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1 Lookingback-Lookingforward
AnnualReport2018/2019Lookingback-Lookingforward
BeingabriefaccountfortheAnnualGeneralMeetingofTheSociety'sactivitiesduringtheyear2018/2019–
withaglanceaheadtothecomingyear
OverthepastyearormoreHarpenden’sattractionforhousebuyershascontinued,albeitwithdemand–inlinewithprices–risingmoremodestly,againstabackgroundofeconomicuncertainty.ThemiseryinflictedoncommutersresultingfromThameslinktimetablechaosnodoubtalsohadaneffect.WhilethemajorhousingdevelopmentsthreatenedinStAlbansDistrictCouncil’s(updated)LocalPlanhaveyettomaterialise,therehasbeenenough‘infill’buildingtoincreasepressureonschools,healthandcommunityfacilitiesand,ofcourse,carparking.Thetownfeelsevermorecongestedwithtrafficdelaysaneverydayoccurrence.Growthisinevitableandwehavetoprepareforfurtherpressures.However,governmentcomputermodelsforprojectedfuturegrowtharebasedoncalculationswhicharenowbeingchallenged.WeareanageingpopulationandrecentstudiesindicateaslowinginUKpopulationgrowthandreducedfertilityrates(1.7childrenperfamilywhichislowininternationalterms).
Itthrowsdoubtontheextentofthehousingdemandbeingimposedonlocalauthoritiesinthesouth-eastwhere,forgoodorill,therehasalsobeenaslowdownineconomicgrowth,whichmayormaynotbeattributableto‘theBrexitfactor’.ThereisalsoevidencethatsomeeconomicactivityismovingawayfromLondoninawelcomerebalancing.AndwhileHarpendenwillstillbeunderpressuretoallowmorehousing,thenumbersoughtlogicallytobereviewed.
NeighbourhoodPlanapprovedThisiswhythetown’sNeighbourhoodPlanwasimportant,afteryearswhendeveloperscouldsubmitlargeplanningapplicationstoSADCwithoutreferencetoanyformalHarpenden-centredplanningdocument.MeanwhilethedistrictLocalPlanisstillworkingthroughitstortuousprocessesanditremainsunclear,atthetimeofwriting,ifandwhenitwillbeapproved.Twonewestatestothenorth-eastandnorth-westofthetownarecurrentlyenvisaged.TheHarpendenSocietycampaignedinfavourofthetown’sNeighbourhoodPlanandthereferenduminFebruarygaveitclearapproval.Itoffersthe
prospectofdevelopers–asaconditionofgainingplanningapproval–beingcompelledtocontributemoretothefundingofcommunityfacilities,atatimeofevermorestringentlocalauthoritybudgets.
LutonAirportexpansionthreatAttheSociety’sMay2018PublicMeetingweheardfromHazelSimmons,theleaderofLutonBoroughCouncilonitsambitionsforamassiveexpansionofLutonAirport.Manyintheaudiencewerenotconvincedbyherassertionsonthenoiseandtrafficcongestionimplications.Itishopedthattheincreasefrom18to33millionppa(passengersperannum)proposalwillnotgetthegreenlightasreadilyaspreviousexpansionplans–whenLutonBC,astheairportowner,effectivelyactedas‘judgeandjury’.The80%-plusprojectedexpansionwillrequirecentralgovernmentapproval.TransportSecretaryChrisGrayling’sreputationasabunglingdecisionmakerdoesnotbodewellforthoseofuswantingthebrakesappliedtotheairport’segregiousexpansionplans.
TheChairmanlooksback...andforward
2 Lookingback-Lookingforward
Parking:noquickfixesevidentParkingproblemsinthetowncentreandsurroundingresidentialstreetsgrowevermoreacute.TheHarParkgingergroupairedthefindingsoftheirresearchataSocietymeetinginJanuary,whereDistrictCouncillorTeresaHeritagepledgedtoworkwiththeTownandDistrictcouncilstocomeupwithadefinedparkingstrategy.Despitesomecynicism‘thatwehaveseenthisallbefore’,hopewasexpressedthatmanyoftheparkingissueswouldatlastbeaddressedbyofficialdom.
