Hertfordshire County Council have given notice of a number of maintenance works currently planned as and when they can be fitted induring the period of social distancing.
You might expect a local council to try to conserve what remains of Britain's common land. Unfortunately Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) decided last October to sacrifice a broad strip of an amenity green in Bovingdon High Street to the needs of the motor car. They were proposing to develop 140 square metres as 6 hard surfaced, car parking bays. However it turned out also to be a remnant of common land. This meant that DBC was required, under Section 38 of the Commons Act 2006, to apply for consent from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Natural England (an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the DEFRA), a number of local people and the Open Spaces Society objected. The grounds for objection were that the use of a common for car-parking was inconsistent with its enjoyment by the public, as the bays would reduce the area for public recreation and would have an urbanising effect. The Inspector appointed to decide on the issue rejected the application saying
Yes, there are some utility company works going on in Tring at the moment - up near the Crows nest Roundabout - as new service infrastructure is put in for the new housing estate (was LA5 but now is to be called "Roman Fields", I believe.) However there are a number of additional maintenance works planned by Herts County Council as and when they can be fitted induring the period of social distancing. One or two might possibly have carried out already, however.
In his Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced a further £29.5 billion funding package to upgrade England's roads. This included £27 billion for new investments from 2020 to 2025, but only £2.5 billion extra for road maintenance over the same period, though local authorities in England will receive an additional £500 million a year via the 'Potholes Fund'.
Welcome news for south west Hertfordshire.
As Hertfordshire commuters using the West Anglia rail route between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt start going back to work, they will find new trains awaiting them.
Reflecting on the year’s International Women’s Day theme of “accelerate action”, I am sadly reminded of how much more we still need to achieve.
The UK needs to strengthen both our Armed Forces and our soft power.
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day.
