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OPINIONS JOIN THE DEBATE: Email: [email protected] orwrite to: The Comet, Bank House, Primett Road, Stevenage SG1 3EE.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Attrition of our treesYou report (Comet, July 6) the
felling of at least two trees on the
site of the coming Debenhams
store, part of a project to clear the
Roaring Meg Retail Park of trees
and shrubs that are ‘non-native’ or
of ‘little ecological value’.
I don’t think that most people
who like to see trees around
them distinguish between, on the
one hand, trees and shrubs of
‘ecological value’, and on the other
hand, ecologically worthless trees
and shrubs that may conveniently
be felled by developers, highway
authorities or local councils at will.
Equally ‘native’ trees and non-
native trees.
Log piles of shredded bark
teeming with bugs are no substitute
for living trees. Replacement trees
that may take 20 years or more
to grow to maturity may be a
substitute for young and middle-
aged people, but a poor substitute
that is only better than nothing.
The plantation of a high density
of urban trees, as I read, was
a much acclaimed feature of
Stevenage New Town.
A large number of trees have
however since been lost, and yearly
an important number continue, by
way of attrition, to be lost.
The survivors should be
conserved. They should be
conserved whether they be of
‘ecological value’ or not. They
should be conserved whether they
be ‘native’ trees or not. They should
be conserved just as trees.
STEPHEN PROWER Buckthorn Avenue, Stevenage
■ Debenhams in Stevenage, which opens next month.
Puzzled over very public garden theftI am at a loss to understand why
some person or persons would
go to the trouble of stealing the
membrane from under the slate
chippings in my front garden not
once but twice, the second time
tipping the chippings all on to the
public footpath.
It just does not make sense – the
value is less than £10. My garden
is very public, being on the main
Bedford Road, so when and why is
beyond me!
Do I replace it again or give up?
MARGOT MONK Bedford Road, Hitchin
Ignored by Govia ThameslinkWe are deeply disappointed to learn
that Govia Thameslink Railway
is still planning to abandon train
services between Stevenage and
Hertford in 2018. GTR has not
listened to what Stevenage Borough
Council or anyone else has said
to them. They seem to be immune
to criticism and won’t consider
alternatives.
The proposed replacement bus
service is not an alternative –
journey times are considerably
longer and journeys more difficult,
particularly if passengers are
making connections to go further
north on the East Coast Main Line
or south towards Finsbury Park and
Moorgate.
Closing the line is a choice that
GTR is making. Network Rail
argues that there is the capacity
for GTR to run services through to
Stevenage from Hertford. Not only
does this send a terrible message
about the future of rail travel in
the UK, but it also puts increased
pressure on one of the county’s
already busiest roads – the A602.
To put it simply, this cannot be
allowed to happen. The Department
for Transport need to tell its
contractor – GTR – to maintain this
vital service, rather than leave hard-
working commuters in the lurch.
We urge them to come up with a
deliverable solution immediately
and we will do all that we can to
ensure trains continue to run
between Stevenage and Hertford
throughout 2018 and after.
COUNCILLOR RALPH RAYNOR Executive member for economy, enterprise and transport at Stevenage Borough Council
Parking privileges deemed unfairIn reply to Councillor Ralph Rayner
of Stevenage Borough Council, I
still have the following questions
concerning the new parking
charges on the roads in the vicinity
of Lister Hospital.
I fail to see how the imposition
of these unwarranted charges can
possibly relieve traffic congestion
along Coreys Mill Lane and/or
improve visibility for ambulances,
etc.
Why not have the designated
parking spaces, a two-hour time
limit, but without the charges?
Also, I see from the signage on
the cash machines that members of
the Blue Badge Society can park for
free, and presumably for as long as
they like?
Why should these people be
pampered and privileged in this
way? Giving certain groups special
privileges is insidious, anti-liberal
and grossly unfair to everyone else,
and as a non-Blue Badge holder I
feel like a second class citizen.
Why not make it free for
everyone? This regime hardly
amounts to ‘equality’ does it?
