digestdacorum

news from your council

www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

spring 2017

A new chapter begins

old town hall events

15

planning in dacorum

3

hemel turns 70

13

garden waste

8

The part of your Council Tax payment we receive goes towards providing many services, such as:

collecting your waste and recycling and keeping our streets and parks clean and tidy

running elections and council meetings and improving services

providing opportunities to experience cultural and sports events

building new and maintaining our existing council housing and services; and

managing planning and development in the borough.

You will receive a leaflet through your letter

box in the next few weeks explaining how we

work out your Council Tax, how much we keep

and how we spend it. It will also be available

to download from www.dacorum.gov.uk/

counciltax in early March.

Council Tax 2017-18You will receive your new Council Tax bill in early March. The Council Tax we collect pays for the services you receive from us, Hertfordshire County Council and the Police.

2 News

Digest advertising digestads@dacorum.gov.uk Dacorum Borough Council does not accept responsibility for any goods or services offered by advertisers

Publisher Dacorum Borough Council, The Forum, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP1 1DN 01442 228000 | digest@dacorum.gov.uk

If you would like this information in another format, such as CD or in another language, please email digest@dacorum.gov.uk or call 01442 228413

www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

WelcomeWelcome to the spring issue of Dacorum

Digest. I was delighted to see so much great

feedback from local residents on our social

media pages following the Christmas lights

switch-on in November. It’s great to see

that the work we have carried out in Hemel

Hempstead has really paid off and has made

the town centre a fantastic place for us to

hold community celebrations.

We have now reached another milestone in our regeneration programme as we opened the doors to The Forum in January. The Forum is a great place for you to access council and support services more easily under one roof. You walk into an open plan, energy-efficient building to be greeted by a state-of-the-art central library housed in a light and airy central atrium next to a new café. It’s an inspiring place to visit and a whole new way of working for Councillors and Officers (you can read more about The Forum on page 5).

Wishing you a healthy and happy 2017

Cllr Andrew Williams, Leader of the Council

Changes to Easter waste collectionsThere are changes to waste collections over the Easter Bank Holidays (as shown on your waste collection calendar).

We will be collecting bins as usual on Good Friday 14 April. There will be no collection on Easter Monday 17 April and your bins will be collected one day later this week.

You can check your bin collection date on our website. Just visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/mybins and enter your postcode.

Green bin collectionsFortnightly green bin collections will restart during the first two weeks of March. Remember your green-lidded bin is for garden waste only. Cardboard should be put in your blue-lidded bin and food waste in your kerbside caddy.

For a reminder of what goes in which bin, please visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/whichbin

We’ve moved!We have now moved into The Forum and the Civic Centre in Hemel Hempstead has closed. Our new address is:Dacorum Borough Council The Forum Marlowes Hemel Hempstead Herts HP1 1DN

You will find The Forum on the corner of Combe Street and Marlowes. You can find out more about the services available to you at The Forum, as well as the other organisations who have moved in with us, on page 5.

News 3www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

Don’t forget if you’ve just turned 18, recently moved or changed your name, you will need to register to vote.

You can register in less than five minutes online, just visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and have your National Insurance number to hand.

Upcoming electionsHertfordshire County Council Elections will be held on Thursday 4 May 2017.

Remember if you’re not registered to vote you can’t have your say in local and general elections or referendums. Not being registered to vote may also affect your credit rating.

Here are the key dates in the run-up to the election:

End of March Polling cards issued. These will tell you where to go to vote and are sent to each person in a household who is entitled to vote. If anyone in your household doesn’t receive a card, please contact Electoral Services on 01442 228071.

4 April Closing date for candidate nominations

5 April List of candidates published

13 April Last chance to get yourself on the electoral register. If you are not sure whether your name is on the register, especially if you’re new to the borough, make sure you check well in advance.

18 April Deadline to apply for postal votes

25 April Deadline to apply for proxy votes (someone voting on your behalf)

4 May Election day. Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm

5 May Results will be posted at The Forum and www.dacorum.gov.uk/elections2017

Are you registered to vote?

Don’t miss out – get digitalSign up to our monthly email newsletter Digital Digest and you’ll get information about our services, local events, elections and consultations sent to you every month.

Just visit our website to sign up today www.dacorum.gov.uk/digitaldigest

New planning policies for development in DacorumWe have been working on our Site

Allocations document over the last few

years. The document includes proposals for

six key development sites in Dacorum.

Thank you to everyone who gave us feedback on the final changes to this at the beginning of the year.

The final changes included proposals to:

1. Remove Gypsy and Traveller provision in LA5 (Tring)

2. Allow development to start on sites LA1 and LA3 (both Hemel Hempstead) before 2021

3. Slightly increase the amount of housing overall

Your responses have been passed on to the Planning Inspector, Mrs Louise Crosby, for consideration before she produces a final report on the Site Allocations document. If the Inspector thinks it is ‘sound’, we will adopt the plan in summer 2017.

New Local PlanWe have now started work on a new Local Plan for the borough. The Local Plan will set the amount and location of new housing, employment and retail development in Dacorum over the next 20 years.

We are currently finalising a number of studies, which will help us prepare this new plan and we will be asking for your opinion on its content in the summer.

