As usual it's been a varied few months but a quick update on various projects and actions being pursued by KRA:
Tamworth Road Development
We were contacted a few weeks ago by a local resident who was concerned about the processes being used by the developer to remove asbestos. Following investigation with the developer it appears that everything is in order but we will continue to liaise. If any concerns can be emailed to the KRA email (krahertford@gmail.com) this would be appreciated.
Vicky and Maura met with Durkan a few weeks before the asbestos concerns were raised and are pleased to report that Durkan have added the installation of swift boxes and hedgehog holes to the development as they have taken on board the suggestions made by KRA in response to their environmental plans.
EHDC councillor, Rosemary Bolton, has confirmed that EHDC Parking Department have reconsidered their refusal to consider a Residents Parking Zone (RPZ) for Tamworth Road and surrounds which is great news. We have leafletted all residents in Tamworth and surrounding streets to advise of the plans. If you have comments either for or against (we have received both) please email us. Those who do have problems with local parking please also let us know. We are suggesting that because parking seems to be a problem evenings and weekends that and RPZ would need to be for different hours than the standard 0800 - 1800 Mon to Sat. eg it could be (and this is only an example) 0700-0900 and 1800-2100 Mon to Sun. But let us know what you think....
Kingsmead History Page
We have updated our website to include a page on the history of Kingsmead and we will be publishing a series of articles. If you would like to contribute or have any comments please let us know!
Drain Cleaning
So, not a terribly impressive subject but given the local flooding issues we have experienced over the years an essential one.
Cllr Ben Crystall was given the opportunity of a last minute drain clean for Cromwell Road which brought the clean forward from April to March. He seized the opportunity on the Friday and KRA Chair, Vicky and Ben knocked on all doors in Cromwell and Ware Road on a Saturday morning to ask people not to park on the drains on the Monday. Residents were great and the crews managed to access all but a couple of the drains and cleared the vertical drops.
Unfortunately the drains on Cromwell Road have a 'swan neck' that prevents the pressure cleaning hoses entering the horizontal runs so further work will be needed if the blockage is horizontal to allow access into the horizontal run.
Drains were also cleaned on Tamworth Road a few weeks later. The source of the blockages at Fairfax and Tamworth Road has been identified; at some point concrete has been poured down the main drain and has set meaning that the water from the surface drains has nowhere to go.
Sorting out the concrete in the main drains is the responsibility of Thames Water not Hertfordshire County Council. We understand HCC has raised the problem with Thames Water and we will be monitoring resolution.
Hartham Common Bridge
Back in February we were notified of plans to close the 'holey' bridge on Hartham Common; removing an essential walking and cycle route through (it forms part of Sustrans Route 61) from Kingsmead to Hertford and Bengeo.
KRA wrote to both EHDC and HCC leaders to ask that something be done urgently and also asked KRA members to email. We were not the only organisation organising protest but the many voices did receive a swift response and the bridge was temporarily repaired and returned to use a few weeks later.
This sort of dialogue and the resulting rapid action is a great demonstration of democracy in action....
https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/latest-news/2022/joint-statement-herts-county-council-hartham-common-bridge?fbclid=IwAR1_Wz4aD7YyuVCrbLVmjs5Y60bDnCrPIR6-QhMuek5yx_G7y6Grqgq4GCY
Swift Boxes
In January we launched a joint campaign with Hertford Swift Group (HSG) for residents to install swift nesting boxes on Tamworth Road to provide some alternatives for the colony that nests in the factories (being demolished). On the 12th Feb we pioneered the first 'swift box installation day' in Hertford and were proud to manage to install 15 boxes in the day in Tamworth and Woodlands Road and Woodland Mount. Local resident, Jake Foot was the installer and we had fine weather although rather chilly.
On the day Clive (Hertford Swift Group) was introduced to Baz, local resident and partner of KRA stalwart Karen Johns. Baz offered to make a few swift boxes.....
While Kingsmead had been leafleting so had Sele Farm and Bengeo which caused a swift box shortage for Hertford Swift Group. Baz started making swift boxes in
Feb and, by our April installation date had
produced over 70 boxes. But, I am getting slightly ahead of myself!
