Residents in St Albans District can now apply for a licence to install electric vehicle charging equipment across a pavement.
The licence will allow them to run charging cables through a channel from their home safely across pavements.
They can then benefit from domestic energy tariffs which tend to be significantly cheaper than the cost of using chargers at garages and other commercial outlets.
Hertfordshire County Council, the highways authority, is running the pilot scheme in collaboration with us.
In addition, the County Council is installing several thousand charge points across Hertfordshire as part of a major infrastructure programme supported by £6 million in Government funding.
Click on the button below to find out more about applying for a cross-pavement licence including the safety requirements.
Work is continuing on our ambitious project to Revitalise the River Ver as it flows through Verulamium Park.
The aim is to enhance the river’s biodiversity and return it to its more natural state.
The Environment Agency has carried out further tree work to let in more sunlight. This will increase the abundance of aquatic plants which many insects, fish, water voles and birds rely on.
In addition, gravel berms and riffles—features that increase oxygen levels – have been installed to support plant growth and create a narrower, meandering channel.
Part of the river’s floodplain has also been reshaped into a scrape, a shallow, seasonal wetland. Alder, willow, and birch trees have been planted with wildflower seeds to follow.
Alongside the river, Ver Valley Society volunteers have planted 2,000 bulbs including wild garlic, daffodils, bluebells, snowdrops and snake’s head fritillaries.
We have launched an online portal to help local businesses better manage their business rates.
Businesses can use the portal on the Council’s website to carry out a range of tasks.
They can check the balance of their account, view their instalment plan, make a payment and check both demand and recovery notices.
Once they have registered, they will be able to access the portal 24/7 to keep on top of their business rate obligations.
The Council collects business rates on behalf of the Government but has no role in assessing the rateable values of properties or in setting the method used to calculate bills.
The butterfly population of parts of St Albans District has increased by 350% in just three years thanks to our wilding programme.
Forty grassland sites across the District were seeded with wildflowers and mowed only once in the late summer to boost biodiversity.
The Council, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Herts County Council and several other organisations were involved.
A report into last year’s impact shows that sightings of butterflies were up 350% on 2022. Twenty-three different species were recorded including the Common Blue (pictured above).
The Wilder St Albans project is one of the actions we have taken to improve the local environment since declaring a climate emergency.
 There is still time to have your say on the Council’s Community Governance Review proposals.
The proposals include the creation of a new parish council in St Albans, a separate parish council for Highfield and the abolition of Harpenden Rural Parish Council with its area becoming part of Harpenden Town Council.
A public consultation on the proposals is open until Monday 23 February with all feedback helping to shape the final decisions.
Click on the button below for more information including how to take part in the consultation and give your views.
Following a change to the law, voters can now hold a postal vote for a maximum period of three years.
After this time, voters must reapply if they wish to continue voting by post.
All postal voters who applied before 31 October 2023 must re-apply before 31 January 2026.
We have contacted all postal voters affected by this change by email and/or letter.
If you haven’t yet reapplied for your postal vote, or if we’ve contacted you to ask for additional information, please respond as soon as possible.
Those postal voters who do not reapply will have their postal vote cancelled on 31 January.
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Our St Albans Museum + Gallery will be hosting its first Community History Day on Saturday 7 February and you are invited to take part.
This is an opportunity to discover new research, learn heritage skills and celebrate St Albans’ diverse stories.
Everyone is welcome whether you’re looking to share your experiences with a wider audience or you simply want to listen and learn from others.
There will be panel discussions, local history talks, skills workshops and other activities.
You can book a free ticket by clicking on the button below or by calling 01727 864511. There are online tickets available if you prefer to attend remotely.
St Albans City Centre BID (Business Improvement District) is to transform the historic Clock Tower into a glowing celebration of love this February with a special Valentine’s Illumination.
Running from Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 February, the beautifully designed light show will play on a continuous loop each evening from 5:30pm to 9:30pm.
This enchanting display is intended to be a heartwarming experience for everyone whether sharing the moment with a partner, enjoying a family outing or celebrating friendship.
BID is enhancing the atmosphere even further by installing Valentine’s street décor across the City Centre including a striking light-up LOVE motif.
