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 of last week’s Development Control Committee meeting at Three Rivers

3 Anson Walk, Moor Park HA6 2LA
08/2255/FUL – Part demolition of existing dwelling and erection of a two-storey side and rear extension with front dormer windows, single storey rear extension, first floor rear extension, new front and rear chimneys, creation of a basement level, conversion of existing garages into habitable accommodation with front bay windows, alteration to fenestration, raised rear terrace with balustrading, retaining walls and increase in hardstanding. REFUSED due to the scale, bulk & design of extensions dominating the existing building, affecting the landscaped setting and failing to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.

Croxley Green Watercress Farm and Fisheries, Rousebarn Lane, Croxley Green, WD3 3GG
09/0163/FUL – Part Retrospective: Addition of watercress silt pits; proposed renewal and erection of boundary fence and gates, re-positioning of watercress processing plant and removal of asbestos cement and their replacement with timber housing for water pump Houses and processing plant. Deferred for a Committee site visit.

29 Wolsey Road, Moor Park HA6 2ER
09/0176/FUL – Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of two storey detached dwelling with basement level and further accommodation in roofspace served by rear dormer window, side rooflights and front and rear windows. REFUSED due to the proposed replacement building failing to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.

Moor Park Mansion, Batchworth Heath, Rickmansworth, WD3 1QN
09/0216/FUL - Creation of new practice ground including regrading of land, erection of 10m high green netting with support poles and erection of single storey wooden structure to cover teeing area. Deferred for a Committee site visit.

The Cottage, Homefield Road, Chorleywood, WD3 5QJ
09/0390/FUL - Erection of 2 pairs of semi-detached dwellings (4 houses) with detached garages and associated parking and landscaping and a new vehicular access on to Orchard Drive. REFUSED: the proposed development would result in the overdevelopment of the site with a cramped and poor layout, which does not maintain the character of the area in terms of plot size and depth, height and a regularity in alignment of the plots which is not characteristic of the locality. As such the proposal would result in the visual character and appearance of the conservation area and locality in general being significantly harmed with a detrimental impact on the street scene. This is exacerbated by the removal of part of an ancient hedgerow to facilitate the scheme.

Rickmansworth Week
This year’s “Week” is from 9th to 16th May, with the Canal Festival taking place on the weekend of 16th/17th May. More details next month.

Next issue
The next issue of this newsletter will be after the first public holiday Monday in May.

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.

Fatal Accident in Mill End
A South Oxhey man was killed in Mill End in the early hours of Good Friday morning when he collided with a car. The man was walking along Uxbridge Road at around 3.40am when the incident happened near the junction with Long Lane. The police have appealed for witnesses to come forward on 0845 33 00 222.

Development Control Committee meeting, Thursday 16th April, 7.30pm at Three Rivers House

The following applications are on the agenda - you may view the application details and the officers’ reports online on the Council website.

3 Anson Walk, Moor Park HA6 2LA
08/2255/FUL – Part demolition of existing dwelling and erection of a two-storey side and rear extension with front dormer windows, single storey rear extension, first floor rear extension, new front and rear chimneys, creation of a basement level, conversion of existing garages into habitable accommodation with front bay windows, alteration to fenestration, raised rear terrace with balustrading, retaining walls and increase in hardstanding.

Croxley Green Watercress Farm and Fisheries, Rousebarn Lane, Croxley Green, WD3 3GG
09/0163/FUL – Part Retrospective: Addition of watercress silt pits; proposed renewal and erection of boundary fence and gates, re-positioning of watercress processing plant and removal of asbestos cement and their replacement with timber housing for water pump Houses and processing plant.

29 Wolsey Road, Moor Park HA6 2ER
09/0176/FUL – Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of two storey detached dwelling with basement level and further accommodation in roofspace served by rear dormer window, side rooflights and front and rear windows.

Moor Park Mansion, Batchworth Heath, Rickmansworth, WD3 1QN
09/0216/FUL - Creation of new practice ground including regrading of land, erection of 10m high green netting with support poles and erection of single storey wooden structure to cover teeing area.

The Cottage, Homefield Road, Chorleywood, WD3 5QJ
09/0390/FUL - Erection of 2 pairs of semi-detached dwellings (4 houses) with detached garages and associated parking and landscaping and a new vehicular access on to Orchard Drive.

The Friends of Watersmeet Film Society

Thursday 16 April 2:00pm & 7:30pm
The Reader (15) 123mins
This film tells the story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who as a teenager in the late 1950s had an affair with an older woman, Hanna Schmitz, who then disappeared only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a concentration camp guard late in the war. Hanna is played by Kate Winslet, who won the Oscar for Best Actress in this year’s Academy Awards. More at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/

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.

Mill End on You Tube
A video of the recent Mill End celebration day has been put on You Tube by Les Mead, one of my colleagues on the Council.

New Planning Applications

Land Adjacent to 61 Heronsgate Road, Chorleywood WD3 5PA
09/0361/FUL
Erection of detached two-storey dwelling with further accommodation in roofspace served by front and rear dormer windows and rooflights to side, detached garage/ carport to front of site, new vehicular access and parking area.