The plan will join together our three current planning strategies into one Local Plan, replacing the Saved Local Plan, the Core Strategy and the Site Allocations documents. The new plan will also contain our policies relating to:

• the Green Belt

• sustainable development

• protecting the built and natural environment

• access to services (e.g. GP surgeries, schools)

• supporting the local economy and town centres

• the provision of infrastructure to support

development

• conserving the historic environment.

How to get involvedIf you, or an organisation you represent, would

like to be contacted about this and other future

planning policy consultations please email your

details to strategic.planning@dacorum.gov.uk or

call 01442 228000 and ask for Strategic Planning.

Can’t make it to the polling station?Anyone can arrange to vote by post or proxy (when someone votes on your behalf). To get a form to request either a postal or a proxy vote contact Electoral Services on 01442 228071 or email er@dacorum.gov.uk

4 News www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

Is your dog’s microchip up to date?

Please make sure you update

your dog’s microchip

information when you change:

Your phone number

Your address

Ownership of the dog to

another person

It is illegal to have any of this

information out of date and if

we cannot contact the owner by

phone, you run the risk of your

dog being taken to kennels

while you are traced. This can

be distressing for the dog and

you can also be fined.

It is also still a legal

requirement for your dog

to wear a collar and an

identification tag in a public

place.

To update your dog’s

information you will need to

contact the microchip company

your dog is registered with.

If you don’t know which

microchip company you are

registered with, your local vet

should be able to tell you.

An increasing amount of the stray

dogs we pick up have out-of-date

microchip details. When stray dogs

are found they are automatically

scanned for a chip but only 20% have up-to-date

information that is legally compliant. A further 33%

have microchips with incorrect information.

SIGN UPTODAYSIGN UPTODAY

We are bursting with excitement about our fun-filled 5k

Bubble Rush event, which is bubbles ahead of any

other fun-run.

stfrancis.org.uk/bubblerush

Registered Charity No: 280825

BUBBLE RUSH HERTSBUBBLE RUSH HERTS30TH APRIL Gadebridge Park Hemel Hempstead

The Hospice of St Francis offers care and support when it matters most to over 2,000 people every year.

SIGN UPTODAY!SIGN UPTODAY!

Advertisement

Are you paying by

Direct Debit?If you are not paying your

Council Tax by Direct Debit why

not join the 80% of residents who

are and start paying the safe,

secure and easy way.

Direct Debit is the most popular way to pay us as once you’ve set it up the payments will take care of themselves. Simply choose to pay on either the 1st, 10th or 21st of each month – whichever suits you best.

We will always tell you in advance of any changes in dates or amounts due and you are fully protected from errors by the Direct Debit Guarantee. You are also able to cancel at any time.

So, visit our website www.dacorum.gov.uk/directdebit to set up your Direct Debit online today, or give us a call on 01442 228000 and ask for Council Tax

For more information about micro-chipping please visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/microchipping

Customer Service CentreIn our new purpose-built customer

service centre you can get help from

our customer services advisors, or

meet with officers in one of the private

interview rooms. Got a quick query

or need to make a payment? We have

five new self-service and two payment

machines so you can beat the queues.

Our advisors will be available from

8.45am – 5.15pm Monday to Thursday

and 8.45am – 4.45pm on Fridays.

Hertfordshire Register Service Hertfordshire County Council’s Register

Services have moved from the Bury to

the first floor of The Forum. You can

visit here to register births, deaths

and marriages. There is also a modern

ceremony room (pictured right).

Hemel Hempstead Library and CreatorSpaceThe borough’s new central library is

making use of its bigger space with

more books and computers, with wi-fi,

reading and study areas – as well as

being designed flexibly to allow for

community events.

This is also home to Hertfordshire’s

second CreatorSpace, which brings

together creativity and digital

technology by encouraging people to

experiment with digital making and

learning in the supportive environment

of the new library. In the CreatorSpace

you will find:

n a 3D printer

n iMac computers, loaded with

professional grade audio and video

editing software

n tablet computers

n digital embroidery sewing machine

n a digital cutter for craft activities

n Chromebooks and Raspberry Pi kits for

use with young people’s coding clubs.

The opening hours of the new library

are 9am to 6pm Monday, Wednesday

and Friday with late opening until 7pm

on Thursday, 12pm to 6pm on Tuesdays,

9.30am to 4pm on Saturdays and 12pm

to 4pm on Sundays.

For more information visit

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/

libraries

Voluntary sector partnersCitizens Advice Dacorum, Dacorum First

Credit Union and Dacorum Community

Trust are also moving into the ground

floor of The Forum over the next few

months.

For more information visit

www.dacorum.gov.uk/forum, like

www.facebook.com/dacorum and

follow www.twitter.com/dacorumbc

Your Dacorum 5www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

Welcome to The Forum The Forum, your new council, library and voluntary

services hub in Hemel Hempstead, is now open for

business. Take a look inside:

Hemel Hempstead Library and CreatorSpace Eat Lunch – The Forum cafe

Customer Service Centre

Hertfordshire Register Service

6 Your Dacorum www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

www.DENS.org.uk/cycle

Gadebridge Park100km, 60km and 25km rides

'Well organised. Beautiful scenery. Great routes.'

