News

Hertfordshire residents are being urged to stay home and stay safe, or risk a fine as police enforce the rules against blatant offenders.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd has recorded a video message praising the vast majority who are doing their best stop the coronavirus spreading.

He is reminding everyone that all unnecessary contact with another person, puts people and their families at higher risk. It is also a potential link in a transmission chain that could lead to a vulnerable person.

Since March 2020 Hertfordshire Constabulary have issued over 400 fixed penalty notices, which has included those attending parties, and vehicle drivers and passengers who were not on essential journeys.

The government advice is only leaving your home if it is essential to do so, and stay local. The limited reasons include to exercise, to shop for groceries, to buy medicine, to go to work if you absolutely cannot work from home, and to escape domestic abuse.

Mr Lloyd said: “While we as individuals play our part, I can assure you that our police officers are dedicated to keeping us safe. On behalf of us all I thank them for that.

“In addition to arresting criminals as they did before the virus, they are charged with enforcing the new restriction laws.

“They have a very difficult role in ensuring the treatment of members of the public is balanced and proportionate.

“Enforcing these laws saves lives. Officers have, and will continue to question and fine those who are blatantly ignoring them. Hundreds of fines have been issued in Hertfordshire during lockdown and more will continue to be given out for those who wilfully ignore the guidelines.”

For the latest information on the official government guidance visit at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and health advice is available at the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

You can watch Mr Lloyd’s full video message at youtu.be/4EAE4TYIjFg.

Community and voluntary groups will soon be able to apply for a grant from a new St Albans City and District Council fund.

Grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 are available from the SADC’s £50,000 Community Revenue Fund.

The fund is to help charities and non-profit organisations with general running costs and established activities that might need financial support.

Aimed at groups with a track record of delivering important services in the District, it is part of the SADC’s £381,000 Community and Voluntary Sector Fund.

This fund has been maintained at the same amount for 2021/22 as the previous year despite the pressure on SADC finances from the pandemic.

It is intended to support activities that help the District’s most vulnerable people as part of the SADC’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Applications for the Community Revenue Fund will open on Tuesday 12 January and close at midnight on Friday 12 February 2021.

Click here for more information.

The Village Surgery have confirmed that they will be joining wave 6 of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme, with the vaccines arriving tomorrow, Wednesday 13 January.

The surgery have confirmed that vaccinations will take place at Harpenden Public Halls from Thursday 14 January and a large number of patients over the age of 80 have already been invited to attend.

For more detailed information, click here to view the surgery’s most recent newsletter.

Following the government announcement on Monday 4 January 2021, the artificial turf pitch and tennis courts at Marford Playing Fields are closed with immediate effect. We will endeavour to reopen them as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.

For updated guidance, please visit www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

You can also find local information and services by clicking here.