New weekly advice service comes to Harpenden


Citizens Advice St Albans District and the Harpenden Trust are pleased to announce the launch of a new weekly advice service in Harpenden.


In partnership with the Harpenden Trust, Citizens Advice St Albans District is expanding its services in Harpenden, giving local people another way to access the advice and support that it provides.


From September, a drop-in service will be available every Wednesday from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Harpenden Trust Well Bean Community Café, located directly above the Co-op on Southdown Road.


At these sessions, local people will be able to meet a Citizens Advice adviser, who will discuss their problems with them and help them to find a way forward.


Citizens Advice’s help is free and confidential and it can help with a wide range of issues, including welfare benefits, housing, debt, and other money problems, consumer rights and family matters.


As part of this expanded service, Citizens Advice will be working with Harpenden Trust front-line volunteers, including befrienders and home visitors, to share useful knowledge about people’s rights and entitlements which can be passed on to people in need. It will also build relationships with other charities and organisations supported by the Trust.




















For reference the photograph features:

Richard Nichols - Chair, The Harpenden Trust

Debbie Nichols- Citizens Advice St Albans District (CASTAD)

Lisa Reiner- Partnership Development , Citizens Advice St Albans District

Gill Haynes - Deputy Mayor, Harpenden 

June Chapman- Chief Executive, Citizens Advice St Albans District (CASTAD)

Nick Luckett- Chair, Care Fund, The Harpenden Trust

Pat Ring - People Director, The Harpenden Trust


The Ribbon cutting was held in 

The Well Bean Café, Harpenden Trust Halls , 130 Southdown Road , Harpenden AL5 1PU


Richard Nichols, the Chair of the Harpenden Trust, said:

“The Harpenden Trust has been supporting individuals, families and community organisations in the Harpenden area for more than 75 years. We are delighted to be able to host this expansion of Citizens Advice’s service in Harpenden.

 

June Chapman. Chief Executive of Citizens Advice St Albans and District, said:

“We are very excited to be working with the Harpenden Trust to expand our support for the people of Harpenden. There is lots of evidence that receiving good advice on issues such as benefits, housing and debt has a positive effect on people’s mental well-being. So, it makes perfect sense for us to have a presence in the Well Bean Café.”


Gill Haynes, Harpenden’s Deputy Mayor, added "I think this is a brilliant initiative".

Oct. E-scooters being confiscated and destroyed by police in Hertfordshire

 

E-scooters illegally ridden on the streets of Hertfordshire are being confiscated and destroyed by the police, the Chief Constable has assured the Police and Crime Commissioner.

PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards asked the Chief Constable Charlie Hall about the enforcement of the laws around the electronic scooters during his monthly Accountability and Performance meetings.













In the discussion, which is broadcast live on the internet, Mr Hall said that action is being taken against riders who are breaking the law by using them on public roads and pavements.


Mr Ash-Edwards said: “E scooters are primarily on the agenda today because they have driven probably the largest amount of correspondence into my office over recent months compared to any other topic.

“There are particular community concerns from residents about the use of these scooters in town centres, specifically from blind people and those with disabilities, around the of impact of people whizzing around town centres.”

Asked for clarification on the legality of using E-scooters the Chief Constable replied: “It's not unlawful to sell these scooters. These scooters can only be used on private land but they are not lawfully to be used on public roads, pavements, or other pedestrian areas, and there is a reason for that is.


“An E-scooter is something called a mechanically propelled vehicle and effectively it becomes classified as a motor vehicle. You can only lawfully use a motor vehicle on the road if it fits certain criteria, and that would include it needing to be insured and taxed. It will need to have passed certain safety testing regimes set by the Department of Transport and as there is no such regime, as a result it is unlawful to use E-scooters on a public road.”

When questioned about what the police are doing about them being ridden in dangerous ways in public Mr Hall replied: “Firstly, we recognise the danger both to the individual riding these scooters, and we have in Hertfordshire dealt with a handful of cases where people have come off these and of course quite significant injury to themselves, so that there's definitely a risk to the people riding these.


“But I think many members of the public would equally rightly identify the risk to other road users, or particularly pedestrians, and we've had some examples of injuries have been caused to members of the public by people riding E scooters as well. So we absolutely recognise the need to bear down on this where it is happening.


“Our broad approach is to look, to educate and encourage people to comply with the law in the first place. We think that has some benefits and is a reasonable policing response to this. We've also worked inside schools and colleges.

“We have certainly looked to target that advice into places where we know people are constantly using E scooters. This year so far we've seized 22 E scooters, last year it was over 30 and the year before that it was also 30. So we're seizing those sorts of numbers of these scooters and they are being disposed of.

“I think ultimately it needs further support from government legislation to really make it very clear what position is on the use of these E scooters.”

