Author: Alex-GroveCon

Alex, Julie and Goverdhan are often out across the ward, meeting residents and discussing all things Grovehill.

Recently, whilst talking with our Hunting Gate neighbours, the same issue kept on coming up; road safety outside the school, bad parking and a complete disregard by some for the safety of children walking to school.

Alex, Julie and Goverdhan immediately took it up with the council officers and the police, to see what could be done. DBC Enforcement responded quickly and officers were soon deployed. Things did improve except for one incident involving an enforcement officer being struck by a car! As soon as enforcement officers left however, the same behaviours returned.

So, In January 2023, working with the Police, Julie approached our County Councillor Colette Wyatt–Lowe and secured £500 funding from her county locality budget to buy a trolly, ‘NO PARKING’ cones, signs and linked chain, enough to line much of the top end of Hunting Gate and the entrance to the school.

“So, where is it?” we hear you ask? Well, Aycliffe Drive Primary School declined to accept the offer. To say that Julie, Alex and Goverdhan are disappointed is an understatement and we’re so sorry to have to report this news.

With building work due for completion during the Autumn of 2023, the new high-quality buildings will transform the learning environment at Astley Cooper School, for all students, visitors and staff which is good news but….

Your councillors are also aware that many who attend the Indian Orthodox Christian Church, park up on the grass verges and have also contributed to the ‘mudscape’.

Julie was able to confirm that vehicular parking was available to all tradesmen around the corner, up on the Cupid Green playing field car park adjacent to the Grovehill and Woodhall Farm adventure playground. Great news all round but it wasn’t too long before we heard there had been no let-up in the poor parking. Since verge abuse is technically illegal, Julie went on to have a quiet word with PC Charlie Eke (our new Police Officer covering Grovehill). Charlie spoke with the Head Teacher and the construction company, about the issue. Seemingly taken on-board, Alex, Julie, Goverdhan and now Charlie, will be watching carefully! Your councillors have also been reassured that the developer will put things right, on completion of the project.

Goverdhan and Alex have both spoken with elders from the Indian Orthodox Christian Church and pointed out the wrecked verge. It was agreed that the church would attend to the verge damage and take measures to reduce parking on the verge by attendees. Alex has given the church six weeks to sort out their parking issues.

Keeping residents of the borough up to date with what your local Conservative councillors have been up to, our second Dacorum-wide In Touch should have recently come through your door, via postie. Hey but don't worry if you missed it. You can download here.

After a successful first run on 4th March with a dozen or so residents turning up, Charlie and Simon are coming back on 20th May 2023. They'll be available at the Grovehill Community Centre between 2:00 and 4:00.

Anything that you think they can help you with, just drop in and have a chat.

The café will be open and the coffee is awesome!

Yes, it's that time again. Four years seems to have flown by. This time around however, things are going to be slightly different.

To help prevent fraud and protect our democracy, the 2023 local government elections, will be introducing the new voter identification scheme. To participate in the up ‘n’ coming May elections, voters are going to need approved ID.

It’s not as complicated as it might first sound and there’s a whole load of stuff that can be used to prove who you are! Here’s an official list of acceptable photographic ID:

• A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country.
• A driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state.
• A biometric immigration document.
• An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card).
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card).
• A Blue Badge.
• A national identity card issued by an EEA state.
• An Older Person’s Bus Pass.
• A Disabled Person’s Bus Pass.
• An Oyster 60+ card.
• A Freedom Pass.
• A Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland.
• A 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales.
• A Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales.
• A Senior Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland.
• A Registered Blind Smart Pass or Blind Person’s smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland.
• A War Disablement smart Pass or War Disabled smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland.
• A 60+ smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland.
• A Half Fare smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland.
• An Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland.
• A Voter Authority Certificate or a Temporary Voter Authority Certificate.*

* There are two options to get hold of a Voter Authority Certificate or a Temporary Voter Authority Certificate. With Internet access, https://www.dacorum.gov.uk is the place to go and just do a search for ‘voter identification’. You’ll easily be able to apply on-line. Alternatively, just drop into The Forum in town and ask about applying for voter ID at reception

IMPORTANT

Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or a Temporary Voter Authority Certificate must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on 25th April 2023.

