May 2008

29th May
Perfect pedalling

Cycling is one of the best ways to get around in Three Rivers; it keeps you fit, it's kind to the environment and it's cheap.

Despite the huge benefits, getting back on the bike can be nerve-wracking for residents who have not ridden for a while. That's where Three Rivers District Council's Adult Bikeability course can help!

Adult residents are invited to come along to the new Bikeability sessions, where they will have the opportunity to gain confidence on their bike, improve cycle skills and control, practise basic road manoeuvres and learn defensive riding on escorted rides around the local area. All participants will receive a certificate to mark their achievement.

The course is open to any adult able to ride a bike, with a bike that is roadworthy and a suitable size and wearing suitable shoes and clothing. The fee for the course is £20 per person, or £10 concessionary rate. Bikeability sessions will take place throughout June and July, in Croxley Green or South Oxhey. For more information on the sessions or to book, ring the Leisure department at Three Rivers District Council on 01923 779392 or visit www.threerivers.gov.uk.

21st May
Tackling drugs brings huge return, say experts
National Tackling Drugs Week 19-23 May 2008

Residents are being encouraged to seek advice in confidence if they have any concerns about drug taking among their family, friends and neighbours during National Tackling Drugs Week.

Ben Harris, from the Hertfordshire Drug Interventions Programme, said:
"The County drug interventions programme is available free to adults in Three Rivers. The service is confidential and helps people to get their lives back on track. The programme includes confidential counselling and practical support in gaining voluntary and paid work."

It has been estimated that for every pound spent on drugs prevention and rehabilitation, £9.50 is saved in reduced medical care and in preventing crime. The Drug Interventions Programme is supported by the Three Rivers Community Safety Partnership which includes Three Rivers District Council and Hertfordshire Constabulary. 

Inspector George Holland from Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "Established research shows that the vast majority of acquisitive crime such as theft from motor vehicles and burglary is committed by individuals who have drug addictions. If we can get these drug users into rehabilitation we will help to reduce crime in Three Rivers and ensure Three Rivers remains a low crime district."

The Community Safety Partnership works closely with the Young People's Substance Misuse and Crime Reduction team. The team provides education outreach and confidential advice and support for under-18s.

Head of Young People's Substance Misuse and Crime Reduction, Lindsay Edwards, said:"Drug taking among young people in Three Rivers is low but we encourage parents and young people to seek advice and support in confidence as soon as they feel there may be a problem."

The special awareness week has been backed by teenage actors at Songtime Theatre Arts who performed High School Musical at the start of this month at Watersmeet



Songtime Theatre Arts member and High School Musical star, Chris Quinn, said: "Drugs are not cool, not cool at all." 

 Confidential advice and information for under-18s is available from the Adolescent Drug & Alcohol Service: 01923 427288 and at www.hertsparts.nhs.uk

Hertfordshire Drugs Intervention Programme: 01707 343801.

Parental Drug Awareness Service: 01707 393934.

Talk to Frank: 24hr freephone 0800 776600  www.talktofrank.com

21st May
New Chairman in action


 
Councillor Chris Lloyd (pictured above left) was elected as the new Chairman of Three Rivers District Council at a meeting of the full Council on Tuesday May 20. Councillor Lloyd has taken over from Councillor Amrit Mediratta, who was Chairman for 2007/2008. The Chairman of the Council is a non-political role, similar to that of a civic mayor. The new Vice Chairman for the coming year will be Councillor Richard Laval.

Councillor Lloyd, Ward Councillor for Croxley North, was born in Watford, grew up in Three Rivers and attended Rickmansworth School and Bristol University. Councillor Lloyd works in Hertfordshire as an IT Project Manager. The new Chairman's interests include being Chair of Governors of Little Green Junior School, playing Badminton, walking and occasionally running 10k charity races for fun! Councillor Lloyd is a Watford FC and Saracens fan, a member of Croxley Green Baptist Church and an active figure in the local community.

Councillor Lloyd said: "I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve the many communities of Three Rivers and I hope I can meet the high standards and commitment shown by Chairman Amrit Mediratta last year. I want to encourage people of all ages to engage in sport and I want to work with many community groups."

Councillor Lloyd has named the three charities he will be supporting throughout his year as Chairman. The Amos Trust and the work of Umthombo with street children in Durban South Africa will benefit from being one of Councillor Lloyd's charities, as will the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre for cancer support and Croxley Green Scout Group's "Building in the Community Project". The new Chairman will be walking Hadrian's Wall (84 miles in three days) to raise money for the three charities and is still looking for sponsorship. Residents can sponsor Cllr Lloyd by emailing Chris.lloyd@threerivers.gov.uk or by phoning 01923 231 297.

21st May
Calling new mums: get Buggyfit!



Fight the baby blues, improve health and fitness and meet other new mums; that's what's on offer from Three Rivers District Council's new Buggyfit fitness scheme, specially developed for Post Natal mums.

New mothers from across Three Rivers are invited to bring their babies and join in the scheme, which will take place in the Rickmansworth Aquadrome throughout early summer. During the class mums will burn calories and fat through a cardio session and improve posture and muscle tone with resistance and core work. There will also be a special focus on stomach toning.

Buggyfit sessions will run from Wednesday June 4 to Wednesday July 9, from 11.00am - 12.00 midday. The group will meet in the Aquadrome car park each week. The six-week course costs just £20 per person.

