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.

Council Tax News
Last night’s Council meeting (24.02.09) agreed an increase in the Three Rivers element of the council tax of just 1.5%. Last year saw a small decrease. The average for the other districts in Herts for the coming year is 3.2%. However, most of the tax paid locally goes to Herts County Council, who are demanding an increase of 3.5%. So whilst local residents in a Band E home will see an increase of around six pence per week for Three Rivers, the county council will add nearly £50 per annum. Over the past five years, the Three Rivers part of council tax has increased by just 4%, the lowest for any shire district or borough council in England.
The council will be making further efficiency savings of over £600,000 in the coming year, rising to over £1 million in future years, while maintaining existing services. There will be increased investment in local woodlands and conservation areas, play areas and allotments, and further expansion of recycling. There will also be more financial support for the local Citizens’ Advice Bureaux.

M25 widening at Junctions 16 to 18 - Public Exhibitions
The Highways Agency is running exhibitions to inform local residents of the construction works for the widening of the motorway between Junctions 16 and 18. This is the first section of work to be carried out for the widening project between Junctions 16 and 23, due to start on 27th April.
The exhibitions will be held on:
Friday 6 March 2009, 2pm to 9pm at Watersmeet, High Street, Rickmansworth WD3 1EH
Saturday 7 March 2009, 10am to 5pm at St Clement Danes School, 6th Form Centre, Chenies Road, Chorleywood WD3 6EW
Friday 13 March 2009, 10am to 9pm & Saturday 14 March 2009, 10am to 5pm at The Bull Hotel, Bolstrode Suite, Oxford Road, Gerrards Cross SL9 7PA
Admission to the exhibitions is free and representatives of the Highways Agency project team will be present to answer questions.

Development Control Committee
Last week’s meeting refused plans for a Tesco convenience store (reference 08/2239/FUL) on the site of the former car showrooms next to the Shell petrol station on Watford Road, Croxley. The reasons given were overdevelopment, reflected in the scale and bulk of buildings, inadequate amenity for new flats, and unsatisfactory parking arrangements contrary to Local Plan policies.

Aquadrome improvements
700 metres of the Aquadrome’s footpaths will be made accessible to wheelchair users from April. Works to provide hard surfaces for the footpaths started this week, together with a new path along the main entrance way. The improvements will also include resurfacing the car park. Once the work is completed, all the footpaths will provide good access for wheelchair users as well as making their use easier for pushchairs.
A grant of £118,000 from DEFRA’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund has helped fund the scheme. The work will be completed by the end of Spring.

What is happening at William Penn Leisure Centre?
Following the termination of Gee Construction’s employment as main contractor, Three Rivers District Council has commissioned a detailed condition survey of the building and its services. The survey will be used to draw up work packages and these will go out to tender.
The Council will not be able to report a firm date for the completion of the refurbishment until these tenders are awarded and contractors are appointed.
A full report is on the Council website.

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.

M25 Victory
Skanska Balfour Beatty have withdrawn their controversial, unpopular plans for a construction compound at Long Lane, near Junction 17 of the M25. It is believed they will use land at the gravel extraction works near Junction 19 instead. This is a great victory for local residents, who wrote in their hundreds to object to the J17 plans and who attended the packed meeting at Watersmeet earlier this month.

Development Control Committee
This month’s meeting is on Thursday 19th Feb at 7.30pm at Three Rivers House. All members of the public are welcome to attend.
The agenda includes plans for a Tesco convenience store (reference 08/2239/FUL) on the site of the former car showrooms next to the Shell petrol station on Watford Road, Croxley. There would also be seven flats.

Green Belt under Government threat
Three Rivers DC is proud of the Green Belt, which makes up 77% of the district. The Council works hard to protect it and has won awards for doing so. But the Government is now forcing the Council to find sites for 2,400 extra homes to be built by 2021. This is excessive and has been condemned by the Council. But there is no choice. If sites are not identified by the Council they will be identified by unelected Government agencies.
70% of these new homes can be accommodated within existing built-up areas but there is a limit to this and TRDC has been forced to suggest green belt sites for the remaining 30%.
TRDC is proposing that 45% of new homes should be ‘affordable’ so young adults brought up locally can live and work in their own communities.
Public consultation on the LDF Core Strategy (previously known as the District Plan) is now under way (until 30 March). All relevant documents and information can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.threerivers.gov.uk (follow the link from front page).

