TOXIC algae which
can cause vomiting and diarrhoea has swamped Tring Reservoirs making the water a
no-go area for people and pets.
The warm weather has
caused high levels of the naturally-occurring blue-green algae, which can also
cause skin irritation and eye problems.
British Waterways has put up warning
signs at Marsworth, Startops End and Wilstone Reservoirs and also at Lock 39 on
the Grand Union Canal following tests by the Environment Agency.
Visitors are
being told to avoid contact with the algae and ensure pets do not go into
contaminated waters as ingestion can cause liver failure in pets.
Penny
Foster, ecologist for South East Waterways, said: “Blue-green algae are
naturally occurring and, when numbers are not excessive, together with other
algal groups they are important contributors to the aquatic biology of natural
waters.
“The algae only blooms and causes potential problems if the weather
is exceptionally warm and calm, as has been the case in recent weeks.”
As a
precaution, British Waterways is advising visitors and their pets to avoid
contact with the scum and the water close to it. As the weather cools the algae
will decline naturally.
Pub pledges to keep late drinking
orderly
LATE night tipples
are on the menu at one Tring pub after gaining longer opening hours under new
licensing laws.
The Castle Inn Pub is the first pub in the town to be given
the green light to stay open for longer and punters will be able to get a drink
until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with 30 minutes to drink up.
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays the Park Road pub will serve drinks
until 11pm.
Pub operators Punch Taverns decided to rein in their
controversial application for the residential pub to stay open until 1.30am
every Thursday, Friday and Saturday after an outcry from local residents who
feared noise and rowdy behaviour would become unbearable.
Under their new
licence the Park Road pub will serve drinks until 11pm plus an extra 30 minutes
to finish drinks .
After discussions with Herts Police and Dacorum Borough
Council about noise and nuisance behaviour Punch Taverns decided to slash the
hours applied for.
At Dacorum Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee on
Wednesday, August 10 The Castle Inn was granted their application.
John
Beazley, business relations manager from Punch Taverns, said at the meeting:
“The Castle is a traditional pub in the heart of the community. The landlady has
been there for 13 years with no trouble. The majority of punters are regulars
over the age of 30.”
The pub retained its right to have live music but agreed
that any live music would stop half an hour before the end of sale of
alcohol.
They were also given permission for indoor sporting events such as
pool and darts and three and a half hours of karaoke each week. A Punch Taverns
Spokesman said: “The pub will continue to be run as a community
local.”
Flower festival for
Marsworth
FLOWERS representing
special days of the year will be on display at this year’s Marsworth Flower
Festival.
The theme of High Days and Holy Days will see All Saints Church
transformed with floral displays from Friday, August 26 to Monday, August 29.
Visitors during the bank holiday weekend will get to see work by some of the
most talented flower arrangers in the area.
In the past the popular festival
has raised more than £8,000 and this time organisers hope to make even
more.
All cash raised will go towards the fund to build a kitchen and toilet
at the church.
As well as impressive floral displays there will be a book
stall, bric-a-brac sale, produce stall, refreshments and cream teas on
offer.
There will be a church choir show on Saturday night. Tickets cost £7
with nibbles and wine or £5 without. To book call Margaret Johnson on 01296
661280.
Bill’s forecast is for
rainfall
FORMER BBC
weatherman Bill Giles will make a cameo appearance at a special Gala Premiere of
Noah the Musical in aid of the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home.
The musical with
original songs and lyrics by Ian Gower and Rob Alderton will see Mr Giles make a
guest appearance popping in to give weather updates to Noah and his
friends.
The fundraising night on Saturday, September 10 will be at the
Pendley Court Theatre in Tring.
Noah, at the ripe age of 600, will lead
audiences through the Biblical story from building a sea vessel right to the
rainbow.
Tickets for the special night cost £20 and all the cash will go to
the hospice. To book call 01442 890222 or book online at www.irhh.org.
The
musical will also run from Sunday, September 11 to Saturday, September 17. To
book call the Pendley Court Theatre box office on 01442
824673.
Car booty in charity
sale
ROOT around for some
hidden treasures at a bank holiday boot sale in Tring on Monday, August
29.
The sale Tring and District Ladies Circle sale is from 9am to noon at The
Forge car park in the High Street. All proceeds will go to the Iain Rennie
Hospice at Home.
It is £5 for each car and £6 for a van. For further
information call Alison Savitsky on 01442
823832.
