Shoddy workmanship

There has been a great deal of highways activity recently. Some has been good (improved pavements in Grosvenor Road for instance). Some less so (Hart Road).

But even where there has been good work, there are still occasions when the whole project is let down by poor workmanship.

This photo is from Grosvenor Road – the pavements that they have not yet completely resurfaced. The idea was presumably to make the ironworks flush with the pavement. But that has not happened and all we have is an unsightly mess.

Herts Highways really must supervise its contractors better.
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10 Upton Avenue

The continuing building works at 10 Upton Avenue have been ‘called in’ to committee. The original application involved a void under the ground floor but it is clear that this has now been turned into a room. Michael Green has referred it to the Plans Central Planning Committee for review.

News about Station Way from First Capital Connect

The long-delayed work on the junction of Station Way and Hatfield Road is due to start on Monday 3 August and should be completed by mid to end October. The work will be done by Ashridge Construction, working for Linden Homes.

For safety reasons Station Way will become one-way northbound from Monday 10 August until the junction works are completed. There will therefore be no access from Hatfield Road into Station Way.

Buses, taxis and vehicles dropping off or picking up passengers at the station will be able to use the junction with Victoria Street to enter and leave Station Way.

The footpath along Station Way will remain open at all times.

Swine flu update from the county council

In an effort to relieve the pressure on GPs, and in line with the national pandemic influenza plan, the government has now set up the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS). This is a telephone and on-line service designed to assess whether a caller or user has swine flu and, if they have, whether anti-viral medication such as Tamiflu, would be an appropriate course of treatment. If Tamiflu is “recommended”, callers are given a “Unique Reference Number” (URN) and given details of Anti-viral Collection Points (ACPs) where the medication can be picked up by the caller’s “flu-friend”, on presentation of appropriate documentation or the unique reference number.

In Hertfordshire, ACPs have been running since Thursday lunchtime. At present, two ACPs have been established, one in Watford, the other in Welwyn Garden City. In both instances, the ACPs have been set up by the Primary Care Trust with the assistance of the relevant local councils, using council owned buildings. Both local authorities are also contributing some staff to assist and support the PCT who are administering the dispensing of antivirals. The majority of these staff are medical professionals. The location of the ACPs in Welwyn Garden City and Watford has been based on the PCTs analysis of where the demand is and how they can make the best use of NHS resources.

Reports from colleagues at Welwyn & Hatfield and Watford Councils suggest that there were a number of difficulties in the first two days of operation, largely generated by the National Pandemic Flu Service giving out wrong or misleading information. However, reports over the weekend were generally favourable with approx 130 people each day visiting the Watford ACP and at Welwyn Garden City, an average of 250 per day.

Since then, the numbers of flu-friend visits to the two ACPs have risen steadily in the last few days (350 per day at each of the locations) and it is understood that following an assessment of the situation over the weekend, a new collection point will be set up in Hertford which will open tomorrow (Thursday). Further possible ACPs have already been identified across the county and as the number of Hertfordshire residents with swine flu symptoms increases over the coming weeks and months, the PCT will monitor demand and open other ACPs around the county or change their opening hours as needed.

Callers or on-line users of the NPFS will be directed to consult with their GPs if they have other underlying conditions or fall into a “high risk” group where a better understanding of the patients’ clinical history / condition is required. If these people require anti-virals, they are likely to be able to source Tamiflu / Rolenza from a number of pharmacies across the county and so will not need to travel to ACPs.

The county council has been working with the PCT to set up a network of volunteers who will assist the “flu friendless” (i.e. those people unable to find anyone to act as their flu friend and collect anti-virals from ACPs). Colleagues in the Corporate Communications team will also be supporting the PCT to promote an initiative to mobilise the voluntary sector, church / faith groups / our own staff groups to maximise the number of flu friends in the county in order to minimise the number of people who don’t have anyone to help them. Members are asked to consider how they might be able to assist in publicising and promoting this message.

