Active News for Harpenden 2026

Sustainability and Climate Crisis Strategy for St Albans District and Harpenden is launched.

A new sustainability and climate crisis strategy for St Albans District and Harpenden with the aim of achieving net zero by 2030 has been launched.

The strategy covers the years from now until 2027 and sets out measures to cut harmful emissions and improve the local environment.

St Albans City and District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and produced a strategy with more than 100 actions for 2020 to 2023.

Last year, Councillors also declared a sustainability and biodiversity emergency, recognising the urgent need to protect and enhance nature.

Now the Planning Policy and Climate Committee has approved an updated strategy to progress all this vital work.

The strategy includes further initiatives to improve the sustainability of the Council’s own operations and services with its emissions having been cut by 52% since 2009.

It also sets out commitments and proposals to:

*Boost the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings around the District.

*Promote active and sustainable transport to improve air quality.

*Reduce waste, encourage recycling and campaign for sustainable food production.

*Enhance the natural environment and allow biodiversity to flourish.

Conserve precious water resources and ease flooding risks.

Councillor Raj Visram, Lead for Climate, said: “Since declaring a climate emergency, we have made great strides forward and taken many positive actions.

“For example, we have planted many thousands of trees and spent more than £20 million on improving the energy efficiency of our social housing properties with more work scheduled.

“Our parking services team now has an all-electric vehicle fleet and 18 more electric vehicle charging points have been installed around the District.

“We have also helped to set up the St Albans Home Energy Support Service which provides free advice to households on making their homes more energy efficient and how to obtain funding.

“However, we are not complacent and this updated strategy will further boost our efforts to tackle the climate emergency and create a carbon neutral District.

“It highlights the areas where we will be making major efforts in the years ahead to promote sustainability and I am sure we will have the support of our residents and businesses as we continue with this priority project.

“I would urge all those who are passionate about their local environment and the need to make improvements to take the time to read this strategy. We need everyone to buy into what we are doing.”

Among the new measures the strategy commits the Council to is a campaign to increase opportunities for the community to become involved in its climate work.

St Albans Greener Together will be launched soon with the aim of helping residents, schools, community groups and businesses find solutions to environmental issues.

SEPT 23 2024 HTC COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

23.1 SADC PARKING PROPOSALS – Council considered a

report by the Town Clerk & Chief Executive. Council

RESOLVED to:Agree the following statement relating to the HTC view on what has happened so far regarding the parking proposals:

• The Town Council has been very concerned with the

proposals set out in the consultation and objects to them.

• The Town Council does not support any charges for on-street

parking in Harpenden Town Centre.

• SADC appears to be adopting a ‘one size fits all approach’ which

for example, does not reflect the key differences between St Albans City Centre and Harpenden Town Centre.

• SADC’s communications on this matter have been poor and

have created areas of concern and perceptions that could have

been avoided.

• It is questionable as to whether an appropriate consultation process has been carried out given the communications put out and timeline inconsistencies.

• Earlier engagement with the local community and Town Council

around the time of budget setting, in the form of a non statutory

consultation, would have helped SADC to understand the local

parking issues and enabled the development of a set of

proposals that could make improvements locally without the

potential for significant local damage.

• A more positive response to the Town Council offer of a formal joint collaboration in parallel to the consultation would have increased the chances of producing better proposals.

Agree the following statement as to what should happen next:

• HTC calls on SADC to carefully consider the consultation

responses and listen to the views of the community.

• We recognise that improvements need to be made to parking

policy locally, however SADC should develop an alternative

approach that sees major changes to what was proposed

during the consultation.

• HTC will carefully consider any changes proposed by SADC

and will consider its view on them at the appropriate time. If no

changes are put forward or if minor changes are suggested

that do not significantly address the consultation themes, then HTC

will consider instructing an initial legal view on the validity of

the process that has been carried out. This initial view may

lead to HTC initiating more formal legal action.

• More widely, HTC requests that SADC learn from this experience

and engage with us much earlier when developing any proposals

that have such an impact on the Town.

• HTC stands by its previous Resolution made at the

Extraordinary Council Meeting on 22 July to offer to work in

formal joint collaboration with SADC to develop alternative

proposals. Agree its support to the following alternative on street

parking proposal:

• Allow 1hr free parking, with no return within 1 hour, and no

option to remain longer than 1hr.

• Improved bay infrastructure i.e. markings, signage.

•• More effective enforcement.

•• Consistent maximum stays on all bays including Disabled Bays.