MythanksforthehardworkandcontributionofSocietycommitteemembers,muchofwhichhappensbehindthescenesandwhichisapparentfromthereportsfromourgroup‘convenors’.ThanksinparticulartoPennyAyresandhercolleagueswhorunourAnnualAwardsscheme,encouragingandrecognisingqualitydesignanddevelopmentinthetownscape.AlsoworthyofcommendationarethosededicatedSocietymemberswho,forfiveyears,havevoluntarilyenabledHarpenden’spubliclibrarytobekeptopenonWednesdayafternoons.WearealwayslookingforSocietymemberstojointhecommitteeandhelptakeforwardourmanyactivities.InparticularwearelookingforavicechairmanandforsomeonetostepintoJohnDavis’sshoesasenvironmentwatchdog.MeanwhilewewelcomeHesterGabbutttotakeoverfromJanSmiththevitalroleofmembershipsecretary.Weendeavourtomaintaingoodcommunicationswithourmembers,viatheSocietywebsite–www.harpendensociety.org–andourquarterlynewslettereditedbyAlanBunting,aswellasamonthlyemailedupdateonSocietyactivities.PhilWaters
TheChairmanlooksback...andforwardcontinued.
Secretary’sreportIthasbeenabusyand,dareIsay,productive,twelvemonthsfortheSociety.Ourfivegenerallywell-attendedpublicmeetingsheldinRothamstedResearch’sFowdenHallembracedadiversityofspeakersandtopics.ProfessorRanjeetSokhilookedatlocalairqualityissues.MarionDunstonefromHertsCommunityNHSTrustdescribedtheprojected–butnowseeminglystalled–newHealthandWellbeingCentreontheRedHousesiteinCarltonRoad.LutonBoroughcouncillorsputforwardtheallegedbenefitsforthelocalareaofexpandingitsairportcapacitybysome80%,inthefaceofvociferousprotestsfrommanyintheaudience.
CrimeintheHarpendenandStAlbansareaandallitsattendentchallengeswereaddressedbyhigh-rankingpoliceofficersandcrimecommissionerDavidLloyd.OurfinalmeetingsawMaryMaynard,theplanningportfolioholderasaStAlbansDistrictCouncilloroutliningthecouncil’sstatutoryLocalPlaninitsamendedformwith,notably,itsprovisionsforcontrollinghousingdevelopmentmorestringently,broadlyinlinewithHarpenden’sownnow‘signedoff’NeighbourhoodPlan.BobFletcher
Arts&leisureFinalplanningpermissionfortheconversionofthepresentSportsCentreinRothamstedParkintoanArtsandCultural‘hub’hasnowbeenobtained.Meanwhilepreparatoryworkonthenewmuchlargerandmoremulti-functionalSportsCentretobebuiltaroundtheexistingindoorswimmingpoolhasstarted.Ithasinvolvedtheremovalofabeechhedge,reducingthecrownofalargeoaktreeandremovingcypresstreesfromalongsidethethetrackbetweentheswimmingpoolbuildingandthefootballpitchandbetweentheswimmingpoolandAmenburyLanecarpark.
ClearlyworkoncreatingthenewArtsandCulturalhubcannotbeginuntilgymfacilitiesareprovidedelsewhere–eventuallyinthenewSportsCentreofcourse.Butinordertospeedthingsupithasbeensuggestedtheymightbehousedprotemintemporarybuildingselsewhere.Onotherfronts,ArtontheCommonenjoyscontinuedsuccess;allthepitchesforthisyear’sshow(June8,9)weretakenupwithinfourweeks.Howevertheorganisationalback-upneedstobestrengthenedif,asprojected,theeventistobestaged,induecourse,insidethenewArtsCentrebuilding,immunefromweatheruncertainty.