Internally, service leads continue to meet regularly to review the county council’s arrangements and monitor the situation. We have also put in place a monitoring regime paying special attention to the 22 critical services across the organisation where disruption to services would cause significant issues for the authority. These are particularly centred on the well-being / safety of clients and other essential services (e.g. waste disposal). This weekly “traffic light” report (Green “all’s well”, Amber “some impact but managing with existing resources” etc.) will go to the Strategic Management Board. It is designed to give early notice if any particular service is experiencing difficulties so that an appropriate response can be mobilised.

Officers from the Resilience Team have been working with the PCT and ACS to set up a system to distribute masks to providers of social care who may work within one metre of a person who is symptomatic. We have also produced training material about the use of and safe disposal of masks which will be issued shortly. “Responsible hand hygiene” (i.e. hand-washing, use of tissues, “catch it, kill it, bin it” etc.) remains the most effective way of limiting infection in the work place and this message is being repeated on regular occasions to our staff and service users.

We are seeing an increasing number of county council staff getting swine flu but as far as we know, their illness has been relatively mild and staff are returning after only a short period of time away from work. We expect that numbers will increase, in the coming weeks – in line with the predicted increase in infection rates across the region. However, to date, there has been no perceivable impact on service delivery.

The government has announced that a mass-vaccination programme will begin in September, starting with front-line health and social care staff. Officers from the county council are working with colleagues in the PCT to develop arrangements for this undertaking.

I attach the web link to the IDeA who have issued a guide which provides a checklist of what councillors can do to ensure their council is prepared as part of their community leadership role.
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=11808235

We will continue to liaise regularly with other partner organisations across the region and will keep you informed of the situation and our progress.

Shaping Our Community Consultation – protecting the Green Belt and supporting the local economy and community

Crucial issues affecting St Albans city and district, including protecting the Green Belt while balancing the need to provide new housing, jobs and leisure opportunities are to be debated as part of a major community consultation exercise on the future planning strategy for the area.

People living and working in the district are being invited to have their say on key issues that affect long term planning strategy. As well as protecting the Green Belt, views are being sought on, for example, whether St Albans city centre needs a new supermarket, the proposed locations for schools and youth clubs and new transport measures aimed at reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. The consultation will feed into work to produce the Local Development Framework – a set of planning documents which set the direction of planning policy until 2026. The context for the document is set by the Sustainable Community Strategy for the District, which has just been revised and is being published at the same time. The priorities of the Local Development Framework are taken from the Sustainable Community Strategy.

The consultation runs from July until 28 September 2009 with opportunities for residents, business and community groups to air their views in a variety of ways, including a touring exhibition, online survey and the offer of public meetings in local wards on request.

Cllr Robert Donald, leader of St Albans City and District Council, commented: “Nine out of ten St Albans residents rate our district as a good place to live. This consultation is an important opportunity to help ensure the district continues to develop and flourish, maintaining its unique mix of city, towns and villages, its urban and rural environment and its diverse heritage, while providing new opportunities to support the local economy and community.

“The council attaches great importance to protecting the Green Belt and will continue strongly to resist any government requirement to encroach upon it. It was for this reason that we successfully legally challenged some of the housing numbers in the East of England Regional Plan earlier this year.

“But residents need to be aware that despite this resistance, we have to prepare for the possibility that the government will require an increase in the number of new houses that have to be built in the district and if this happens we may need to consider building in the Green Belt. So this strategy also invites views about some of the difficult choices which – if required to – we might need to make in future.”

The key issues the community will be asked to comment on include:

Green Belt – protecting and improving the Green Belt is an over-riding priority which runs throughout the core strategy. We want to introduce a more pro-active Green Belt management strategy while also balancing the need for future provision of homes, jobs and recreation.

New jobs and homes – existing and new areas of employment have been identified for growth in line with the council’s commitment to attract new, well paid jobs into the district to encourage economic self containment. Possible new sites for homes that have been agreed and for additional ones beyond 7200 which may eventually be imposed on us centrally are indicated and density issues are also covered.

Shopping provision – two prospective city centre sites are indicated for a new supermarket market for St Albans. While new retail growth is earmarked for St Albans city and Harpenden town centre.

New recreational opportunities – new leisure centres at Westminster Lodge and London Colney are proposed together with easier access and leisure opportunities in the Green Belt and open spaces.