Following the meeting Mr Ash-Edwards said:

 

“I know that the illegal and dangerous use of e-scooters on pavements in town centres is a concern for many residents. Due to the way the police deal with this challenge, the public won’t always see the follow up and intervention at a later stage where there is evidence. The starting point is to educate people about the law, which is sensible, but I am pleased that this can also lead to enforcement and seizures where appropriate.”

 

Feb. A new home for Harpenden police officers

Harpenden’s neighbourhood policing team is moving to a new base in the town centre this month. The move will enhance joint working with the Town Council and ensure residents continue to benefit from a visible, accessible local police presence.


Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Office have worked closely with Harpenden Town Council to co-locate the neighbourhood policing team at the Town Hall in Leyton Road. The move keeps officers at the heart of the community while supporting modern, efficient ways of working and better value for money for taxpayers.

District Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Caro said: “Moving to the Town Hall ensures our new hub remains in the town centre. 


“My team spend most of their shifts out and about engaging with the public and dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB). The new location will be a base for them to complete paperwork and make calls.”

He added: “We already work closely with the town council to deal with crime and ASB and being in the same building is a real positive, as shown by our co-location at St Albans Civic Centre district council offices.”

Police & Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: “This is a positive move to strengthen local policing in Harpenden, continue joint working with the Town Council and improve value for money for taxpayers. Neighbourhood policing officers will be based in Harpenden, engaging with the public, responding and solving crime and keeping the town and surrounding rural areas safe”.


Cllr Beth Fisher, Town Mayor of Harpenden, said “I am delighted that we’ve been able to work with the police to bring their team to the Town Hall, where they can remain close to the Harpenden community in our town centre location. We are committed to helping our communities feel safer and facilitating accessible services. Harpenden Town Council plays an active role in the partnership with local police and we are looking forward to continuing this work and addressing the concerns of local people.” Residents can contact their local officers directly at harpenden@herts.police.uk and make an appointment to see them. If you know the name of your local officer, you can email them directly using this format - first.surname@herts.police.uk


You can also contact your

officers via our website and

report incidents online

at www.herts.police.uk/report.

In an emergency,

always dial 999.

SUNDAY 10TH MAY EASTERN REGION WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP FINAL.

HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN      0       

STEVENAGE WOMEN   5            Played at Bedford Town FC.


PlayingFor the second time this season saw the Harpenden Town Women face Stevenage Women in a cup final and this one was the ERWFL league cup but alas the result was not as close as the first one which saw Stevenage win 3-2 with the last kick of the match but a convincing win by the Stevenage Ladies as they went on to win 5-0 once they got their act together after the Harps Ladies had most of the early play.













Kicking up the slight slope saw Harpenden Town Women create the first real chance of the match when Zoe Allen-Thomas made a good run down the left wing whereupon she passed the ball to the lively Ellie Deville who sprinted away and then cut in to the Stevenage box whereupon she unleashed a sizzling low strike which saw Faye Hazelton the Stevenage keeper pull off a fine save by tipping the ball around her near post to stop the Harps from taking the lead. Next up saw Deville cut in from the other side and the time her shot flashed just wide of the far upright. Then Leah Shellard made a great run down the right whereupon after cutting in towards the goal she saw her cross-cum-shot skim off the top of the crossbar and go over with Hazelton a spectator. For Stevenage saw Sarah Wiltshire find the back of the net but luckily for the Harps the flag had gone up and the goal was disallowed for offside and then Gemma Croucher for Stevenage saw her free kick well saved by Daisy Strouts and then Amber Pearson shot narrowly wide for Stevenage.


Harpenden's number ten Sophia Amonor went close and then a corner kick from Stevenage's number sixteen Hannah Savage was tipped over the bar by a good save from Strouts for another corner kick which fell to Rosy Williams who quickly played to Sarah WILTSHIRE who without further ado saw her smash the ball past Daisy Strouts to give Stevenage a

one nil lead in the 16th minute. It soon became 2-0 in the 19th minute when Rosy Williams slipped the ball to Amber PEARSON who quickly went around Strouts before sliding the ball into the empty net for Stevenage to take a two goal lead.
















Stevenage were now in charge after that early scare when the Harps were in charge and Stevenage now had Gemma Croucher go close with a well struck shot whilst Sarah Wiltshire shot just over the bar and then Wiltshire had a good strike saved by Daisy Strouts but then Stevenage scored again to go 3-0 up. Eva Delaney did well down the right and squared the ball across for the nemesis of the Harps Sarah WILTSHIRE to be left with a simple tap-in for her second goal of the match and her 53rd for the season.  Harpenden tried to hit back and Ella Mercer had a shot saved by Hazelton and then did Sophia Amanor whose fine effort was well struck but the score remained at 3-0 to Stevenage.


