In a bid to save money the Tory-run County Council decided several years ago to reduce the number of buildings it operated out of down from 54 to 4 in a programme called ‘The Way We Work’ (TW3). At a meeting in December Liberal Democrats questioned the very unclear one line sentence in the agenda papers referring to this and discovered that this programme had over spent by £2m this year, and is expected to over spend by £2m next year. Every £1m is the equivalent of 1% on council tax.

Lib Dem spokesperson Paul Goggins said: ‘This bombshell had been hidden from a Committee chaired the Chief Executive. It was certainly hidden from a Scrutiny Topic Group, on which I serve.

‘Only a few weeks ago, councillors and the public received a glowing report on the progress of TW3. Now we know that the original estimates were wide of the mark.’

Malcolm Cowan, Lib Dem spokesman for Performance and Resources, added: ‘This is an utter disgrace. Heads must roll.’

Herts County Council is now consulting on new parking restrictions in Raymer Close. These will be double yellow lines. Please let me know if there are problems with this.

The order is being advertised at the same time as restrictions on the corner of Jennings and Churchill Roads (previously mentioned on this website).

Note from Herts Highways:

Stonecross Junction is to be widened as part of Hertfordshire Highway’s programme for maintenance of the strategic road network in Mid April this year. The works will commence on the 15th January 2010 and will last for approximately 7 Days. However, it is possible the works could be delayed if the weather is poor during this time.

The work will involve the relocation of service provider communications cable, re-aligning the road edge line and re-surfacing of the widened road, and new Signposts to be installed., repairing and replacing damaged kerbing/tactile paving, and renewing the existing road markings. To minimise inconvenience to road users and residents / businesses alike, we have planned to carry the works out between the hours of 9:30am and 4:30pm.

The works will be carried out under a road closure; the road will be closed from 9:30am until 4:30pm Monday to Friday for 5 days, and from 7:00am to 19:00 at weekends for 1 day.

All through traffic will be required to follow the signed diversion route, around the traffic island where Stonecross road meets Harpenden Road. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.

Bus services may be affected by this road closure - details of any changes will be posted at your local bus stop. Alternatively, you can visit www.intalink.org.uk - where you can find out further details by visiting the ‘Service Disruption’ section.

Some degree of disruption and delay can be expected as a result of the works and we will make every effort to minimise these. Please allow extra time for any journeys you may make while the works are in progress. We greatly appreciate your patience and co-operation.

Hertfordshire Highways, or their contractors will not approach you offering to carry out works to your property. Any cold calling of this nature by people claiming to represent Herts Highways should be viewed with suspicion, and caution. They will not have Herts Highways authority or approval.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact:
Alex Moeller, Tel No.: 01707 356282 or e-mail alex.moeller@hertshighways.org.uk

Formal legal note from Herts County Council

Temporary Closing of Lemsford Road, St Albans

NOTICE is given that the Hertfordshire County Council intend to make an Order under Section 14[1] of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all traffic from using that length of Lemsford Road, St Albans from its junction with Sandpit Lane south eastwards and south westwards to its junction with A1057 Hatfield Road, a distance of approximately 653 metres, except for access.

The alternative route for traffic will be via:-
Sandpit Lane, B651 Stonecross, A1081 St Peters Street and A1057 Hatfield Road

The purpose of the Order is to enable carriageway resurfacing works to take place.

It is anticipated that the section of road will be closed between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm (Mondays to Fridays inclusive) for up to 5 days, sometime during the period 25 January 2010 and 31 March 2010, when signs are in place.

If you have any queries about the carriageway resurfacing works or the temporary road closure, please contact the Project Engineer concerned Ahmad Daryaei tel. 01707 356389 at Hertfordshire Highways.

Revellers travelling home by taxi after a night out are being urged to check that the taxi or private hire vehicle they use is operating legally and has been issued with a licence by the local licensing authority.

Licensed taxis and private hire vehicles are generally a safe way to travel because they are regularly tested and are required to meet minimum safety standards by the local licensing authority, which for the St Albans City and District is St Albans City and District Council. Checks that the vehicle is properly insured will have also been made. The drivers will have also undergone medical and criminal record checks.

Licensed taxis can be hired immediately from a rank or hailed down, while private hire vehicles must be booked through a licensed operator.

It is easy to spot whether a vehicle is licensed or not as they will normally display a licence plate, either on the front or rear of the vehicle, which will include the licensing authority, the licence number and the vehicle registration number. The driver will also wear, or have on display, an identity badge, which will show their licence number and details of the local licensing authority.