AlanJackson
3 Lookingback-Lookingforward
EducationConstructionworkontheKatherineWarringtonSchool,Harpenden’sfourthsecondaryschool,isnowwelladvanced,witheveryexpectationthatitwillopenforfirstyearpupilsinSeptember.HeadteacherTonySmithisactivelyrecruitingstaffandsaysheisimpressedbythecalibreofteacheralreadyappointed.Theopeningofthenewschoolshouldbringtoanendtheannualanguishsufferedbyparentsandchildrenwhopreviouslycouldnotgainaplaceatoneofthetown’ssecondaryschools.
UndertheauspicesoftheHarpendenSecondarySchoolsTrust,RoundwoodPark,StGeorgesandSirJohnLawesschoolshavebeencollaboratingmoreclosely,notablyontheorganisationofaDrugsAwarenesseveningheldatRothamstedinNovember,whichwaswellattendedbyparentsandstudentsfromallthreeschools.Theeveningwasdeemedsufficientlyfruitfulforsimilareventstobeconsideredontopicssuchasknifecrime.ChrisArmitage
MembershipAfterthreeyearsasmembershipsecretaryandwithothercommitmentscrowdingin,Iamrelinquishingtheroleandhandingoverthemainpartofit–maintainingthemembershipspreadsheetandmonitoringsubscriptions–toHesterGabbutt,afairlynewHarpendenSocietymemberwhoiskeentohelpincreaseourmembershipandcreatemoreinterestinthekindoflocalissuesonwhichtheSocietyfocuses.IhaveenjoyedworkingwithagreatteamdedicatedtomaintainingandimprovingthelifeofHarpendenresidents.Atthetimeofwritinginmid-Marchourmembershipstandsat959.Thatisfivefewerthanlastyearalthoughtherehaveofcoursebeengainsandlosseswithinthatnumber.WearenonethelesskeentoboostourmembershipandIwouldurgeourmemberstomakepotentialnew‘recruits’awareofdiverseworkoftheSociety.TherearestillmanypeopleinourtownwhohaveneverheardofTheHarpendenSociety,orthinkthatweareanoffshootoftheTownCouncilorevenoftheHarpendenTrust.Theyshouldbeassuredthatwearenon-partypoliticalandaimprincipallytohighlighttheachievements,andconcerns,ofourmembershipandtomaketheirviewsknown,mostespeciallyperhapstoallthreelayersoflocalgovernment.Wecontinuetolookforsomeonetotakeonmysecondaryroleofco-ordinatingdistributionofournewsletterfourtimesayear.HappilyanumberofvolunteershavecomeforwardafterourappealintheWinterissueformoredeliverersto‘playpostman’.Onadifferentvolunteeringsubject,offersofhelpinpreparingtheteaandcoffeeatoureveningmeetingswouldbeappreciated.JanSmith
SocietyAwardsForthesecondyearinsuccession,noneofthenominationsreceivedwereconsideredworthyoftheSociety’sprestigiousPlaqueandnothingthistimewarrantedaLetterofCommendation.
ButaCertificateofMeritforthe2018yearhasbeenawardedtotheParkHouseapartmentdevelopmentbyPegasusLife,adjoiningRothamstedPark.
AstrikingdevelopmentcontributingtoHarpenden’sgrowingtownscape.PennyAyres
AlisonSteer.President
CertificateofMerit2018awardedtoPegasusLifeforParkHouse,HarpendenPresentedinrecognitionforthedevelopmentoftheParkHouseconcept
with38muchneededluxuryapartmentsfortheoversixtiesincludingtheParkCafe.
