life!

FREE admission.

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WHAT’S ON LIVE ON SCREEN We love Campus West, and we know you do too.

That’s why we wanted to tell you about our new look. Since work began in 2014 to add two new cinema screens and Soft Play City, technically we have been known as CW Entertainment. At the time we wanted to try and make it clear that it was more than just the building, but we know that most people just carried on calling us Campus West – a slightly quirky name, perhaps, but it seemed to

suit. So that’s what we have gone back to.

Of course, we’ll still be offering you all our usual fabulous mix of brand new blockbusters, live theatre, ballet and opera broadcasts, lesser known movies, soft play, roller skating, tasty food and snacks, and more.

Something for everyone – and all under one roof – at Campus West.

NEW D

SNOW WHITE: Rotten to the Core

WESTLIFE: THE TWENTY TOUR LIVE FROM CROKE PARK 6 July

NT LIVE: THE LEHMAN TRILOGY 25 July

ATES A D

DED!

Blue performances on 27 - 30 December 2019 plus 2, 3 & 4 January 2020 Go on...you know you want to! Join us for our annual nugget of naughtiness at the legendary Campus West 'blue' panto. Each year, our fearless and intrepid company of actors takes a traditional and much loved pantomime and changes it beyond all recognition into something very much for the grown-ups. This year, there will be seven hilarious performances of our one and only Snow White: Rotten to the Core.

ANDRE RIEU’S MAASTRICHT CONCERT 2019 27 July

RSC LIVE: MEASURE FOR MEASURE 31 July

GLYNDEBOURNE LIVE: THE MAGIC FLUTE 4 August

ZEBRA DISCOUNT CARD You can get up to 50% off tickets, food and soft drinks with a FREE Zebra Card. Please go online, chat to one of our staff for more information, or fill out a form the next time you visit.

ENO ENCORE: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE 19 September

NT ENCORE: ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

26 September

Visit our website www.campuswest.co.uk or call 0300 3039 620 for information and to buy tickets.

5932/Comms/June19/N/ELL

The big film of the summer is Disney’s The Lion King which will be screening in the Cinema at Campus West from 19 July. Keep an eye on the website for all the latest films as they are released nationwide.