Have Your Say On How To Plan Watford’s Future

Watford is facing some difficult decisions about the future, which is why it’s important you tell Watford Borough Council what you think at  watfordlocalplan.co.uk  

Since Friday 7th September, Watford residents have been able to get involved by completing a survey.  The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 19th October 2018.

The government has said Watford  must provide 770 new homes every year up until 2036, with the population expected to increase by 110,811 in 2036 (15% rise from 2018).  Whilst saying no to growth is not an option, the council wants to work with residents and businesses to decide how best to manage it and shape the town for the future.

The new Local Plan will set out a vision for Watford up to 2036.  It will replace documents called the Watford Local Plan Part 1 – Core Strategy (2013) and the Watford District Plan 2000.

What will the new Local Plan include?
The new Local Plan will contain policies to guide planning decisions and new development.  It will set out how many jobs are needed in the borough and where housing can go.

Why is a Local Plan important?
The government requires all councils to have a Local Plan in place and these should be updated every five years.  It is important for Watford to have an up to date Local Plan to help ensure that new development will come forward in a way the meets the needs of the growing community in the future.

What happens if the Local Plan is not up to date?
If Watford Borough Council does not have an up to date Local Plan in place there is a risk that planning decisions will not be made by the council but by the government.  If this takes place there will be less understanding of the local community and what is most appropriate to meet their needs and aspirations.

How long will the new Local Plan take to prepare?
The Local Plan will take about two years to complete.  This consultation is the first stage and sets out what Watford Borough Council believe are the key issues and choices.

There are 30 questions in this consultation.  Some of these are split into sections to ask about different aspects of an issue. The question responses you provide will help inform the new Local Plan.

Once this first stage of the consultation has been completed, the results will be analysed and a Draft Local Plan, which will include draft policies intended to deal with future applications for development will be put together.  Towards the end of 2019, a consultation on the Draft Local Plan itself will be held, asking for your views on the proposals suggested.

Some difficult decisions need to be made about the future of our town.  That is why it is important you get involved at this crucial stage at watfordlocalplan.co.uk

Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

We all had such a good time at our coffee morning which was held yesterday (Friday 28th October) in aid of Macmillan’s Biggest Coffee Morning.  We had over twenty people call in throughout the morning with Michael being our first keen visitor to arrive.

Michael enjoying coffee and cake with Brenda

Some of the many residents we had throughout the morning

We had familiar faces and new ones and it was lovely to chat with everyone.  There was a fun atmosphere probably helped by the games that we played like Place the Cherry on the Cake (also enjoyed by our Mayor Peter Taylor) and Guess the weight of the Cake.  The winners of these games were Sameera and Amanda who was visiting from Green Minds, congratulations!

Mayor Peter Taylor enjoying the “Place the cherry on the cake” game

Local resident Kay also having fun with the game

We had some very yummy cakes (thank you to those of you who donated cakes) and special drinks available like Toffee Apple latte, Roasted Marshmallow latte and Hot Chocolate with cream and marshmallows!

John choosing from our amazing selection of  yummy cakes

Thank you to everyone who gave so generously, even people that could not attend sent a donation.  So far, we have raised £150.

If you would still like to donate, you can do so by texting JAM RMG1 to 70550 – this automatically donates £5.

New Temporary Bus Services for the Meriden

Updated 26-9-2018

We are delighted to report that a new temporary six month bus service serving the Meriden Estate will commence on Monday 1st  October.

Hertfordshire County Council agreed to fund four new services, run by Red Eagle, W1, W2, W3 and W4, while a permanent tender is agreed. In addition, the UNO 635 service between Watford General Hospital and Hitchin will now also run through the Meriden.

This follows a long campaign to stop Arriva from cancelling the 324 bus service through the Meriden. A meeting was held yesterday (September 20th) at Hertfordshire County Council, where petitions from the Liberal Democrats and Labour Party to reinstate a bus service to the estate were handed over.

