Newsletter from the North Bushey Lib Dem Councillor Team

Here's an update on our recent work in neighbourhoods covered by the North Bushey Street Champions network. Thanks to all the many residents who've been in touch to raise issues and report problems.

There's quite a lot to read here, so you might want to scroll down till you see the heading for your particular street or neighbourhood. But further on, there's some general news for the whole area.

One of our biggest roles is trying to get repairs and improvements for highways - roads and pavements. Unfortunately, council budgets are very tight and we just can't fix every problem. However, Cllr Laurence Brass *has* been able to arrange funding for a number of important works.

One major issue in many of your roads is damaged verges. We've repaired some, but there are still many others which need repair or protection. We'll tackle them when and if more money is available.

PARK AVENUE

A stretch of pavement and drop-kerbs have been repaired and resurfaced.

The notorious verge outside 459 Park Avenue has been repaired and protected (we wanted to turn it into a parking bay but the ground was unsuitable).

A stretch of verges on the west side of the Otter roundabout have been repaired.

We recently arranged for ruts on the pavement near the Mead Way junction (which posed a trip hazard) to be repaired.

We are chasing council officers about the planning infringement by the Otter roundabout, and the poorly trees near the scout hut.

We've asked the PCSOs to take action against cars which park on (and block) the pavement.

MEAD WAY AND MILL WAY

We organised the repainting of lines at the Mead / Park Ave junction.

We've commissioned new signage to improve safety at the Mill / Park Ave junction, which will be installed in December.

For nearly a year, we've been chasing the council to clear the alley. Apologies that this is still not yet done.

A speed survey conducted last year found that traffic on Mill Way does not exceed speed limits to any significant degree.

Work is in progress to find ways of mitigating traffic and parking congestion around Highwood Primary School. We've liaised with the headteacher and residents' group in their dialogue with the county council - our thanks to everyone who's supported this.

BUSHEY MILL LANE

Our campaigner Louise Nicolas has worked with other residents on the campaign to save Bushey Mill Lane fields from development into new housing and commercial units. Bushey Lib Dems oppose greenbelt development.

At our request, Affinity Water, who own the fields, cut the grass in September - following residents' concerns over fire risk during the summer heatwave.

We're making a fresh attempt to protect the disabled parking bays from abuse. The bays currently have no official status, and can't be enforced. We need to persuade Hertfordshire County Council to bring in a Traffic Regulation Order, but this will take some time.

There was also a speed survey on Bushey Mill Lane, in February - again, it found no evidence of persistent speeding.

DUNCAN WAY

At residents' request, we arranged for the recent installation of a new salt bin (for road de-icing).

We've requested from the council a replacement Duncan Way street sign, at the Park Ave junction.

There are concerns over safety, and planning breaches, at the 25 Duncan Way building works. Hertsmere council have already referred it to building control and planning enforcement. Cllr Alan Matthews has also asked for an urgent health and safety inspection.

HIGHWOOD AVENUE / SHERWOODS

Highwood Avenue's pavement was resurfaced earlier this year.

At our request, there is new signage at the Robin Hood Drive/Park Avenue junction to deter HGVs entering Robin Hood Drive (lorries' satnavs think it's an entrance to Otterspool Industrial Estate). This comprises HGV warning signs and roadsigns - spellings now corrected - which say there's no entrance to Otterspool. We also spoke to MP Moran - destination of most of the offending lorries). They say they're also trying to stop it happening. Our thanks to Beverley Pratt for all her help with this.

For six months we've been chasing the county council to cut back the obstructive tree overgrowth along Robin Hood Drive, which also affects Marion Close and the alley to Highwood. Frustratingly, the council now claim the work is complete even though only a section near Park Ave has been done.

We'll keep chasing, but the problem is complicated by the fact much of the overgrowth comes from the other side of the fence (and isn't the council's responsibility). So we've asked MP Moran to tackle the trees on their side.

Meanwhile, earlier this year we met Sherwoods Street Champions to discuss how to increase parking capacity and stop non-residents using up spaces. However, we can see no way of achieving this without either removing part of Millbrook Open Space, or introducing a residents-only parking permit scheme. The green spaces on Friars Way can't be turned into parking bays as they're privately owned by housing associations.

Seagull nuisance: unfortunately, councils have no powers over keeping seagulls off the roof of private buildings. However, we wrote to all the Otterspool firms, asking them to take steps, and some responded positively.

GREATHAM ROAD AREA

We recently held an online residents' meeting to discuss speeding concerns on Greatham Road. Unfortunately, the low attendance made it difficult for us gauge views on the best way forward. Cllr Paul Richards is lobbying for special funding (from developers' levies) to pay for traffic-calming measures, which are expensive but probably the most effective approach. However, this will take some time to achieve.

We have successfully persuaded the council to remove several obsolete disabled parking bays on William St and Arthur St, freeing up space for residents. We hope the work will be done soon.

