North Mymms News: June 2019

How to respond to proposed urgent care changes at QEII

Public events and online questionnaire

Image of urgent care centre courtesy of the CCG

Public “drop-in” events are being held across Hertfordshire where those concerned about the proposal to close Welwyn Garden City’s QEII Urgent Care Centre (UCC) overnight can find out more about the plans. There is also an online questionnaire for those unable to attend.

Transport minister confirms Oyster stops at Potters Bar

Welham Green station June 2019, still waiting for contactless reader

Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Update 6 July 2019. Since this article was published, the local MP Grant Shapps has criticised this site online and on his Twitter account after it was revealed that the MP had incorrectly claimed that Oyster was coming to Welwyn Hatfield. Shapps wrote that the site's editor had ignored a statement from the Department for Transport (DfT), and that the DfT had “officially pointed out” that the article and headline were “particularly misleading”. None of this is true. All the points in the DfT statement, originally supplied by the MP’s office, had already been covered in official documents and existing quotes from the DfT and Great Northern Railway (GNR). The exchange reported by Shapps never took place. David Brewer

There has been conflicting information in recent months about whether or not the Oyster card system will be rolled out in Welwyn Hatfield.

The area’s MP, Grant Shapps seemed confident it would, and announced in print, online, and on social media that Oyster is on its way.

However the train operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and Transport for London (TfL) maintained that it’s not.

Now the transport minister Andrew Jones MP has clarified matters - Oyster will NOT be introduced north of Potters Bar.

Was talk of local rollout just a “hypothetical option”?

GTR says Oyster is not coming to Welwyn Hatfield, the local MP says it is

Contactless card reader being installed at Brookmans Park Station
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The Spring/Summer edition of a newsletter, delivered door-to-door in Welwyn Hatfield this month, announces “Oyster coming down the track”.

The publication, PeopleTalk, which is about the work of local tory MP Grant Shapps, continues on page five with a quote from the MP in which he says “It’s fantastic to finally see Welwyn Hatfield included in the Oyster zones”.

But that’s not the case according Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).

GTR has confirmed that Oyster is coming down the track as the pamphlet claims, but say it’s stopping at Potters Bar and will not reach Welwyn Hatfield, despite the warm welcome by our local MP.

Estimated 10,000 comments added by interested parties

BrP5 - between Bradmore Lane and Potterells proposed for 290 homes
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

The public consultation period for the 140 new and re-promoted sites put forward for inclusion in the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan closed at 9am on Monday 24 June.

A spokesperson at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC) said there have been more than 9,000 comments online, and the planning department still has more than 350 emails and a stack of letters to get through. The final total of responses is expected to be in excess of 10,000.

42 of the new and re-promoted sites are in North Mymms and could accommodate more than 3,200 homes. WHBC has set out what happens next.

Public discussion event at North Mymms Memorial Hall

Local residents are being asked for their views on a proposal to close the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at the QEII overnight.

The East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says on average fewer than one person an hour uses the UCC between 10pm and 6am and of those who do visit overnight 86% leave without the need for further investigation and require no treatment.

Parish council issues all clear, but residents should still check

Warning sign on the entrance gate to the play area Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Warning sign were put up at the entrance gate to the play area
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A nest of oak processionary moth (OPM) caterpillars has been removed from an oak tree in a Welham Green park. The caterpillars are a hazard to humans and animals causing rashes along with eye and throat irritation. They can also damage oak trees by stripping them of their leaves.

Brookmans Park and Welham Green to miss out

Contactless reader at Brookmans Park station ready for August activation
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The Oyster card payment system which is expected to be introduced at Potters Bar station next month will not be extended further north according to Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).

Earlier this week this site reported that a contactless payment reader installed at Brookmans Park Station is expected to be operational in August, but that it would not accept Oyster cards.

GTR has today confirmed that Potters Bar is the end of the line for Oyster cards under any current GTR plans.

People advised to avoid the children’s play area

The oak tree cordoned off along with a warning sign
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Caterpillars of the oak processionary moth (OPM) have been identified in an oak tree in Welham Green.

The caterpillars can be a hazard to the health of oak trees and can also be dangerous to humans and animals causing rashes along with eye and throat irritation.

31% for ‘violence and sexual offences’

Herts police, image courtesy of Hertfordshire Constabulary

The crime figures for North Mymms for April 2019 reveal that 45 incidents were reported with 22 in and around Brookmans Park and 16 in the Welham Green area.

The most commons crime was ‘violence and sexual offences’ with 14 incidents being investigated including seven in Brookmans Park, six in Welham Green, and one in Little Heath.

Hertfordshire constabulary appeals for witnesses

The image is copyright Adrian Cable and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Police say a boy was taken to hospital yesterday following reports of a stabbing incident near the Furzefield Leisure Centre in Potters Bar. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Hertfordshire police.

Incident happened despite warning signs

Warning signs at the Mymms Drive entrance to Gobions Wood nature reserve Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) has posted a notice at one of the entrances to the Gobions Wood nature reserve following a dog attack on sheep which the sign indicates happened on bank holiday Monday 27 May.

Pay-as-you-go reader installed ready for activation

The contactless pay-as-you-go reader at Brookmans Park station Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has confirmed that the installation of a contactless pay-as-you-go card reader at Brookmans Park station is in preparation for the service to be introduced in August.

Checklist for those wanting to oppose development proposals

BrP5 - between Bradmore Lane and Potterells proposed for 290 homes
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

The North Mymms District Green Belt Society (NMDGBS) has listed the reasons why it feels the proposed development sites in the parish should be opposed. The group has published three documents on its website explaining the “technical” reasons why sites proposed for development should not be included in Welwyn Hatfield’s Local Plan.

What is being fixed and what needs fixing

North Mymms footbridge - image by Hertfordshire Walker

Hertfordshire’s Countryside & Rights of Way team has released the latest update on works currently underway on the footpaths, bridleways, and byways in the parish of North Mymms. The information is emailed to this site on a regular basis by Access Projects Officer Dawn Grocock.

St Mary's School, North Mymms

class room at North Mymms St Mary's image courtesy of the school

The St Mary’s Summer Fun Day takes place at the school on Dellsome Lane, Welham Green, on Saturday 22 June. Gates open at noon and the event ends at 3pm.