    In the second half as the first saw Harpenden create a couple of good chances with the first seeing Lucy Ford play the ball to Seryan Kabongo down the right who beat two defenders in a surging run into the box whereupon her cracking low strike whizzed past the near upright of Faye Hazelton's goal and then Sophia Amanor found Kabongo but this time her well struck effort flew just over the crossbar with Hazelton rooted to her line. Then Amanor found Nancy Tucker racing into the box whereupon saw her fouled by the Stevenage keeper but the Harps appeals for a penalty once again was not forthcoming as the match referee thought otherwise.

Then on sixty nine minutes it became 4-0 when goalscorer Amber Pearson set up Alysha STOJRO-DOWN who calmly sent a lofted shot over Daisy Strouts for the Stevenage' fourth goal. Daisy Strouts then did well to tip around the far post a fine shot from Gemma Crouch but then Stevenage scored another goal when a low shot from Rosy Williams struck the far upright and Ashleigh GODDARD nipped in to tap the loose ball into the back of the net to make it 5-0.














Harpenden did try to fight back and Sophia Amanor had a well struck effort saved by Faye Hazelton after she was received the ball following a good run from Seryan Kabongo and then Belle Shannon tried her luck with one of her special strikes this time from 25 yards and the ball whizzed along the surface and it nearly caught Hazelton out but she managed to hold onto the ball at the second attempt whilst the nippy Ellie Deville saw her firm low drive saved by the Stevenage custodian after Deville had cut in from the left wing. Play switched to the other end and Daisy Strouts had to pull off a couple of excellent saves to stop Stevenage increasing their lead. The first was a stinging shot from Gemma Croucher which Strouts blocked with her body and then Amy Makewell saw Strouts push her firm low drive around the far post for a great save. So the final score ended with a 5-0 victory to Stevenage not as close as the previous meeting between the clubs in the other final with Stevenage nicking victory in the last minute with a 3-2 win in the County Cup.
















Still it has not been a bad season for the Harps Ladies with a mid table finish in their first season in the premier division plus two cup finals, so see you all next season, well done Girls, all of you.

Squad: Strouts, Warren, Ford, Dowdall, Dinsey, Shannon, Allen-Thomas, Shellard, Deville, Amanor, Mercer, McShane, Tucker, Kabango, Hughes, Shacklock(all played)


Photos by Freddie Clark




Terry Edwards.     FOOTBALL AS IT'S MEANT TO BE.

5TH MAY.  COLNEY HEATH RESERVES COMPLETE THE TREBLE WITH THE SUBURBAN LEAGUE PLATE AFTER A 2-1 WIN OVER COBHAM U23'S AT SLOUGH FC.


Photo by Sally Lowin

Colney Heath Reserves completed the treble when after winning the North Division and then the Challenge Shield of the Suburban League saw them wrap it up with a 2-1 win in the Challenge Plate over Cobham U23's at Slough FC to complete a terrific season for the Colney Heath Reserves with all the goals being scored in the second half.


Cobham play in the Central Division where they finished third and they nearly got off to a great start when Karmel Boreland found Joe Fisher but Jacob Lowin was quick off his line to smother his low shot whilst at the other end saw Harley Fonti launch one of his long throws which saw the Cobham keeper Charlie Burns fumble but he quickly recovered to save Koby Duberry follow up shot. Next up saw Harley Fonti shoot narrowly wide and then Miles Shahidi set him up again and this time his effort went just wide of the other upright with Kacper Mytnik for Cobham also going close whilst the number ten for Cobham Joe Fisher saw Jacob Lowin pulling off a good save from his firm low drive. For the young Magpies Koby Duberry and Jacob Yaku both had good strikes saved by Charlie Burns with David Emiloju setting them up and then play quickly switched to the other end with Lenny Sackey missing a glorious chance for Cobham but his shot flew just over the crossbar with Lowin beaten and then Ruby Tetlow who causing lots of problems down the right wing saw his well struck effort crash into the side netting.


Myles Shahidi then had a low shot for Colney Heath Reserves saved by Charlie Burns and then Shahidi put over a good ball into the box which dropped kindly for Fonti but he put his effort over the bar and then just before the break saw Cobham create a few chances with firstly Karmel Boreland going close and then Harry Bailey played the ball to Joe Fisher whose well struck shot flew only inches just wide of Lowin's left hand post. Then Rudy Tetlow burst into the box following another Cobham attack and his low shot went just wide of the far upright and so despite lots of scoring chances for both sides the score remained 0-0 at the break.

Early into the second saw a long drop kick from Jacob Lowin find David Emiloju sprinting clear but Charlie Burns was out quickly to block his shot whilst Harley Fonti headed just over following a corner kick from Harry Penny whilst for Cobham saw the dangerous Rudy Tetlow have a shot saved by Jacob Lowin and then on 55 minutes saw the young Magpies take the lead. Myles Shahidi did a brilliant run down the left wing and after beating two defenders saw him cross the ball to the back post whereupon DAVID EMILOJU rose up to head the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Colney Heath Reserves.


