Author: parish.admin

Following Monday nights announcement that vulnerable people should start shielding again, London Colney Parish Council has re-launched its Good Neighbour Scheme to support those who have been advised to shield.

During the initial lockdown the scheme helped over 85 vulnerable residents and households with essential tasks such as collecting prescriptions and food shopping. London Colney came together with over 50 people volunteering to help with the scheme.

Anyone who is shielding following Monday nights announcement and is in need of assistance with food shopping or collecting prescriptions can call the Good Neighbour Scheme:

Monday – Friday between 10am – 1pm on Tel: 01727 261105.

Outside these hours you will be able to leave a message.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the scheme, please email Antonia Wingate-Martin on events@londoncolney-pc.gov.uk.

Parish Council Chairman Cllr. Katherine Gardner said ‘We know that the latest lockdown announcement will have caused a lot of worry to some of our vulnerable residents, who do not have family close by to help with essential tasks. It is important that our residents who are shielding are kept safe and supported by their community.”

London Colney Parish Councillors have voted unanimously to work towards using quiet fireworks at its annual Firework Night Display. London Colney Parish Council will be working within their current firework contract to provide a quieter display with a view to have fully quiet displays in the future.

In response to calls from the RSPCA and local residents, Cllr. ‘Dreda Gordon, put forward a motion urging the Council to stop using noisy fireworks because of the distress and harm to pets and wildlife and also to some vulnerable adults.

After the meeting Cllr. Gordon said. ‘I am so pleased that London Colney will be leading by example, changing to quiet fireworks for our firework display. We want our residents to continue to enjoy this very popular event, but we also acknowledge that noisy fireworks can cause enormous anxieties for some people with learning disabilities as well as animals. As a cat owner I’m mightily glad the Parish Council has taken this initiative and I hope other groups and individuals will follow our example

Cllr. ‘Dreda Gordon
Mob. No. 07968 224901
Email: cllr.d.gordon@gmail.com

For further information please contact the Parish Council office on 01727 821314

Councillor Katherine Gardner, Chair of London Colney Parish Council and London Colney Parish Council would like to wish all residents a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Thank you to Bowmansgreen Primary School and Music Teacher Mrs H Street for providing us with the soundtrack of Away in a Manger sung by Bowmansgreen School pupils + others.

A thank you also goes to our Community Partner “The Filmers”  and Pan Hapeshis for helping to put together our Christmas Video.

London Colney Remembers  

We Will Remember Them.

London Colney held a Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial on Sunday 8^th November to remember those who have fallen.  Due to the current Government COVID-19 restrictions the service was live streamed for residents to watch from the safety of their homes.  In normal years London Colney has a large parade from the Caledon Community Centre to the War Memorial, with up to 1500 people in attendance.

This year the service was led by Reverend Pat Jones, of St. Peters Church, London Colney and was attended by the Her Majesty the Queens Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Hertfordshire Mrs Marion Brown. The memorial service marked the national two minute silence followed by the laying of wreaths by The Deputy Lieutenant, County Councillor ‘Dreda Gordon and Parish Council Chair – Councillor Katherine Gardner. The names of the fallen were read out by Rev’d Pat Jones and Councillor Malcolm MacMillan.  Piper Matthew MacRae provided poignant bagpipe music in the absence of hymns this year.

Local organisations who would have normally attended the War Memorial to lay their wreaths as part of the ceremony attended earlier in the morning to lay their wreaths and pay their respects privately.

London Colney residents were invited to attend the War Memorial after 11:30am to pay their respects privately provided that COVID-19 guidance was followed at all times.

Councillor Katherine Gardner, Chair of London Colney Parish Council and District Councillor said “It was important that we could mark this important day and pay our respects in London Colney, I was so pleased we were able to live stream the moving service for residents to view from the safety of their homes.”

We would like to thank Pan Hepeshis of ‘The Filmers’, a local resident and business owner for making the live streaming available to residents.

London Colney Parish Council have taken the difficult decision to cancel the annual Christmas Light Switch On Event, this year due to have been held on Sunday 29^th November due to the Covid-19 pandemic government guidelines and concerns of increased cases.

The event attracts crowds of 1500-2000 people to the High Street in London Colney, and under current government guidelines it would not be possible to safely put on the event. Taking into consideration the upfront costs, resources and advance notice to suppliers required to organise the event, even if government guidelines were to change nearer the event, at such short notice we would not be able to safely organise an event on this scale.

The Village will still be lit by a Christmas Tree on Chester Gibbons Green, and festive lighting on the High Street for residents to enjoy.

Risk & Policy Analysts and RAB Consultants are carrying out a study for the Environment Agency on resilience to flooding.  The study includes a survey to collect the views and opinions of anyone working or living in Hertfordshire. The survey covers questions such as:

• Are property owners and occupiers aware of Property Flood Resilience measures?
• Do property owners and occupiers have any measures installed (e.g. flood doors)?
• Are there any issues that are hindering owners and occupiers from taking up Property Flood Resilience?

The survey can be accessed via: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ownersandoccupiers/   and is open until 23 October 2020.

Participation in the survey will help the study gain an understanding of levels of awareness of Property Flood Resilience.  It will also identify potential barriers to its uptake.

The results from the survey will feed into wider work on increasing resilience to flooding.  

Keep an eye open for road closures signs that are planned on routes around London Colney. The affected roads are the High Street, Floral Drive, Haseldine Road, Wellington Road and Alexander Road. The order is from 16 November for 18 months and signs will be displayed on the affected routes before the works start.

London Colney Parish Council has taken the difficult decision to cancel the Firework Display, held annually in London Colney.

The firework display attracts crowds of nearly 5000 people to Morris Way Playing Fields in London Colney.  Under current government guidelines, it would not be possible to safely put on the event. Taking into consideration the upfront costs, resources and advance notice to suppliers required to organise the event we would not be able to safely organise an event on this scale, even if government guidelines were to change nearer the event, at such short notice

Cllr Katherine Gardner, Chairman of London Colney Parish Council said, “I am very disappointed that this decision has had to be made as I think the fireworks are our flagship event, which brings much enjoyment to our residents in London Colney.  That said, I do think it’s the right decision given the current circumstances and now onwards and upwards to next year.”

For further information, please contact 01727 821314