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| Parish
Council Report |
It was the best of times and
the worst of times, a tale of two Colneys. Since last year, most people
enjoyed the former with Christmas and the New Year and are now looking forward
to coming lighter evenings. Sadly, there have also been difficult times
for some families indeed some involving tragic circumstances. We received
an unhealthy and unwelcome dose of pollution from Buncefield, it will be
interesting to see what lessons eventually emerge, not that they are ever
really learned.
During the past few months, the Parish Council has been planning its priorities
for the next three years. There have been workshops where we discussed the
views of local people and how to implement their suggestions. The effort
to produce the plan has been lead by Councillor Rosie Sanderson and she
has written about it in this issue. Separately we held a workshop with other
agencies to find ways to engage (sorry, awful word) young people. To be
realistic we cannot turn back the tide but perhaps in some small ways we
can make a difference.
We have been using the facilities of our new office in the High Street;
it has been very helpful to have nearby access to papers, photocopying,
and a white board etc. The Clerk is also very happy to have a decent office
and actually has room to turn round. Soon we will have a sign with contact
details and we will be installing a counter for public access and information.
In spite of meetings we have suffered continued frustration that highway
improvements have not been delivered we will however continue to make representations
to the powers that be.
We have supported the formation of new neighbourhood watch schemes and we
thank the organisers for the effort that they have made to launch them.
One of our groundsmen has been away for a number of weeks after an operation,
we hope that he will soon be fit again, in the meantime we thank our other
staff and helpers for their efforts, over and above the call of duty, to
overcome any difficulties. One of the features that make the village distinct
and not part of an urban sprawl is the surrounding countryside. We believe
and others have commented that this tends to make our river and the Upper
Colne Valley a poor relation compared to the Ver with its historic association
with Verulamium and the later city. We do not begrudge the Ver its glory
or efforts to enhance it but we do need to raise the profile of the Upper
Colne Valley so that it is not spoilt any more, and indeed enhanced.
One reason for this situation is that the area is on the border of St Albans
District, neighbouring Hertsmere and so is less of a priority in either
than areas that are more central. We are considering what we can do to improve
matters. Forming an Upper Colne alliance of local authorities is one possibility.
John Dent
Chairman, London Colney Parish Council
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