4 Lookingback-Lookingforward
BuiltEnvironmentThemajorachievementwasarguablytheapprovalbyreferendumoftheHarpendenNeighbourhoodPlanwhich,weareassured,willhavetobetakenintoaccountbydevelopersandbyStAlbansDistrictCouncilastheplanningauthority,atleastwhenlargefutureschemesareproposed.ThemorelegallyenforceableSADCLocalPlanhasbeenagainpostponedbutinmid-MarchitssubmissiontotheSecretaryofStatewasimminent.Meanwhile,subjecttoanotherPublicInquiry,RothamstedResearch’sLawesTrustparentorganisationwouldlikeasiteintheirownershipnorthofRedbourntobeincludedintheLPfora1000-homedevelopment,allegedlywithsomesupportfromRedbournresidents.Alaswehavehadanotheryearofnumerousexampleswhereplanningpermissionhasbeengranted–sometimesonappeal–foraperfectlygoodhousetobereplacedwithoneorevenhouseswhichclashtotally,usuallyinarchitecturalterms,withthestreetscene.ThecompletionofParkHouseonthesiteofthelong-derelictJamesMarshallbuildinghasbeenahighlightandthenearcompletionofHarpendenHousehoteldevelopmenthasalsoturnedoutbetterthanexpected.
TheOldCockInnandTheGeorgearenowbeingrefurbishedtoincludefurtheraccommodationforvisitors,whiletheBreathingSpacecaféandkeep-fitstudioinThompsonsCloseisbeingconvertedtogroundfloorapartments.
TheredevelopmentofthePanAutossiteforhousinginGroveRoadwasopposedbylocalresidentsbuthasbeenapproved,alaswithareducedcarparkingrequirement.Alsothedevelopmentat2SalisburyAvenue(onitscornerwithRothamstedAvenue)hasbeenapproveddespitelocaloppositionandareducedparkingrequirement.PlanningpermissionwasalsograntedinaTownCouncilapplicationfor24‘affordable’dwellingsontheformerallotmentsiteatWestfieldRoad.BuildingthenewKatherineWaringtonsecondaryschoolatBatfordisnowunderwayfollowingtheimpositionof49listedconditions,whilepreliminaryworkhasstartedonthenewSportsCentreadjoiningtheswimmingpoolinRothamstedPark.Itislinkedtotheeventualreplacementoftoday’sHarpendenPublicHallsbyanSADC-managedapartmentblockhasbeensignalled.
Mike&PaulineWaddilove
TransportUndoubtedlythehighlightfortheSociety’sTransportGroupoverthepastyearwasourpublicmeetinginJanuarydevotedtothehugelychallengingissueofparkinginandaroundHarpenden.FollowingonfromasurveyundertakenbytheHarParkGroup,itdrewacapacityattendanceinHighStreetMethodistChurchhall.Themanyproblemsrelatingtoeveryaspectofcarparkingwereairedbutwithfewconcretesolutionsproposed,aswereportedintheSociety’sWinternewsletter.CllrTeresaHeritageneverthelessproposedtheformulationofadefinitestrategy‘withinafewmonths’,theessenceofwhichwillbeawaitedwithinterestthoughnotnecessarilyoptimism.
TheSociety,alongwithHarParkrepresentatives,isstriving,wherepossible,toexpediteprogressthroughtheDistrictandTownCouncils.ParkingregulationsinHarpendenremaininthecontrolofStAlbansDistrictCouncil,atleastforthetimebeing.ItsCarParkingWorkingPartysaysmattersshouldbeimprovedwithnewofficerrecruitment,whowillimplementnewsystemseffectively.
TheThameslinktraintimetablechangeofMay2018wasdisastrous,butbyDecemberhadjustaboutreachedatolerableservicelevel.HarpendenSocietyattendedTrainUsermeetingswiththeoperatorforthefurthertimetablerevisionscheduledforMay2019–whenfurtherserviceimprovementsarepromised.