RICHARD SHANKLIN Broadwater Crescent, Stevenage
Speak out about aircraft noiseWith reference to the excellent
article by Martin Elvery regarding
aircraft noise in last week’s Comet
and Pam Madden’s letter in the
same issue, we are really pleased to
see that this problem born by many
is being brought to light.
We would just like to let people
know how easy it is to make your
comments, complaints and your
voice heard on this issue.
We know that this is a major
problem over Stevenage, and
London Luton Airport needs to
receive the information to be able to
deal with it and end the misery it is
causing
Simply email [email protected],
telephone 01582 395382 or write
London Luton Airport Navigation
House, Airportway, Luton LU2 9LY.
The problem is going to peak
again and be really bad in the
school holidays and the situation
is only going to get worse with the
expansion of the airport – so we all
need to speak now. United we stand. RON & ANN MELDRUM By email
Fearing for future of BaldockI have been looking at some
beautiful photographs posted on
the I Love Baldock site on Facebook
this week and thinking how lucky
we are to have the countryside so
close to us.
Then l read that the pictures
show fields that will be built on
with the advent of the new homes.
What a terrible shame that Baldock
will be changed, not improved,
changed forever. How can it be right
to increase by 80 per cent a nice
small town that is looking better
now than it’s ever done?
I expect we shall be ignored as
we have been so far and it will
all go ahead but schools, roads,
shops, medical centres, cars and
thousands of people will be joining
the residents of Baldock. They will
probably be like Clothall Common
and not be totally accepted for
years.
We need to build homes but why
so many in one small town? Far
more acceptable if they are spread
out and built across the county. SUE SUMMERFIELD Former Baldock resident, now in Hitchin
Plan followed all due processI am writing in response to a letter
published on June 29 from Miles
Maxwell, chairman of Ickleford
Parish Council, regarding North
Herts District Council’s Local Plan.
The letter implies that the council
carried out a “bogus consultation”
before the Draft Local Plan
was submitted to the planning
inspectorate and I would therefore
like to set the record straight.
During October and November
last year, the council consulted
residents and businesses on the
submission draft of the Local Plan.
Following this, the
representations received were
considered before a final draft
was presented to all 49 of NHDC’s
councillors in April. Your reader
does miss out this vital part of
the process, The council voted
to approve the Draft Plan for
submission having had the
opportunity to consider issues
raised by the consultation. The plan
has now been sent to the planning
inspector for consideration.
It is important to point out that
the Draft Local Plan has already
been approved by councillors and
should therefore put your reader’s
mind at rest that the democratic
process has indeed been followed.
To pick up another point of Mr
Maxwell, if approached, central
government requires us to deal with
planning enquiries and applications
in a positive way.
The National Planning Policy
Framework states that “local
planning authorities should look
for solutions rather than problems,
and decision-takers at every level
should seek to approve applications
for sustainable development where
possible. Local planning authorities
should work proactively with
applicants to secure developments
that improve the economic, social
and environmental conditions of
the area”.
Planning applications for large
housing schemes can take 12-18
months before they are determined
and therefore in the instance
of the proposed Barratt Homes
development in Ickleford, the Local
Plan may well have been adopted
NEWS
Phone: 01438 866200 Email: [email protected] @thecomet24Group editor: Matt Adams 01438 866201 [email protected]: Nick Gill01438 866205 @[email protected] editor: Damion Roberts 01438 866208 @[email protected]: Martin Elvery @journo_martinp01438 866209 [email protected] Yousif @comet_layth01438 866212 [email protected] McEvoy @comet_louise 01438 866207 [email protected] Asher @journo_JP 01438 866083 [email protected] Wild @journo_bianca 01438 866210 [email protected]
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Address: The Comet, Bank House, Primett Road, Stevenage, SG1 3EE
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COMPLAINTS
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OPINIONSJOIN THE DEBATE: Email: [email protected] orwrite to: The Comet, Bank House, Primett Road, Stevenage SG1 3EE.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Speaker’sCornerJon Brown, community transport co-ordinator at North Herts CVS
I want to share our wonderful
community transport scheme with
you. This hugely beneficial service
helps less able residents of North
Herts and Stevenage solve their
transport problems.