The W1 bus will run from Kingswood via the Meriden to Watford hourly at peak times from Monday to Friday.

The W2 will run from the Meriden to the town centre from Monday to Friday hourly at off-peak hours.

The W3 and W4 will run on a Saturday every 30 minutes in opposite directions via the Meriden and Watford town centre.

If you are catching a bus back to the Meriden from the town centre the bus stops that all four Red Eagle services pick up from are as follows:

  • Market Street, Stop J
  • Clarendon Road, Stop S
  • Watford Junction, Stop 5

For the UNO 635 the stops are:

  • Watford General Hospital, Thomas Saywer Way
  • Watford General Hospital (opposite side of the road)
  • Market Street, Stop J
  • Clarendon Road, Stop NB
  • Watford Junction, Stop 5

Arriva’s new 520 service, which replaces the 324, will run between Maple Cross and Hemel Hempstead via Watford from September 30. It will not run through the Meriden.

We at the MRA would like to thank all those involved in organising and collecting signatures for the petition and all those who represented the Meriden residents in persuading the HCC to fund these temporary services.

W1

The W1 service runs Monday to Friday, with two buses in the morning and two in the afternoon/evening towards the town centre. There is one bus in the morning and three in the afternoon/evening towards Kingswood. During school term times one of the morning buses and one of the afternoon buses terminate and begin at Francis Combe Academy instead of the North Orbital road (Variants 2 and 4). During school holidays the buses follow the normal route to Kingswood.

The Meriden section of the route is given as The Gossamers – York Way – Meriden Way – Westlea Avenue (Variants 1 and 2 towards Watford town centre) and Westlea Avenue – Meriden Way – York Way – The Gossamers (Variants 3 and 4 towards Kingswood/Francis Combe).

The only times given for Meriden bus stops are for the bus stops in The Gossamers opposite the shops. Heading to the town centre the times are 7:05 and 8:39 in the morning as well as 15:54 and 17:24 in the afternoon/evening. Heading to Kingswood/Francis Combe there is one W1 bus in the morning at 8:00 and three buses to Kingswood in the afternoon/evening at 16:49, 18:19 and 19:18.

Note that whilst on the way into town the last two stops are in Beechen Grove and the High Street, on the way back to the Meriden the bus stops are in Market Street and Clarendon Road.

W1: Kingswood – Watford via Meriden

Variant 1: Kingsway North Orbital Road, Sheepcot Lane, St Albans Road, Garston Lane, The Gossamers, York Way, Meriden Way, Westlea Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, St Albans Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Clarendon Road, Beechen Grove, Water Lane, High Street.

Variant 2: Horseshoe Lane, St Albans Road, Garston Lane, The Gossamers, York Way, Meriden Way, Westlea Avenue, Woodmere Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, St Albans Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Clarendon Road, Beechen Grove, Water Lane, High Street.

Watford – Kingswood via Meriden

Variant 3: Market Street, Exchange Road, Beechen Grove, Clarendon Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Langley Road, St Albans Road, Bushey Mill Lane, Woodmere Avenue, Westlea Avenue, Meriden Way, York Way, The Gossamers, Garston Lane, St Albans Road, Sheepcot Lane, Kingsway North Orbital

Variant 4: Market Street, Exchange Road, Beechen Grove, Clarendon Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Langley Road, St Albans Road, Bushey Mill Lane, Woodmere Avenue, Westlea Avenue, Meriden Way, York Way, The Gossamers, Garston Lane, St Albans Road, Horseshoe Lane.

W2

The W2 will run Monday – Friday between 9:23 and 14:57 approximately once per hour. Aside from the first W2 service of the day, this bus route starts and finishes in the town centre. On the Meriden estate it takes a circular route along Phillapers and back down The Gossamers. This means that bus stops on only one side of the road will be used. The Meriden section of the route is listed as Westlea Avenue – Meriden Way – York Way – Phillipers – The Gossamers – York Way – Meriden Way – Westlea Avenue. The timetable below gives times for bus stops in York Way (onto the estate), in Phillipers near Tibbles Close and the bus stop in the Gossamers opposite the shops. The times for the bus stop in York Way are given as 9:23, 10:13, 11:13, 12:13, 13:13 and 14:43. The other stops will be a few minutes after these times.