More Free Swimming
Three Rivers DC’s policy, introduced two years ago, offering free swimming to school children, has been a great success. Not only has it offered healthy exercise, but it has also led to a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour.
The Government has now brought in a two-year scheme to offer free swimming to children under 16 and OAPs. Many local councils are not taking part because the Government has not fully funded it but TRDC has joined up because it is convinced that this healthy exercise offers huge benefits to both age groups. The scheme starts in April.

Pensioners’ Forum
Advice from Age Concern and energy saving experts
Senior citizens from around Three Rivers are invited to hear from interesting speakers and have their say at the next meeting of the Three Rivers Pensioners’ Forum.
Joining the popular forum for the meeting on 20 February will be Carol Collier from Age Concern, who will be speaking to members about the work of the organisation in the local area and offering help and advice on specific issues affecting pensioners. Officers from the District Council’s sustainability team will be attending the forum to give advice on energy saving in the home and free insulation on offer for pensioners. Renato Messere and Steve Farrell from the District Council’s development control team will also be coming along to make sure members are aware of the Local Development Framework consultation and to answer questions on the document.
The Pensioners Forum is a good way to find out about what’s happening locally and make your voice heard. It’s an informal afternoon with the opportunity to discuss a range of topics over a cup of tea and a slice of tasty homemade cake. The Council is encouraging pensioners from across Three Rivers to come along and get involved. The meeting takes place on Friday 20 February from 2pm – 4pm at Three Rivers House in Rickmansworth. Refreshments are provided and taxi fares can be reimbursed for those with transport difficulties.

Skanska Balfour Beatty have withdrawn their plans for a construction compound at Junction 17.

Ann Shaw, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said:
“I am delighted and relieved. Residents and the Council have worked closely together to protect local homes and our environment.”

Steven Halls, Three Rivers’ Chief Executive, said:
“I am delighted that Skanska Balfour Beatty continued our dialogue over the last fortnight and that we could reconsider the position of the compound. I am pleased that David Blackburn was happy to continue talking with us to meet a mutually satisfactory decision about the position of the compound.”

David Blackburn, Managing Director of Skanska Balfour Beatty, said:
“We have further reviewed the Junction 17 compound proposal with Three Rivers District Council and the Highways Agency. After extensive consultation a decision has been taken to reconsider our plans for the compound and therefore not locate it near Junction 17 at Mill End. It is still intended to provide the environmental mitigation bunds to minimise any future effects from the motorway.”

The newsletter in the following link has been provided by the Stop the Compound Action Group. Stop the Compound Newsletter

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.

M25 Meeting
At a packed meeting at Watersmeet last week (nearly 500 people in the main theatre), residents fired numerous questions at the representatives of Skanska Balfour Beatty, who tried and failed to give reassurances. There were many questions about alternative sites, particularly J19, which David Blackburn from SBB said could not be used because it would involve a “motorway-to-motorway” access. It was pointed out to him that the M1/M25 link is at J21, not J19, whereupon he changed his reason to “The Highways Agency has refused permission to use J19.” It was not explained why. The deadline for comments on the proposals is today, and we await the Secretary of State’s response.

Snow Collection
Missed collections due to snow - if you have missed a collection due to the recent weather conditions, please note that Three Rivers will run a ‘catch up’ service during this week. They will take extra refuse on your next collection and will return for any missed recycling / green waste as soon as possible. Check the Refuse and Recycling Collection Latest page for the most up-to-date information.
Frozen brown bins
Some brown bins are being reported as frozen by collection crews. Unfortunately TRDC will be unable to return until the next collection if your bin is reported as frozen. TRDC apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Heavy brown bins
The crew are reporting that a large number of brown bins are too heavy. Heavy bins can break on the lifting equipment, or be thrown into the back of the collection vehicle. If you think your bin is too heavy, i.e if you have trouble moving it, then please keep some waste back until the next collection.

William Penn
No further news since last week’s announcement that the Council has terminated the contract with Gee Construction. TRDC will manage the team of sub-contractors directly in an effort to finish the remaining work and get the new pool open as soon as possible.