Places are limited, so reserve a place in advance to avoid disappointment. To book on to the course, mums can call the District Council on 01923 779392.

Further information about the Buggyfit scheme and other activities on offer over the summer months can be found in the District Council's Everyday Active brocure, available by calling 01923 779392 or at www.threerivers.gov.uk.

14th May
Government homes plan: ‘too many, not planned, inflexible and infrastructure not funded’ says District Council

Residents are being urged to have their say on the location of many more new homes which the Government is saying must be built in Three Rivers. The East of England Plan, which was finally published on Monday, 12 May, has set a target of 4,000 new homes to be built in the district over the next 13 years.

The District Council has joined the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) and Hertfordshire County Council in calling on the Government for more action to support the building of these new homes.
Three Rivers District Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Martin Trevett, said:

“This confirms our worst fears. Not only has the number of houses for Three Rivers been set too high, but there are no plans to strengthen the infrastructure to cope with more people living in the district. Money must be provided by the Government at the outset for key facilities like schools, hospitals and roads.

" We are working hard to find a way of providing these homes in a sustainable way while protecting the Green Belt. It’s going to be tough, but we will do our best to keep any impact on the countryside and our quality of life to an absolute minimum.

"I urge all residents to keep in touch and have their say on our consultation on the possible location of new homes in the district. We have a duty to all work together to make the best of a challenging situation."

Residents can receive updates on the consultation process and have the chance to respond, by sending an email containing their postcode to trldf@threerivers.gov.uk or by post, by ringing 01923 776611 (minicom 01923 727 303). Residents can also receive updates at their Local Area Forums.

Copies of the East of England Plan are available at www.eera.gov.uk or by ringing 01284 728151.

Three Rivers District Council was recognised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England as being among the top 5% of Councils for building on previously developed land.

12th May
Launch of Three Rivers as a Fairtrade District



(Pictured) Hannah Reed of the Fairtrade Foundation cuts the celebration cake, watched
by Councillor Amrit Mediratta, Chairman of TRDC, and Jane Brading from the Three
Rivers Fairtrade Group.

Fairtrade supporters from throughout Three Rivers gathered in the Council Chamber last Friday (9 May) to celebrate the launch of Three Rivers as a Fairtrade District. The award was made earlier this year and this was an opportunity for all those involved to mark the occasion. Community organisations, faith groups, shops, businesses and schools from throughout the district who had pledged to do what they could for Fairtrade were represented. They enjoyed a special celebration cake made from Fairtrade ingredients and a glass of wine – Fairtrade of course!

Chairman of TRDC, Councillor Amrit Mediratta paid tribute to the Fairtrade movement and to the local campaigners. Hannah Reed, Fairtrade Towns Campaign Co-ordinator from the Fairtrade Foundation, then congratulated Three Rivers and spoke of the crucial role played by the Fairtrade towns initiative. There are now over 300 Fairtrade areas in the UK and the phenomenon has now spread to 15 other countries around the world, all inspired by the UK’s example.

Jane Brading, speaking of the local Fairtrade Group, thanked all those who had worked so hard to achieve Fairtrade status for the district. Jane and her husband Phil recently visited two Fairtrade producers in Chile where they saw for themselves the benefits which Fairtrade brings to the farmers and their families. They met wine growers from Los Robles and the honey producers at Apicoop, both in remote areas where some of the poorest people live. The fair price they receive for their produce means they can invest for the future, by improving their agriculture and by giving their children a better education.

‘By choosing to support Fairtrade Three Rivers has added its voice to demands for a trade system that puts people, not profit at the heart of the transaction. It sends a powerful message about how our community wants trade to work.’ said Jane Brading of the Three Rivers Fairtrade Group.

7th May
Waves of change for Local Nature Reserve

Rickmansworth Aquadrome is undergoing a makeover during the next few months and it's not just visitors who will notice the difference. With improvements being carried out on both lakes and work under way on some of the trees, the natural flora and fauna at the Aquadrome are all set to benefit.

Tree work has now been completed using a traditional management technique called pollarding. Removing the top of some the trees will now encourage them to produce fresh shoots; prolonging their life but also allowing natural light to flood in.

New banks are being created which will be planted with lakeside vegetation, encouraging dragonflies and damselflies to flourish and nesting birds and spawning fish to return. The banks will also help prevent future erosion by dissipating wave action, and with the planting of reed beds it is hoped blue-green algae problems will be reduced.

People visiting the Aquadrome are asked not to feed the ducks near the new banks and they can help by reporting any damage to the temporary fences that have been installed, by contacting Three Rivers District Council on 01923 776611. If wildlife graze on the new plants, the fences will have to remain in place for longer.

Later this year work will begin on improving the network of footpaths, making them accessible to everyone, and renewing the existing car park. New signage, litter bins and benches are being installed and work will begin on a new toilet block towards the end of May. A new bridge has recently been built over The Gade and a replacement sluice installed in Bury Lake.

Built in traditional timber and clad in larch, the construction of a new Café in the Park will begin in June and open to the public towards the end of September.

These improvements have been made possible with funding through DEFRA's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, Three Rivers District Council and the owners of the Café in the Park.

For further information on the programme of improvements people can visit www.threerivers.gov.uk to find out more or call in to the Environment marquee at the Aquadrome during the Rickmansworth Festival on 17 and 18 May.