AfterirreparablefailureofbothitsvenerableMercedesbusesinAugust2018,some£70,000isbeinginvestedbythetowncouncilintheHarpendenHoppercommunitybusservice,whichresumedonApril2.Thetwonew16-seatPeugeotminibuseswill,afterconsultationwiththeHarpendenSocietyandotherpotentialusers,serveanadditionalroutefromthetowncentre,viaSouthdowntoEastmoorPark,aswellastheearlierroutetothenorthofthetown.AtthemostrecentmeetingofStAlbans&DistrictBusUsersForum,theHarpendenSocietystressedtheneedtoensuretheactiveparticipationofHertsCountyCouncil,asthehighwaysauthority,inplanningthenewKatherineWaringtonSchool’stwice-dailypupiltransportfacilities,forchildrenhavingtotravelfromoutsideaswellasthroughthetown.
AlanFalconer
5
EnvironmentAsacivicsocietyoneofourprimeconcernsmustbestrivingtoensurethetownlookswellcaredfor.Iflitterbinsareoverflowingforexampleandroadsidedrainsareblocked,creatingpuddlesfortraffictodrenchpassingpedestrians,theimpressiongainedbyvisitorsaswellasbyresidentsisinevitablydownbeat.WethereforetrytoencourageHarpendenSocietymembersandindeedotherswhocareaboutthetowntoreportsuchmatterstotherelevantauthority–orauthorities.
Itisadmittedlyanuphillstruggle.Therehasalasbeenlittleifanyperceptibleimprovementinthosebasicenvironmentalshortcomingsoverthepastyearorso.Butthatcouldbe,tosomeextent,duetolackofknowledgeonwhereandhowtoreportsuchissues.StAlbansDistrictCouncilanditsmainwastecollectionandlitterbinmaintenancecontractorVeoliahaveacallcentreon01727809019while,forhighwayissues,HertsCountyCouncilcanbecontacted(free)on013001234047.Bothauthoritiesarealso,ofcourse,contactableviatheirrespectivewebsites.
NoisefromplanesflyingintoandoutofLutonAirportremainsanirritationinmanypartsofHarpenden,despiteclaimsthatthelatestAirbus320seriesaircraftarequieterthantheirpredecessors.Call01582395382orgotonoise@ltn.aerotoregisternoisecomplaints,butbereadywithprecisetiminganddirectiondetails.
JohnDavis
HealthandwellbeingAllthegroup’senergies,largelythroughtheRedHouseForum,havebeendirectedtowardstheredevelopmentoftheRedHousesiteinCarltonRoad,tocreateHarpenden’smuch-needednewHealthandWellbeingCentre.ButdespitetheassurancereceivedovertwelvemonthsagothataplanningapplicationfortheredevelopmentoftheStewartsandfor
housingtobebuiltonthesite’s‘surplusland’wouldbesubmittedinthelatesummer,butalasnothinghashappened.ThedelaylookscertaintobefurtherexacerbatedbyamajorreorganisationoflocalNHSprovisionannouncedattheendofJanuary.ProvisionoftheadultcommunityservicescontractintheWestHertsareawillbehandedoverinOctoberfromHertfordshireCommunityTrust(HCT)toamuchlarger,andarguablymorefaceless,body,CentralLondonCommunityHealthcareTrust(CLCH).
Thechangeisbeingmadefollowingwhatisdescribedasa‘markettestingprocess’undertakenbyHertsValleyClinicalCommissioningGroup(CCG),whoseongoingprevaricationontheRedHouseplanswasoutlinedinourWinternewsletter.HCT’schiefexecutiveClareHawkinshasexpressedgreatdisappointmentatthedecision,butsaysthetrustwillnotberaisingalegalchallenge,ifonlytoavoidfurtherpublicexpenditure.
MeanwhilecountycouncillorTeresaHeritagehassaidshewillbetakingupthequestionoftheRedHouseprojectwiththeCCG,expressingtheviewthattheHealthandWellbeingCentreislikelytobeneededdespitetheNHScontractchange.
