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Harpenden population 32,500+

Harpenden’s 3 GP Surgeries registered patients = 43,274.

What’s going on??

A chance visit to the NHS Choices web site on May 6 revealed the following registered patient numbers:

Village Surgery = 15,983

The Elms = 14,749

Davenport House = 12,542

SO if the numbers are accurate where do all these people live? (Redbourn and Wheathampsted have their own surgeries.

OR are the numbers duplicated OR are they simply out of date?

WELL, on average GP Surgeries are funded at £136 per patient so the numbers generate high income.

THE average number of patient visits per year is 7 giving a cost per visit of £19.42.

YES it’s obvious that very young patients and elderly patients have more than the average number of visits.

These figures do not cover the prescription costs.

AND YES we know averages disguise the actual numbers BUT something is amiss?

WITH more and more homes bing built in Harpenden how will GP Surgeries cope with this  influx?

More to come on this story.

New Garden Town planned close to Harpenden

A massive project described in detail in ‘A Spatial Vision’

Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) is an ambitious development programme that will transform Hemel Hempstead and create attractive and sustainable new neighbourhoods and communities to the north and east of Hemel Hempstead, through the delivery of more than 11,000 new homes ( That will be 30,000 + people) and 10,000 new jobs by 2050. Many of these jobs will be in Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, a new business park with a range of facilities including flexible office and industrial spaces, and a variety of amenities to serve the local community.

The whole project will be part of a Dacorum Borough Council scheme on land within their boundary. providing a variety of benefits to Hemel Hempstead.

These include new high-quality homes, of which 40 per cent will be affordable. New neighbourhoods will be set around vibrant local centres, green spaces and play areas, all easily accessed on foot. Sustainable travel such as walking, cycling and public transport will be given priority as we target a greener, healthier environment, which includes open spaces as well as new country and district parks.

A priority for Hemel Garden Communities is to accelerate a shift to public and active transport and increase the share of journeys taken by cycling and walking, and providing high quality infrastructure to support the creation of new homes and jobs.

HGC partners – Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership - are working with The Crown Estate and other landowners to deliver the HGC programme.

Phillipa Zieba (right) has been appointed to the role

of Programme Director.  Phillipa brings with her a

wealth of experience, from her previous role as

Head of Planning at Hammerson, with a strong

track record of delivering masterplans and a range

of high profile mixed-use projects. Cllr Chris White,

Chair of the HGC Delivery Board (also Council

leader of SADC)

said: “I am delighted that we have recruited someone of Phillipa’s calibre to the role of programme director and welcome her to the team.

ONE KEY CHALLENGE (of which there are many)

Although Hemel’s neighbourhoods will be used as model for growing and regenerating the town, certain aspects of them will need to be significantly modified to meet twenty-first century challenges. The challenges to be met are tackling car dependency, responding to large portions of the housing stock aging at the same time, and diversifying local centres. Development of new neighbourhoods will also need to ensure that places and communities are integrated with each other and with established neighbourhoods.

Read ‘A Spatial Vision’ and you will be amazed at the detailed progamme already devised. The Spatial Vision is a high-level document that provides a series of aspirations for the future of HGC.

  Hemel Garden Communities Spatial Vision (PDF 11MB).

THE BIG QUESTIONS

How will this affect Harpenden?

How will this affect SADC’s Local Plan?

Follow Harpendia for answers

Feb 9. Hertfordshire Constabulary welcomes new cohort of police officers

Hertfordshire Constabulary proudly welcomed 28 new police officers to Team Herts last week during a graduation ceremony held at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday (5 February).

The new officers bring with them a wide range of professional experience, including a former law lecturer, a mental health support worker, a restaurant manager and retail workers.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate the completion of the officers’ initial training programmes and to witness them take the next step into their policing careers.

Chief Constable Andy Prophet thanked the new officers for the commitment they had each given to helping people, catching criminals and solving crime. He said: “Becoming a police officer isn’t easy but you’ve earned your place. Policing is about making a difference: protecting people, solving crime and stepping up when it counts.