Schools and youth facilities – locations for junior and senior schools are proposed to ensure all children have the opportunity to attend their neighbourhood school. A new site for a youth club has been identified in St Albans and re-provision of Harpenden Youth Centre.

Reducing the District’s carbon footprint and reducing traffic congestion – more emphasis on buses, cycling and walking combined with a mini park-and-ride scheme are proposed to help ease congestion. A new western orbital road is also in the draft proposals.

Green living – to meet the challenge of climate change the core strategy looks at how local communities can become more self sufficient by using eco renewable energy and sustainable building design.

Portfolio holder for planning and conservation, Cllr Chris Brazier says: “We want to hear residents’ views on the important issues raised in the Shaping Our Community consultation. There are lots of opportunities for everyone to take part so please come along to the exhibition or visit our website.”

Following the feedback, the council will revise the document and produce the final Core Strategy. The aim is to submit the document formally to the Government in July 2010 and to adopt it, following approval, in June 2011.

Member contact:
Cllr Chris Brazier, portfolio holder for planning and conservation
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 823586

Cllr Robert Donald, leader of St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 841647

Contact for the press:
Jane Ratford, consultation officer
Tel: 01727 819518
email: jane.ratford@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council

Editor’s Notes:

What is the Shaping Our Community Consultation?
This Shaping our Community Consultation relates to the emerging core strategy. It sets out the council’s preferred approach to the future location for development within the district, including where new housing and employment should be built, based on clear evidence and justification. It also sets out a vision and objectives for the district.

What is the Core Strategy?
The Core Strategy set out the planning strategy for the district. It is the central part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) that sets out the strategy for planning policy in the district up to 2026, and replaces the Local Plan. It is the key part of the LDF and will be followed by other more detailed documents.

What is the Context?
The Core Strategy takes its lead from the district’s Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS). Published alongside this document, and reflecting consultation earlier in the year, the SCS sets out a vision for a ‘progressive, unique and vibrant district, which values its environment, heritage and culture, and cares for the future: an outstanding place to live where everyone can flourish.”A progressive, unique and vibrant District, which values its environment, heritage and culture,
In producing the document, the council has taken into account the views expressed previously by the local community and stakeholders in previous consultations in 2006 and 2007.

FAQs: 090715-ldf-faq-final.pdf

Chis to try and meet officials over Hart Road

Chris White will be trying to meet with highways officials over the problems encountered in Hart Road.

In addition to the quality and nature of the work undertaken there has also been an issue in relation to the way in which thw works were advertised. HCC’s explanation is set out below.

PRESS STATEMENT – HART ROAD

“We are carrying out work on Hart Road to repair broken and uneven paving
slabs. These works are necessary to repair footways in heavily parked
streets where vehicles regularly mount or drive over the pavement. In
places such as at a junction bellmouth or at a vehicle crossover, the slabs
have had to be replaced with a bituminous material (or ‘blacktop’). If we
use slabs in these places, they will quickly deteriorate due to cars
driving over them, which will then present a hazard for pedestrians.

When undertaking these works, we decided to rely on the goodwill of
residents rather than implement an official parking bay suspension which
would have been far more disruptive. Unfortunately there was a typing error
in a letter sent to residents which made it appear that they were being
asked to remove their cars from the street for fifteen days. The letter
should have simply stated that work would be taking place in Hart Road for
fifteen days and only selected vehicles would need to be moved if
necessary. A separate note was placed on the windscreens of these vehicles
to clarify the situation. We apologise for any misunderstanding and
inconvenience this may have caused.”

Hart Road patchwork quilt condemned

Chris White and Michael Green have protested to Herts Highways about the patchwork quilt effect in Hart Road: in some places slabs are being replaced with new slabs. But in others, they have just used ‘black top’.

We say: we can understand using black top to replace slabs where there are vehicle cross-overs, but not elsewhere.

We have protested to Herts Highways and will hopefully post their reply here.

Two-tone Hart Road:
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Meanwhile, we still haven’t had an answer as to why the lines on Lemsford Road were renewed just months before it is due to be resurfaced.