We use a dedicated team of volunteers
who all use their own cars in their free
time to transport passengers who live
locally to their required destination.
All of our drivers are paid a mileage rate
to cover the distance they travel which is
currently paid at 45p per mile.
Managed by North Herts CVS, the
scheme is aimed at individuals, both
elderly and young who have difficulty
using other passenger transport.
This may be because of age, frailty, a
disability or other mobility problems – or
simply because there is no alternative
form of passenger transport available.
The kind of journeys undertaken can
include hospital appointments, GP and
other healthcare appointments, day
centres and clubs etc.
It’s a service that is very much for the
local community, and one that is hugely
valuable both for the passenger and the
volunteer driver.
It helps people who are lonely and
isolated and brings much hope and peace
of mind. We are here to help.
I also want to send out a big appeal for
more volunteer drivers.
If you enjoy driving and helping people
and can give just a few hours a week
helping to make the lives of less able
residents that little bit easier then please
do contact me.
I would love to hear from you! We have
a fantastic team of volunteers, but more
help is needed.
I very much believe in the role of the
volunteer, and giving a little of your time
to someone or to a project can be
incredibly rewarding, inspiring and
encouraging.
To contact me email jonbrown@nhcvs.
org.uk or call me on 01462 689402.
North Herts CVS provides support and
information to voluntary and community
groups, charities and social enterprises in
North Hertfordshire and Stevenage.
Other inspiring and proactive
volunteering projects include #Team
Herts Volunteering, the Volunteer Centre,
Breakaway Playschemes and Furniture
Link Showrooms.
For more information about what‘s on offer please visit the website www.nhcvstransport.org.uk.
Volunteers sought for community transport
It is a service that is very much for the local community, and one that is hugely valuable both for the passenger and the volunteer driver
before a decision has to be taken.
Even if it has not been adopted,
the council has already approved
its Submission Plan including the
suitable sites for development and
this is a material consideration
when determining planning
applications.
COUNCILLOR DAVID LEVETT NHDC’s executive member for planning and enterprise
Shameful state of car exhaustsNow that summer is in full swing
there seems to have been an
alarming increase in cars being
driven around Hitchin with
absolutely terrible sounding
exhaust systems fitted.
Now, I am certainly no prude.
Indeed, I own a V8 car that produces
a very pleasing rumble as I ‘cruise’
to the garden centre. I have many
a time forgone listening to The
Archers and wound the window
down to appreciate it.
But the few minority that seem to
have purchased their exhausts from
a shady looking eBay seller are,
quite frankly, embarrassing.
To hear a woefully underpowered
‘hot hatch’ struggle to achieve
third gear while making the noise
a flatulent baboon would be proud
of is shameful to the performance
car enthusiasts out there and I ask
that could they please, for the love
of God and dignity, save up and buy
something of better quality.
OFI CEPEST Hitchin
Slower trains from Letchworth?Great Northern has issued the train
timetable planned for 2018 when
most of our trains will be redirected
into the Thameslink system in
London, calling at St Pancras and
Blackfriars instead of King’s Cross.
During the daytime Letchworth
will get twice the current number of
trains to/from London, but during
peaktimes the service to London
will be slower.
Letchworth loses its non-stop
trains to/from King’s Cross,
which currently take as little as 27
minutes. Instead the fastest trains
in the rush hour will take at least
39 minutes from St Pancras or 33
minutes from King’s Cross
The non-stop London services
will instead serve Ashwell and
Morden, which is great news for
Ashwell commuters, but somewhat
a strange use of resources
considering that Ashwell serves
a much smaller population than
Letchworth.
Fellow Letchworth commuters
who object to this slower service can
comment at www.transformingrail.
com by July 27.
STEPHEN ROSE Lawrence Avenue, Letchworth
