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.

Ricky Residents Meeting
All residents are welcome to attend the AGM of Rickmansworth and District Residents’ Association is tomorrow, Tuesday, 3rd June, at 8.00pm in St Augustine’s Hall, Our Lady’s Catholic Church, Park Road - note the change of venue from the usual.
After the business part of the meeting, there will be a talk by a representative from Transport for London (TfL) who will speak on the plans for controversial new rolling stock on the Met Line.

Development Control Committee
At the meeting on 22nd May, several items were deferred but some decisions were reached. The items of local interest were:

The Cottage, Homefield Road, Chorleywood WD3 5QJ
http://snipr.com/trdc0282
Erection of two pairs of two-storey semi-detached dwellings (4 houses) with detached garage.
Decision deferred, pending an appeal decision on a previous scheme for this site.

38 Highfield Way, Rickmansworth WD3 7PR
http://snipr.com/trdc0666
Erection of detached timber framed triple garage with first floor storage and roof lights with access from track to north-west.
Decision deferred, pending a committee site visit.

152 The Drive, Rickmansworth WD3 4DH
http://snipr.com/trdc0704
Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of two, two storey dwellings with basements, detached garage, new vehicular access and associated driveways and landscaping.
Decision deferred, pending a committee site visit.

9 Park Close (opposite Batchworth Heath), Rickmansworth WD3 1QH
http://snipr.com/trdc0720
Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of two storey detached dwelling with basement level and room in roof and single storey detached triple garage.
Planning permission REFUSED - inappropriate development in the Green Belt and detrimental impact on the openness of the Green Belt by reason of its siting, height, design, massing and scale.

Land to rear of Woodlands, Dell House, Barnstead Down, Old Chorleywood Road and rear of 137a The Drive
http://snipr.com/trdc0775
Removal of unofficial Builders Yard and erection of three detached dwellings with basement level, using existing access off Old Chorleywood Road and associated tree works and alterations to access.
Planning permission REFUSED - siting, bulk, height, balconies and fenestration results in overbearing development, actual and perceived overlooking, no room for refuse-collection vehicles to turn, etc.

Nomad Kayak Club controversy
There has been local concern that Three Rivers is about to “evict” the Kayak Club from the premises in the Aquadrome.
When planning permission was granted last October for a new cafe and public conveniences, a planning condition was attached confirming that the existing building must be demolished. The existing premises are regarded by most people, including the Club officers, as unattractive from the outside and basic inside. However this demolition will not take place at the earliest before the end of the year and the Club will remain in situ, rent free, until then.
This does not mean the Club closes then. TRDC has been negotiating with the Club for about two years about future arrangements to accommodate it. A year ago the Club had agreed an alternative arrangement, but now they have come up with a different plan which TRDC has been happy to discuss with the Club officers, and those discussions are continuing.
It seems the confusion arose because the appropriate legal notice, to comply with the planning permission, had to be issued and some people thought, incorrectly, that the Club was about to close down.