 A major project to equip Harpenden Leisure Centre with solar panels to reduce harmful emissions and cut energy bills has been completed.
More than 170 panels, covering around 400 square metres will cut emissions by 18 tonnes of CO2 a year, generating 93 megawatts of electricity.
That amounts to 12.5% of the centre’s needs and will save around £24,000 a year on energy bills.
The Council owns the centre which is managed by its leisure contractor Everyone Active.
They obtained a £173,000 Sport England grant, supported by the National Lottery, to help finance the project.
Councillor Helen Campbell, Lead for Leisure, inspected the work and said: “I was very impressed. It shows our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and saving money for the benefit of residents.”
Photos: Cllr Campbell, far left, with, left to right, Alan Evers, Managing Director of TJ Evers (which installed the panels), Chloe Ledger, Harpenden Leisure Centre Manager, James McNulty, Everyone Active’s Contract Manager, and Tristan Luckman, Contracts Manager for TJ Evers.
 St Albans Museums has won TWO prestigious awards at the Hertfordshire Museum Awards.
One was the Creative Health Award for a Community in Residence project. This was a collaboration with Hertfordshire ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group and included an exhibition as well as the promotion of ME Awareness Day.
We also won Heritage Heroes awards for the work done by Learning Officer Danielle Cavender-Handley (pictured far right) and Archaeologist Tom Lucas (far left) for the Digitising Verulamium Park project.
This involved highlighting the park’s Roman heritage by creating a Tread the Past history trail and marking the outlines of a town house.
 Say hello to Stephen Taylor - one of our new Charter Market traders who has turned his hobby into a thriving business.
Stephen runs the Papa Bears Smokehouse with the motto “cooked low and slow”.
He sells meats, including turkey, beef and chicken, which he cooks himself on a Texas-style smoker for up to 18 hours. He also offers his own home-made sauces.
Stephen, who is from Shenley, worked in the pensions industry before deciding to use his passion for barbecuing to found a business.
He is now taking direct orders and catering for private events as well as working at his stall and said: “I am loving the Market.
“I’ve found the Markets team extremely helpful and I am hoping to become established here. I would advise anyone who fancies this life to give it a go.”
We are holding a key amnesty to give people the chance to avoid prosecution for tenancy fraud.
Subletting a social housing property or not using it as a main home is a criminal offence and denies a home to people who are in genuine need of it.
Anyone who is not using their Council home in accordance with their tenancy agreement can return their key to reception at our Civic Centre offices.
By doing so, they will avoid being prosecuted for any tenancy fraud they may have committed. People already notified of legal action are not allowed to take part in the scheme.
This amnesty will run until Monday 31 March.
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 Hertfordshire County Council is holding elections on Thursday 1 May including all ten seats in St Albans District.
Polling cards will be issued later this month and you should check to see if your polling station has changed. Here are the deadlines for actions you might want to take in the run-up to the elections:
Register to vote – Friday 11 April.
Apply to vote by post – 5pm on Monday 14 April.
Amending an existing postal or proxy vote – 5pm on Monday 14 April.
Apply to vote by proxy – 5pm on Wednesday 23 April.
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate – 5pm on Wednesday 23 April.
If you do not have approved photo ID such as a driver’s licence or passport, you will need to have a Voter Authority Certificate to vote at a polling station.
Click on the button below for further information including how to register or make one of the applications listed above.
The County Council is responsible for a wide range of services including social care, highways and transport, education, fire and rescue, public health and libraries.
 Work is progressing well on our joint project with the Environment Agency to improve the River Ver as it flows through Verulamium Park.
Despite some initial challenges from wet ground conditions, most of the planned tree works have been completed.
More sunlight can now reach this stretch of rare chalk stream, benefitting its habitats and wildlife.
Chalk streams are home to some of our most endangered species, including water voles and brown trout. For wildlife to thrive, they need about 70% light to 30% dappled shade.
The creation of a new wetland in the meadow adjacent to Abbey View Athletic track should be finished by the end of April.
It will be connected to the River Ver and help prevent the buildup of stagnant pools of water following heavy rain. It will also provide a valuable new habitat for a range of wildlife.
We have taken robust action against fly-tippers who have plagued Fleetville Recreation Ground in St Albans.
Our environmental enforcement team has monitored the fly-tipping hotspot and carried out a number of investigations.
So far this March, we have issued six Fixed Penalty Notices, totalling £2,800, to two businesses and four individuals whom we have identified as fly-tippers.
New signage has been put up to warn people of the consequences of fly-tipping which is a criminal offence.
Fly-tipping is not only unsightly; it can also be a potential health hazard and costs time and public money to clear up.
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 There is still time for you to register your interest in Solar Together 2025 - the county-wide bulk buying scheme for solar panels, EV charge points and battery storage.
There is no commitment at this stage: simply register your interest, wait for your quote from a vetted installer and then decide whether you would like to proceed to the survey stage.
