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.”

 

Dec. Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner strongly opposed to Government’s plans to scrap Jury trials

Hertfordshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner has expressed his strong opposition to the Government’s proposal to abolish Jury trials in all but the most serious cases, as announced by Justice Secretary David Lammy to Parliament yesterday.


Jonathan Ash-Edwards (above) has warned that the move risks undermining centuries-old principles of justice, weakening public confidence and damaging the legitimacy of the criminal justice system.

Police & Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said:

“The right to be judged by a jury of your peers has been a safeguard in the criminal justice system for hundreds of years. It is a fundamental constitutional protection, not an inconvenience to be swept aside at the whim of a Minister.


“Juries provide important transparency and independence from the state. They increase the chance of a defendant being judged by someone who understands their life. And they ensure that justice is seen to be done fairly.


“A number of years ago, I was called to serve on a jury. I saw firsthand the inefficiencies and delays in the Court system that have a significant impact on victims. But none were the jury’s fault – 12 men and women turned up on time every day and did their civic duty.


“Instead of dismantling historic British liberties, the Government should open Courts that currently sit empty some days and fix the inefficiencies within the system that let victims, witnesses and people working in the criminal justice system down”.

SUNDAY 1ST MARCH EASTERN REGION WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE. LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL.

ROYSTON TOWN WOMEN    2     HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN     3                


Harpenden Town Women made to their second final of the season when they came away with a 3-2 victory away at Royston Town Women in the semi-final of ERWFL league cup after a great win with their the Harps defence playing a big part in this victory against a team who had dreams of reaching the final themselves. Having already played Royston in the league this season at home and lost 3-1 it seemed a win was not on the cards but football is a funny old game I think somebody said and the Harpenden Town Women raced into a 3-0 lead after only eight minutes play and held on to a 3-2 victory with Royston scoring a couple of very late goals as they tried to hit back and go to penalties.

      After only two minutes play saw the Harps win a throw-in down the left which Zoe Allen-Thomas took and the ball found Sophia Amanor and she quickly wriggled her way into the box whereupon at the near post saw her trying to squeeze a shot away but Millie Carter the Royston keeper managed to push her shot away and the ball then fell very kindly for AMANA OGUNTUGA to fire it into the back of the net from six yards to make it 1-0 to Harpenden Town Women. In the next Harps attack saw them win a corner kick which Ella Mercer took and the ball was only partly cleared and it fell at the feet of ELLA MERCER who promptly hit a fantastic curling shot from the edge of the box and into the far corner past Carter to make it 2-0, (dreams do come true!).  Then on eight minutes the Harps went and scored another goal when a long kick forward by Chloe Dinsey found SOPHIA AMANOR and after beating two defenders with some great close control and leaving them in her wake she hit a low shot past Millie Carter from inside the six yard box to give the Harpenden Town Women an unbelievably 3-0 lead.

















        


Royston who are second in the league table tried to hit back quickly and they very nearly did when a free kick into the box by Dilly Haslehurst saw Katie Edwards at the back post send a header crashing onto the crossbar and over whilst Emma Slater fired in a low drive which flashed just wide of Daisy Strouts far post and then Jordanne Sillitoe shot narrowly wide of the near upright. Emma Slater then cut in from the right and she saw her well struck effort beaten away by a good save from Daisy Strouts and then Kacee Warren at the back broke up another dangerous attack when she cleared the ball away from Bella Simmons as she closed in whilst Annie Georgiou for Royston also had a good effort saved by Strouts.

   Then it was the turn of the Harpenden Town Women and Chloe Dinsey headed just wide of a Ella Mercer corner kick who then saw her terrific free kick which seemed destined for the top left corner pushed on to the crossbar by a great save from Millie Carter for another corner kick. Ella Mercer took it and she curled it in whereupon the ball struck the face of the bar and rebounded clear so in the space of two minutes the Harps were denied by the frame of the goal. Back to the other end and Emma Slater had her goalbound shot tipped over the bar by a great save from Daisy Strouts and then following a low cross in from the right saw Jordanne Sillitoe sweep the ball home only for it to be disallowed by the referee assistant's flag for offside, thank goodness,we did not want to go in at the break with the score at 3-1 instead it stayed at 3-0. Sophia Amanor nearly added a fourth goal but she shot narrowly wide after receiving a good defence splitting pass from Chloe Dinsey.

       The Harpenden Town Women back line of Kacee Warren, Erin Shacklock, Zoe Allen-Thomas and skipper Becca Dowdall all were having a great game in breaking up the Royston attacks with Lucy Ford and Ella Mecer in midfield also playing well. Into the second half saw Amana Oguntuga make a great run down the right which sees her win a corner kick which Belle Shannon floated into the box whereupon Oguntuga played it onto Sophia Amanor who tried a cheeky back heel which saw Millie Carter get down well to save on the line. Then Lucy Ford found Amanor on the edge of the box but her low effort was blocked by Amy Houghton whilst at the other end Laura Mills shot narrowly wide of the far post with Strouts beaten. Royston kept plugging away but quite a few times the passes forward were over hit and so the ball just ran out of play or the Harps defence did their job of clearing the danger with all of them working hard to keep them out.