•• Minimal additional Loading Bays where there is a clear need and

they have limited impact on general parking bays.

• Introduction of more flexible permit options by SADC that

support retail workers and workers from the voluntary sector.

• Introduction of appropriate and accessible communications

channels setting out the various options for parking in

HarpendenTown Centre. END

Feb 3. 2025

Statement from Jeff Phillips. Chair, The Harpenden Society.

“The Harpenden Society is disappointed by the insistence of SADC to impose parking charges in the centre of the town starting Feb 17th. This despite substantial local opposition and suggestions from the town council and ourselves that would have facilitated sensible compromises.

“Pushing through this charging regime, which has barely altered from the regime proposed prior to the consultation period is, frankly, insulting.

“The Society accepts the principle of charging, but as an example, the single visit 30 minute free period per day could mean parents at the two town centre schools to have to pay for parking when they pick up their children at the end of the school day. This assumes they have used the free 30 minutes on another visit during the day.

“And to add insult to injury, SADC have agreed to delay the implementation of charges in the roads around Clarence Park in St Albans ‘until a wider review’ has taken place.

“Both the town council and the Society have argued strongly for such a review of the wider parking issues to take place in Harpenden as well.

“There seems to be one law for St Albans residents and another for the residents of Harpenden. We repeat our request for these proposals to be suspended so that a fair and sensible parking strategy and charging regime can be developed for the town centre.”

MARCH 2025

The END of FREE* High Street parking has ANGERED Harpenden residents and businesses now the effects are being felt on a daily basis, three weeks after it was implemented. 803 responses.

An on-line service conducted by Elaine Bradford on Harpenden Local during w/e March 7 revealed a massive response which has been analysed and converted into understandable data as shown in the charts below.

Having owned a retail fashion business on the High St. for several years and now with a private practice as a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist, she knows the importance of free parking to make Harpenden a thriving centre.

These results have been forwarded to Paul de Kort at SADC to demonstrate the scale of opposition

to the scheme.

The Town’s retailers and other opposition groups will be collating data on an ongoing basis to maintain the pressure on SADC and seek a Review at some stage in 2025.

*30 mins free if you register on the meter, Some phones charge 10p.

Jan 15. Fabulous NEW location for Harpenden Building Society on the Town Centre High Street

The official opening of the new location took place this morning at 10.30 with Town Mayor Beth Fisher cutting the ribbon. She eulogised the importance of a key local business and their presence on the High Street. ‘It’s not just bricks and mortar it’s service for the local community”. The CEO of HBS (Tracie Pearce) thanked all the staff who had worked hard to support the opening and reiterated the importance of community support. Pictured above left with our Mayor and Harpenden’s MP Victoria Collins. ALSO gathered outside were a number of other VIP’s inc HBS Chair Nigel Boothroyd. (second on the right)

The spacious interior is light and airy with a large counter, a private office for consultations, Helpful online booths, and two electronic information display units.

Call in and experience how Harpenden’s Building Society has changed with the times! On the corner of Church Green.

Feb 27. District Councillors approve a budget in the face of a challenging financial climate and a 2.99% rise in the District’s Council Tax

St Albans City and District Councillors have agreed a “sound and fair” budget for the next financial year along with a long-term plan setting out their priorities for action.

The Council (SADC) is required to produce a balanced budget every year, ensuring spending is matched by the income it raises from various sources.

In common with other local authorities, it has been faced in recent years with a challenging economic climate that has put intense pressure on its finances.

This includes rising costs and a much higher demand for homelessness support.

As part of the 2026/27 budget, Councillors agreed to a 2.99% rise in the District’s Council Tax bill. This supports a gross Council spend of £58.8 million, excluding social housing spend and income.

This means a resident in a Band D property will pay an average of £214.22 to the Council for its services in the coming year – an increase of just 12p a week.

SADC’s portion of Council Tax amounts to around 9% of the total collected, with Hertfordshire County Council receiving 77%, the Police,11%, and the parish and town councils, who set their own budgets, 3%.

The money received by SADC will fund key services including waste and recycling collections, street cleaning, leisure and cultural services, planning, parks and open spaces, 24/7 CCTV protection, environmental health and grants to voluntary bodies such as Citizens Advice.

Councillors also approved a rent rise in accordance with Government guidelines of 4.8% for its social housing properties. Garage rents will increase by 6.7%

The budget was approved at a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 25 February.

