Residents in St Albans District will go to the polls on Thursday 2 May for important local elections.
These are for the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and 21 of the 56 seats on St Albans City and District Council.
To vote at a polling station, you must present approved photo ID such as a passport or driver’s licence, current or expired.
If you do not have approved photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Details of how to apply along with a list of approved ID is available here.
It’s important to have your say in May as the Herts Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible for ensuring an efficient and effective police force and holds the chief constable to account. The District Council has major responsibilities for a wide range of public services such as social housing, planning, recycling, parks and leisure facilities.
You can find more information about the elections, including candidate lists, here.
|
The management of Abbey View Athletics Track has been taken over by St Albans Athletic Club to ensure its long-term future.
We have agreed a deal with the club’s newly-formed charity which is now operating the track in Verulamium Park.
They are already overseeing bookings and events via a new website and are looking to raise funds for improvements.
This will include a replacement for the Pavilion building which has reached the end of its life and is due to be demolished. More information is available here.
Photo: Lily Tse (left) and Kate Dixon at the Abbey View Community Athletics Track.
Former Wagamama chef Jayantha Vipul has started his own business selling fresh fish at the Charter Market.
He launched Ceylon Fish last month with his wife Nirosha and trades from a customised van every Wednesday.
His tasty product range includes trout, scallops, mussels, crab, parrot fish, red snapper, sea bream, sardines and bass.
Jayantha, who moved to the UK from Sri Lanka two years ago, said: "We are making good progress and gaining more customers every week. This is a great place to do business."
He is one of a growing number of new traders at the booming Market which is receiving around 40 applications a month. You can enquire about hiring a pitch here.
|
 Our monthly Sunday Market is booming - creating an exciting atmosphere in the City Centre.
The Market is held on the second Sunday of each month and has an amazing mix of traders selling a wide range of products including takeaway food, paintings, jewellery and other crafts.
April's Sunday Market (pictured above) was twice the size of last year's one. It attracted impressive numbers of shoppers and stretched from The Boot pub on Market Square to Cattle Walk by the side of Alban’s Well.
St Albans Clock Tower, the only surviving medieval town belfry in England, has reopened after the winter months.
You can climb the 93 steps to the top of this historic building in the very heart of the City for panoramic views that take in the surrounding Hertfordshire countryside.
The tower is open from 10.30am to 5pm every weekend and Bank Holiday from now until Sunday 29 September. Tickets are £2 with children allowed in for free.
You can find out more about the history of the tower, including its 600-year-old bell, and take a virtual tour here.
|
St Albans District Community Lottery is celebrating its 2nd birthday this month – having raised £40,000 for good causes so far.
The online lottery was set up by us to give local charities and community groups an exciting fund-raising opportunity.
Since April 2022, around 80,000 tickets have been sold to more than 700 players who have shared some £10,000 in winnings.
Tickets cost only £1 each with 50p going to a good cause of your choice and 10p going to the Council's Community Grants Fund. There are weekly draws with cash prizes of £25, £250, £2,000 and a £25,000 jackpot.
Causes include organisations involved in promoting mental health and wellbeing, sports and recreational clubs, educational services and community centres.
You can support a good cause of your choosing by buying tickets here.
|
We have obtained a £173,000 grant to make our Harpenden Leisure Centre more energy efficient, reduce bills and cut harmful emissions.
The money will be used to fit solar panels to the centre which has almost 4,000 members and was opened three years ago.
The award comes from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund which is supported by the National Lottery.
The panels will not generate enough electricity to ensure the energy-intensive building is self-sufficient, but will reduce bills and cut harmful emissions with the Council committed to becoming net zero by 2030.
We are giving away 10 tonnes of compost next month to help people fertilise their gardens and green spaces.
The compost will be available at our recycling contractor Veolia’s depot at Sandridge Gate Business Centre, Ronsons Way, St Albans, AL4 9XR. Drive past the Household Waste and Recycling Centre for the location.
