 Residents in St Albans District aged 70 or over can now apply for an Access Permit to make car parking easier.
We have introduced the permit to help people who have difficulty with digital payment methods such as a mobile phone app.
Costing £190 a year, the permit is valid for one visit a day for up to three hours at 15 off-street car parks in St Albans and Harpenden.
To be eligible for the permit, you need to be a resident aged 70 or above. If you have difficulty making an application, please contact our customer services team on 01727 866100.
Two fly-tippers were prosecuted last month by our Environmental Enforcement team and ordered to pay more than £2,000 in fines and costs.
Charlie Bradford, of Monks Close, St Albans, admitted transporting waste without a licence and illegally dumping it in Woodcock Hill.
He left a trail of multiple fly-tips of house clearance waste along a four-mile stretch of the quiet rural road between Sandridge and Coopers Green Lane.
Leanne Reid, of Leven Way, Hemel Hempstead, admitted failing to check whether the person she hired to dispose of the waste had a licence. Her house clearance was dumped in Cherry Tree Lane, Redbourn.
St Albans Magistrates ordered Bradford to pay £1,924 in legal costs and a £114 victim surcharge. He was also sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid community work.
Reid was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
Photo: part of the Woodcock Hill fly-tip.
Talented Charter Market trader Sarah Wilkinson sells stunning crochet clothing that she designs and makes herself.
Sarah, who has been trading every Wednesday at the Market for over four years, has fingerless gloves, beanie hats, scarves, neck warmers and brooches available at her Edgy Threads stall.
She makes her eco-friendly clothes mainly from recycled T-shirt fabric which is shredded and braided into cotton cord.
Sarah also offers her customers the chance to learn the art of crochet at classes that she runs.
She said: “I do everything myself – it is a full-time occupation. My stall is very niche, but I love it at the market and do enjoy some fantastic days when the sales are strong and the weather is good.”
Traders at the Charter Market are being offered FREE training and advice to improve their skills and help their business grow.
We have teamed up with STANTA, St Albans Enterprise Agency, to make the assistance available.
Regular traders can apply to have a choice of training and advice modules under the Government-backed Get Enterprising programme delivered by STANTA.
This includes business advice from an experienced adviser and workshops on subjects such as bookkeeping and marketing.
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We are inviting local groups to apply to our new Community Right to Grow scheme.
This initiative will allow groups to take over the cultivation of parcels of land across the District for the benefit of their neighbourhood.
We have identified suitable areas for planting and will offer guidance and information to support those who take up the offer.
The pilot scheme, which may be expanded if successful, is part of the Council’s efforts to tackle climate change.
By growing their own vegetables, for example, residents can become less reliant on high-carbon food imports.
A major scheme to make lasting improvements to Verulamium Park’s artificial lakes and adjoining Bell Meadow has been approved.
The project, which will take some years to complete, will provide new wetlands, nature walks and plant beds where native species can thrive.
Among the aims are enhancing the water quality of the lakes, improving biodiversity and making the area more attractive to visitors.
One feature will be the dredging of the heavily silted lakes with silt recycled to provide highly fertile planting areas around the edges.
Work has begun on our joint project with the Environment Agency to enhance the River Ver as it flows through St Albans.
The Ver is a rare chalk stream, one of only around 200 in the world, but is in need of improvement.
Chalk rivers require about 70% light to 30% dappled shade if they are to support habitats and wildlife.
Unfortunately, much of the Ver on a stretch through Verulamium Park to the Cottonmill allotments has become very heavily shaded.
Tree work has now begun to open the river to more essential light. In addition, there will be footpath improvements and the creation of a wetland on the meadow adjacent to Abbey View Athletic track. This will become a haven for wildlife with crossing points for visitors.
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We are currently looking for a Deputy Team Leader for Strategic Sites in our busy planning department.
This is one of a number of jobs we are advertising that offer an outstanding package, including training for career development, flexible working and a Local Government pension.