JohnHarris
SocietyfinancesYear-on-yearourincomefellveryslightlymainlyduetolowerGiftAidreceipts,whileexpenditureroseby£290.ThelargestrisewasinthecostofpublicmeetingswhereFowdenHallatRothamstedismorecostlytohirethanParkHall.Therewasadepreciationchargeof£237.92onnewfixedassetsthatwerepurchasedduringtheyear,thoughpartlyoffsetbythereducedcostofnewsletterprinting.Thesurplusof£1,576.89was£351.12lowerthantheyearbefore,stillaveryhealthyfigure,givingusadequatefundstomeetforeseeablefuturecosts.FixedAssetspurchasedduringtheyearwereadocumentscannerat£255.69andexhibitiondisplaypanelscosting£696.
HarryDownie
PublicityandthelocaleconomyEditorialandpromotionalcoverageoftheSociety’sactivitiescontinuesacrossawidespectrumoflocalmedia.Weenjoycoverageinthetraditionallocalpress,notablytheHertsAdvertiser,aswellaspostersinlocalshopsandfeaturesinourownwell-regardednewsletter,notforgettingsocialmediaviaHarpendenParentsNetwork,theHarpendiaon-linenewsmagazine,andtheSociety’swebsite.Societyactivitiesalsoreceiveusefulpublicityatourregularpublicmeetings,wherenon-members–aspotentialnewmembersofcourse–arealwayswelcome.
Retailandotherbusinesses,particularlyinthetowncentre,havetheirupsanddowns,thelattermostevidentinrecentmonthswiththeclosureofFullwoodsladiesboutique,RollingsWine,Stradarestaurant,Harry’sBar,VineLeavescaféand–perhapsmostsurprisinglyinviewofitsshortlifeandsumptuousfrontageandinterior–theBarbarellowinebar.ThelossofourNatWestbankbranchwas,especiallytoitsmanycustomers,ashatteringblow.However,theTownthoughcontinuestoattractnewbusinesses.ThearrivaloftheMUSTwinebar(replacingRollings),theGigglingSquidrestaurant(replacingStrada),theMadSquirrelBar(replacingHarry’s)providesameasureofencouragement,asdoestheappearanceinashortspaceoftime,ofnotonebuttwoshops–StevensonsandBeat–sellingschooluniforms.MeanwhilethecaféinthenewParkHouseapartmentbuildinghasopenedforbusinessandTahini,aTurkishfastfood‘barbeku’isduetoopeontheHighStreet/KirkdaleRoadcorner.
Moresignificantly,fromalocaleconomystandpoint,RothamstedResearchhasestablisheditsnewly-namedAgritechBusinessCentretoaccommodatecompanieswishingtojointhe21alreadybasedonthesite.Itisincreasingfloorspacefrom22,305sqftto35,395sqft.
RonTaylor
CommunitySafetyDuring2018wesawthreepoliceChiefInspectors.ShaneO’NeillretiredandStuartCheektookoverandwaslatermadeHeadofDomesticAbuseandsoLyndaCoatestookover.NeighbourhoodInspectorAndyWisemanhasreplacedJonRochewhoisnowRoadsPolicingChiefInspector.PoliceandCrimeCommissionerDavidLloydplanstoincreasethenumberofofficersinHertfordshiretoover2000.
Policeprioritieswerespeedingandanti-socialbehaviourlinkedtodrugs.Cybercrimeandroguenuisancephonecallsincreasedduringtheyearasdidbiketheftsandpublicorder,withvehiclecrimecontinuing.Motoristsareremindedtoalwayslocktheircarandkeepthekeyinasafeplacewith‘clever’(remotecontrol)keysinashieldtostopthembeing‘read’andduplicatedelectronically.
Thankfullyreductionswereseenindamage/arson,downfrom44inJanuarytojustsixinNovember,andburglariesdownfrom23to5.Harpendenisstillregardedbythepoliceasarelativelysafearea.MeanwhiletheNeighbourhoodWatchOWLschemehasprovedhelpfultothepoliceonanumberofoccasionsenablingarreststobemade.Visitwww.owl.co.ukforinformationandtojointhescheme.
PaulGardiner
8 www.hertsad24.co.ukThursday, March 7, 2019
NEWS
Debenhams OttawayFEATURE ADVERTISEMENT
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With spring around the corner, many of us will be thinking about clearing out, cleaning
up and generally getting our life in order.