Councillor Giles Fry, Lead for Resources, said after the meeting: “I am pleased that Full Council has agreed to a balanced budget that is both fair and financially sound.

“It will protect our key services, such as our leisure, community and cultural facilities, while also allowing for some notable investments such as a new community and sports hub in the New Greens area.

“Over the last year, commercial tenants have begun to move into Jubilee Square which will provide us with much-needed new income in the future. We will continue to look for other revenue-raising opportunities.

“I hope our residents will continue to support the work we are doing to further strengthen our communities in the face of a tough financial climate.”

Full Council also approved a Council Plan for the next two years which is founded on four priorities. These are to:

Support great communities

Provide more social housing.

Make the environment a priority in all Council decisions.

Treat everyone with fairness.

The Plan includes the many actions the Council is committed to taking to achieve these goals.

Councillor Paul de Kort, the Council Leader, said after the meeting: “One of the dominant issues for next year is the Government’s plan to restructure local government.

“This will see the abolition of the two-tier system of district and county councils and its replacement by new unitary authorities.

“As we move towards this new structure over the next couple of years, we must not lose sight of our priorities such as providing theDistrict with more social housing, improving the local environment and keeping our District a great place to live and work.”

Details of the budget together with the Council Plan can be viewed along with the Full Council meeting papers here.

Exciting Conservation Project

in Harpenden –Reintroduction

of Water Voles

Harpenden Town Council has released

200 water voles in the Upper River Lea,

a project which has taken rigorous

planning over the last three years and

reintroduces this important species to

Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve

after 40 years.

Water Voles are incredible ecosystem engineers bringing huge benefits to waterways and a wide array of flora and fauna. They manage rivers and streams by foraging and burrowing to increase biodiversity. They eat coarse dominant grasses like sedges and rush, opening gaps for more delicate waterway plants to establish. With greater floristic diversity, more bees, butterflies and pollinators will return to the river, and insects, birds, bats and mammals will follow. When a water vole abandons one of their burrows, new critters will move in to raise their young, like shrews, which in turn improve the health of the nearby habitats.

Water voles were once common in England’s rivers and streams including at Batford Springs. Sadly, they have been in decline for over 40 due to habitat loss and the invasive mink.

Harpenden Town Council, together with dedicated volunteers at Batford Springs, released the Water Voles following a carefully managed process last week.

Cllr Kirsti Wenn, Mayor of Harpenden said, “It is fantastic to be part of this important step in the reintroduction of water voles, another incredible addition to Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve. It has been a real pleasure to watch this conservation project, from its infancy to the release of our new residents, and I can’t wait to see how the water voles will help the Town Council continue to improve the environment and local ecosystem. Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve is not only a beautiful green space, but it is the home of hugely important habitats and we are immensely proud of all we have achieved here.”

Keys to success of this important conservation project:

•Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve, offers a kilometre of river which is ideal for water voles and forms a strong base for their reintroduction.

•A 125m fence was installed creating a protective barrier around key habitats, allowing the water voles to establish themselves in a secure environment. The fence was designed to blend in with the natural surroundings, ensuring it does not disrupt the landscape's beauty.

•A new pond was created within the protected area. This pond will be a vital resource for the water voles, providing them with the water and vegetation they need to thrive. The pond's design mimics natural wetland environments, with gently sloping banks, abundant aquatic plants, and varied depths to support a rich diversity of life.
•Native vegetation has been planted around the pond and along the riverbanks - another critical component of the project. By restoring native plants, the project recreate the dense, tangled riverbank habitats that water voles prefer, offering them shelter from predators and a steady supply of food, including reeds, sedges, and other aquatic plants that are essential to their diet.
••Mink Monitoring: The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust installed a mink raft to record and capture mink found on site, to determine presence and suitability for voles. There has been no recordings of Mink for two years indicating good opportunity for voles to thrive.
••New land has been acquired by the Town Council to further enhance the habitat and provide refuge for Water Voles, this also benefits the Town as the Reserve will expand by a third.
••The Town Council is working in collaboration with local landholders across the Upper Lea: farmers and estate owners have helped to identify suitable release sites and provided knowledge and tools needed to maintain the habitats and monitor the Water Vole population.
•END
•

Lovely air-conditioned office to rent in St Albans

With flexible lease terms, free parking and an all-inclusive monthly licence.

Suite 12 is available now at STANTA Business Centre - it would make a great office for up to 4 people and has its own internal meeting room. There is also free parking on site!