Rent AidDacorum FoodbankAction Against Homelessness Night Shelter

DENS EnterprisesDay Centre Action Against Homelessness

HILLBUSTER THE HEMEL

Sunday 23rd April 2017

Charity No. 1097185 Company No. 4610820

Advertisement

Are youLinkedIn? Make new contacts, be inspired by speakers

and share ideas at the ‘Get LinkedIn’ event on

7 March from 8am at the Watermill Hotel in

Bourne End, Hemel Hempstead.

Tickets are just £15 +VAT including breakfast

and can be booked by searching for ‘Dacorum

Look No Further’ on LinkedIn or email

philippa.shaw@dacorum.gov.uk

It’s a great opportunity to network with your

local business community and discover new

opportunities.

Get ready to enter Dacorum’s Den 2017

Mirroring the Dragon’s Den TV format, this local business grant scheme invites budding entrepreneurs to apply for up to £1,000 to grow and develop. All Dacorum based businesses with fewer than 20 employees and an annual turnover of less than £1 million are eligible.

Organised by Dacorum Borough Council and supported by local sponsors including Haspineall Collins, JE2, FFEI, Abode Bed & Continental, Gyron, Sopra Steria and McDonald’s in Apsley, the scheme opens on 31 March with a workshop from 9am to 11am covering how to apply.

Now in its sixth year, Dacorum’s Den has awarded £50,000 to Dacorum businesses and created 33 jobs within the borough. Last year’s grant winners included Spirit of the Old Town which offers historical costumed tours around Hemel Hempstead and Sherry Hostler Cake Artistry, a new cake business opening in Tring. All businesses applying will receive business support from the Council’s Enterprise and Investment Team.

The deadline for applications is 19 May 2017. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to put their ideas before a panel of judges led by MP Mike Penning MP on 7 July.

The New Year brings new opportunities for small businesses in the

Berkhamsted, Tring and Hemel Hempstead area with the return of

Dacorum’s Den 2017.

Last years winners receiving their prize from the judges

For more information or if you are keen to expand your business in Dacorum visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/dacorumsden

Problem pests?We can help…We offer a professional pest control service both to homes and businesses in Dacorum. We treat a variety of pests including wasps, hornets, ants, flies, mice and rats.

www.dacorum.gov.uk/ pestcontrolpestcontrol@dacorum.gov.uk

Residents please call 01442 228000 and ask for pest control (please tell us if you are a Dacorum Borough Council tenant). Businesses call 01442 228455.

Discounts available for

Dacorum Card holders

Your Dacorum 7www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

Since the New Year we’ve been installing the final features of the Water Gardens restoration.

Are youLinkedIn?

In the lake a new fountain marks the eye of the original Geoffrey Jellicoe’s serpent design. The fountain design has changed over the years but we have worked hard to recreate a view much enjoyed by shoppers and visitors since the 1960s. LED lighting has been added as a new touch.

The Friends’ building‘s new external doors will soon be fitted with a geometric pattern reflecting 1960s design trends. And around the back is the Friends’ sensory garden which will be planted with scented and tactile herbs and flowers. The Friends of Jellicoe Water Gardens have chosen local varieties of apples to plant in the mini orchard, plus there will be a vegetable area to help visitors learn how to grow their own.

Throughout the Gardens there are new welcome and information signs. So when the Gardens open you can find out about the Gardens’ history, ecology and the flower garden.

And we’ve added to Geoffrey Jellicoe’s legacy through an exciting new mural which tells the story of Hemel Hempstead from the Roman period onwards.

You’re invited!We are looking forward to seeing you at the Garden’s official launch later in the year – look out for details nearer the time on our website www.dacorum.gov.uk/watergardens or sign up to our email newsletter to keep up to date with events www.dacorum.gov.uk/digitaldigest

Water Gardens springs into 2017

Photo courtesy of David Spain Collection cared for by the Dacorum Heritage Trust

New benches for visitors The Water Gardens today

8 Green Dacorum www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

You can purchase an unlimited number of

240-litre green-lidded bins for £25 per bin.

The additional bins (including any extra bins

that residents may have previously purchased

from us) can be emptied through the seasonal

subscription service, which costs £50 per year for

every additional green-lidded bin.

The additional green-lidded bins will be collected

on the same day and at the same frequency as

the normal green-lidded bin collections from

March to November.

The regular garden waste service currently

provided to householders will remain unchanged;

this additional service is simply an optional extra.

Subscribe now to have your extra garden waste collected

For more information, to purchase additional bins and to subscribe to the service visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/extragreenbin

Get your bulky waste

collectedWe provide a collection service for unwanted

bulky household items. We can collect all

kinds of free-standing items such as beds,

wardrobes, settees, fridges, cookers etc.

Unfortunately, building material, or anything

that is part of the fabric of the house

(i.e. rubble), car parts, dismantled sheds,

fences etc. cannot be collected.

Charges for collections are:• Up to three items £30, Dacorum Card

holder £24

• Up to six items £50, Dacorum Card holder

£36

• Over six items, or unusual items, a quoted

collection may be possible.

For more information visit

www.dacorum.gov.uk/bulkywaste or to

book call 01442 228000 and ask for Waste

Services.

You can also take bulky household items

and garden waste to the Household Waste

Recycling Centres free of charge. These are

located at Eastman Way, Hemel Hempstead

and Northbridge Road, Berkhamsted.

