Marks to spark life into town Retailer plans to bring food shop into old Budgens site
by Victoria West
victoria.west@ccnltd.com
HIGH street giant Marks & Spencer is preparing to move into Tring giving the town a massive shopping boost.
Almost a year after Budgens moved out of its Dolphin Square base the town is buzzing with news that M&S is to open a food store.
Cllr Stan Mills, who has lived in Tring for 44 years, said: “I think this will set the town alight. In my view it will put Tring on the map.
“The knock-on effects will hopefully be that we will get more well-known retailers in the town.
“That in turn will probably have a knock-on effect on the popularity of the town.
“It's good news for Tring and it's been a long time since we have had some good news to shout about.”
Leaseholder of the site, Lear Group, refused to confirm that Marks & Spencer is moving in but The Gazette has been told by a number of reliable sources that the move is all but complete.
The attraction of such a large retail name is a major coup for the town.
The loss of Budgens has been blamed for a dramatic drop in trade around town shops in recent months.
Cllr Derek Townsend said: “I have been a councillor for 36 years and this is the best news I have had.
“There is nothing worse than watching your town centre die and that was what was happening in Dolphin Square.
“I think it is wonderful news. It will boost business in the town and the elderly people living in the locality will now be able to get their milk, bread and butter.”
Andrew Smith from the Lear Group said it is
very unlikely that any
shop would be open on the site before Christmas.
It is believed that Marks & Spencer plans to set up a new Simply Food store and that two other retailers will also share the same base.
One of them is thought to be a leading coffee shop.
Budgens, which was the only supermarket in the heart of Tring, moved out after 25 years in the town.
The move came after store bosses failed to reach an agreement to renew its lease and left many elderly residents without anywhere nearby to get their shopping.
The nearest supermarket is Tesco on the edge of Tring, which means many have had to rely on buses or get shopping items at smaller stores.
Following the Budgens closure Tring Town Council set up a group of councillors to work with Lear Group and Dacorum Borough Council to try to ensure the Dolphin Square site remained as a much needed food store.
A petition headed by former councillor Pat Gray calling for a food store on the site was also signed by local residents.
Rachel Cockayne, a spokesman for Marks & Spencer, said: “I can't comment on it. If there are plans to open a store then we will be in touch.”
Tring and District Chamber of Commerce did not wish to comment.
Solving fish riddle isn't as hard to swallow
THE mystery of how a large pike ended up on the bank of Wilstone reservoir with another fish in its jaws has been solved by a keen angler.
The pike was discovered by Long Marston sisters Lily, Amelia and Kitty Roberts as they went for a Sunday morning stroll.
John Burne, of Bridgewater Road, called our news desk when he saw the fascinating picture the Roberts sisters had sent us and revealed it was a case of the pike biting off more than it could chew.
He said: “I've been a fisherman for years and looking at that picture it seems that the pike has grabbed hold of another pike head first. All pike teeth go backwards, like a Rottweiler's, and the larger pike has gone for it and got it caught in its mouth.
“It can't swallow it or breath because the other fish is too big, and it can't spit it out because of its teeth. It was probably moving around in the water frantically and in a last desperate attempt has jumped out of the water in frustration but landed on the bank.”
Mr Burne, who used to own the trout farm in Bourne End, said he had heard of a similar case before.
He said: “I'd be 99 per cent certain that's what happened.
“ I have seen a pike in a glass case with a brown trout caught in its mouth with a description of what happened.
“Normally a pike will grab smaller fish, sometimes including other pike, sideways on. It then takes it back to its lair, normally a few metres away, turns the fish round and takes it head first. Unfortunately this pike was doomed from the moment it tried to grab the other pike. It literally bit off more than it could chew.”
Fancy a pint and paella?
THE TASTES and sounds of Spain are boosting business at a pub in Long Marston.
The Queens Head first took on the Spanish theme in a bid to draw in punters early in the week when sales slumped.
But it has been such a hit that staff have decided to make almost every night a tapas night and customers travel from Tring, Berkhamsted and Aylesbury for a taste of the delicious dishes on offer.
