Update on Upton Avenue building works

I have received this note:

I inspected the site today and found the Highway to be safe. The footway
was unobstructed and any building materials present were stored within the
line of the Controlled Parking Zone bays and were therefore unlikely to be
a hazard to motorists. To my knowledge, we have had no complaints made
directly to this office from motorists about this site being unsafe or
hazardous. The complaints from residents have been CPZ related and have
therefore been redirected to SADC Parking Services. The only complaint
about the footway being obstructed was made in May. This was dealt with by
an officer from Hertfordshire Highways on the day that it was reported and
it is my understanding that there have been no further complaints about
obstruction of the footway since.

Today, the materials and the skip were taking up a total of two CPZ bays.
The placement of the skip on the Highway has been licensed by this office
and today, so as to reduce their ‘footprint’ on the Highway, the builders
were instructed to move any remaining materials on the Highway to the same
CPZ bay as the skip within three working days. Thus for the remaining three
weeks or so of the build, they will only be using one CPZ bay for this
purpose.

In the evenings when parking tends to be more of an issue, the builders are
not present as the building is unoccupied and therefore only one or two
bays have been used by them for their materials and/or the skip. A number
that is likely to be common to many of the properties in and around Upton
Avenue. During the day, I appreciate that when the tradesmen are on site,
there may well be a further three or four vehicles that might need to be
accommodated. When the development of what I believe to be four flats is
completed there will potentially be four residents who will all be entitled
to parking permits for at least one car per flat and they might even want
two. This naturally is a SADC Planning issue.

City/town centre developments on a small site are always going to be
problematic but as long as the building contractors do not damage the
Highway and they keep it safe for Highway users then it is unlikely that
enforcement action will be taken by HCC for what is relatively a minor and
usually quite a temporary Highway issue. Naturally, we will always respond
and attend to any complaint made directly to this office by any member of
the public relating to a perceived hazard on the Highway and it will be
dealt with immediately if it is felt to be unsafe and a danger to those
using the Highway.

Weeds: Chris takes action!

Chris has taken action over weeds in the alleyways between Breakspear Avenue and Dellfield. Council officials have confirmed that the area is due to be done and that residents’ complaints have been logged.

Many thanks to the resident who reported this. If there are any more please let me know.

Chris demands enforcement action over builders’ materials on highway

Chris White has formally asked for enforcement action against the builders at number 10 Upton Avenue who are using the road as a store for materials.

Chris said: ‘This has become a serious nuisance both local residents and to other who legitimately use the public highways. It is the county council’s responsibility to protect the highway and I have asked them to take action.’

Tories blame the weather again for roads chaos

After years of neglect of our roads the Tory-run County Council are
blaming the weather for the state of our roads. The County Council
seem to think that they have an excuse for their underinvestment and
mismanagment of the road network.

Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Liberal Democrats Roads spokesperson said:
‘Whilst welcoming the extra funding, the reality is the Tories have
just found another reason other than themselves for the bad state of
our roads. Yet again they are not taking responsibility. During the
election they tried to blame us – now they blame the weather. What
they do not say is that if our road network had been in better repair
the winter damage would not have been so severe.’

Note to editors in response to this press release

PR 8581 Winter damaged roads to benefit from Highways ‘Reward’ funding

Following the receipt of highways ‘reward’ funding from the
government, the county council has now set out how it will spend the
money. Most of it will go to help repair roads damaged during the
severe winter months.

Earlier this year, Hertfordshire Highways submitted one of only
fourteen successful bids for a share of additional government highways
funding – and received £500,000 from the Department for Transport in
recognition of its innovative, ‘Asset Management’ approach to roads
maintenance.

Combined with other successful bids for additional funding for roads,
Hertfordshire Highways received a total of £876,100 for the current
financial year. Councillors at last week’s (July 13) Cabinet meeting
formally approved proposals put forward for the allocation of the
extra money.

More than £650,000 of the funding will be used to resurface and repair
some of the roads damaged by the exceptional weather during the last
winter. Comparative surveys carried out by Highways show that the
damage caused to roads during two weeks in February was equal to the
amount normally seen in an entire year.

The remaining amount will be used to help cover the costs of reviewing
the way in which Hertfordshire Highways maintains the county’s
streetlighting stock – much of which is ageing and in need of
replacement.

Stuart Pile, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We
did very well to succeed in our bids for this extra funding from the
government, and we now want to press ahead and start making the best
use of it on the ground. Most of it will be used to rectify some of
the damage caused by the unusually severe winter – a priority that I
know is uppermost in the minds of road users, while the remainder
means that we can start in earnest on a review of streetlighting
maintenance.

As a condition for being awarded the funding, Hertfordshire Highways
is expected to act as an asset management champion in the region and
to share knowledge and expertise with other local authorities.

More detailed information can be found in the Cabinet papers from the
meeting on July 13. They can be viewed online at www.hertsdirect.org

Swine flu update: note from District Council

As of Friday 24th July 2009

Official figures state that there are 139,566 confirmed cases of swine flu globally, and there have been 781 deaths.

The UK is reporting increased rates of influenza-like illness in England across most areas, particularly London. The current rate is now above the peak reached in the winter season 08/09. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the medical consultation rate is lower than for normal seasonal influenza-like activity.

To date, there have been 29 deaths in the UK associated with Swine Flu. The majority of these have had underlying medical conditions. The majority of cases continue to be mild.

The government has issued the following guidance for pregnant women.