Call WasteAware on 0300 1234051 or visit

www.hertsdirect.org/wasteaware

Donate your furniture

If you’d like to donate good quality

items to a local charity you can do so by

contacting the British Heart Foundation

www.bhf.org.uk, DENS Action Against

Homelessness

www.dens.org.uk/shop/donate-goods

or Emmaus www.emmaus.org.uk

Composting at home: • Will save you money

• Will give you a compost soil that is rich in nutrients

• Helps to reduce the waste you throw away

• Is a great opportunity, if you have children at home, for them to help out in the garden and learn about the environment.

If you live in Dacorum, you can get a reduced price compost bin from the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership and start turning your kitchen and garden waste into compost in your garden.

Composting made easyYour fruit and vegetable waste and garden waste can provide all the

nutrition that your garden needs to thrive all year round.

To find out more about composting and to order your compost bin online visit www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444

We are offering you the opportunity to buy additional green-lidded bins and

have them collected on your normal collection day through our Additional Garden

Waste Subscription Service.

Real nappies make real sense with our

three smart reasons for switching from

disposable to reusable nappies:

Save moneyYou can save up to £500 during your

baby’s first two and half years by

choosing reusable rather than disposable

nappies. You can use them again on your

next child, pass them on to family and

friends or even sell them on.

Save the environment

By the time your baby is potty trained

they could have used as many as 4,000

nappies. It takes up to 500 years for

each one to decompose and when they

do they let out a harmful methane gas

that contributes to climate change.

Get real stylishReal or cloth nappies come in many

different styles, colours and trends, from

leopard print to floral designs, so your

baby can wear a range of fun styles

to express themselves. They are also

available in a range of fabrics including

cotton, bamboo, microfibre and hemp

making them as kind as possible for

your baby’s skin.

Sarah Tucker from Hemel Hempstead

used them for the first time last year,

“We have not had any leaks and since

we bought them we have not had to

spend any more money on nappies.

Not only are they are easy to use and

wash but our daughter finds them

comfortable and has not suffered from

nappy rash. We really like real nappies

and prefer them to disposables.”

Why not give them a try?Sign up to our reusable nappy scheme

and you will receive a free nappy starter

kit, worth over £100, containing five

all-in-one cloth nappies, one night nappy

and wrap, one booster and one roll of

disposable liners. If you buy real nappies

you could qualify for £50 cashback.

You can also try before you buy when

you hire out nappies for £2 per item for a

month from Stork and the Bees Watford

Sling and Cloth Nappy Library. By trying

a variety of nappy styles you can buy

real nappies with confidence. For more

information email

hello@storkandthebees.com or visit

www.facebook.com/storkandthebees

In Dacorum we are looking for

#litterheroes – individuals, groups,

schools and businesses to take part

in the #GBSpringClean to carry out

litter-picking activities. The national

clean-up weekend is 3 – 5 March

but we are hoping to see litter-pick

events throughout the whole of

March. Sign up at

www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk

Portfolio Holder for Environment,

Sustainability and Regulatory Services,

Councillor Janice Marshall, said,

“Last year an amazing 1,336 residents

carried out clean-up activities, from

school grounds to canals in the Clean

for the Queen initiative. Let’s make it

bigger this year – take a stand and be

our litter hero!”

Green Dacorum 9www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

The Great British Spring Clean – are you in?

For more information visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/gbspringclean or to take part, email cleansafegreen@dacorum.gov.uk about your event and we will provide bags and loan you litter pick sticks (on a first come, first served basis).

We are supporting Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring

Clean to encourage 500,000 people to get out there and make

sure their neighbourhood is one of which they can be proud of.

Get real with real nappiesOver 150 parents in Dacorum understand the real benefits

of using reusable or real nappies. They are also benefitting

from our £50 reward scheme and free nappy kits worth

over £100. With all this on offer can you afford to miss out

on the benefits of choosing real nappies?

In April we will be celebrating

Real Nappy Week. Keep an eye on

our website for details.

For more information on real nappies

visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/realnappy

or email r4d@dacorum.gov.uk

3

2

1

A captivated, near-capacity audience

watched 14 young people entertain

and impress using masks and physical

theatre techniques. After attending the

performance the Mayor, Cllr Bob Mclean,

said, “The Mayoress and I really did enjoy

the event. The show, although quite

short, was very hard hitting and in some

ways very shocking. My feeling was

that this was felt by every member of

the audience that night. I think the cast

should be requested to perform the show

to a much wider audience.”

Cllr Neil Harden, added, “I’m so pleased to see this innovative and engaging technique was able to support these young people to develop their self- confidence and reduce their anxiety. The overwhelming success of this project has meant that we are able to continue to offer these workshops and an opportunity for young people to gain a qualification for the next two years.”

Congratulations to all our M-ask participants.

10 Young Dacorum www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

M-ask theatre performance atThe Old Town HallAfter a hugely successful 12-week pilot programme led by Trestle

Theatre company and Signpost Counselling, our M-ask theatre group

put on an amazing and emotional performance at The Old Town Hall.

If you are interested in signing up for the next M-ask programme starting in September 2017, please contact neighbourhood.action@dacorum.gov.uk or call 01442 228181. Alternatively visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/m-ask

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M-ask theatre group with the Mayoress and Mayor of Dacorum

Community 11www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

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Grants help community groups growWhether it’s sporting or singing – your community,

voluntary, arts or charity organisation could benefit from a

grant of up to £3,000.

Last year we funded 22 groups in the borough to help them

improve the lives of Dacorum residents – giving grants of

more than £50,000.

