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Your say online, February 2009

February: This is the place for users of Hemeltoday to have their say online. Have your say on local news, local issues or the national issues.

To enter into the debate click here to have your say or scroll down to see the views of others:

Steve

I dont work for the council, and I dont sit on my backside and procrastinate, I get out there and try to change things for the better through Neighbourhood Action.

Elizabeth Smyth, Betjeman Way, Hemel Hempstead

Bravo ! to Jude Hardcastle of Apsley. I wholeheartedly agree that local issues are everything to do with local residents but their opinions, doubts and misgivings fall on deaf ears. All to often there is 'consultation' with residents which leads to nothing but disappointment. We can demonstrate, remonstrate but the council with pontificate till the cows come home. It would be easier to put up wallpaper in a whirlwind than it would to get a decision in our favour for once. The closing of A&E in March has been and continues to be of huge concern for those who live in our town. It is curious how funding can be found for the relocation of this vital service - I wonder will we ever get to the bottom of the real reason for its' closure. I for one will not step foot in A&E at Watford, it is a depressing place. I am really saddened that Hemel Hospital is being dismantled. Look around you - all the 'residential' development that is mushrooming all around us. With the influx of new residents what will the council do with all that money coming their way through council tax - soon they will have so little to spend our money on that I look forward to a huge reduction of my council tax - ye' in my dreams. I am sure the council like to think that they are doing all they can to keep us informed. I would like to see them use our press far more effectively - informing us in detail of up and coming traffic schemes and the like - not waiting for the pictures of traffic chaos to appear in the paper before they actually tell us what the heck is going on. We are given little detail. I would like to be given chapter and verse on the scheme such as the demolishing of the bridge at the Kodak site, in the lead up to, not after it has been pulled down. Where is the traffic going to go when they drop the bridge - how are they actually going to do this. Where is the traffic going to be diverted and have they a contingency plan if things do not go to plan - that's if they have a plan. Come on Dacorum - stop treating us all like mushrooms.

Steve

Right, just to give you some facts. 1. The road repairs in Dacorum are controlled by the County Council. 2. The roads budget has been reduced by 4.7 million. 3. 85% of the council tax collected by Dacorum has to go to the County Council and it is they who dictate the level of increase. So maybe you need to direct your anger in a different direction. Oh and to the person who suggested that council pensions should be stopped. Would you like your pension stopped ??? I doubt it very much.

Greg, Grove Hill

As i have stated before the council should budget by cutting wastage which includes there pensions maybe by half which would be pro rata for the work they do!! half a job, I dont have a pension, cant afford one and definatly dont get one funded by the tax payer, not to mention there long lunch breaks, days off sick (as posted in the newspaper a while back). i think mr curtis should decide which side of the fence he is on!! or do you work for the council!!!

anon

i am just writing to let you know the disturbance i have ad with children and eggs. i have had them thrown at my window and at taxi's driving pass. could this go in your paper to make them aware that we are watchnig.

Frustrated Commuter, Hemel Hempstead

An idea struck me when I was asked for my ticket on my train home tonight. If, like me, you're fed up with London Midland, next time a ticket inspector asks to see your ticket, stare at them blankly and refuse to give an explanation for the unexpected delay in your response. If they ask again, apologise for the inconvenience and tell them they can see your ticket in approximately 5 minutes! Spread the word! If everybody did that, they might eventually get the message, seeing as complaints and polite requests for imporovements seem to have got the commuter nowhere!!

Adam Garland, Berkhamsted

Dacroum Borough Council - Council Tax what a waste but are we any better? Today I witnessed 2 events which made me furious as tax payer. Firstly the 3 man rubbish collecting team driving up my street opening the door of the truck to pick up the rubbish up whilst ignoring the rubbish too far to reach from the warmth of the cab. Secondly, five minutes later the council road sweeper redistributing the dirt from the gutter into the middle of the road, the sweeper was obviously broken but the driver kept on spreading the dirt around. I was so incredulous that photographed it. These things are bad enough on there own but then I looked closely at peoples front gardens, paths and kerbs and I don't think we are any better. After the dustbins have been emptied by the council there is invaribly rubbish that does not make it into the cart and what do we do, like the broken sweeper we ignore it. Therefore we are no better than the wasteful council. Why don't we care anymore what our country looks like? Where has our pride gone?