    


  



Finally after a lot of pressure Royston got their reward when they pulled a goal back very late on when the Harps defence did not clear the danger and Laura MILLS found the ball at her feet whereupon she spun on a sixpence and drilled the ball low past Strouts to make it 3-1, game on! Emma Slater then had two good chances, the first was saved by Daisy Strouts whilst her second was deflected into the side netting. In the 90+5th minute Royston pulled another goal when Amy REED fired home after the ball had broken to her inside the box to make the final score 3-2 to Harpenden Town Women but it was very close at the end there. The players of the match were Sophia Amanor for Harpenden but all the girls were just brilliant,  whilst for Royston saw Laura Mills getting the nod.


TEAM: Daisy Strouts, Kacee Warren, Becca Dowdall, Erin Shacklock, Chloe Dinsey, Belle Shannon, Sophia Amanor, Zoe Allen-Thomas, Amana Oguntuna, Lucy Ford, Ella Mercer. Subs played:Ellie Deville, Seryan Kabongo, Jaime Curtain. Did not play: Leah Shellard, Neave Wilson. They keep asking why they do not get a mention so here they are the coaching staff. Jordan Williams, manager, Toby Owen, coach, Jack Chantry coach, Michelle Chandler secretary.


In the other semi-final saw Stevenage Town Ladies beat Bowers & Pitsea Ladies away 1-0 with a goal scored by Eva DELANEY in the 87th minute so we now meet Stevenage Town Ladies in both finals with this one being played on Sunday 10th May at Bedford Town FC KO 3pm.

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

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.

Feb 11. The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Kirsti Wenn, visits the Harpenden in World War 1 exhibition in Harpenden’s Museum in the Park


Cllr Wenn said, “The exhibition is a wonderful tour of how WW1 impacted Harpenden, something very few of us see when we study History.  Looking back through the excellently curated story it was surprising to me that Harpenden, with only a 6,000 population then was host to 4,000 soldiers, using the town as a training camp. 


“That must have had a profound effect on Harpenden, and when you add to it that some 200 of Harpenden’s own young men died on the battlefield.  Also, sadly likely that one in eight of the soldiers passing through did not return.  That puts our current day to day life challenges somewhat into perspective.


“I would like to encourage anyone who has not seen it to  pop in. Congratulations to the volunteers who have put on a fabulous presentation.”

Harpenden was used as a training camp for troops coming from the midlands down towards the southern ports.

Nationally 80% of 18–41-year-old men were called up. Overall British military deaths are quoted as 866,000; civilian deaths 16,000. That is nearly 2% of the population.  Overall, deaths, both sides, in WW1 are quoted as about 35m.

 

The exhibition runs to the end of April. The Museum, in the Eric Morecambe Centre, Rothamsted Park, on the lower floor, is ordinarily open 11am-3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  A smaller display on WW1 is also available during February only in the Foyer 10am-2pm on Mondays to Saturdays.


Our next evening talk is Harpenden and Luton Hoo Estate - Links from the 17th century, given by Felicity Brimblecombe at 8pm, Tuesday, 24 February, at High Street Methodist Church, High Street, Harpenden. 

It is free to members and students. Visitors are welcome; non-members are requested to make a donation: £5.

Harpenden Town with no Saturday fixture ( Feb 28) as their match at Kempston Rovers was called off due a waterlogged pitch at the last moment so we go back to Tuesday's home game against Letchworth Garden City Eagles in the quarter-final of the Gladwish Challenge Trophy which saw them win 7-0.


Scoring the goals were HENRY JONES with a hat-trick and then came EDWARD CLEMENT, STEFAN FRINCU and GEORGE WILDE all with a goal apiece plus one own goal.









































On Saturday saw the turn of the Harpenden Town Reserves score seven goals when they beat Totternhoe 7-2 at home in a Spartan South Midlands League Division Two fixture with two goals each from REECE LAMBERT and GEORGE WILDE plus both MILOSZ BRONIECKI and ISA HUSSAIN scoring one apiece and an own goal whilst a cracking shot from Edward Clement came back off the foot of the post with the Totternhoe keeper well beaten.


Meanwhile the Harpenden Town Women Development team lost 5-2 at home to Berkhamsted Ladies in the Beds & Herts Women's Football League Cup semi-final with EDITH PERRYER and EMMA BRACEY scoring the goals for the Harps. Mikayla Carr the Harps keeper made some great saves during the match and Chloe Waxham ran her socks off covering every part of the pitch whilst Lauren Viney was just fantastic today and in doing so richly deserved her Player of the Match Award. Scoring the goals for Berko were Amy BENTALL 3, Ruby CURRY and Nicola HOLLICK.



Squad: Carr, Bracey, Smylie, Viney, Tallantire, Curtis, Mills, Perryer, Dante, Waxham, Chester, Clement, Curnow, Lessing, Ward(all played).

.

Photos by AaronDarby


TERRY EDWARDS .      FOOTBALL AS IT'S MEANT TO BE.

Ella Mercer

 

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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