Berkhamsted Rugby Club got its

floodlights repaired and Dacorum

Community Choir, with the help

of our £750 funding, can carry on

singing into the next season.

We funded a specialist mattress

for the Hospice of St Francis and

gave a grant to Herts Society for

the Blind so it could set up a job

club to support people with sight

impairment.

Cllr Neil Harden, Portfolio Holder

for Residents and Corporate

Services, said: “Our funding aims

to help small organisations and

charities to develop and expand.

“Each community grant application

is assessed on a number of factors

including the impact it will have

on the health and well-being of

people in Dacorum, whether it is

helping to look after the interests

of vulnerable and deprived people

and communities and whether

it’s encouraging people from all

backgrounds to get involved in

their community. Groups such

as Dacorum Community Choir

help enhance mental health

and social well-being. I watched

a rehearsal and saw how

enthusiastically the choir sang,

and was impressed to learn that

the choir is fully inclusive - anyone

can join regardless of ability or

experience.”

Sally Davies, Chairman of

Dacorum Community Choir,

said: “We’re very grateful to the

borough council and the councillors

for their generous grant, which will

allow us to continue and expand

our community concerts. It means

a lot to us that the commitment

we make to singing with the

community has been recognised in

this way.”

Find out if your community

group is eligible or apply on

our website:

www.dacorum.gov.uk/grants

Dacorum Community Choir with Cllr Harden (right)

The sports initiative, run in partnership with Sport England, has funded almost 30 activities across the borough in the past 12 months, investing more than £80,000 into disadvantaged and underrepresented groups over this time.

During a successful 2016 Get Set, Go Dacorum funded projects including Let’s Dance, aimed at over 55s, which has resulted in an increase in general happiness and well-being of participants.

Rush Judo – aimed at adults with a learning disability - is another success story with the sessions becoming increasingly popular.

Portfolio Holder for Residents and Corporate Services, Cllr Neil Harden, said, “The impact the project has had on the local community has been outstanding. The past 12 months alone has seen over 1,000 new participants engage with various local activities provided by the scheme. It has successfully created new opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity for more people across Dacorum.”

Get Set, Go Dacorum has been awarded Community Project of the Year 2016

at the Herts Sports Partnership Awards.

Top award for Get Set Go

12 Community www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

GET SET GO

DACORUMget active. get involved. get healthy.

To find out about the Get Set, Go Dacorum activities happening near you and to see how you can get active in 2017 visit www.getsetgodacorum.co.uk

Ben Russell, Project Lead with Cllr Neil Harden Get moving with pedal powerGet fit with your family and join

our community bike rides starting

in spring. We offer free guided bike

rides across Dacorum to keep the

whole family active together.

Rides are free and grouped in levels to suit

everyone from beginners to experienced

cyclists. If you don’t have a bike, we can

hire them, and other equipment such as

baby seats, out for free.

The rides go from our new cycle hub in

Woodhall Farm Adventure Playground,

Hemel Hempstead every Sunday at 10am.

For more information or to register:

email getsetgo@dacorum.gov.uk

Prize draw winner Denise treats her coffee mates

Do you want to have a voice in your

community? You could join one of five

Neighbourhood Action groups in Dacorum.

Love your neighbourhood – have your say

The groups give residents and councillors the opportunity

to work closely together in identifying issues in a ward –

and mean any problems can be tackled in partnership.

We hold meetings throughout the year where you can

meet people from your neighbourhood and get involved.

The groups focus on Adeyfield, Gadebridge, Warners End

and Chaulden, Grovehill and Woodhall Farm, Highfield and

Hemel town.

For the next meeting dates go to page 15 or there is more

information on how to join the steering groups and a full

list of meeting dates here: http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/

home/community-living/neighbourhood-action

We are also listening to residents through consultation –

last year we asked residents from all five groups to let us

know the issues that concern them. The issues that were

raised will be reviewed by the steering groups.

Resident Denise Chennell won a £50 prize for

completing the survey and said the money would be

spent on an afternoon tea at her community group

Coffee Mates, which meets at Adeyfield Community

Centre. She set the voluntary group up to give local

residents aged 50 plus a place to meet and socialise.

For more information about Coffee Mates email

neighbourhood.action@dacorum.gov.uk

Community 13www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

New Town turns 70

1940sHemel officially becomes a New Town. Over 10,000

people join the waiting list to move from poor quality or

bombed-out housing in London after World War II. Hemel

Hempstead Development Corporation begins building the

first houses in Adeyfield.

1950sThe first four families

move in on 8 February

1950 and are visited

by a young Queen

Elizabeth II in 1952.

Houses start to be built

in the neighbourhoods

of Bennetts End,

Chaulden and Warners

End.

The first factory is built

on Maylands in 1950

and in 1956 Lucas

Rotax (later known as

Lucas Aerospace)

opens and becomes

one of the area’s major

employers.

In 1959 the M1 opens, providing a gateway to London and

the north. In 1954 the market moves from the old town to

the Marlowes, the town’s new main shopping centre.

Gadebridge Park is bought by the Council and opens as

a public park in 1952. Jellicoe’s Water Gardens are also

completed.