Due to the lack of boxes we had a short pause from expanding the swift box installations in March but we did apply for and received a biodiversity grant from Councillor Ben Crystall (Hertfordshire County Council - HCC). After the KRA Facebook post about the first swift box installation we were contacted by a resident of Page Road who notified us of a colony on Page Road.
HSG popped up to investigate and suggested that we target the ten swift boxes funded by HCC to Page Road to support the existing colony and hopefully allow it to expand. So, we organised a second Kingsmead installation date of 18th April, but disaster struck. Baz had a delivery of materials delayed by a week and HSGs regular supplier had also run out of boxes. After a Herculean effort with Baz burning the midnight oil and Clive begging, borrowing and not quite stealing HSG had
34 boxes to install on the 18th. So, a further 34 boxes plus a bat box and a house martin cup were installed this April bringing the total up to 52 boxes installed this year (we had a few installed outside the main installation dates) and over 60 boxes in Kingsmead as a whole.
There are known swift colonies in Page and Cromwell Roads but HSG will be surveying Kingsmead for other colonies once the birds are back (expected any time now)
Meanwhile if you have a box or two remember to start playing swift calls early morning and evening. Calls available from:
We are hoping to have an installation day for Ware, Cromwell and Burleigh Roads (once a stock of boxes has been built up) later this year/early next as well as a another day for Hamils Drive and surrounds. In the interim swifts should be returning over the next couple of weeks (they have been spotted in Wales/Durham and Kent): if you spot a swift colony please contact HSG at: hertfordswifts@gmail.com and copy in krahertford@gmail.com
Errata
While the Residents Association and the Neighbourhood Plan are two different organisations there is a crossover of personnel on both committees. The Neighbourhood Plan is on the final edit before submission for 'Regulation 16' consultation. This has taken quite a bit of time from committee members and we are hoping to submit shortly
Rush Green roundabout: we have formally emailed Cllr Ben Crystall at HCC to request the installation of a camera to enforce the urban clearway and are requesting updates as to when the new slip road will be installed. As with anything related to the abysmal road situation caused by the poor layout and operation of the drive through at McDonalds, Rush Green we are not getting any answers particularly quickly but we persist in asking
Trimming of Cromwell Road allotment hedge: the hedge was given a rather severe cutting by East Herts District Council (EHDC - who maintain the hedge) and we raised concerns with Hertford Town Council (HTC - who own the hedge) and EHDC. Councillors have acknowledged that the cutting was too severe and will review procedures for the future. KRA offered to assist in setting up a hedge laying day, which could significantly improve the appearance and density of the hedge, but we have not received a response to this from local councillors. Thank you to the local resident that has offered to provide the training in hedge laying.
Following on from a sighting of a water vole in a garden in Tamworth Road, KRA liaised with the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) who undertook a survey of the ditch adjacent to Rowleys Road. HMWT confirmed that there is evidence of water vole habitation in the sides of the ditch and are excited as this is the first evidence that the voles are breeding well enough to expand outside of the meads. They have said that the current habitat in and around the ditch is not suitable and it may be that the voles use the area as a temporary 'stopover' on the way further up river but the re population of this protected and rare mammal outside of the meads is very exciting
HTC has approved funding for more inclusive play equipment and benches and tables at Pinehurst playground as requested by Cllr Sue Barber and Cllr Bolton. The fencing to the other equipment to stop the issues with dog fouling are not progressing at the moment but we have raised this with councillors at recent KRA meetings
KRA is still pursuing the unblocking of the ditch that carries water from Kingsmead to the River Lea as it is blocked where it passes under the New River. We are continuing to chase with Thames Water and the Environment Agency as there has been no action. We are concerned that the water levels are rising and may cause a backflow into Kingsmead if we have heavy rain.
We are also chasing up the repair of the kerb at junction of Rowleys Road; only been 1.5 years since it fell into the ditch. But, Ringway (HCC contractor) has been spotted surveying the site so there may be action soon. We have reported the damage to the kerb further along caused by vans/lorries backing into it when they turn in the turning place
Comments