Get in touch at advice@stanta.co.uk

July. New St Hilda's Hub, which is a specialist Maths Tuition initiative for girls and boys from all primary schools.

The poster below explains it all.

St Hilda’s summer Art Competition, which is open to all children.

The poster below explains it all.

Harpenden’s First Ever Padel Courts

Open This August

Harpenden Town Council and local operator Padel Pass are working in partnership to open a two court padel venue in Rothamsted Park. The new padel courts are set to open in early August and will offer the world's fastest-growing sport to the local community. The new facility will compliment Rothamsted Park’s thriving sports facilities including its netball and tennis courts, multi use games area, football and cricket pitches and will now include two premium padel courts.

The padel courts will be fully floodlit, so play can continue into the evening with opening hours of 8am to 10pm, seven days a week. Players can book the courts two weeks prior to opening, from 18th July. The courts are built for the whole community to enjoy and will not require a membership to play. Courts can be booked easily via the Playtomic app.

Harpenden Town Mayor, Cllr Kirsti Wenn said “Opening two high-quality padel courts in Harpenden is incredibly exciting. Padel is a really enjoyable and inclusive sport, accessible for all ages and abilities and a fun and social way to stay active. The courts allow the Town Council to continue its objective to improve health and wellbeing within Harpenden and we’re extremely proud to be able to work in partnership with local firm Padel Pass to do this.”

Padel Pass was founded by three brothers (Tom, Jack and George Howe) born and raised in Harpenden alongside close friend and Harpenden resident (Alex March). Since founding Padel Pass in 2024, bringing padel to their hometown has been a huge goal for the team and after a successful start opening a facility in Luton last summer, that goal becomes a reality, this August.

A word From Padel Pass Co-Founder, Jack Howe “As a family-owned business with deep roots in Harpenden, we couldn't be prouder to bring padel to the park we grew up playing in. This venue is built for everyone in the town to enjoy and we’re thrilled to have worked with Harpenden Town Council to bring it to life in such an excellent location.”

How to get involved:

•Launch Event - Padel Pass will be celebrating the addition of padel to the park with a Summer Party on Saturday 15th August in which there’ll be free taster sessions for juniors and adults, mini tournaments and coaching demos. Whether you've never held a racket or you're already obsessed, this is one to put in the diary. To be notified when tickets become available visit: https://padelpass.co.uk/#subscribe

•Free Introduction to Padel Sessions - There are already free introduction to padel sessions available. Sign up here: https://padelpass.co.uk/free-intro-to-padel/

•Pre-Launch Packages – For those that would like to lock in some great value on court time, there are Pre-launch packages offering up to £120 of free court credit, available until 18th July only. Available here: www.padelpass.co.uk/product/harpenden-park-pre-launch-packages/

Nomansland Common has been awarded a Green Flag for the first time – national recognition of its outstanding condition.

It is one of five Green Flags won by St Albans City and District Council for its work in maintaining parks and open spaces

The Green Flag, an international quality mark, was also given to Verulamium Park, Clarence Park and Hatfield Road Cemetery.

Verulamium Park was also awarded Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the excellent management of its ancient Roman features.

The annual Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and open spaces, setting the benchmark for green spaces across the United Kingdom and the world.

Nomansland, which lies between Sandridge and Wheathampstead, is a popular spot for walkers and dog owners.

Councillor Helen Campbell, Chair of the Council’s Public Realm Committee and Lead for Parks, said: “I’m thrilled that we have added to our Green Flag collection this year, retaining those we won last year and adding Nomansland to the list.

“My thanks go to our hard-working and dedicated parks and green spaces team along with our grounds maintenance contractor John O’Conner.

"Thanks also to Hertfordshire County Council's Countryside Management Service who help with Nomansland as well as other sites and manage the volunteers who work on issues such as habitat restoration.

"Nomansland is a wonderful, atmospheric place on the borders of Heartwood Forest and it is about time that it received the distinction of a Green Flag.

“These five awards demonstrate our commitment to providing our residents with wonderful places where they can enjoy the great outdoors, exercise or meet up with friends and family.”

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy.

“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.

“St Albans City and District Council has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.

"Congratulations to everyone involved."

Elsewhere in the District, Harpenden Common and Lydekker Park – both owned by Harpenden Town Council – retained their Green Flags.

Jersey Farm Woodland Park, owned by Sandridge Parish Council, kept its Green Flag Community Award.

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

The Council has been receiving Green Flags for well over a decade. More information about the scheme is available here.