North Mymms News: January 2020

Gobions sheep distressed by dogs running free

Warning signs being ignored by some pet owners

Red dog behaviour sign close to restricted areas of Gobions Wood
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) is appealing to dog owners using the Gobions Wood nature reserve to observe the dog restriction signs, and keep their pets on leads in the designated areas.

A flock of Shetland sheep owned by HMWT has returned to the trust’s meadow land adjoining Gobions Wood to graze. A spokesperson for the trust says that, despite “sufficient signage in place”, some people are ignoring the notices which request them to keep their dogs on leads.

“Delays likely” with Bradmore Green resurfacing

Road closure sign on Bluebridge Road, Brookmans Park
Image by North Mymms News released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A section of Bluebridge Road leading into Bradmore Green will be closed from 9.30am to 4pm on Tuesday 4 February to enable carriageway resurfacing work to be carried out.

The Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) website states that the work will take place “throughout the length of the parking bays outside The Raj Indian Restaurant”.

16 reports of ‘violence and sexual offences’

Herts police, image courtesy of Hertfordshire Constabulary

The December 2019 crime figures for North Mymms show that 57 incidents were reported during the month, five more than in November.

The most common category of crime was ‘violence and sexual offences’, with 16 incidents being investigated in Brookmans Park, Little Heath, and Welham Green.

According to Hertfordshire police, the category ‘violence and sexual offences’ includes “offences against the person such as common assaults, grievous bodily harm and sexual offences”.

One-to-one assistance and free taxis available

The stairs leading to the northbound and southbound platforms at Brookmans Park station
Image by North Mymms News released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Great Northern Railways (GNR) is offering free assistance to anyone with mobility difficulties who can’t manage the stairs at Brookmans Park or Welham Green stations.

The service is available to anyone who can’t lift heavy or awkward luggage up the stairs, or anyone unable to climb stairs.

They’ll even book and pay for a taxi to the nearest station with ‘step-free access’.

Saturday and Sunday closure for East Coast Main Line upgrade

Brookmans Park station
Image by North Mymms News released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

There’ll be no trains from Brookmans Park or Welham Green stations over the weekend of Saturday 25 January and Sunday 26 January while the latest stage of the East Coast Main Line upgrade takes place.

The closure is one of two planned over the next two months by Network Rail. The second is the weekend of Saturday 29 February and Sunday 1 March.

“Discrepancy” and “anomaly” checked by Hertfordshire

The southern entrance to Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18 with warning sign
Image by North Mymms News released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Hertfordshire County Council is looking into an “alignment query” regarding a well-used bridleway in Little Berkhamsted that has been considered a right of way for years.

Council officials have been searching through historic records to try to find out whether bridleway 18, which appears on the Hertfordshire definitive right of way map, is in the right place.

New housing allocation could increase from 501 to 1,736

Site known as WeG15 south of Welham Green being considered for housing

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

Councillors on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s (WHBC) Planning and Parking Panel are to consider proposals to increase the number of new dwellings in North Mymms by 1,235 as part of the adjustment to the borough’s Local Plan.

Pub could stay open to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays

The Hope and Anchor, Station Road, Welham Green - January 2020
Image by North Mymms News, released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The proprietors of the recently reopened Hope and Anchor on Station Road, Welham Green, want to extend the hours the pub can open and remove the restriction limiting the pub to staging 12 social events a year.

The pub’s director says the change is aimed at meeting local demand, and to offer a budget venue in Welham Green.

Anyone concerned about the increase in opening hours has until Friday 7 February to make their representations.

TV licence and Amazon Prime frauds

Hertfordshire Police crime alert graphic

Police say they have received reports of telephone and email scams being carried out across Hertfordshire.

The scams involve bogus calls and emails from fraudsters pretending to be representatives of TV Licensing, Amazon Prime, or the recipient’s bank.

Hertfordshire police are warning residents not to be taken in by fraudsters who appear convincing.

“Deep concern” over “factually incorrect” letter

11 Brookmans Avenue, Brookmans Park - March 2019
Screen grab of image from Google Maps

The Brookmans Park Estate Residents Committee (BPERC) says it is “deeply concerned” about a letter sent door to door in Brookmans Park at the weekend.

The group says the letter, which is unsigned and anonymous, contains “factually incorrect” claims “without accountability”.

Anonymous letter posted door to door

11 Brookmans Avenue, Brookmans Park Image by North Mymms News released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

11 Brookmans Avenue, Brookmans Park - November 2019
Image by North Mymms News released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Letters have been circulated in Brookmans Park claiming that the former occupants of a house that was demolished to make way for flats were denied entrance to a public meeting in the village called to oppose the development.

The anonymous letter offers “some context” to the decision to carry out the building work, and states that the flats “do not set a precedent for any other development” in the village.

Evidence gathered in attempt to keep bridleway open

Residents in Little Berkhamsted are enlisting the public’s help in trying to save a public right of way, after warning signs were posted discouraging walkers and riders from using the route.

Public right of way “in dispute”

The southern entrance to Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18 with warning sign
Image by North Mymms News released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A popular bridleway, which features on three of the local rambles on Hertfordshire Walker, has had the right of way sign removed and notices posted warning walkers not to enter.

Access to the bridleway in Little Berkhamsted is “currently in dispute”, according to a local resident.

Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside and Rights of Way team is looking into the matter.