As with the W1, this route starts in the town centre at Market Street Stop J and Clarendon Road Stop S but ends at Beechen Grove stop M and High Street stop E/F.

W2: Watford and Meriden Circular

Variant 1: Market Street, Exchange Road, Beechen Grove, Clarendon Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Clarendon Road, St John’s Road, Orphanage Road, Radlett Road, Balmoral Road, Knutsford Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, Woodmere Avenue, Meriden Way, York Way, Phillipers, The Gossamers, York Way, Meriden Way, Westlea Avenue, Woodmere Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, Knutsford Avenue, Balmoral Road, Radlett Road, Orphanage Road, Woodford Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Clarendon Road, Beechen Grove, Water Lane, High Street.

Variant 2: Market Street, Exchange Road, Beechen Grove, Clarendon Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Clarendon Road, St John’s Road, Orphanage Road, Radlett Road, Balmoral Road, Knutsford Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, Woodmere Avenue, Meriden Way, York Way, Phillipers, The Gossamers, York Way, Meriden Way, Westlea Avenue, Woodmere Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, Radlett Road, Stephenson Way, A411,,  Beechen Grove, Water Lane, High Street.

W3 and W4

The W3 and W4 are Saturday services to and from the town centre. The Gossamers is part of a circular section of the route with the W3 stopping at the bus stop on the opposite side of the road to the shops and the W4 stopping at the bus stop on the same side of the road as the shops.

The times given for the W3 in The Gossamers opposite the shops are: 7:35, 8:25, 8:52 and then 52 minutes past the hour until the last W3 at 15:52.

The times given for the W4 in The Gossamers on the same side of the road as the shops are 21 minutes past the hour from 9:21 until 15:21 and then 16:51, 17:50 and 18:48.

In the town centre both of these services begin at Market Street, Stop J and end at Clarendon Road, Stop A.

W3: Market Street, Exchange Road, Beechen Grove, Clarendon Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Langley Road, St Albans Road, Garston Lane, The Gossamers, York Way, Meriden Way, Westlea Avenue, Woodmere Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, St Albans Road, Langley Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Clarendon Road.

W4: Market Street, Exchange Road, Beechen Grove, Clarendon Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Langley Road, St Albans Road, Bushey Mill Lane, Woodmere Avenue, Westlea Avenue, Meriden Way, York Way, The Gossamers, Garston Lane, St Albans Road, Langley Road, Station Road, Watford Junction Interchange, Woodford Road, Station Road, Clarendon Road.

UNO 635

The UNO 635 will run Monday to Friday, except on public holidays, between Watford General Hospital and Hatfield, and between Hatfield and Hitchin Railway Station. There is a short, 5-10 minute, break between these two sections of the route but passengers can stay on the same bus for the entire route. On the way into town, the bus is scheduled to stop at the bus stop in the Gossamers on the opposite side of the road to the shops. On the way to Hatfield/Hitchin, the bus will stop on the same side of the road as the shops.

The times given for the bus stops in the Gossamers opposite the shops are as follows:

Heading in to town (opposite side of the road to the shops): 5:52, 6:49, 7:20, 8:27, 9:43, 11:43, 13:13, 14:13, 14:43, 16:32, 17:21, 18:04, 19:23

Heading to Hatfield/Hitchin (same side of the road as the shops): 6:46, 7:51, 8:40, 9:50, 10:55, 12:55, 14:25, 15:25, 16:03, 17:53, 18:45. 19:27, 20:41

The timetables below are available to download from http://www.buscms.com/uno/uploadedfiles/pdftimetable/635_UN59.pdf

OWL – Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch is a wonderful way of keeping our communities safe,  they do this by working with our community safety partners and our residents to strengthen the communities in which we live, share information about crime and safety, and by looking out for one another.