Roy Oliver, Adeyfield, Hemel

I thought it a great coincidence that last weeks Gazette front page coincided with a weekend visit from friends (ex Hemel pats)from Yorkshire. The first thing they said on their arrival was to complain about the condition of our roads. Not suprising really. I could - but would not wish to - spend a whole day compiling a list of roads with potholes and other road defects. To help in your quest to compile a list of Hemel roads with potholes, I have made a short list below FYI where I have driven lately. I think one of the problems is that public dont know who to call to report the defects. Can I suggest you publicise the number(s)which I believe to be 01923 471320 / 01438 737320 (please check )and perhaps make a permanent heading in your 'emergency telephone 'section? To have the amount of holes is one thing but to have them unreported is a reason which the Highways department shouldn't be afforded. My list of roads with potholes is :- 1/All of Adeyfield Road from Midland Road from Marlowes to Lower Adeyfield Road. 2/ Adeyfield Road junc. with Broadfield Road and Eastbrook Way 3/Hammer Lane junc. with Longlands 4/ White Hart Road & White Hart Drive 5/ White Hart Drive junc. with Windmill Road 6/Windmill Road junc. with Lower Yott.

e.b, potten end

the people who assesed the road to berko, would they happily let their 9 year old walk that route on a rainy overcast day during the winter months? I think not!!!! I speak as someone who walks the route quite often and in the aforementioned conditions and its scary!!!! This is another example of rural areas being singled out, not all households will be able to pay ,does that mean they have to brave the traffic going on the assumption that people drive carefully? AT the time of day people do not always drive with consideration, what chance will 9 year olds have? Do the people making these decisions have no feelings? have they actually walked the route at any time of the day?!!!!! Poorer people in rural areas are once again being discriminated against.

Gary Starling, Potten End

So Hertfordshire County Council thinks it is now safe for children to walk to school from Potten End to Berkhamsted. This seven mile round trip includes a long unlit narrow path where most of the vehicles break the speed limit, plus steep hills, all while carrying heavy school bags.

The only thing that has changed from when HCC last assessed this route as dangerous is that now there is even more traffic.

This latest diktat from the commissars at the Hertfordshire County Council politburo is all about punishing people who live in villages. This suspicion of the countryside and it's resident's is a classic trait of Stalinist era Russia, where anyone who makes this type of decision would feel more at home.

If they all got their snouts out of the trough then there would be the money available to keep this service running.

Anon

Via text

Nobody should vote for any of these councillors ever again.to put rent up 10 per cent is a disgrace.it is not my fault they lost money in icelandic banks.not happy and trying to organise demo for meeting tomorrow night at council meeting.

e.b

potten end

the people who assesed the road to berko, would they happily let their 9 year old walk that route on a rainy overcast day during the winter months? I think not!!!! I speak as someone who walks the route quite often and in the aforementioned conditions and its scary!!!! This is another example of rural areas being singled out, not all households will be able to pay ,does that mean they have to brave the traffic going on the assumption that people drive carefully? AT the time of day people do not always drive with consideration, what chance will 9 year olds have? Do the people making these decisions have no feelings? have they actually walked the route at any time of the day?!!!!! Poorer people in rural areas are once again being discriminated against.

Steve Curtis

Right, just to give you some facts. 1. The road repairs in Dacorum are controlled by the County Council. 2. The roads budget has been reduced by 4.7 million. 3.85% of the council tax collected by Dacorum has to go to the County Council and it is they who dictate the level of increase. So maybe you need to direct your anger in a different direction. Oh and to the person who suggested that council pensions should be stopped. Would you like your pension stopped ??? I doubt it very much.