Landlords at the Tring Road pub Jon and Beckie Reeves, came up with the unique idea themselves.
Beckie, who does all of the cooking for the pub, has created an authentic tapas menu, including dishes such as patatas bravas, chorizo al vino, gamba al pil pil and seafood paella.
Jon said: “We are a pub in the middle of nowhere so we have to do something a bit special to get people to leave their homes and come in.
“Now our tapas menu is available six evenings a week and is proving so popular we're thinking of declaring ourselves a Spanish colony.”
They even have Spanish band Al Hambra visit the pub once a month to play traditional Spanish guitar music to diners.
You can visit The Queens Head website, www.thequeenshead.uk.net
Budding builders create Jamie's perfect pathway
HELPING a good cause while getting some vital hands-on experience is all in a day's work for volunteers at the
CEMENT Project.
And that's exactly what five men did when they built a garden pathway for terminally-ill Jamie Hodgson.
The Tring youngster uses a wheelchair and needed the pathway to allow him to venture into the family garden and use his special walking frame outside.
This team of builders, above, who are being taught practical construction skills by Dacorum Borough Council-led Cement Project volunteered to do the work for free.
It means they can put the experience on their CVs improving their chances of bagging a job in the future.
They gave up a couple of days for three weeks to lay 26 metres of pathway and two concrete bases for a shed and playhouse for Jamie and big sister Jodie.
Martin Brehme, who supervised the work, said: “The team really put themselves out for the Jamie's Path Project. It's all in their own time and they don't get paid. It was really nice that we could help Jamie out.”
Local building firm NH Paving also helped by digging out the pathway ready for the concrete at a reduced price.
The Gazette launched an appeal earlier this year for Jamie, who suffers from congenital heart disease, to have a special decked area built in the family garden.
Since then Grass Roots Gardening has completed the work and donations have also been sent to the family from local organisations.
The CEMENT Project aims to help disadvantaged groups back into training and employment in the construction industry.
The group marked National Construction Week 2006 last week by running skills tasters at both Grovehill and Bennetts End Community Centres.
To find out more about CEMENT call on 01442 867835 or email info@cementdp.com .
Any old iron, any old iron?
SCRAPYARD owners are being warned to be on the lookout for stolen goods after a Pitstone business was targeted by thieves.
Sometime between 6pm on Wednesday, September 27 and 3am the following day burglars forced their way into one of the business units in Beacon Court, Pitstone Green Business Park and stole a variety of metal.
The thieves, who managed to avoid tripping the alarm, made off with more than 100 three-metre-long brass bars, 10-litre drums of tungsten and 11 slabs of brass.
Investigating officer PC Richard Hinds is hoping owners of local scrapyards or fabrication works will contact him if approached and offered the stolen goods.
So far the police have been unable to track down any witnesses but they are appealing to anyone who may have seen someone anyone acting suspiciously in the business park or surrounding area.
Contact PC Hinds on 0845 8 505 505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Smashing spuds bring Joy to world's poor
Aldbury schoolgirl's charity buys safe water for 150 people
by Georgia Anderson
georgia.anderson@ccnltd.com
A NINE-year-old from Tring has launched her own charity in a bid to help save the world.
Caring Joy Kincaid staged her first fundraiser last week when she charged her
classmates at Aldbury School to submit an entry into a best-decorated potato competition!
The youngster was keen to help people around the world after being inspired by this year's unusual Oxfam Christmas gift campaign Oxfam Unwrapped.
You can pay for all sorts of ‘gifts' to combat poverty around the world and Joy chose clean water as her gift.
Every pupil paid 50 pence to Joy's charity - Joy to the World - to enter their own potato creature.
An amazing £122.73 was raised and this will supply safe water to 150 people.
“I thought that my friends at school would want to buy animals because they're cute, but people have to have water because without it you can't live,” explained Joy, who wants to set up a proper charity with the help of Community Action Dacorum.
The nine-year-old says her aim is to set up a charity that puts children's fundraising ideas into action so that they can help make the world a better place for everyone.
Proud mum Pasha said: “Joy had hoped they might raise £18 to supply enough clean water for 25 people. She had not anticipated that they might raise more!”
