North Mymms News: July 2019

Dates for Welham Green Friendship Group meetings

Helping to deal with loneliness and social isolation

Meetings are held at the Sibthorpe Arms in Welham Green
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The Welham Green Friendship Group has announced the dates for the five remaining meetings for 2019. The social gatherings are held once a month on Tuesday mornings at the Sibthorpe Arms, Welham Green starting at 11am.

Grade II listed item appears for sale on Facebook

Left the missing coal post, and right the one listed for sale on Facebook
Image on left courtesy of Martin Nail released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0 UK
Image on right a screen grab from the Facebook listing

An investigation is underway into the attempt to sell a missing Grade II listed coal duty marker similar to the one that used to stand at the corner of Warrengate Road near the junction with Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms and which has been missing for almost 30 years.

4.5 mile detour to be put in place

Roadworks Hawkshead Lane, Brookmans Park Aug 1-2. Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Hawkshead Lane will be closed west of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) down to Warrengate Road for two days from Thursday 1 August. It’s to allow Affinity Water to lay new pipework. Diversions will be put in place.

11 incidents of ‘violence and sexual offences’ reported

Herts police, image courtesy of Hertfordshire Constabulary

The crime figures for North Mymms for June 2019 reveal that 46 incidents were reported during the month with 14 in and around Brookmans Park, four more than the previous month, and 24 in the Welham Green area, double the May total. The crime figures for the previous month recorded 38 reported incidents locally.

The most commons crime in North Mymms in June was ‘violence and sexual offences’ with 11 incidents being investigated, including eight in Welham Green, two in Brookmans Park, and one in Little Heath.

Hertfordshire Trading Standards say they might contain metal

A alert has been sent out by Hertfordshire Trading Standards warning anyone who has bought Quorn cocktail sausages to return them for a full refund. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says the product might contain “small pieces of metal” making the sausages unsafe to eat and presents a safety risk.

Welwyn Hatfield MP given cabinet post

Grant Shapps at a Boris Johnson campaign rally on 12 June 2019. Screenshot from BBC News

The new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has appointed the Welwyn Hatfield MP, Grant Shapps to the role of Secretary of State for Transport in his new cabinet.

Shapps, pictured above during a Tory leadership event in June, was part of Johnson’s campaign team.

Police urge residents not to invite burglars

Police urge people not to leave windows open and unattended during the hot spellImage by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A warning has been sent out by Hertfordshire police alerting local residents to be on their guard against opportunistic burglaries that can happen during periods of hot weather.

In a message via the Hertfordshire Online Watch Link (OWL) people are warned not to leave their doors and windows open and unattended.

Elderly woman almost conned out of £5,000

Never give personal details or bank details over the phone
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

If it hadn’t been for the alertness of a bank cashier, a “frail” Hertfordshire woman would have been conned out of thousands of pounds following a telephone scam.

Age UK Hertfordshire is urging anyone with elderly relatives or elderly neighbours to warn them of the scam.

Consultation closes at midnight on Wednesday 21 August

Previously promoted development site BrP6 in Brookmans Park
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

It’s the next stage in the development of Welwyn Hatfield’s Local Plan with representations invited regarding the “soundness” of the plan.

The independent inspector will select comments raised when he puts together the agenda for the public hearings into the Local Plan where the council will be given the chance to respond.

Council gives go-ahead for new buildings

Aerial photograph of Chancellor's taken by Paul Large of Falcon Media in September 2002

Aerial photograph of Chancellor's School taken in September 2002
Image by Paul Large of Falcon Media

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Planning Committee has agreed to plans set out by Chancellor’s School in Brookmans Park for the building of new sports and education facilities on the Pine Grove site.

Substance thought to be flour laid to mark a route

Image courtesy of Sophie Campbell-Johnson
Posted on the Brookmans Park Community Facebook page

Concern has been expressed on the Brookmans Park Community Facebook page about the appearance of white powder in both Gobions Open Space and the Gobions Wood nature reserve.

Some were worried about whether the powder could be harmful to pets.

Incident caused earlier train disruption

Hertfordshire police were called to an incident at Brookmans Park this morning following concern for the “welfare of a person on the tracks”.

GTR responds to travelcard and fares queries

Welham Green station - image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

There have been a number of questions asked by rail uses via Twitter following the announcement that contactless readers - not Oyster card readers - are being installed at Brookmans Park and Welham Green.

North Mymms News contacted Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and put the questions to the media team.

Dates for your diary - the Local Plan timetable

BrP5 - between Bradmore Lane and Potterells proposed for 290 homes

Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

Two weeks ago the public consultation period for the 140 new and re-promoted sites put forward for inclusion in the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan closed. An estimated 10,000 comments had been received by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC). 42 of the new and re-promoted sites are in North Mymms and could accommodate more than 3,200 homes. WHBC says there will now be a year-long process culminating in the adoption of the new Local Plan next summer.

10 incidents of ‘anti-social behaviour’ reported

The crime figures for North Mymms for May 2019 reveal that 38 incidents were reported during the month with 10 in and around Brookmans Park and 12 in the Welham Green area. The crime figures for the previous month recorded 45 incidents locally.

The most commons crime in May was ‘anti-social behaviour’ with 10 incidents being investigated, including six in Welham Green, two in Bell Bar, one in Brookmans Park, and one in Colney Heath.

Dog owners told to ignore the signs

Dog ban notice at Gobions - image courtesy of Brookmans Park News and Events Facebook page

Signs have been posted at Gobions Open Space telling dog owners that dog walking is no longer allowed on the parish council-owned field or on any council-owned land.

But a North Mymms Parish councillor says the signs should be ignored and do not represent parish council policy.

Advice offered to help prevent keyless theft

Hertfordshire police say owners of keyless Range Rovers should take steps to try to protect their vehicles from being taken by thieves. It follows the arrest of a man in connection with thefts of the vehicles in Brookmans Park. Officers are looking for other offenders operating in the area.

Neighbourhood watch update on hoaxes

Phone scam images by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Three telephone scams are being carried out locally according to the Online Watch Link (OWL).

One claims tax is owing, another that there are BT telephone line problems, and the third is claiming bank account fraud.

All three want to fool victims into giving over personal details and paying the caller money.