1960sThe town starts to develop beyond homes as the library,

Civic Centre, police station, fire station, the college, court,

health centre and the Pavilion all open their doors for

the first time. The Nickey Line (between Hemel and

Harpenden) is closed and the railway bridge over Marlowes

is demolished. In 1965 the London to Euston railway is

electrified and the main train station is rebuilt.

1970sThe Plough – or ‘Magic’ as it’s better known – Roundabout

debuts its two-way design. Hemel has a ‘Kodak moment’

when the company moves into the twenty storey skyscraper

overlooking the roundabout in 1971. Brocks Fireworks closes

and Woodhall Farm neighbourhood is built on the site.

1980sGrovehill, the last of the New Town neighbourhoods is

completed. St Paul’s Hospital is demolished and services are

transferred to West Herts Hospital.

1990sMarlowes Shopping Centre opens in 1990, followed by

Leisure World entertainment complex in 1995. The A41

dual carriageway is built linking Hemel to the M25. John

Dickinson Paper Mills closes.

2000sIn 2005 Riverside Shopping Centre opens, extending the

town centre to the Magic Roundabout. The Buncefield oil

depot explosion in December the same year causes the

largest peacetime fire in Europe.

TodayIn 2014 Dacorum Borough Council begins a £30 million

Hemel Evolution town centre transformation. This is swiftly

followed by the regeneration of Jarman Park. The Forum

opens in January 2017, providing a modern and efficient

home for council services, a new library and registry office,

and voluntary sector partners.

To find out more about Hemel Hempstead’s New Town history:

• visit www.dacorumheritage.org.uk

• listen to residents’ stories online at www.talkingnewtowns.org.uk

• watch videos at www.britishpathe.com (search ‘Hemel Hempstead’) and player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-home-of-your-own-1951

On 4 February 1947 Hemel Hempstead became the third town to be granted ‘New Town’ status

by the Government. It was the beginning of the Hemel Hempstead we know today.

Our recent Hemel Evolution transformation of the town centre has prepared it for the future.

Taking a quick look back over the last 70 years shows us just how far we’ve come.

The Queen visits new residents

The Development Corporation’s plan for the New TownAdeyfield Square

Jellicoe Watergardens

The Magic Roundabout

The Marlowes shopping centre

Buncefield smoke plume

New Town Square event space

14 Engage

If you live in Dacorum, the Council is part of your every day life, so it’s important you have a say in the decisions that affect you. This section in Dacorum Digest is to let you know about opportunities coming up for you to get involved in local decision making.

Dacorum Borough Council

Committee meetingsMeetings of the Council, its Cabinet and other committees are open to the public. You can arrange to speak at one of these meetings if they are discussing an issue of particular interest to you. Go to www.dacorum.gov.uk/participate for more information.

All meetings take place at The Forum and start at 7.30pm with the exception of Development Control which starts at 7pm.

Full CouncilAll 51 Council Members attend full Council meetings, held around seven or eight times a year. They debate and agree decisions on behalf of local residents.

Wednesday 19 April Things being discussed include the budget for 2017-18 and matters referred from Cabinet.

Wednesday 17 May Mayor making — handing over to the new Mayor of Dacorum for 2017/18.

Cabinet MeetingsThe Council’s Cabinet has six senior Councillors who meet every month to make key decisions. The Cabinet’s decisions can be ‘called in’ to be looked at in more detail by an Overview and Scrutiny Committee, or may need to be approved by Full Council.

Tuesday 21 March Things being discussed include how our services are performing.

Tuesday 25 April Things being discussed include parking and access to Hemel Hempstead town centre and the Grovehill Neighbourhood Plan.

Tuesday 23 May Things being discussed include how our services are performing.

Overview and Scrutiny CommitteesThese meet regularly to discuss service performance and improvements and to check the decisions made by the Cabinet. They are made up of Council Members from across the political parties and encourage views from local people, community groups and our partner organisations.

Strategic Planning and EnvironmentTuesday 14 March

Housing and CommunityWednesday 15 March

Finance and Resources Tuesday 7 March

Health in DacorumWednesday 1 March

Development Control CommitteeThis committee makes decisions on planning applications

Thursday 16 March Thursday 6 April Thursday 27 April Thursday 25 May

Other committee meetingsLicensing (Health and Safety and Enforcement)Tuesday 28 March Tuesday 25 April Tuesday 23 May

Dacorum Community Safety PartnershipWednesday 24 May

Standards CommitteeThursday 9 March

Meeting times and agendas are correct at the time of printing but can change. Meeting agendas are published a week before the meeting date. You can find the most up to date details, agendas, minutes and meeting dates on our website at www.dacorum.gov.uk/councilmeetings

www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

Council tenants and leaseholdersAre you a Dacorum Borough Council tenant or leaseholder? There’s never been a better time to get involved!

We’re committed to delivering effective resident involvement and have some fantastic opportunities coming up, including the launch of our new Tenant Academy.

Whether you see yourself as a committee member, or would just be happy to answer the occasional survey we want to hear from you.

If you are one of our tenants or leaseholders and would like to find out more visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/get-involved or contact us at tenantinvolvement@dacorum.gov.uk or call 01442 228000 and ask for Tenant Involvement.

