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.

Development Control Committee decisions from meeting on Thursday 16th October.

18 Longmore Close, Maple Cross WD3 9SE
08/1362/FUL
REFUSED. Sub-division of existing dwelling into 4 two-bed flats including conversion of garage into habitable accommodation, alterations to front door and fenestration detail and erection of an external staircase

Broads of Watford, 189-191 Watford Road, Croxley Green WD3 3ED for Tesco Stores Ltd.
08/1519/FUL
WITHDRAWN BY TESCO’S AGENT, but likely to be resubmitted. Demolition of existing car showroom and workshop and redevelopment to create new convenience retail store and seven flats (including three affordable units) in two blocks with associated car parking and access. (Note - Tesco’s application at The Happy Man (Berry Lane/Tudor Way) will probably be on next month’s agenda.)

Land between 34 and 36 The Queens Drive, Mill End WD3 8LT
08/1646/FUL
APPROVED. Erection of 2 two-storey semi-detached dwellings with rear dormer windows and further accommodation in the roof space with associated access and car parking

58 Pheasants Way, Rickmansworth WD3 7HA
08/1793/FUL
DEFERRED FOR COMMITTEE SITE VISIT. Proposal to demolish existing bungalow and erect a two storey detached house.

The most controversial item on the agenda was a request by Chorleywood Youth Football Club 08/1312/FUL for an additional two 11-a-side pitches and one 7-a-side pitch on grassland in the Chorleywood House Estate, which is part of a Local Nature Reserve, in the Green Belt, and part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposal would also result in additional car parking for 65 cars. Although there were strong arguments in favour of allowing such recreational use, the Committee came down in support of the significant environmental concerns and refused permission. However, the Council will support the club in finding alternative locations.

Local Farmland under M25 threat
Many local residents, including your councillors, opposed the widening of the M25 when it involved taking extra land and bringing the noise and pollution nearer to local homes. We were relieved that the new scheme claimed to need no extra land. Now we find out that acres of local farm land are at risk. Local farmers are being pressed to allow large blocks of land to be used for works compounds and tipping. Under threat are the fields on the north-east side of Long Lane opposite Heronsgate and the land north of Home Way, Whitfield Way and Mill Way in Mill End.
We are very concerned because
• the reduction in land available for crops affects the viability of the whole farm
• autumn ploughing and sowing have had to be postponed
• land used in this way for 4/5 years will take years to recover—it may never do so
• the network of footpaths and bridle ways will be devastated
• the wild life, especially the sky lark, lapwings and golden plovers will be driven away
• the landscape will be destroyed for all of us
• unacceptable heavy traffic will be brought onto local roads which are not suitable for huge numbers of heavy lorries.
Your local councillors will object very strongly to this and try to preserve local farmland. Peter Kerr at Three Rivers DC will co-ordinate objections. If you share our concerns please send your letter to Peter Kerr at Three Rivers House, email peter.kerr@threerivers.gov.uk or ring him on (01923) 727102.

Watersmeet Film
Thursday 23 October The Kite Runner Cert.12A 128 mins
The story is based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini about the bond that develops in Afghanistan between a privileged youth, Amir, and the son of his father’s servant, Hassan, who both have a love of kite flying.
Tickets will be on sale at Watersmeet on the day of the performance. Matinee at 2.00pm, Evenings at 7.30pm. Tea & cakes are served at matinee performances. Evening bar from 6.30 pm.

William Penn update
AT LAST … There has been encouraging progress recently at William Penn Leisure Centre with sustained improvements in all areas of the site. The main contractors now report that they expect to complete the refurbishment in January 2009, with the new fitness suite opening at an earlier stage. TRDC is working with the contractors and the design team to achieve completion as soon as possible while ensuring that the finished building is of the highest possible quality.

Half-term activities
Children in Three Rivers can enjoy free activities on offer from Three Rivers District Council during half-term week.
These schemes went down really well with local children over the summer holidays. The more unpredictable autumn weather (was “summer” any less predictable?) means youngsters may prefer to take part in more indoor activities this half-term.
Free gym sessions will be running between Monday 27 October and Friday 31 October at William Penn Leisure Centre (Mill End), The Centre (South Oxhey), Charters Health Club Woodlands (Abbots Langley) and Charters Health Club (Watford). Free swim sessions will be on offer at Sir James Altham Swimming Pool in South Oxhey.
For full details of the scheme residents can ring the Leisure department at Three Rivers District Council on 01923 779392, or visit the Leisure and Culture page on the website.

Recycling award
One of the Three Rivers recycling crews has won the Collection Crew of the Year category at this year’s Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management. The awards ceremony, run by letsrecycle.com, was held this week at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair.

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.

Broken roads & pavements
Hertfordshire County Council has paid out over £2m in the last five years on compensation payments to people who have been hurt on the county’s roads and pavements. There were over 6600 claims made in the five year period, of which 1551 resulted in compensation totalling over £2m. These figures confirm what many people already think - our local roads are in a sorry state of repair.

Development Control Committee
Next meeting Thursday 16th Octoberber at 7.30pm, Three Rivers House. Members of public welcome to attend. Agenda items include:

18 Longmore Close, Maple Cross WD3 9SE
08/1362/FUL
Sub-division of existing dwelling into 4 two-bed flats including conversion of garage into habitable accommodation, alterations to front door and fenestration detail and erection of an external staircase

Broads of Watford, 189-191 Watford Road, Croxley Green WD3 3ED for Tesco Stores Ltd.
08/1519/FUL
Demolition of existing car showroom and workshop and redevelopment to create new convenience retail store and seven flats (including three affordable units) in two blocks with associated car parking and access. (Note - Tesco’s application at The Happy Man will probably be on next month’s agenda.)

Land between 34 and 36 The Queens Drive, Mill End WD3 8LT
08/1646/FUL
Erection of 2 two-storey semi-detached dwellings with rear dormer windows and further accommodation in the roof space with associated access and car parking

58 Pheasants Way, Rickmansworth WD3 7HA
08/1793/FUL
Proposal to demolish existing bungalow and erect a two storey detached house.

M25 expansion - REMINDER
The Highways Agency is arranging an exhibition of the forthcoming widening of the M25, specifically the Berry Lane Viaduct work. Friday 10 October 2008 at The Colne Room, Watersmeet, Rickmansworth open to the public between 2pm and 9pm. Saturday 11 October 2008 at the 6th Form Centre, St Clement Dane’s School, Chenies Road, Chorleywood open to the public between 10am and 5pm.

Council investments
The news programmes are reporting on Councils that have money tied up in Icelandic banks. Locally, Three Rivers does not have any money invested there, but Herts County Council has £17 million.

Action on tree felling
A local tree surgeon was fined £2,000 at Uxbridge Magistrates Court last week, after he illegally removed two mature protected Oak trees in Bishops Avenue, Northwood. A further £640 in costs was awarded to Three Rivers District Council.