A number of residents have told us of their concerns over the dangerous use of electric scooters around Greatham Rd. We've relayed them to Chris Boden, our local PCSO. He says the vehicles are hard to police effectively, but will take action where possible. His team have also worked with schools to encourage responsible e-scooter use.

BUSHEY GROVE ROAD AREA

Our informal residents' consultation showed little support for a Controlled Parking Zone and residents' permits. Instead, we have commissioned a formal consultation into installing double-yellow-lines to protect the junctions with Aldenham Rd and Bennetts Field. This has now begun and runs until 2nd December. Send your views to tro@hertfordshire.gov.uk

We're also directly helping several individual residents at the other end of BGR, whose drives are being blocked by commercial vehicles.

As with Greatham Rd, we are seeking funding for further traffic-calming measures for Bushey Grove Rd.

The Littledene building at 54 Bushey Grove Road will remain a care home. We had worked with residents to oppose a 'change of use' planning application.

Lambert Court has recently been resurfaced.

At our request, Hertsmere council has improved servicing of the Lambert Court bin areas.

BUSHEY HALL ROAD

We have commissioned extra signage to help enforce the 20mph limit. This is due to be installed in December.

A number of works have been carried out on the Water Lane tunnel to improve drainage and mitigate flood risk. This work is ongoing and we are monitoring its effectiveness.

QUEENS' SCHOOL DANGEROUS PARKING

Bollards will soon be installed near the Met Club as a first step to help prevent parents and club users from driving on the pavement. Laurence is now trying to get funding for further measures.

The yellow hazard zigzags by the school have been refreshed.

COSTCO CONGESTION

Following a meeting between Laurence and Costco management, they will introduce a third proper access lane from Hartspring Lane, plus extra signage and extended opening hours, to help reduce the congestion caused by the petrol station.

Earlier in the year, Laurence also intervened in the delayed Hartspring/Aldenham Rd/Bushey Mill Lane/Little Bushey Lane junction roadworks, and put pressure on contractors to finish the job.

DEFIBRILLATOR / GRANTS

Laurence is arranging a £900 grant to help fund a defibrillator outside the chemist's on Bushey Mill Lane. Our thanks to Graham Kneafsey and all the residents involved in this excellent initiative.

He's also secured county council grants of £2,000 for Highwood Primary School, to improve equality and diversity; £1,000 for 79th Bushey and Oxhey Scouts for new tents; and £320 for walking netball for vulnerable adults at Bushey Grove Leisure Centre.

We arranged a total of £4,000 in borough and county grants for the Baptist church on Park Avenue - to upgrade the driveway and doors, improving accessibility for the many groups who use the building.

We made a small donation from our own funds to the Jubilee celebrations organised by the Scouts.

Jerry, Alan and Paul have allocated £1,275 in grants to Bushey Red Trust, the foodbank.

SUPPLE TRANSPORT / BUSHEY HALL FARM

In September, planning inspectors finally visited Supple's site to assess their appeal against Hertsmere council's planning enforcement - which would close down the firm's unlawful HGV operation. We are still awaiting the outcome. Thanks to Sarah Sweeting for all her own efforts with this case (and other issues).

BUSHEY HALL GOLF COURSE

We're concerned that the golf course's owners, Veladail Leisure, will now put the site forward for housing development.

Hertsmere council have recently advertised for new development sites as part of the Local Plan process. This gives Veladail a new opportunity to build on the course, following the failure of their Watford FC stadium bid. There are also indications that surveyors have recently visited the site - possibly to assess housing potential.

Please note, though, that so far it remains just a concern. As it stands, Veladail haven't yet applied - and even if they did, their proposal may not be accepted.

FLY-TIPPING / LITTER

We're chasing clearance of waste dumped at Hartspring Meadow (the second incident there this year), and on Stephenson Way.

Recently, our campaigner Louise cleared up waste fly-tipped on Bushey Mill Lane Fields, and was able to identify and then contact the household it originally came from - who then agreed to dispose of the sacks and remove the remaining waste (pallets).

The three fridges dumped by Link Road were - eventually - cleared.

After a year of us lobbying, the council has finally blocked off the A41 lay-by which had become a fly-tipping hotspot.

This year we've organised two community litter picks with residents, and the Watford on the Water group, around the banks of the Colne.

COMMUNITY

We continue to run the Community Library, at the Baptist church every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, 10am-midday. Pop in to borrow books and make new friends over a cuppa.

Alan has attended Sundowners, and Playtime events, and previously, CANB, to meet residents and find out about issues which need tackling.

Our thanks again to the Street Champions network, which helps us keep in touch with your views and concerns.

Jerry Evans, Alan Matthews, Paul Richards - North Bushey Lib Dem borough councillors.

Laurence Brass - North Bushey Lib Dem county councillor.

Louise Nicolas - North Bushey Lib Dem campaigner