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Willow spilling vandalised at the Meads

The willow spiling, which was put along the river banks by our extremely hardworking volunteers in 2018, has been vandalised and pulled out. This spiling was installed to help prevent erosion to the river banks, as well as allow access to the river for those wishing to paddle.  

If you have any information regarding the above, please contact us – info@wheathampstead-pc.gov.uk or 01582 832541 – or call 101 to speak with the police.  




The willow spiling when it was first installed. 

Update – the future of the 304 and 657 bus services

Herts County Council will subsidise the weekday 304 St Albans-Hitchin service, to keep it going for now.

UNO have declined the offer of another contract for the Monday to Saturday 657 service and the Sunday 304 & 657 services. They plan to withdraw their Borehamwood-St Albans-Sandridge-Wheathampstead-Batford-Harpenden-Redbourn service from 21 April.

Herts  County Council  are negotiating a new contract, with another operator, to replace the current 657 service and will issue further information on the Intalink website as soon as it becomes available. 

It is the intention to keep the 657 weekday service running after 21 April, dependent of course on another operator taking on this route.

Changes to the 657 and 304 buses

The Sunday 304 St Albans-Wheathampstead service and the Sunday 657 St Albans-Sandridge-Wheathampstead-Batford-Harpenden-Redbourn service are under threat because the operator, UNO, have declined to accept a contract extension after 21st April. 

Herts County Council are currently going out to tender on behalf of St Albans City & District Council for a new operator to take on these services

River Lea monitoring – water quality

The Environment Agency undertakes routine water quality monitoring at seven locations along the River Lea (also known as the Lee) between East Hyde and Hertford. Samples are collected 12 times a year from each of these locations.

Click HERE for a report from the Environment Agency and Affinity Water, titled “Briefing note on water quality of the River Lea through Wheathampstead – January 2019”, which includes links to further information on each section. 

Nomansland Common – tree works & refurbishment to car parks

Nomansland common is a haven for wildlife and the heathland to the north of Ferrers Lane is some of the best in south Hertfordshire. Slowly the heathland is being lost by encroaching trees and scrub.
Countryside Management Service (CMS) practical conservation volunteers have already been busy working on the site this winter by pulling out small silver birch regrowth using ‘tree poppers’ (a hand tool especially designed for pulling out small saplings by the roots) and by cutting medium sized trees using bowsaws. Some silver birch near to the woodland edge has been left to grow on to maturity. Already patches of heather that have been lost for many years are getting to see the light once again.
Contractors are now required to remove selected larger trees and scrub which are too big for volunteers to tackle from around the heathland areas. This will help uncover more of the vanishing heathland complimenting the work that the volunteers have undertaken. A small section of older gorse which has become leggy and dense is going to be coppiced (cut down to ground level), this will reinvigorate the gorse and allow light to reach heathland plants below.
Timescale: Contractors will be on site from 11 February 2019 for approximately 7-8 days.
Please follow any on site instructions or use alternative routes.
Visit the CMS website for more information about woodland management www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/woodlandmanagement
CAR PARK REFURBISHMENT – Nomansland Common Access Improvements Works
Over the next couple of months works will be carried out across Nomansland Common to improve access. Ferrers Lane Car Park is going to have a facelift, West End Car Park is going to be resurfaced and a safer access route created from Dyke Lane to Drover Lane.
Ferrers Lane Car Park
The improvements here will be low key and sympathetic to the environment but will provide extra parking places and improved access for managing this special site. This car park will be CLOSED while works are taking place.
West End Car Park
This small car park is to be resurfaced, have improved drainage, bollards installed around the edges to stop people parking further onto the common and the sightlines along the road cut back to improve visibility. Access will also be improved for pedestrians and a special horse path will be created to avoid crossing the car park. This car park will be CLOSED while works are taking place.
Dyke Lane to Drover Lane
A short section of surfaced path will be installed from Dyke Lane into the woodland which will link to the bridleway. This will provide a safer alternative route to Drovers Lane rather than travelling along the main road (B651). Traffic signals will be in operation on the main road (B651) while works take place.
Timescale
Ferrers Lane Car Park will be CLOSED from Monday 28th January for approximately 3 weeks
West End Car Park will be CLOSED from Monday 18th February for approximately 3 weeks
Dyke Lane works start Monday 11th March for approximately 3 weeks

Timings are subject to change due to the weather conditions
To undertake these works quickly and safely the car parks will need to be CLOSED. Please park in alternative car parks and follow any on site instructions.
We apologise for any disruption and thank you for your co-operation.

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