“Some pregnant women who catch the H1N1 (swine) ‘flu virus will develop complications of the infection (including pneumonia) that could put their own and their baby’s health at risk. The risks are greatest in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It is too early in the pandemic of influenza to be able to quantify these risks for the individual but most pregnant women who catch the disease are likely to make an uncomplicated recovery. Bearing these risks in mind, at present, mothers-to-be are not advised to curtail normal activities such as going to work, travelling on public transport, attending events and family gatherings. Some mothers-to-be may wish to continue their day-to-day activities but exercise their choice now, on a highly precautionary basis, to avoid large densely-populated gatherings where they have little control over personal contact.”

The National Pandemic Flu Service went live this week. Its launch is to be accompanied by a major public information campaign. The National Pandemic Flu Service is made up of a dedicated website https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk/ and call centres. People diagnosed with swine flu will be given an authorisation number. A ‘flu friend’ – a friend or relative who does not have swine flu – can use this number to collect antiviral medication from a local antiviral collection point (ACP).

Joint planning with the local PCT for an ACP in St Albans is at an advanced stage. The ACP will be at the Jubilee Centre and we are waiting for the PCT to confirm when it will open, which is expected to be next week.

The Department of Health has contracts with manufacturers to supply sufficient vaccine for the whole population, once it has been developed. These contracts were set up some time ago to ensure the UK is first in the queue. Creating a new vaccine is a complex scientific procedure but based on the manufacturer’s current forecast, it us expected to have around 60 million doses by the end of the year. These predictions are as accurate as possible considering that manufacturers are dealing with the production and testing of complex biological products.

The Council continues to assess the position on an on-going basis, and weekly at the Chief Executive’s Board meeting. We have drawn up a list of key services which will determine which services we will aim to keep going should sickness levels rise to a level that makes this necessary. Heads of Service are discussing their continuity arrangements with their respective Portfolio Holders.

Tories ‘announce’ General Election result

Published Tuesday

Today the Conservative administration at County Hall announced the
outcome of the next General Election, forgetting that the public has
yet to vote. In a motion proposed by the Tory leader they said that
‘They would work with the next Conservative Government to deliver a
two year council tax freeze’.

The Liberal Democrat group tried to amend this motion to deliver on
their own manifesto promises and get real results for residents in
Hertfordshire – rather than predictions of the future outcome of an
election yet to be called.

The amendment included reducing speed limits outside schools, lobbying
on behalf of commuters on railfares and investing in the youth service
to give young people something to do. The only substantial proposal
that the Conservative Administration supported was on looking for
measures to reduce the noise pollution on the A1M. They rejected the
other substantive items on cost grounds.

Malcolm Cowan, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member, said: ‘We
proposed common sense measures which the Tories have rejected because
they are too busy playing party politics. There is no reason to
suppose that supporting a reduction in rail fares could have an
adverse effect on the council’s budget. They have refused to put in 20
mph zones saying that they would cost money: it is quite clear that 20
mph zones and an expansion in the youth service could be funded by
making the council operate more efficiently.’

ENDS

Licensing application for St Peter’s Street granted

The licensing application for St Peter’s Street – brought by the council itself – has been granted.

This means that there will be more control over what goes on in licensing terms in the city centre. Residents were assured that it was not a mechanism to allow more drinking. But it will in essence give powers to the city centre manager to enforce licensed activities without having to go through unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

Views sought on new leisure facility at Westminster Lodge

The public is to be given the opportunity to air their views on plans for the redevelopment of a new leisure facility to replace the existing Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre.

The plans for the redevelopment are shaping up and at a meeting of Cabinet at St Albans City and District Council on 7th July, proposals for the mix of facilities, options for layouts and additional facilities, and arrangements for public consultation were presented. The facility mix and initial design layouts will now go out to public consultation over the summer.

The three-week public consultation period will begin on Tuesday 21st July, and will include focus sessions with specific community groups.

Public displays showing the two design options will be available to view at the following venues:

· Bricket Wood Sports Centre

· Civic Centre, St Albans

· Harpenden Leisure Centre

· London Colney Recreation Centre

· Redbourn Village Hall

· Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, and

· Wheathampstead Memorial Hall (Marford Road)

Feedback can be given at the venues or online at www.stalbans.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/New-Leisure-Facility-Developments from Tuesday 21st July 2009.

A new leisure facility at Cotlandswick, London Colney, is also envisaged and the Council is gauging interest amongst commercial leisure and sports operators in helping to deliver this project. When the time comes, residents will be able to give their feedback on the mix of facilities and design proposals.

It is anticipated that both the Westminster Lodge redevelopment and the new leisure centre at Cotlandswick will be open to the public by early 2012.

Swine flu update: note from District Council

As of Friday 17th July 2009

The swine flu epidemic in the UK is in the Treatment Phase. There is no longer laboratory testing to confirm whether a person has swine flu or another influenza-like infection.

There have been 94,512 confirmed cases reported in 135 countries. These numbers are thought to significantly under represent the true case number. There have been 17 deaths in the UK including 14 cases with underlying medical conditions.

Hertfordshire PCT continues to distribute antivirals through pharmacy distribution points. Multi-agency planning for the setting up of Antiviral Collection Points across the county continues.

No schools in Hertfordshire are closed, although there are some reported cases of swine flu.

A combination of the following methods is used to monitor the prevalence of the disease across the UK:

Reports on Primary Care consultation rates
Surveys
Laboratory confirmed cases
Calls to NHS Direct that report influenza-like infections

The Council continues to assess the position on an on-going basis, and weekly at the Chief Executive’s Board meeting.

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

PRESS RELEASE

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.