Now is a great time to start thinking about all the things that you’ve put off or haven’t got round to, and first up is having an up-to-date will.
Where there’s a will, there’s a wayTwo out of three people in the UK don’t have a will. Many of us mistakenly believe that our spouse will automatically inherit, and if you aren’t married, your partner receives nothing unless you have a will. Making a will is the only way to guarantee that your family is supported financially and provided for in the way you want.
If you do have a will, you need to review it regularly. Whether it’s
buying a new home, getting married, having children or getting divorced, it’s important to check your will regularly to make sure it reflects these changes.
Time to move? Having a spring clean at home can make you realise you don’t have the space you need. Alternatively, you may realise you have too much space and need to downsize. The selling and buying process can often seem over complicated and drawn out but it doesn’t have to be.
Being well prepared when selling your property or buying a new home can help the transaction proceed more easily and quickly. From ensuring you have the correct planning and building consents in place to appointing your solicitor before you place your property on the market, careful planning can help make
the process as stress-free as possible. As the buyer, making sure you have your finances in place and mortgage (if required) agreed in principle will put you in the best possible position when making an offer.
Saying ‘I do’Many couples will be planning their big day in the coming year, but how many will have a pre-nuptial agreement on their checklist?
A pre-nuptial agreement is a contract between couples who are about to marry, confirming
ownership and potential division of assets if the marriage should break down.
With the rise of second and subsequent marriages, many people bring wealth and assets built up over many years or inherited assets that they want to protect.
Generations of families come back to the trusted team of lawyers at Debenhams Ottaway to make sure their best interests are looked after.If you would like to write or review your will, you are looking to move house or are considering a
pre-nuptial agreement, contact:
Susan GlenholmePrivate client partnerT: 01727 735636E: [email protected]
Nigel DrakeResidential property partnerT: 01727 735602E: [email protected]
Helen YoungFamily partnerT: 01727 738212E: [email protected]
Helen YoungSusan Glenholme Nigel Drake
Society fears new wellbeing centre will never happen after long delaysProgress has stalled on plans for a new health and wellbeing centre in Harpenden.
The Harpenden Society has expressed doubts that the plans to renovate the former Harpenden Memorial Hospital site in Carlton Road will come to fruition.
The wellbeing centre will be based in the Stewarts Building, and will offer services for diabetes, leg ulcers and bladder and bowel problems, as well as blood tests and children’s speech and language therapy.
The rest of the site will be turned into affordable homes, and the adjacent Red House will be turned into flats.
In a meeting last summer, the Harpenden Society was told construction would begin during 2019, with the new centre ready
for use by late 2020.The editor of Harpenden
Society’s newsletter, Alan Bunting, wrote in January: “In our winter 2017 newsletter we reported that a target date for completion of the project had been set at April 2019.
“But here we are only three months from that date and progress can, at least to outward appearances, be summed up as appearing to have stalled.
“Among potential beneficiaries of the promised health and wellbeing centre, especially patients in Harpenden who have to travel considerable distances to clinics or hospitals outside the
town, there are feelings of frustration and even anger that the new facility looks no nearer than when it was first mooted some three years ago.”
The proposals have been developed by Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT), with the close involvement of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG).
A trust spokesman said: “Herts
Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group supports in principle the proposals that Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust has developed.
“There are still some arrangements that need to be finalised before the scheme can go ahead.”
Earlier this year, HVCCG ran a market testing process which confirmed Central London
Community Healthcare NHS Trust as the new provider for adult community health services in west Herts from the autumn, taking over the role from HCT.
HCT chief executive Clare Hawkins said: “We will support all staff affected by the decision to ensure that there is a smooth transition to CLCH for them and for our patients and local communities.
An artist’s impression of the proposed new centre. Picture: RON TAYLOR/THE HARPENDEN SOCIETY
ANNE SUSLAK
6