The Neighbourhood Action groups in Dacorum give local residents the chance to work on local issues and work with Councillors and other organisations to make a difference in their neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood Action groups operate in:

• Adeyfield – Monday 20 March 2017, Adeyfield School

• Gadebridge, Warners End and Chaulden – Monday 24 April 2017, Warners End Community Centre

• Highfield – Monday 22 May 2017, Cranford House

• Hemel Hempstead Town – Monday 8 May 2017, The Forum

• Woodhall Farm, Grovehill and Piccotts End – Monday 3 April 2017, Grovehill Community Centre

Neighbourhood Action

Find out more: www.dacorum.gov.uk/neighbourhoodaction Email: neighbourhood.action@dacorum.gov.uk or call 01442 228000 and ask for Neighbourhood Action.

Have your sayWe ask for your views on a variety of issues in surveys throughout the year. You can take part online at www.dacorum.gov.uk/consultation

Online consultation groupWant to give us your views on a range of council issues? Join our online consultation group and let us have your views via the internet. The email group is designed to be flexible and convenient to you. Once you join, you will be invited to take part in online consultations. You won’t have to participate in every consultation – only the ones that you feel relevant to you or would like to give us your opinion about.

To join you must be aged 16 or over, live in Dacorum and be able to complete our surveys online.

Register at www.dacorum.gov.uk/consultation where you’ll also find more information, or email haveyoursay@dacorum.gov.uk with any questions.

TheatreTickets £14, £12 concession, £10 Dacorum Card, £5 UpStaged

Cautionary Tales for Daughters Cautionary Tales for Daughters is a musical foray into the heart of growing up and the peculiarities of parenting. Imagine the playfulness of Victoria Wood with the satirical bite of Tim Minchin. Suitable for 14+Friday 3 March, 8pm

The Thing That Came From Over There Inspired by the horror movies of the 1950s, The Thing That Came From Over There is a fast-paced rollicking ride, mixing paranoia, suspense and hilariously gruesome deaths. Saturday 18 March, 8pm

The Diary of a Hounslow Girl From traditional Pakistani weddings to fights on the night bus, this is a funny, provocative play highlighting the challenges of being brought up in London in a traditional Muslim family. Tuesday 28 March, 8pm

Romeo and Juliet Lovers from feuding families wed in secret, but their plans are torn apart by bitter violence. Merely Theatre’s minimalist, gender-blind productions put an emphasis on accessibility and clear storytelling, bringing Shakespeare’s words to vivid new life. Wednesday 10 May, 2pm and 8pm For ticket prices (including school bookings) please visit our website

Family TheatreThe Explorer A delightful new marionette show performed by puppeteer, Lori Hopkins. After crash landing on an unusual island, the brave Explorer encounters wild beasts, rough seas and futuristic technologies. An imaginative show for ages 3 – 8 years with original music and stunning visuals. Saturday 25 March, 11am and 2.30pm Tickets £6, £4.50 Dacorum Card

Monstersaurus This brand new show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants is monster-ously good! Follow the young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of wacky inventions and incredible monsters. Saturday 8 April, 11am and 2.30pm Tickets £6.50, £5 Dacorum Card

There and Back Again The Odyssey is the classic of classics, the mother of all stories, the ultimate source of myths and legends full of giants, ghosts, Greeks and great adventure. Join Lyngo Theatre on a thrilling ride across hostile seas and spooky islands to finally realise that no matter how far you roam, there’s no place like Homer. Suitable for ages 6 – 11yrsSaturday 29 April, 11am and 2.30pm Tickets £6.50, £5 Dacorum Card

Family FilmTickets £3 (includes a glass of squash)

Pete’s Dragon (PG) Saturday 1 April, 11am

Kubo and the Two Strings (PG) Saturday 22 April, 11am

Storks (PG) Saturday 6 May, 11am

Music£13, £11 concession, £10 Dacorum Card

Tina May Jazz singer, Tina May, returns to The Old Town Hall with her band to celebrate her favourite ‘Divas’ - Ella Fitzgerald in particular in this centenary year of her birth. Saturday 11 March, 8pm Tickets £15, concession £12

Alison Rayner Quintet In ARQ, Alison Rayner has gathered a group of musicians who sympathetically support her music. The quintet’s music is bursting with melodic and harmonic references from jazz, classical and folk music. Thursday 27 April, 8pm

Irish Mythen Irish Mythen is an Irish-born Canadian folk artist who has amassed accolades and achievements across several continents over the years. Contemporary catchy anthems are blended with traditional tunes borrowed from her homeland and woven together with a signature blend of edgy humour and heartfelt storytelling.Friday 5 May, 8pm

ComedyScreaming Blue Murder Do Mondays always feel like the worst day of the week? Then come on down to The Cellar Club and let the best and brightest comedians on the circuit put a smile on your face! Please note the earlier start time of 8pm.