You can collect it from 7.30am on Sunday 19 May on a first come, first served basis. You will need to bring a shovel and bags with up to five bags per car allowed. This is a popular event, so it is best to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
|
 Hertfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team is advising residents to be vigilant when scanning QR codes.
They should take particular care when making payments or downloading apps from QR codes.
Make sure the code is linked to a reputable company or organisation and when you scan, pay attention to the URL that it leads to.
You can find out more information here.
The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Artists, St Albans Museum + Gallery, Weston Gallery, Friday 10 May until Sunday 8 September. Free.
Discover the story of the talented artists who illustrated Ladybird books for more than 30 years.
This colourful, family-friendly exhibition includes rare books, original artwork and artefacts, and reveals how illustrators played such an enormous role in Ladybird’s extraordinary success.
Tracing the interconnected work of these artists, the focus is on Ladybird’s golden years from 1940 to 1975. Visually rich and varied, the exhibition will evoke many memories of childhood.
Photo: Helen Day, Museum of Gloucester
Rituals and Rubbish in Roman Rivers, Verulamium Museum. Friday 17 May, 7pm, Tickets £10.
This talk explores why so many Roman objects were deposited at bridges and river crossings throughout the Roman world.
Were they offerings to the gods or did rivers represent convenient rubbish dumps?
To buy tickets and for more information about what is happening at our Museums, please go to St Albans Museums website.
Photo: The Verulamium Museum at night.
If you are of working age and in receipt of certain benefits such as Tax Credits or Housing Benefit, you may receive a letter soon from the Department for Work and Pensions inviting you to apply for Universal Credit.
Universal Credit is replacing some existing benefits and if you receive the letter, it is very important that you read it carefully as you will need to apply for Universal Credit by a certain date. If you don’t, your existing benefits will stop.
If you need help to make an application, the letter will give details of where you can get assistance. Moving to Universal Credit is not a cause for concern and some residents might find they receive more financial support.
|
We are holding a Landlord Forum on Tuesday 14 May - an opportunity for private landlords and letting agents to learn about new legislation, receive advice from guest speakers and discuss housing issues.
Representatives from the Council’s private sector housing team and Mosaic Lettings agency will be in attendance.
The Forum will take place from 6.30pm at the Council Chamber in the Civic Centre, St Peters Street. You can find out more information here and book your place here.
 St Albans Healthy Hub is your free one-stop-shop for health and wellbeing information, advice and support.
You can get advice on many issues including how to lose weight, quit smoking, cut down on alcohol, become more active and manage money.
The organisations involved include Citizens Advice, Communities 1st, Mind in Mid Herts and many more. You can find more information here.
Hertfordshire Mind Network’s dedicated Nightlight Crisis team are available if you feel you need someone to talk to.
Nightlight is a county-wide, out-of-hours mental health crisis service, providing a safe and welcoming space for people feeling distressed.
The Crisis Cafés and Crisis Helpline are open every evening.
If you want to speak to someone on the phone, or come in and see someone, simply call on any day of the week between 7pm and 1am on 01923 256391.
High blood pressure is the largest treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease which can lead to a fatal heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or vascular dementia.
That is why a new blood pressure testing campaign is encouraging people 40 and over to get a free blood pressure check at their nearest participating pharmacy.
You can find a pharmacy that will offer a free check here.
|
Kickstart healthy habits today by joining a free 12-week programme where you can learn how to improve your health and manage your weight with specialist support.
You can choose Slimming World’s weekly in-person group sessions or strike out on your own from home using Oviva’s digital app. Both programmes will offer you personalised support to work towards improving your diet and exercise habits.
Don't delay, find out more here.
 We publish Sustainability News three times a year and email it free to subscribers.
The publication is packed with news and information about the important issues of sustainability and the need to tackle the climate crisis.
You can sign up to have it emailed to you here and view the last edition here.
|