Warm white and red festoon lighting will illuminate George Street, French Row and Waddington Road throughout February.
We are supporting Clean Air Night on Thursday 22 January – a global campaign to make people aware of the health harms caused by air pollution from wood burning.
Residents and businesses are urged to refrain from wood burning on the night and spread the message that it is a polluting and expensive way to heat your home.
Wood burning stoves and open fires are a major source of indoor air pollution and are estimated to contribute to almost 2,500 premature deaths in the UK each year.
The microscopic particles produced by the smoke are able to get into people's lungs and bloodstreams, damaging their health.
Our leisure contractor Everyone Active is holding senior dance and ballet classes across the District.
The sessions are open to older people of all abilities in a welcoming environment and with experienced instructors.
There are classes in St Albans, Harpenden, London Colney, Redbourn, Bricketwood and Frogmore.
Each session costs only £6 and is a great way to get active, improve balance, have fun and meet new people
More than 230 Christmas presents were donated to children and families in need following a festive appeal
Our Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre organised the appeal in partnership with the local charity LeeAnna’s Wish.
The centre, managed by leisure operator Everyone Active, acted as the hub for collecting, wrapping and distributing the donations with help from LeeAnna’s Wish volunteers.
It meant that dozens of children across St Albans received a present from Santa on Christmas morning.
Photo: centre manager Jason Lombard (far right) and Shelley Hayles of LeeAnna’s Wish (2nd from right) with some volunteers.
Congratulations to our housing repairs contractor Morgan Sindall Property Services for their charity work over the festive season.
Together with their subcontractors, they raised and donated an impressive £3,300 to community groups.
These organisations provide essential help to residents facing financial hardship, homelessness and social isolation.
The groups given a financial boost were Citizens Advice, Open Door, Emmaus Herts, Marlborough Science Academy, Salaam Women’s Cafe and Computer Friendly.
The Marlborough school donation, for example, ensured 20 sturggling families enjoyed a Christmas dinner and provided winter coats, uniforms and footballs.
Photo: Chloe Sykes (far right) and Steve Watson (far left) from Morgan Sindall Property Services hand over a donation to representatives of the Open Door charity.
 Helios, until Sunday 25 January, Assembly Room, St Albans Museum + Gallery
Experience the solar spectacle that is Helios, a stunning six-metre high sculpture by renowned UK artist Luke Jerram. Enjoy a lively programme of events perfect for all ages seeking warmth, light, and connection.
Back in the Day, Thursday 5 February, 2pm to 3:30pm, St Albans Museum + Gallery, Free
Fun and friendly afternoon exploring real historic objects and photographs from our collections.This month’s theme: Inns & Alehouses. No booking needed – just drop in!
Exhibition dates extended: Inns and Alehouses in Victorian St Albans, until Sunday 19 April, Keeper’s Galleries, St Albans Museum + Gallery, Free
Due to popular demand, we’re delighted that this exhibition, originally due to close on Sunday 15 March, has been extended.
Towards the end of the 19th century, St Albans boasted just under 100 commercial drinking establishments.
This exhibition looks at the different types of venue from beerhouses to taverns and the reasons that they flourished or failed as St Albans moved into the 20th century.
Ready for a fresh start this New Year?
You can make a real impact in your local community by joining one of our welcoming teams.
From safeguarding vulnerable residents to maintaining quality homes, you could play a vital role in delivering essential services.
We currently have vacancies for a finance office, surveyors and casual workers - but please hurry as applications may soon close.
Click on the button below to explore opportunities on our jobs and careers webpages - and keep looking for new vacancies that will arise.
St Albans Healthy Hub is your local centre for health and wellbeing information, advice and support.
You can get help with 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.
Many parts of the country have had frost and snow recently, so it's important to protect yourself and others as much as possible from the effects of cold weather conditions.
Our partners at Hertfordshire County Council have put together some advice on how you can prepare for a cold snap.
There is information about the location of warm spaces, the support offered to older people by Age UK Herts, flu vaccines and much more.
If you or someone you care for finds themselves in crisis and in need of advice or help, there is someone providing mental health care and support in your community waiting for your call.
Click on the button below to learn more about the services that are located near to you.
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