Monday 6 March, 8pm Compere Bennett Arron presents Addy van der Borgh and Debra-Jane Appelby

Monday 3 April, 8pm Compere Windsor presents Andre Vincent and Ola

Monday 8 May, 8pm Compere Bennett Arron presents Richard Morton and Amy Howerska

Mitch Benn: Don’t Fear the Reaper It’s been a morbid time for “the country’s leading musical satirist” (The Times); he’s turned 46 - over the hill by anyone’s standards - his personal life is in turmoil, and his childhood heroes are dropping like flies. Mitch confronts his - and YOUR – mortality with hilarious (and tuneful) consequences.Friday 10 March, 8pm

Barbara Nice: Raffle Experience this critically acclaimed tip-top comedy character live from ‘Phoenix Nights’ actress and comedian Janice Connolly. A playful, life-affirming show for all the family including the chance to win a prize off Barbara’s table.Friday 28 April, 8pm

DanceTickets £14, £12 concession, £10 Dacorum Card, £5 UpStaged

It’s OK I’m Dealing With It In a culture obsessed with quick fixes, a need for perfection and fake smiles, what do we do when things aren’t okay? With their multi-award winning combination of dance, theatre and comedy, the Hiccup Project’s Cristina and Chess unravel and blow the cover on what it is to be okay.Tuesday 21 March, 8pm

FilmFilm tickets £3.50. Please visit our website for the full list of films

Bridget Jones’s Baby (15) Wednesday 8 March, 7.30pm

Dare to be Wild (PG) Thursday 23 March, 1pm

Comeback Classic Screening: The Big Sleep Enjoy a classic film from a bygone era on the big screen. Thursday 20 April, 1pm

The Girl on the Train (15) Wednesday 3 May, 7.30pm

A Street Cat Named Bob (12A) Tuesday 9 May, 2pm

A United Kingdom (12A) Thursday 18 May, 1pm

What’s on at The Old Town Hall 15

The Old Town Hall is a buzzing arts space full of entertainment for everyone. All events until August are now on sale! For further information about what’s on at The Old Town Hall, pick up a copy of our latest new-look brochure or visit our website: www.oldtownhall.co.uk

www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest

The Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AE oldtownhall.co.uk facebook.com/theoldtownhallarts Twitter @theoldtownhallBook tickets: By phone 01442 228091, Monday to Friday, 12noon to 5.30pm. Postage fee £1.50 per transaction. Online select your own seat at oldtownhall.co.ukIn person Monday to Friday, 12noon to 5.30pm and from one hour before each performance.

Introducing Relaxed Classics Screenings at The Old Town Hall2017 will see a new season of friendly and welcoming vintage film screenings at The Old Town Hall in partnership with Age UK (Dacorum) and with sponsorship from Derrick Bridges & Co solicitors firm. These screenings are especially designed for senior citizens, dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s sufferers and their supporters.

During relaxed film screenings the lights are not dimmed to prevent people from being disorientated, the soundtrack is not loud and the film goers can move around and make noise if they want to. Screenings also have an interval of 20 minutes.

Relaxed screenings will take place on the last Thursday of every month at 2pm. Tickets are £4 and include a hot drink and a biscuit. For further details and to view the full season of films, visit the website at www.oldtownhall.co.uk or pick up a brochure from The Old Town Hall Box Office.

Tickets £4 (includes tea, coffee and biscuits)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Thursday 30 March, 2pm

Some Like it Hot Thursday 27 April, 2pm

Singing in the Rain Thursday 25 May, 2pm

Barbara Nice: Raffle

Tina May

There and Back Again

Dawn Chorus Walk Saturday 29 April and 6 May, 5am – 7am Experience early morning bird song with Ashridge Estate rangers who will be on hand to help identify bird songs. Breakfast included. Adult £15, child £10 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ ashridge-estate

Bluebells at Dockey Wood Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 April, Monday 1, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May, 10am-4pm Ashridge Estate will be charging an admission fee to Dockey Wood over our two peak weekends. Adult £3, child £1, National Trust members free www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate

Easter crafts Monday 3 – Friday 7 April, 10am – 4pmMake and decorate your own Easter craft at the visitor centre. £2 per craft. No need to book, just drop in. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge

Easter Trail 1 April – 17 April Find missing eggs around Tring Museum and win a chocolatey treat! Suitable for children aged 5+ Advance booking required Trail sheet £1 www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/tring/ what-s-on-at-tring.html

Tring Park Egg Hunt Monday 10 April, 10.30am and 2.30pm Make and decorate Easter-themed crafts to take home. Advanced booking required www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/tring/ what-s-on-at-tring.html

Classical music concert Saturday 11 March, 7.30pm Beethoven Overture: Egmont, Beethoven Symphony No.7, Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 Soloist; Dinara Klinton St Peter’s Church, Berkhamsted £15 in advance, £16 on the door; under 18s free – Tickets available from Aitchison’s estate agents, 154 High St, Berkhamsted, 01442 873205 www.bridgewater-sinfonia.org.uk

Positive Movement Well-being programme for older people – gentle exercise with time to socialise over tea. Locations in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring For more information call 01462 678804 www.letchworthcentre.org/positive-movement-2

Tring Cinema A community pop-up cinema for Tring and surrounding areas. Screenings in March include Finding Dory and The Danish Girl. Cash bar for refreshments and popcorn Nora Grace Hall, Tring Adult £6, Child £4, Under 3s free

To discover more ways to enjoy Dacorum and find events happening near you visit www.visitherts.co.uk

Easter

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Walks

OtherEventsWhy the English Submission to William the Conqueror at Berkhamsted Still Matters Friday 7 April, 7.30pm A talk by Professor David Bates The Old Hall, Berkhamsted School Tickets £5 www.berkhamsted-castle.org.uk/blog

Root and branch: tales of trees at Ashridge Saturday 4 March, 11am – 2pm The opening of a new exhibition which showcases some of Ashridge’s best and most fascinating trees. Then join rangers on a guided walk of some of the estate’s veteran trees. Booking required www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate

Free