Other roles we are looking to fill include Markets, Community Protection and Building and Facilities Officers.
Working for a Council is a rewarding experience as you can make a positive, lasting impact on the lives of local people.
A five-year strategy to ensure our Council homes are safe, sustainable and fit for the future has been agreed by Councillors.
The strategy had six main commitments including tackling climate change by reducing harmful emissions and providing an efficient repairs service, responsive to our tenants' needs.
The Council owns 4,819 social-rent flats, bungalows and houses which are allocated to people on its housing register.
In addition, there are over 1,000 leaseholders where the Council has responsibilities as the freeholder.
Our housing tenants are invited to a repairs clinic hosted by our maintenance contractor Morgan Sindall Property Services.
They will be holding the event on Tuesday 18 February, 12 to 2pm, at the Cottonmill Community Centre.
Staff will be on hand to discuss your housing concerns, take repair requests and offer other support you may need. They will, for example, show residents how to log a repair on their mobile phone.
Citizens Advice and charity LeeAnna’s Wish will also be in attendance alongside an arts and crafts pop-up for children.
We are holding an exciting new street event in St Albans City Centre featuring free entertainment for everyone.
Thousands of people are expected at the St Albans Spring Festival on Sunday 18 May, 11am to 5pm, with St Peter’s Street closed to traffic.
Among the attractions will be live music, arts and crafts, street theatre and dozens of stalls selling takeaway food, drink and other produce.
There will be opportunities to learn, play and create with fun activities.
Exhibition, Wild About Hertfordshire, St Albans Museum + Gallery, opens Friday 21 March, Free
Hertfordshire Natural History Society’s volunteers have been keeping track of local wildlife since 1875.
This 150th anniversary exhibition celebrates the iconic flora, fauna and habitats of our county.
Photo: Patrick Wainwright.
Tread the Past, Verulamium Park
If you’re in Verulamium Park, look out for a new “Tread the Past” trail, telling the story of eight locations across the park.
Each stop tells a short story of the history beneath your feet, so bring along your phone and headphones to listen.
Exhibition - The Lost and Found: Those Shaping our Understanding of the Past, St Albans Museum + Gallery, opens Friday 21 March 2025, Free
Discover the past by meeting the finders who uncover the treasured objects from a forgotten time.
Find out what motivates metal detectorists to get involved in the hobby, be involved in local archaeology and see some of their favourite finds.
You'll also be able to find out more about the Portable Antiquities Scheme, explore treasure cases and meet the people who make it all possible.
Image: Portable Antiquities Scheme (finds.org.uk).
A new Changing Places toilet has opened at Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre.
This is a facility designed for disabled children and adults who are either physically unable to manoeuvre themselves onto a toilet or who require continence aids.
It is located close to the centre's café and can be used by people visiting Verulamium Park.
A Changing Places toilet has more space than a standard disabled toilet to allow for equipment, the disabled person and carers.
It has an adult-sized, adjustable-height changing bench, a peninsular toilet, a privacy screen, a tracking hoist, which can safely transfer the disabled person onto the changing bench or toilet, and a colostomy shelf.
St Albans and District Access Forum advised on the design of the new facility. There are now five Changing Places in the District.
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St Albans Healthy Hub is your free centre for health and wellbeing information, advice and support.
You can get help 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 on the Healthy Hub webpages.
Our partners at Healthwatch Hertfordshire are gathering insights from parents and carers about their experiences with accessing dental care for their children.
This is an important initiative aimed at improving children's oral health services across the county.
Whether you take your child regularly to the dentist or struggle to get an appointment, they want to hear from you.
School half-term is almost here – and our partners at Hertfordshire County Council have compiled a list of 50 fun, low cost or no cost activities for youngsters.
These range from a tour of St Albans Cathedral to a trip to Verulamium Park and Museum to explore our Roman heritage.
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