There are some simple tips to follow to ensure that journeys by cab are as safe as possible. Passengers should sit in the back of the vehicle, keep their mobile phone where it is easily accessible and make a note of the number plate and driver’s licence number and, if uneasy, text them to a friend or family member. They should not use a cab if the driver appears to be under the influence of alcohol or does not seem to know the local area or the vehicle is in a state of disrepair.

Cllr Anthony Rowlands, who is also Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Support, said: “If you are travelling by cab, then take steps to ensure that it has been licensed to operate. The local licensing authority checks that licensed vehicles meet safety standards and are also properly insured in case of road accidents.”

If passengers have any concerns about a cab driver or the state of a vehicle they should report these to these to the local licensing authority. In the case of vehicles licensed by St Albans City and District Council they can call 01727 819453.

A number of residents have complained to me and Sheila Burton about Clarence Road not being properly gritted. We have this response from Herts Highways:

A recent instruction has just been sent to carry out salting on all pre-salting routes (including Clarence Road) later this afternoon. I have flagged up the issue with the winter maintenance team and I do not foresee any further problems with this stretch of road.

The position is largely unchanged from yesterday, save that the refuse teams are managing to get to more streets today. It will however be some days before all streets are done and the advice remains to put bins on the boundary on the correct day and then retrieve them only once they have been emptied.

The roads are very icy and we are following up some comments about particular areas with Herts Highways.

NOTICE is given that the Hertfordshire County Council intend to make an Order under Section 14[1] of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all traffic from using the following lengths of roads, except for access:-

1. that length of Beechwood Avenue, St Albans from its junction with A1057 Hatfield Road northwards to its junction with Sandpit Lane, a distance of approximately 800 metres.

The alternative route for traffic will be via:-
Sandpit Lane, Clarence Road, A1057 Hatfield Road and vice versa

2. that length of Central Drive, St Albans from its junction with Beechwood Avenue eastwards to its junction with Woodland Drive, a distance of approximately 100 metres.

The alternative route for traffic will be via:-
Woodland Drive, Elm Drive, Oakwood Drive, A1057 Hatfield Road, Beechwood Avenue and vice versa

3. that length of Chestnut Drive, St Albans from its junction with Beechwood Avenue eastwards to its junction with Woodland Drive, a distance of approximately 95 metres.

The alternative route for traffic will be via:-
Woodland Drive, Elm Drive, Oakwood Drive, A1057 Hatfield Road, Beechwood Avenue and vice versa

4. that length of Elm Drive, St Albans from its junction with Beechwood Avenue south eastwards to its junction with Woodland Drive, a distance of approximately 130 metres.

The alternative route for traffic will be via:-
Elm Drive, Oakwood Drive, A1057 Hatfield Road, Beechwood Avenue and vice versa

5. that length of Farm Road, St Albans from its junction with Beechwood Avenue westwards for a distance of approximately 140 metres.

The alternative route for traffic will be via:-
Beechwood Avenue, Beaumont Avenue, Farm Road and vice versa

The purpose of the Order is to enable carriageway resurfacing works to take place.

It is anticipated that the sections of roads will each be closed for up to 2 weeks, sometime during the period 25 January 2010 and 1 July 2010, when signs are in place.

If you have any queries about the carriageway resurfacing works or the temporary road closures, please contact the Project Engineer concerned Mark Saunders tel. 01707 356376 at Hertfordshire Highways.

County Hall 7 January 2010
Hertford John Wood
Herts Director of Environment and
SG13 8DN Commercial Services

Given the weather conditions yesterday evening and the journeys that people have had in this morning we have decided to take different approach to keeping open today. It is expected to freeze tonight but not snow, however travel will still potentially be tricky. We will therefore be sending most staff home at 4pm and running a skeleton service on volunteers who have less tricky journeys.

What we could not have known yesterday was that the M1 and M25 would both have accidents and that traffic would be diverted into the District, which had a knock-on effect on the traffic and made travel even more dangerous. Some people did not get back until very late in the evening as a result of the combination of that and the weather, several people actually stayed overnight with friends or relatives.

More detail on services:

· We know of a power cut in Wheathampstead which is affecting sheltered housing and we have contingency and possible rest centre options ready in case they are needed.

· The refuse collection service is keeping to its schedule on roads that are accessible and then trying to eat into the backlog on those that are not. The key message for residents is that they should put the bin out on the normal day and leave it there until we have got to them. On that basis we should not have to make them wait too long.

· The market is continuing to be open with the stall holders helping get the latest falls out of the way.

· Leisure centres are open but we have had intermittent service on the Westminster Lodge pool because of difficulties with lifeguard cover, unsurprisingly Batchwood golf is not open.