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POSTAL VOTES

For many, postal votes are convenient and in some cases, quite necessary. If you would like to apply for a postal vote, please start here.

We've previously mentioned that the recycling area in Henry Wells Square has long done its job and has kind of past its sell-by date. Over recent years, it's become a go-to point for fly-tippers and apart from the cost to DBC, the once useful and much appreciated site, has brought down the Shopping square which is at the heart of the ward.

Julie, Goverdhan and Alex promised to look into repurposing the area and many residents will have notice that several weeks ago, the old bring site was removed.

Well, HAPPY NEW YEAR, Henry Wells Square! 🙂

Below is a reminder of how things ended up with the old recycling area.

12th December 2022, the day after the first snow fall and Grovehill councillors, Julie Banks and Alexander Bhinder decided to lay down grit in Putters Croft. Several vehicles had got stuck on the steep slope down to Wootton Drive and many drivers simply weren’t prepared to risk the run up the short road. Alex says that it didn’t take long to apply the grit and he’s delighted to report that the difference was phenomenal.

After a couple of years of COVID and lock-downs, Julie, Goverdhan and Alex are getting out reconnecting with the community and reminding people that they’ve been busy despite the recent problems.

Last weekend (12^th and 13^th November 2022) and the weekend before, the trio were catching up with residents in Marlborough Rise and Hunting Gate. Here are a few issues that regularly came up:

• Parking in Marlborough Rise, especially near the junction with Aycliffe Road
• Obstruction of public footpath by commercial vehicles
• Trees need trimming In Marlborough Rise and its tributaries
• Conifer trees on private land need trimming as they’re obstructing footpath in Marlborough Rise
• Broken fence / gate at end of Sarum Place, that goes into lane
• Smell of cannabis in Brambling Rise
• Disregard from parents dropping off / collecting children from Aycliffe Drive Primary School in cars, of enforcement signage at top of Hunting Gate
• Disregard from parents dropping off / collecting children from Aycliffe Drive Primary School in cars, for residents’ property
• Concern over LA-1 plans

Julie, Goverdhan and Alex also distributed the latest Grovehill In Touch edition but if they missed you for whatever reason, you can download it here

It’s obvious that there are those who completely ignore enforcement signs and demonstrate utter disregard for their community. Hence, your Grovehill councillors are hatching a plan to get DBC enforcement officers up to Grovehill on a regular basis, the idea being that they randomly target specific ‘hot-spots’. This measure will hopefully address a couple of the issues above.

While chatting with residents, Julie, Goverdhan and Alex came up with an idea that would make drop-off and collection of pupils easier and that would keep Hunting Gate clear. This will have to be discussed with Dacorum Borough Council, the school and Hertfordshire County Council. We'll keep you posted.

We all love trees but, in some areas, they’re becoming a bit of problem. Let’s see if we can do something about them.

We don’t mind arranging for DBC officers to talk to people whose gardens have trees that are overgrowing and obstructing the public footpath.

We believe that the broken fence in Sarum Place is a county matter. Either way, we’ll check it out and either get DBC or HCC (Colette) to have a look.

With regards the smell of cannabis, Julie, Goverdhan and Alex will be talking with police. The matter will also be raised with DBC Housing Enforcement.

While in principle, Julie, Goverdhan and Alex have never been in favour of the proposed LA-1 development, they accept that the pressure to deliver more homes means that it will happen. As such, they want the best possible outcome for Grovehill and Piccotts End with the minimum number of dwellings. They do NOT support the inclusion of five gypsy / traveller pitches.

As reported in the Dacorum-wide In Touch that went out to residents by post in the summer however, much development in the borough remains on hold. That In Touch edition is available here.

And let's see if we can do something about this dodgy looking lamp post in Thatcher's Croft! 🙁

9th November 2021, we reported on the state of some very tired Grovehill road name signs. Well, Last week, some of them got fixed! YAY!!!! 🙂