The CHPC have written a letter to Herts County Council expressing their concerns about this proposed development. A copy can be viewed by clicking here

Schools Consultation on Admissions 2013 / 14 :

Following the latest information to come out about possible changes to the admissions criteria, the Parish Council have written, strongly opposing one particular rule about suggestion priority for teachers children within a school. You can view their letter by clicking here

If you would like further information about any of these issues, please contact the Parish Office on 01727 825 314 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

There is more information available about the recent issue of The New Barnfield Incinerator - click on the 'Read more' link below 'PARISH MATTERS'.

THE NEXT PARISH MEETING IS THE ANNUAL STATUTORY MEETING AND WILL TAKE PLACE ON :

Thursday 10th May 2012
at the Village Hall, High Street, Colney Heath at 7.45pm

*Please consult the parish office (01727 825 314) for confirmation of these dates and venues as they may be subject to change if any urgent Parish business so demands.

PARISH MATTERS - March 2012

The view from Highfield and Hill End . . .

It’s a bit late to wish you all a happy new year but let’s at least keep our fingers crossed for a more prosperous time ahead.

I have served on the Parish Council for nearly three years and am pleased to say that, especially since Kevin Barnes (Hill End Ward) and Russell Solts (Highfield Ward) also became Parish Councillors, the Highfield/Hill End wards are now represented in proportion to the number of households existing in these wards.  Until 2009, this area had no voice on the Council and consequently had been rather the poor relation in terms of spend of the precept, to which we all contribute via Council Tax.

One very positive result of this was the acquisition and later transformation of Gloucester Park, half of which has been converted into 15 allotments which since last spring have all been cultivated.  I am proud to say that I led this project from its inception until the final letting of the plots, which involved polling the neighbourhood about the preferred use of the space, drawing up the allotment agreements and marking out equal sized plots, which in such an unevenly shaped area was quite a challenge!  The allotments are now administered by a committee led by Jo Kay.  The plots are about half the normal size – 120m2 – which many people find easier to manage than the usual 250m2 and the rent is proportionately lower.  To go on the waiting list you should contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Another allotment development has been completed in Highfield Park, not far from the original plots and Earthworks.  Highfield Park Trust have installed a rabbit-proof fence around these new plots.  I understand these plots are all spoken for – to go on a waiting list, you should contact the Trust at www.highfieldparktrust.co.uk.

On a less cheerful note, it is with dismay that I have to report a complete stalemate over the installation of a pedestrian crossing on Highfield Lane to enable Highfield residents to cross this now very busy road, where speeding is rife, to the shops, surgery and the other side of the park.  When the developers first acquired the old Home Farm site for development (now Tillage Close) I personally (as the then Chair of Highfield Park Residents’ Association),  along with another member of the HPRA Committee, met with the developer’s representative and obtained a verbal agreement from him to ensure that some of the Section 106 money from this development would be put towards the installation of a pedestrian crossing.  (Section 106 relates to monies paid by developers to Local Planning Authorities in order to offset the costs of the external effects of development on the local area which the Local Authority would have to deal with).
 
 The crossing never materialised.  Moreover, local agencies responsible for such matters deny any knowledge of this agreement and to add insult to injury have spent precisely none of the £58,000 Section 106 money from this development on this neighbourhood.  Escalation of this matter to our MP has failed to progress the matter.

Meanwhile speeding on Highfield Lane and Highfield Park Drive continues to be a big problem.  The local police have handed out a few fines but there have been some serious accidents and  you really do take your life in your hands when crossing these roads at any time of the day.  The volume of traffic around here has increased incredibly since I first moved here in 1999 when Hill End Lane was little more than a country lane – as its name implies.  

If that wasn’t enough, when the former Cell Barnes and Hill End Hospitals were decommissioned in the 1990s and the land on which they stood was developed into what now comprises about 800 homes, Section 106 money of  £500 per house should have been forthcoming from the developers.   That’s about £400,000 by my reckoning.  In today’s terms this would probably be worth twice that. But no one can tell us what became of that money or, indeed, if it was ever obtained from the developers?  All that is certain is that it wasn’t spent anywhere near here.

Many of you will be aware of a planning application to develop over 60 houses on the site currently occupied by the old Barley Mow Pub and the stables attached.  The Parish Council meeting on February 8th was a lively one, attended by many residents in the local area concerned about the impact of so many new homes in the area and the lack of infrastructure to support it.  The Parish Council agreed to oppose the current application which would encroach on existing “green” areas but would in principle be in agreement to an amended application for fewer homes being built on the footprint of existing buildings (i.e. “brownfield” site).   Those attending the meeting appeared to be happy with this decision.

A victim of the economic downturn is our lovely local theatre company the Trestle Arts Base, located just off Princess Diana Drive.  Their Arts Council funding has been cut  and one result  is that the 2012 Larks in the Park is under threat unless we can muster enough volunteers to run the event on June 24th.  If you can spare your time, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   You will need to attend a short Health and Safety briefing before the event.

Highfield Park Residents’ Association held their eighth annual carol singing event on the green in Puddingstone Drive on December 18th.  Over 60 people attended plus several dogs.  Mulled wine (squash for the kids) lubricated the vocal chords, mince pies and chocolate cake provided the calories to keep us warm  and we raised £57 for Crisis at Christmas.  Come and join in next year – watch this space for details.

Just one other ‘thank you’ before I close. The Community Christmas Lunch was a huge success again this year, and all who attended had a great time. I would like to thank all the volunteers who made it happen, and especially Jean Horner, who having run this event since it was resurrected some 6 or 7 years ago, is handing over the reigns - thank you Jean for all your hard work.

The Parish Council meets every month on the first Thursday at 8pm, usually at the Colney Heath Village Hall but three times per year at Charles Morris Hall in Tyttenhanger in October, February and at the Annual Parish Meeting in April.  Anyone can attend the meeting and ask questions.

Chris Gowens
Vice-Chair and Councillor for Hill End Ward – Colney Heath Parish Council

THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE CHRONICLE 147 – SPRING EDITION – PUBLISHED IN MARCH 2012