Solar panels generate energy from daylight and don't require direct sunlight. They can reduce your carbon footprint as well as saving money on energy bills.
The deadline to register is Friday 4 April.
Click the button below for more information and to register an interest.
Our annual giveaway to residents of tonnes of garden compost is back – but with a twist.
This year, the compost will be pre-bagged so there is no need to bring your own bags and shovel.
You can come and collect up to three 40-litre bags on Sunday 13 April from our waste contractor Veolia’s depot at Sandridge Gate Business Centre, St Albans Road, AL4 9XR.
The giveaway starts from 7am on a first come, first served basis and you should bring proof of address.
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 You may have heard about the Government’s Devolution White Paper and changes that are coming that will impact the structure of Local Government across the country.
While it’s still early days, our Local Government Reorganisation webpage gives key information about what’s happening.
You can find out more and sign up to receive email updates by clicking the button below.
Residents are urged to celebrate this year’s 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
The date of Germany’s surrender in the Second World War, ending six years of conflict, was 8 May 1945.
Community celebrations are being led by the Together Coalition as part of the Government’s national programme to commemorate the anniversaries of both VE Day and Victory over Japan Day on Friday 15 August.
Events will include the Great British Food Festival on the Bank Holiday of Monday 5 May when people are encouraged to hold street parties. You can apply for a street closure by Monday 24 March by clicking the button below.
There will also be a VE Day Schools Challenge, where the Together Coalition and the Royal British Legion are asking pupils to learn about the significance of the anniversary.
 Our housing repairs contractor Morgan Sindall Property Services has launched HEAT – a campaign to give residents Home Energy Advice Tips.
HEAT provides practical energy-saving advice sessions online each Wednesday from 11am – 2pm.
This can help you make your home more energy-efficient, find the best energy tariffs for your needs and deal with damp, mould and condensation.
There is also advice on what to do if you are struggling to pay your bills and how to access grants and benefits.
HEAT’s aim is to empower people with the knowledge and tools to reduce bills and stay warm.
All District residents can sign up to a session by emailing CSRbox@morgansindall.com.
We are currently advertising summer internships – an opportunity for graduates to gain practical experience of working at a Council.
This is a full-time, paid role lasting 13 weeks which offers an insight into how the Council impacts the lives of residents and communities.
It is also a chance to develop skills and knowledge that may lead to a career in local government.
You can apply by Friday 21 March and look at other job opportunities by clicking the button below.
 St Albans Greener Together (SAGT) has launched the One Action Together campaign and is urging residents to get involved.
The campaign is highlighting how even a small action can have an important effect on our planet if we all do it together.
For example, if every household in the District halved their food waste, we could save over 21,000 tonnes of food being dumped each year.
That’s enough food to feed 38,400 people – around a quarter of the District’s population.
One Action Together will look at the impact of sustainable eating and how to reduce waste, save energy and take up active travel.
You can find articles on the SAGT website with examples of actions you can take.
Take an action today and share it with the community by tagging @stalbansgreenertogether on Instagram and Facebook.
 We are holding a Landlord Forum on Tuesday 6 May – a chance for private
landlords and letting agents to learn about new legislation, network 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 Civic Centre and you can book your
place by emailing landlordforum@stalbans.gov.uk or calling 01727 814674.
 HAPpy activity camps are returning this Easter break - providing eligible children and young people with the chance to meet friends, learn new skills and enjoy nutritious food.
School pupils who are in Reception to Year 11, attend a Hertfordshire school and are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals can attend.
Every camp is inclusive and able to meet the needs of most children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
There are also SEND-specific camps which are better for children with higher support needs.
 Easter workshops and events at
St Albans Museum + Gallery:
Saturday 5 April - Puppet Catwalk.
Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 April - Family Crafts; Alphabet of the Norse People.
Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 April – Seed Bombs and Bird Feeders.
Verulamium Museum:
Thursday 10 and Friday 11 April - Roman Herb Garden.
Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 April - Archaeology for Families.
Wednesday 16 April – Mosaic Making workshop.
Plus dressing up, colouring-in and museum trails!
 Clock Tower
The Clock Tower will be officially opened for the 2025 season at 10.30am on Good Friday 18 April by the Mayor, Councillor Jamie Day.
It will then be open every weekend and Bank Holiday, 10.30am to 5pm, until Sunday 28 September. Don’t miss the Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday 20 April.
 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.
 A new service has been made available this year to adults who are in need of mental health support.
The Mental Health Urgent Care Centre (MHUCC) is open 24/7 at the Lister Hospital Campus in Stevenage.
It is being provided by HPFT – the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
The facility offers an alternative to long waits and crowded spaces for those in a mental health crisis.
 Our partners Healthwatch Hertfordshire are looking to reduce smoking by making sure everyone who wants to quit has the right information and support.
They are conducting a survey to better understand habits and experiences and want to hear from people who smoke or used to smoke as well as their friends and family.
By listening to your experiences, public health decision makers can ensure support is tailored to what the community needs.
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