“Now it’s your turn. Get out on to the streets and do so with energy, ambition and a drive to keep Hertfordshire safe. The job of policing will push you but remember you’ll never face it alone. Your team, your families and the people of Hertfordshire are right behind you.”

The officers now move on to the next stage of their careers, where they will put their training into practice while continuing to receive on‑the‑job support and development.

Interested in joining? The constabulary is now welcoming applications for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), starting September 2026.

This is your chance to earn a fully funded degree, gain outstanding on‑the‑job training, earn a competitive salary from day one, and make a lasting difference to communities across Hertfordshire. To apply or find out more information, please visit: Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Hertfordshire - BCH

Want to find out what being a police officer is like before applying? Attend an insight session.

Those inspired by the graduates’ achievements can learn more about joining Hertfordshire Constabulary by attending an upcoming online insight session. Hear directly from serving officers about the realities of the role and the pathways into policing.

Upcoming dates:

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📍 Meeting Link: Join the meeting now

������ 2 March 2026
🕒 12pm to 1pm
📍 Meeting Link: Join the meeting now

������ 11 March 2026
🕒 7pm to 8pm
📍 Meeting Link: Join the meeting now

Group photos from the day for one-time use, credit Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Jan 21. Have you discovered Harpenden’s newest Coffee Shop?

UNMATCHED CLUB has been open for 3 months and is attracting a wide range of ages from people who really appreciate fully flavoured coffee in a unique venue with 2 floors inc an art exhibition.

The owner Manisha gave up corporate work in London to pursue her dream of opening a coffee shop where everybody is unmatched.

You can see from the exterior how different they are and when you step inside your senses are activated by the aromas of freshly made coffee with a difference.

So what’s special about their exclusive blend?

It is PACT, a blend of Brazilian and Colombian beans, roasted to give a deep dark coco flavour.

Their Bourbon cream espresso won a recent Great Taste Award. That’s just one of the many options. you can have, Their most popular being  Maple Sea Salt & Biscoff;

You can drink in or have a Take Away.

AND why not try one of their pastries, fresh fruit salads or even have Lunch.

They are open daily. Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm. and Sunday 10 am - 3pm,

UNMATCHED CLUB 6B Leyton Rd. Harpenden. ( Opp Waitrose)

GP Surgery Phone call Scam

READ BELOW TO ENSURE YOU DON”T BECOME A VICTIM

Dear Victim

I am writing to let you know of an active phone call scam where when you answer the phone it has a recorded voice that appears to be from the NHS or your local surgery.  The message informs you that your details at the surgery are out of date and that unless you update them you will be removed from their list. The message then encourages you to go to a link or press a number button that takes you to where you will be requested to give your details. THIS IS A SCAM.

If you receive such a call, put the phone down, and to set your mind at rest, call your surgery to check your details. Please be wary.

Across Hertfordshire in 2025, Hertfordshire Constabulary received 5,278 reports of fraud with a total loss of £34 million.  Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. Cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks.

To report an incident of cybercrime or fraud and for further information visit the Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) website here UK's Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud - Report Fraud.

Harpenden Trust’s 2025 Christmas Appeal

- Another Great Fund Raise Made Possible

by Our Community’s Generosity

Raises £59,400

The Harpenden Trust is deeply grateful to share that our

2025 Christmas Appeal has raised £59,400.

In a year when many households continue to feel financial pressure, this is a truly wonderful achievement. Every penny given reflects the thoughtfulness and generosity of our community — and all will go directly towards supporting local people across Harpenden during 2026.

