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.

Decisions at Development Control Committee, 20th March

Diversion of Public Footpath between 165/167 High Street and 18/20 Ebury Road
This is the footpath (to be called Farr’s Alley) which was re-opened last year. The committee agreed that this should go out to formal public consultation, with official notices in the local press. If there are no objections, the diversion will be confirmed. The application is by the developer of the scheme at 18/20 Ebury Road, for a diversion to bring it into line with the approved plans - these plans are still on the council’s website http://snipr.com/trdc2209

2 Moneyhill Parade - Hambling’s Butchers shop http://snipr.com/trdc0109
Change of use from A1 (retail) to A5 (hot food take-away) for a pizza operation. The planning officers recommended approval. The agenda for the meeting listed 4 objections and 7 in support. A further 17 letters were subsequently submitted, also in support. The committee approved the proposed change.

Digging for Heat in the Rose Gardens
Residents may wonder what is going behind the hoardings at the Rose Gardens opposite Three Rivers House. The answer is the installation of ground source heat pumps. These are a simple and practical way of extracting heat from the ground to heat the council offices in the winter and cool them down in summer. The system will make a practical long term difference in reducing C02 emissions, heating costs and, ultimately, Council Tax bills. The system costs about the same amount as a conventional replacement, which was needed anyway. It will pay for itself in six years and reduce carbon emissions from day one.
Water pipes are being buried three metres below ground. At this depth, the soil stays at a relatively constant 11 - 12 deg.C, compared to the much wider variations in the air of between minus 10 and plus 30 or more deg.C depending on the season. Because the ground is warmer than the air in winter and cooler than the air in summer, the single pumping system can help provide both heating and cooling at different times of the year.
There’s more about how these systems work on www.energysavingtrust.org.uk - follow the link for “Generate your own energy”.

Easter Alleluia
For early risers next Sunday, the traditional short ecumenical Easter service takes place at a new venue this year - the Berry Lane open space at the top of Field Way, not Ropes Island. It starts at 7.00am. There’s usually coffee and hot-cross buns afterwards.