Emiloju then crossed the ball as the Magpies looked for another goal as they knew one would not be enough and Koby Duberry fired this chance just over and then following another corner kick from Harry Penny saw this time Luca Bevil head just over the crossbar from six yards. Both sides kept pressing to score goals with Cobham searching for an equaliser and then out of the blue saw them win a penalty when Finn Eames-Illingworth tripped Karmel Boreland just inside the box. Up stepped Harry BAILEY and struck the spot kick and although it looked like Jacob Lowin had saved it somehow the ball had squirmed under his body to cross the line and make the score now 1-1. Game on.


Once again both teams went looking for the winner but it was the young Magpies who struck the winner on 88 minutes when Koby Duberry made a great surging run down the right wing whereupon he crossed the ball low into the box whereupon it broke for LUCA BEVIL to hit low strike from the edge of the box which found the far corner to make the score

2-1 and to complete the treble of the North Division, Challenge Shield and now the Challenge Plate.


Well done to Manager Paul Lilly, coaches Toby Ashdown, Brad Gorman and Tony Kavanagh for a very successful season for the Colney Heath Reserves.


Team: Lowin, Eames-Illingworth, Yaku, Anthony, Penny, Emiloju, Quinn, Fonti, Duberry, Williams, Shahidi. Subs played: Bevil, Wingate, Hall.  Did not play: Price, Shodeimde, King.


Terry Edwards.   FOOTBALL AS IT'S MEANT TO BE.

 

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My wife and I were privileged to have a private viewing of the panels in February this year. They are incredibly beautiful and still in remarkable condition for their age.


A single image can change the face of History

Portrait imagery was the key aspect of the programme. Images whether painted or photographed could have an incredibly powerful influence on the population. Examples featuring Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, and Margaret Thatcher were used to demonstrate this power. Clever or deceptive dependent on your personal position.


Saving the Cottages for the Nation

The current owner, Ms Murphy, from Hertford, explained that she and business partner Alison Wright bought two adjoining cottages, which house the mural between them, specifically to find a way for the paintings to be brought into public ownership.

"The panels should be in the care of the nation - we are committed to finding a way of doing it."

"They are so rare that the paintings must be preserved for both present and future generations, as a sign of those past beliefs and turbulent times," he said.

"We have been pursuing this aim for a number of years and have now launched a public appeal as the only way to preserve them for posterity."

The owner added that if the money couldn't be raised, they would have to apply for a change of use to residential.


Hopefully Simon Schama’s programme will awaken the local Herts authorities to take action now.


Ron Taylor. Editor. Harpendia.com


Hemel’s hidden treasure featured by Simon Schama on BBC TV’s ‘The Face of Britain’

Simon Schama visited Piccott’s End Cottages to show an important aspect of the history of British portraiture, revealing some beautiful and compelling images that demonstrate their eternal power.















Defacing religious paintings

The cottages in Hemel were a resting place for Pilgrims on their journey from Ashridge to nearby St Albans Abbey in the 1530’s. The interior wall panels had been painted extensively with religious murals reflecting imagery of the Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Saints. Scenes include Jesus's baptism, St Catherine of Alexandria, St Peter and St Margaret. During the Reformation the faces of Jesus, Mary and the Saints were obliterated (defaced- see below) to make the images powerless in the sight of anyone who visited the cottages. At some time post Reformation the panels were covered by linen and NOT seen again until 1953.

If you like Brioche style bread then CHALLAH from Zuckermaus will be a new taste experience.

It’s made from enriched dough with sesame seeds and poppy seeds giving a light crust with a soft texture inside. Toast it and spread with butter for a taste sensation.(Challah is fixed in Jewish cuisine being eaten on ceremonial occasions and holidays)

The range of cakes from Zuckermaus Artisan Bakery is pretty amazing as you will have seen on earlier reports.

This  time it was another test for my taste buds.


Starting with Cinnamoned Apple cake. This had 2 layers of Bramley apples encased in a dairy free cake glazed with apricot jam.


Next to taste was Austrian Applestrudel. Homemade filo pastry, bramley apple slices marinated in cinnamon, sugar, flaked almonds and raisins. Warm it in the microwave and serve with custard or cream.


Finally and my favourite,  Linzer cake, named after a town in Upper Austria. Ground almond, cloves and cinnamon in the base with a layer of red currant jam, topped with a pattern and flaked almonds. Very like Bakewell tart.

ORDER NOW:

http://www.zuckermausbakery.com

Phone: 07766072772

Free deliveries in Harpenden, St Albans and surrounding villages


September, Local journalist Charlotte Bateman investigates Charity Shops in Harpenden