Joy has lots more fundraising ideas under the banner of ‘Joy to the World' and is already making plans with Dacorum Indian Society to make samosas and candles to sell at her school on October 20, the day before Dwali.
Pasha said: “I'm very proud of Joy and I want to encourage her. She has a big heart and all the planning she is doing on the computer is really helping her reading and writing skills.”
More information on the Oxfam Unwrapped campaign is available at www.oxfamunwrapped.com
Stalls invite you to browse
CHARITY stalls will be raising cash for good causes in Tring's Dolphin Square next month.
On Friday, November 3 and 10 from 9am, charities will be holding early mini-Christmas bazaars where festive cards, puddings, gifts and general bric-a-brac will be on sale.
It is being organised by the Tring branch of Community Action Dacorum and the stalls will be in Dolphin Square from 9am until early afternoon on both days.
A wander in Wendover Woods is Top 10 stroll
WENDOVER Woods has been ranked one of the top 10 places to enjoy a leisurely stroll in England.
The Boddington Bank Trail features in the best autumn walks listed by the Forestry Commission England.
The trail, visited by many people living in the Tring area, circles Boddington Hill, which was once the site of an ancient Iron Age hill fort.
The trees in this part of the wood include huge ancient beech trees and the woods offer spectacular views over Wendover village and beyond.
A free family Waste Awareness Day takes place at the woods on October 23 and on October 31 there will be a Creatures of the Night walk with a ranger. This costs £6.50 for adults and £3.50 for children.
To find out more and to book places contact Heather Francis on 01296 625825 or 07778 025146.
Further information can be found by logging onto www.forestry .
gov.uk/england-autumn
Core events for apple day
A host of activities for young and old will be on offer during a week-long Apple Fayre in Tring to mark this year's National Apple Day.
There will be an apple themed Farmers' Market in the town on Saturday, October 21 from 9am to 1pm in Brook Street.
Visitors can bring their own apples to be turned into juice and as well as the usual stalls there will be a hog roast, fruit sales, Tring Brewery ales and lots more.
To find out more about the activities on offer from October 14-29, including an Apple Day at Jaecock's Orchard, Grove Road School art exhibition and a Cider Festival at the King's Arms in Tring, visit www.tringfarmersmarket.co.uk
Walk around the past
DISCOVER autumn at Ashridge with a guided walk around the estate organised by the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum.
The walk is being held on Monday, October 23 from 9.30-11am.
Book your place by calling the museum in Akeman Street on 020 7942 6163 on Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 2pm to 4pm.
Early booking is recommended as places are limited.
Robin stole a merry £1,666 for hospice
A SPECIAL fundraising show of The Amuse-ical Tales of Robin Hood in Tring has raised hundreds of pounds for a local charity.
The musical, written by two local men, was staged at the Court Theatre in Tring last month.
A special evening dedicated to the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home raised £1,666 in ticket sales. Robin Hood, written by Ian Gower and Rob Alderton, follows the success of their first collaboration, Noah the Musical staged in September last year.
Noah the Musical is now being staged around the globe, including by a theatre group in Australia.
The hospice, which cares for terminally ill patients in their own homes, launched an Emergency Appeal last month to raise an extra £200,000 by April 2007.
The appeal has got off to a great start with funds standing at £85,000 through donations but hospice leaders say there is still a long way to go. If they fail to meet their £200,000 target the number of nurses may have to be cut, which could lead to their 24-hour service being slashed.
People with spare time are needed to volunteer with the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home and join their friendly team at the Tring offices.
Voluntary services manager Rozina Ahmad said: “We are looking for additional volunteers to help us and I would be delighted to talk to anyone informally if they are interested in finding out more about these and many other volunteering opportunities available.”
There are a variety of roles on offer at the charity office including a banking volunteer, an eBay assistant, a marketing and communications assistant, receptionists, money counters and database processors.
If you would like to find out more contact Rozina on 01442 890222 or 01494 877200. Alternatively call into the charity offices at 52a Western Road, Tring.
Councillor banned for speeding
A TRING councillor is getting to grips with public transport after being banned from driving following several speeding offences.