Safer Eating
Pubs, restaurants and food shops in Three Rivers are becoming cleaner, according to a report by the District Council’s environmental health team. Health officers analysed the performance of 405 food premises. Since February 2007, the number of outlets scoring the maximum five stars has doubled from 18 to 36 while the proportion of venues scoring zero has halved from 38 to 19 businesses. The percentage of venues achieving a good rating of three stars has increased from 63% to 72% of the total. The improvements follow the launch of the Scores on the Doors hygiene ratings on the Council’s website in January 2008.

Children’s Nature Week
It’s that time of year again - wellies and glue sticks will be at the ready this February half term (16th to 20th Feb) as the popular Children’s Nature Week returns to the Three Rivers district. Now in its fifth year, the annual week of nature-themed activities is organised by Three Rivers District Council in partnership with The Riversmeet Consortium, South Oxhey and Carpenders Park Schools Consortium and Adrian Extended Schools Consortium. All activities are low cost and some are free. Download a leaflet for details of what’s on offer and how to book.

Ricky Pancake Race
Organisers of the annual Rickmansworth Pancake Race are seeking competitors for this year’s race. The charity event, in aid of Watford Mencap, will once again see participants charge down the High Street wielding frying pans. Teams of four are sought for the relay event on Tuesday, February 24. Runners are encouraged to wear either fancy dress or company branded T-Shirts. The entry fee is £50 per team. To enter a team contact (01923) 713 622 or email fundraising@watfordmencap.org.uk.

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.

William Penn - contract terminated
After mounting delays, Gee Construction, the main contractors for the refurbishment at William Penn Leisure Centre, have had their contract terminated by Three Rivers Council. This only happened today and is obviously a developing story - more information will be included in next week’s newsletter.

M25 Compound at J17
Since the last newsletter, a public meeting has been arranged at Watersmeet (near the Library in Rickmansworth) for 7.30pm this Thursday, 5th February. Representatives from Skanska Balfour Beatty will be present.
Three Rivers has formally objected to the proposal put forward by SBB to build a compound on the land between Long Lane and the Link Road, and to install bunds on land adjacent to Shepherds Lane, Mill End and Chalfont Road, Maple Cross. The Council objects strongly
- to the loss of residential amenity
- to the loss of farmland jeopardising the viability of one of the few remaining farms in this part of the district
- to the inevitable detrimental impact on wildlife
- to the possible land contamination
- to the impact on the highway network
- to the procedure adopted in by-passing the normal planning process
The Council has stated it will not release land in its ownership for the purpose of tipping and will write to Herts County Council as Waste Disposal Authority seeking support to Three Rivers’ position.
Three Rivers Council is sending a letter to the Minister setting out the situation and the views of local residents and the Council.

Development Control - decions from meeting on Thursday 22nd January.

Land at 18 to 26 Ebury Road, Rickmansworth WD3 1BN and land to the rear of 153 High Street, Rickmansworth WD3 1AR
08/1876/FUL
Erection of a detached two storey building with garage on ground floor and flat on first floor. Planning permission REFUSED.

Rear of 163 High Street, Rickmansworth WD3 1AY
08/1958/FUL
Demolition of existing storage building attached to rear of 163 High Street and erection of two-storey building comprising 5 one-bedroom flats with integral garage and roof lights. Planning permission REFUSED.

Hawkford Hall, 231 Uxbridge Road, Rickmansworth WD3 8DP,
08/2016/FUL
Use of car parking area at rear for the parking of vans for Comet Pump and Engineering Ltd. Planning permission granted with tight conditions and for one year only.

Safer
Three Rivers continues to be the safest district in Hertfordshire. The district’s crime level dropped by 1% between October and December compared to the same period in 2007. The district’s current level of crime is 42% below the county average.
Vehicle crime fell by 6.9% to 202 incidents. Criminal damage dropped by 2.4% to 240 crimes. Domestic burglary increased by 34.6% to 148 incidents while non-domestic burglary fell by 24.7% to 67. Despite the rise, the domestic burglary rate remains relatively low, at 4 incidents per 1,000 homes. Violent crime saw a reduction of 22.5% to 131 incidents.

Yellow Pages
You can now put Yellow Pages in the kerbside paper recycling box for collection by Three Rivers.