Queens Oak, 30 Astons Road, Moor Park HA6 2LD
09/0416/FUL
Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of two-storey detached dwelling and detached car port and associated external works and landscaping.

Easter Celebration
Christians in Rickmansworth are gathering for a short informal service followed by coffee and hot cross buns.
Berry Lane Green Space at the top of Field Way, near the Methodist Church, 7.00am Sunday 12th April.
Wear warm clothing and footwear for walking on grass!

Recycling News
The Reduce, Re-use Recycle booklet has now been updated by Three Rivers Council. The directory lists everything which can be recycled and re-used in Three Rivers including computers, baby clothes, spectacles and batteries. The directory also lists local food producers including for lamb, beef, honey and watercress.
Yellow Pages can be recycled through primary schools and can also now be recycled by us at the kerbside with your other paper recycling.

Beat the Recession
Three Rivers has published advice on its website. Even residents on higher incomes could benefit from some of the information, in particular energy saving advice and free security and fire checks.

Fair schools deal demanded for Three Rivers children
The secondary transfer situation in this part of the county is once again proving a nightmare for parents and children.
914 Hertfordshire children did not get any of the schools they preferred, while 1028 out of county children got places. This is a significant increase on last year. 397 of the 914 live in Three Rivers and Watford. This is grossly disproportionate.
The overall county figure for getting one of the schools chosen is 92.85%. In Three Rivers it is only 81.57%, and in Watford 81.65%.
In Three Rivers four local secondary schools were closed some years ago, and the land developed for housing. The young people now unsuccessfully seeking a place in a local school would have gone to these schools. The new housing targets being imposed on local authorities will significantly increase the pressure for school places in this area where we already have the worst situation in Hertfordshire.
If you would like to support the call for action, please visit the on-line petition site.

The Secondary Transfer situation in this part of the County is once again proving a nightmare for parents and children.

914 Hertfordshire children did not get any of the schools they preferred, while 1028 out of county children got places This is a significant increase on last year. 397 of the 914 live in Three Rivers and Watford. This is grossly disproportionate.

The overall County figure for getting one of the schools chosen is 92.85%. In Three Rivers it is only 81.57%, and in Watford 81.65%.

Young people living very close to secondary schools are being sent miles away. Example - a child living near Rickmansworth School told to get a school bus in Mill End to take him through Rickmansworth again to Westfield School in Watford.

Inevitably this situation causes disappointment, distress and despair. It also leads to huge numbers of extra car journeys with the inevitable environmental consequences. Young people are deprived of after school activities, and all the benefits of a local school.

What is our local education authority doing to achieve some improvement ? – wringing its hands, agreeing it is unsatisfactory, saying nothing can be done and hoping the crisis will soon pass over for this year!

This is not good enough. Our communities in this part of the county want something done now. Putting extra classes into far away schools, that parents do not want their children to attend, is not good enough. Nor is forcing parents to choose out of county schools - they are after all Council tax payers in Hertfordshire and all these schools, whatever their status, are funded by local tax payers.

In Three Rivers four local secondary schools were closed some years ago, and the land developed for housing. The young people now unsuccessfully seeking a place in a local school would have gone to these schools. The new housing targets being imposed on local authorities will significantly increase the pressure for school places in this area where we already have the worst situation in Hertfordshire.

What are we asking for?

- We need a new community school in this area .

- We want the LEA to make representations to the Government about the impact of the existing situation on local families and press for a change in the law that will grant local children priority at local schools before out of county pupils are accepted.

- We require a public assurance that Herts County Council will pursue both these proposals and anything else that will relieve the totally unacceptable secondary transfer situation in S.W Herts.

If you would like to support our call for action, please visit our on-line petition site http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/TRschools.

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.

New Aquadrome cafe opens
The new Café in the Park opens for business on the banks of the Aquadrome’s Bury Lake tomorrow, Saturday, from 9.30am. The cafe was part funded by Three Rivers District Council.

Easter Activities
Acting masterclasses, sports activities, arts and crafts sessions, music making are amongst the activities on offer for children and young people this Easter half-term
Playschemes give youngsters the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, make new friends and learn new skills.
There are also plenty of activities available for older children and teenagers - from DJ-mixing to junk fashion, there’s an activity on offer to suit all tastes. Budding young actors may be particularly interested to know that the talented Daydreamer Company will be visiting the district to lead several “X press ur self” drama workshops. Workshops will be led by professional performers and will cater for all experience levels.
Booking is required for all Easter activities. Support with playscheme costs can be provided to families on a low income and those in receipt of Benefits.
For more information on all the activities above or to book places, go to the Council’s Leisure and Culture page or ring 01923 776611.

Bedroom Farce
Rickmansworth Players present Alan Ayckbourne’s comedy play Bedroom Farce, from 15th to 18th April at Rickmansworth School Performing Arts Centre, Scots Hill, Rickmansworth WD3 3AQ.
Tickets £10 Concessions £8
Box Office 0844 745 1944
Ricky Players look forward to welcoming you back to the 1970’s for an evening of fun, frolics and calamity!