Richard Struck

Welcome to the latest edition of Rickmansworth This Week e-news. If you would like to receive this by email, please contact me at rwstruck@gmail.com to get your own regular delivery. Feedback on this newsletter is always welcomed.

Row over gypsy and traveller sites

At the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) meeting in Norwich on 25th January, the Lib Dem representatives attempted to restore common sense to the controversial process for increasing the number of the gypsy and traveller pitches in the region.

The Lib Dem amendment would have allowed district councils in Hertfordshire and elsewhere to resist their new pitch allocations if they were able to prove through their local planning process that the provision could not be met. This would have been of particular use to district councils in the green belt (eg Three Rivers) or which are largely urbanised.

However, the Conservative representative of Hertfordshire County Council was the main speaker against the amendment, which was defeated as a result of Labour and Conservative votes.

Hertfordshire needs around 115 pitches, according to independent research accepted by EERA. As a result of this vote Hertfordshire will now have to find space for 176 pitches. Three Rivers’ allocation has been increased from 2 to 15 - a sevenfold increase.

Three Rivers will be seeking the support of other Hertfordshire districts to fight this allocation. There has to be something wrong with a process that allows caravan pitches to be provided in the green belt where houses would be not be allowed.

New Planning Applications

If you follow the links to the website, you will see that you can submit comments online.

Hamblings Butchers at 2 Moneyhill Parade, Uxbridge Road
08/0109/FUL http://snipr.com/trdc0109
Change of use from A1 (retail) to A5 (hot food takeaway) with new shop front, changes to internal layout and air conditioning unit, cold room compressor and extractor duct to rear. A previous application was on the Development Control Committee’s agenda last October, but the application was withdrawn by the applicants at the last minute and not discussed.

Keepers Cottage, 128 Valley Road
08/0167/FUL http://snipr.com/trdc0167
Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of two, two storey detached dwellings and two single storey double garages. An application here in 2006 was refused, and dismissed at a subsequent appeal. Another application last October was also refused - excessive size and bulk, and pressure on trees.

Recycling site open again

The Riverside Drive site is open for business again. To enter the site you need to approach from the roundabout, as before, and when you exit you are now directed to turn left along Riverside Drive. The site is not quite finished, but it is already a substantial improvement on the previous arrangements. The site incorporates what was the infamous Capital Skips - which is where this newsletter started, two years ago!