Whilst everyone may not have an email address those that do can join the Online Watch Link system called OWL at https://www.owl.co.uk/

Through emails you will receive information from Hertfordshire Constabulary about issues that may impact on your community, or about local community safety events, and there will be advice on keeping your home, family and friends safe & secure.

MRA Coffee Morning and Table Top Sale

We had a fun time on Friday 7th September 2018, doing an impromptu Table Top Sale outside our Meriden Residents Association Hub.

It was great to have the opportunity to chat with some new people both at our regular Coffee Morning and at the sale, both of which were happening at the same time.

Four tables packed full of great bargains, including ornaments, jewellery, books, handbags and games.

Interest in a selection of plates with various birds and designs.

Some of our regular coffee morning group enjoying refreshments, chatting and listening to music.

We would like to say a big thank you to Colin who apart from making a purchase, made a generous donation to the MRA funds.

Our Coffee Morning is on every Friday from 9.30am to 12.00noon, do pop in one week.  On Friday 28th September, we will be holding it in support of Macmillan – The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.  More details of this event can be found in our ‘Upcoming Events’ section and on our Facebook page.

Meriden Policing

A Policing Update from PC Mo Huzair

Anti Social Behaviour Survey

We had three returns on the original ASB survey which was posted and then hand-delivered to each premise on the parade of shops.  The information contained within gave a history of ASB, but sporadic and with little pattern.  Assessing the new information against the existing reports of ASB and offending there, resulted with an assessment which resulted in no need for an uptake in extra patrolling and resourcing.

The Shop Parade

Following the initial meeting, a week of extra resourcing was provided with a guaranteed hour of patrol for 7 days, I conducted an additional plainclothes patrol with another officer to observe the anecdotal reports of drug dealing and ASB during the peak times.  However, I personally observed no actual drug dealing.  I did observe groups of persons and youths gathering but actually committing no offences.

As previously explained, the simple process of youths gathering is provided for as a Right to freedom of association under the human rights act.

ASB notices were issued to a number of people who had been involved in previous offences, and some have been dealt with in conjunction with housing associations with some severity.

The shops were asked to report all incidents for a year.  As a result, we have had no more than usual reports from the shops, but the co-op has repeatedly reported shopliftings, which has resulted in 12 extra prosecutions since the meeting, and significant intelligence being gathered.

We have had some reports of ASB since that previous meeting, but about the same as other estates, so no extra resourcing is justified.

Over the summer holidays, I have added the location to our specific ASB patrols and will be patrolled every night over this period.  So far, this averages to three visits a night by officers, doing drive by or active patrols.

Drug Use

We have had an increase in reports of drug use in the park by the Community Centre, however, the majority appears to be the use of those small silver nitrous oxide canisters.  Annoyingly there is no criminal offence of possession or use of these in small amounts.  Extra patrols and plainclothes officers have attended but no offenders have yet been identified.  Operations are ongoing.

Domestic Incidents

The majority of violent crimes on the estate remain domestic incidents.

Work is ongoing through the courts, and offender services to reduce these.

I will be conducting a poster and information campaign in key locations on the estate to try to advise victims of their rights.

Overall Crime rate

The overall crime rate still remains around the national average and comparative to other estates of similar make up.  No specific current trends that I am aware of.

General

I have been away for about 6 weeks due to leave and training out of the area, and the estate was covered by the other officer on my team, but now I am back.

I have been required to take up the Tudor estate additionally for the foreseeable future.  So now my time is currently spent divided between the following (in no particular order):

  1. Crime investigation (both estates and Watford wide)
  2. Responding to 999 calls.
  3. Project work and crime reduction programmes.
  4. Patrol the Meriden.
  5. Patrol the Tudor.

So previously the Meriden patrols were receiving a third of my time, now reduced slightly in order to incorporate my additional duties.

PC Mo Huzair