Funds raised through the Appeal will help us continue our wide-ranging work with Wellbeing programmes working alongside our local GP practices

1. •Home visits supporting hundreds of local residents each year
   

2. •
   

•Befriending for those experiencing loneliness

•Seniors’ coffee mornings and outings

•Family activities and practical support

•The Well Bean Community Café, open every weekday morning

•Utility and hardship grants for local households

•Christmas parcels for families and older residents

•Supporting and amplifying the work of partners such as Citizens Advice, MIND, Youth Talk, Frazzled and Rennie Grove

•Maintaining welcoming community spaces for everyone

For over 75 years, the Harpenden Trust has worked quietly alongside local people, acting as a good neighbour and responding where the need is greatest. This year’s Appeal is another reminder of the compassion that runs through our town.

Richard Nichols, Chair of the Harpenden Trust, said:

“We are enormously thankful to everyone who contributed to this year’s Christmas Appeal. Raising £59,400 is a significant achievement, particularly in the current climate. The kindness shown by our community ensures that we can continue to be there for local people who need practical help, reassurance and connection. On behalf of the whole Trust, thank you.”

Lynn Kennedy, Appeal Director, said:

This is a fantastic result!  THANK YOU to everyone who donated and to our wonderful volunteers who worked so hard to raise this money to support the Care and Wellbeing Services.

We would also like to thank the many individuals, groups and organisations who supported festive events across the town — from the Lea Singers at Festive Lea to the thousands who gathered on Christmas Eve for Carols on the Common. These moments of togetherness help strengthen the sense of community that underpins everything we do.

March 3. Update on Harpenden district neighbourhood priorities’

Progress is underway to address the latest St Albans district neighbourhood priorities, which were agreed last month, in response to issues raised by local residents.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) work alongside district partners to focus on solving long and short-term neighbourhood issues, such as anti-social behaviour, theft, speeding and drug-related crime

They set local policing priorities every four months, providing a specific focus on the issues that residents have raised via surveys, alongside an analysis of data.

Harpenden and rural

You said: Tackle anti-social behaviour around local parks, including drinking alcohol, smoking drugs and abusive behaviour.

We did:

•Proactive patrols around the parks and work with partner agencies including Harpenden Town Council.

•We have identified a group of young people causing anti-social behaviour in parks and in the town. The Community Safety Unit will be making contact with parents.

•We will continue to monitor, engage and deal with any incidents.

You said: Tackle speeding in Harpenden and Sandridge.

We did:

•Speed enforcement checks have been conducted on Luton Road, Redbourn Road, Marford Hill, St Albans Road and Lower Luton Road.

•A man was given a traffic offence report for doing 44mph in a 30mph in Marford Road in Wheathampstead on Monday (23 February). The driver may be sent on a drivers’ improvement course, fined, given points on his licence or could be summonsed directly to court.

1. •We will continue to go out at different times and days to catch anyone speeding. The presence of officers reminds drivers to slow down.
   

END

March 3.

PLAGUE of POTHOLES

in Harpenden

shows no sign of diminishing

says Cllr Matt Cowley

"The Liberal Democrats at Hertfordshire

County Council made some big promises

in last May’s local elections. Chief among

them was a commitment to fixing our roads.

I think anyone using Hertfordshire’s roads can see that hasn’t materialised. In the first seven months of their time in office, they fixed around half the number of potholes per month on average that the Conservatives fixed in the preceding four years.

And it could get even worse. Because next year, the Lib Dems are spending around £12m less on Highways compared with the previous Conservative budget. That’s the money that should be going towards fixing our roads and pavements, gritting our roads and unblocking our drains. And in many areas, inflation hasn’t been factored in, so services will still need to be cut further. Just as much of a problem is what they are spending it on.

Huge amounts of money are going to 20 mph schemes, but those schemes will be delivered without the traffic calming measures needed to enforce the speeds.

£700k is being spent on an experimental new method of road maintenance; but the money has been committed before the trial to test whether or not the method works has been finished.

It is all a real mess. Not helped by the Labour Government’s decision to reduce the Council’s budgets by a huge amount; but that has been exacerbated by the Lib Dems making all the wrong choices."

Above road photos taken March 2. 2026

END