Conservative Cllr Richard Jameson pleaded guilty to speeding when he appeared before magistrates at Hemel Hempstead on August 21.
He had been travelling along St Albans Road in Hemel Hempstead on January 24 when a speed camera clocked him driving faster than the 40mph limit.
Cllr Jameson, who lives in Aldbury, had ‘totted up' 12 penalty points on his driving licence for speeding within three years which meant he was automatically banned from driving.
He will not be able to drive again until February next year.
Cllr Jameson, 75, said: “I knew I already had three speeding offences and I had to be careful. I was probably hurrying a
bit and was caught by a speed camera.”
Despite the setback he says it has not prevented him from carrying out any of his duties within the community. Cllr Jameson said: “I am continuing to do all the things I do in my voluntary capacity.”
Magistrates also ordered him to pay a fine of £60 and £35 in costs.
School land sells four times over guide price
A PLOT of land linked with Osmington School in Tring has been auctioned off for more than four times the guide price.
Land adjoining Okeford Close and Okeford Drive in the town was auctioned at London's prestigious Cafe Royal in Regent Street last month.
Gerard Sampson from Pictons Solicitors, working on behalf of the land owners, said: “There was huge interest in the land. We put out more than 40 auction packs and received a huge number of telephone enquiries.”
The rectangular piece of land belonged to the children of the founders of Osmington School, which no longer exists. They decided to sell the land as they do not live in the area.
Osmington School closed in 1987 and over the years sections of land were sold off for housing development including what is now Osmington Place and Okeford Close.
Dacorum Borough Council had been in talks to purchase the land as neighbouring Tring Athletic Football Club and Miswell Lane recreational ground are both owned by the borough council. Talks broke down and the land was bought at auction by a private investor for £112,500. The guide price was listed as £25,000.
‘No need to jail those like my son'
Dad hits out as prison space crisis bites
THE ALDBURY father of a man appealing against his jail sentence this week has spoken out about the overcrowding crisis in prisons across the country.
Roger Engel says prisons are at breaking point because people like his 21-year-old son Oliver are jailed when community based punishments would be more appropriate.
Oliver, a watersports instructor was handed a 12-month jail sentence for unlawful wounding after being found guilty of glassing a man in a pub row last year. He has always protested his innocence.
Barristers have argued that Oliver, who has a previously unblemished record, should have been given a suspended sentence.
Mr Engel, of Malting Lane, Aldbury said his son and other people in similar situations should not be sent to prison, but given other punishments like community service orders.
He said: “If we are filling up prisons with these sorts of people then it's not surprising that prisons are bursting at the seams.
“It's my understanding that probation services are over-stretched as it is, that might be why people are being sent to prisons and not being given other sentences like community service orders and supervision orders because there is nobody to over see them.”
Last month an appeal judge heard of Oliver's good character references submitted from the vicar of Aldbury, the village's former curate and the Scout District Commissioner for West Herts as well as others.
Oliver's counsel Richard Germain argued that the offence was not deliberate but committed ‘on the basis of recklessness'.
The judge said the appeal case should be heard as a matter of urgency.
The appeal this Friday at London's High Court (October 13) comes just as the prison service is reaching breaking point with several drastic options being considered by Government to ease the number of prisoners.
These include using police station cells to help the shortage, called Operation Safeguard, more use of community-based punishments and allowing foreign prisoners to serve sentences abroad. It costs the taxpayer on average around £28,000 to house a prisoner for just a year.
The Engel family also plan to appeal against the conviction but need new witnesses to come forward.
Mr Engel said: “We are all keeping our fingers crossed that the judges will look favourably on his case and say he doesn't need to spend any more time in prison.”
Oliver has now been moved to the open prison Spring Hill in Bucks. He had at first been sent to Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes which is a tough category A prison.
Herts Police will not be taking part in the first phase of Operation Safeguard, but police cells in the county could be needed in the future. Chief Supt Steve Ottaway said: “If the situation develops so that cells in Hertfordshire are required, staffing will be managed so as to not reduce police presence on the streets and all costs will be recovered from the Home Office.”
To go to the Tring homepage, click here
