We are experiencing continuing problems with someone dumping foodwaste in the Diamond Jubilee Garden – our little haven of tranquillity by the Mill Quay. This is totally unacceptable, liable to attract vermin, bad news for animals who might think it is a possible snack.
If you spot the offender please contact the police on 101, or our PCSO Alex Olteanu (alex.olteanu@herts.pnn.police.uk)
The Parish Council will be holding its Annual Parish Meeting virtually on Wednesday 31st March 2021, 7:30pm.
At 8.30pm Dianne Payne will give a presentation on her latest book ‘Wheathampstead an Eighteenth Century Village’.
Having reviewed the Government’s Covid roadmap, with earliest lifting of restrictions being 21st June, we have decided to cancel Picnic on the Meads, scheduled for 10th July. We are looking at possibly rescheduling a scaled down ‘Village Day’ ( was 11th July) later in the year, possibly early autumn. Watch this space for updates.
Picture of Memorial Hall Redevelopment
We’re redeveloping the Memorial Hall, upgrading and making it fit for purpose, including a new studio area. This has been designed as a health, wellbeing and exercise space for the Wheathampstead community. Do you want to be part of our future? We are looking to lease this space on a long term basis.
WRSE (Water Resources South East) are seeking feedback n their regional resilience plan to deliver ‘Best Value’ to the South East.
To date, water resource programmes have been developed with an objective to keep bills as low as possible. However, it’s now recognised that it’s vital to also consider the additional value that they could deliver to people and places.
This could result in a plan being chosen that isn’t necessarily the cheapest, but is one which delivers much wider benefits to society.
Their ambition is to deliver a multi-sector regional resilience plan that provides additional value in the areas that matter most to the people of the region.
To find out more about and submit your own feedback, visit wrse.uk.engagementhq.com/consultations
Three floodlights have been broken (two at the artificial turf pitch and one at the tennis courts) during the past two weeks. It is believed that this was done intentionally and has subsequently been reported to the police.
If you saw or know of anything that may help the police with their enquiries, please contact 101 and quote crime reference number 41/7844/21.
Free rapid testing for anyone without coronavirus symptoms is available across Hertfordshire and all key and essential workers who cannot work from home during the current government restrictions are encouraged to book a rapid test every few days to help ensure that essential services are as safe as possible.
Around one in three people with coronavirus do not show symptoms, which means you could be spreading the virus to loved ones, co-workers and into the community without realising.
To book a test, please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/rapidtest – get results in 45 minutes. You will find that Wheathampstead has now been added as a location option. Normally appointments must be booked 7 days in advance, however, bookings for Wheathampstead will be accepted given the last minute arrival of this testing centre. At present, we are unsure when the mobile testing unit will return to Wheathampstead, so please keep an eye on both ours and the county council’s websites and social media for updates.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus you cannot have a rapid test – instead please book a standard PCR test at www.gov.uk/coronavirus
A rapid test centre will be set up in The Memorial Hall car park on Sunday 7 February 2021 for those who have pre booked (no walk-ins will be accepted).
Free rapid testing for anyone without coronavirus symptoms is available across Hertfordshire and all key and essential workers who cannot work from home during the current government restrictions are encouraged to book a rapid test every few days to help ensure that essential services are as safe as possible.
Around one in three people with coronavirus do not show symptoms, which means you could be spreading the virus to loved ones, co-workers and into the community without realising.
To book a test, please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/rapidtest – get results in 45 minutes. You will find that Wheathampstead has now been added as a location option. Normally appointments must be booked 7 days in advance, however, bookings for Wheathampstead will be accepted given the last minute arrival of this testing centre.
At present, we are unsure when the mobile testing unit will return to Wheathampstead, so please keep an eye on both ours and the county council’s websites and social media for updates.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus you cannot have a rapid test – instead please book a standard PCR test at www.gov.uk/coronavirus
From Herts County Council:
From Monday 8 February for approximately two weeks, we will be lightly thinning the woodland between Blackbridge and Sparrowhall Bridge at the western end of the Ayot Greenway in Wheathampstead.
Click on the map to the right to see the specific area being closed.
The main purpose of woodland management is to enhance this habitat and benefit biodiversity. Secondary woodland along the route will benefit from respacing for its future maturity, both providing mature trees the space to grow into and allowing natural regeneration to diversify age and species structure. In the long term, this work will improve the resilience and habitat value of the woodland. By maintaining or increasing light levels along the verges, this will also help secure the floristically rich verges which prompted the designation of the Ayot Greenway as a Local Wildlife Site and improve the potential of the habitat for grassland butterflies and moths.
For safety, this contract will require temporary closures along sections of the route. Warning posters will be put on site in advance to advise members of the public of the works taking place. The contractor will also provide appropriate signage when work begins.
We’d like to sincerely apologise for the short notice of these works. Under the current circumstances, it has been difficult for some contractors to plan too far ahead with their schedules.
Take Five is a national campaign to provide impartial advice to protect people against fraud, particularly where criminals impersonate organisations. Visit their website for more information takefive-stopfraud.org.uk
Criminals are sending official-looking emails and texts containing links to websites designed to steal your personal information. These emails and texts pretend to be:
Fake advertising and exploitation
Criminals are also using fake advertising, such as fake investment opportunities and adverts for Covid-related products such as hand sanitiser and face masks which do not exist.
There have also been cases of exploitation by online dating websites. Fake social media pages are created, sometimes using the identities of real people, to manipulate victims into handing over money.
For further information about reporting fraud and cyber crime, visit actionfraud.police.uk
Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.