L Garratt

Perhaps the council should pay a visit to Swindon councils waste recycling scheme. There, the dump is raised up on a concrete platform that you drive up and rubbish is thrown down into skips provided for various recycling. Unlike Hemel, the public is encouraged to take all manner of rubbish to the dump, unlike Hemel, it takes the usual general rubbish, green waste, plastic, metal, cardboard etc, but also hardcore, soil, fridges, and tyres, in private cars, trailers, vans and pick up trucks. It is open 364 days a year from 8.30am to 9.30pm. There are no "guards" on each bin nit-picking each bag and most importantly, is not franchised out but run by the council.

anon

Plan needed to stop fly tipping What planet does Mike Penning and Dacorum Council live on? Try going to Cupid Green refuse tip with more than four bags of rubbish. they only allow four bags every twenty eight days. Then you will understand the reason why there is so much dummped elsewhere. What the hell are we supposed to do with a car/ van half full of junk. Take it home again?You have to be kidding

michael hunt, Buckingham

saw a grass snake today at stowe landscape gardens today basking in the sunshine to someone like me an amateur is this sighting early?

Jude Hardcastle, Chipperfield Road, Apsley

Who on Earth would sanction the complete and utter waste of local community funds to, apparently, improve the Automated Traffic Signals from the A41 into Apsley? A project that has inconveneienced local residents, businesses and comuters for twelve weeks, after initially promising seven. A project that was completely unnecessary and has impeded the, already, conjested traffic in Apsley. Having to "Run the Gauntlet" on a daily basis in Apsley, the new and, apparently, improved traffic signals are utterly ridiculous. Most of the conjestion in Apsley can be solely attributed to the poor and sub standard design of the narrowing of Durrants Hill Road. Who on Earth designed this? More importantly, our elected coucillors, Mp's and local Bureaucrats are allowing these decisions to be taken without consulting local residents. I invite all Hemel Hempstead residents to visit Apsley, as many do, to shop at Apsley Mills. It would be interesting to see the results? The bureaucrat that decided these Automated Traffic Signals would enhance and improve traffic conjestion in Apsley should venture from the cushioned office that they enjoy and see for themself, the effect it is having for Hemel Hempstead. Your readers will, no doubt, be aware that our local council have been unable to provide grit and salt for the roads when snow recently struck our community and closed our schools. What a relief it is to know that suddenly, all our roads are being repaired, relayed or improved. Could this be because excess money given to our local authority has to be spent before the TAX year ends, in order to secure a new budget? Where were our Highways Department when the roads genuinely needed attention? Who on Earth decided that our objections to Gypsy sites were deemed as racist? As an Apsley resident awaiting confirmation of plans to build 350 homes in fields around my house, my objections were based on yet another green space being exhausted. Who on Earth agreed to relinquish our precious green belt land in order to build thousands of homes to satisfy the Government, WITHOUT putting up a fight, properly listening to local objection and acknowledging their views. Who on Earth would decide to close our Hospital. An imperative and necessary resource to facilitate the extension of Hemel Hempstead. Who on Earth would ban Carol Singers from the Marlowes at Christmas on "Health and Safety" grounds? Who on Earth decided that our Bins would not be emptied for Two Weeks after Christmas WHO ON EARTH? Dacorum Borough Council should start to ASK us our opinion, it has recently been, Secretive, ignorant and oblivious to local opinion. It is "Out of Touch" and deeply embedded in Local and Central Government Politics. Why else would they make such ridiculous, ill thought and potentially devastating decisions that effect us ALL? I offer my sincere gratitude to those selfless local people that continue to fight on OUR behalf.

Anon

Dacorum's roads haven't been resurfaced for years, they've been patched up, the whole of this town is one big patchwork quilt, its no wonder potholes are occuring everywhere!! its about time Hertfordshire Highways spent money in Dacorum instead of every other town in Herts.

Anon

Via text

its a disgrace about rent increase.the council should hang there heads in shame.nearly an extra 10 pounds a week on my rent.

Dawn Trayton

Reference the fly-tipping problem in Hemel Hempstead, maybe if it wasn't so difficult to dispose of unwanted items then people would not resort to dumping in the lanes. For example, on the 5th of Feb I emailed Sheila Chauhan at Dacorum to ask how I should dispose of old paint and white spirit left over from decorating. I received 'No Reply'. I also asked Wickes DIY stores, they said 'Ask the Council'. If someone doesn't soon tell me how to dispose of these things along with a bottle of old used cooking oil that I don't know what to do with, I might be tempted to do a bit of fly-tipping myself.

So - If the Council wants to stop fly-tipping, they should make it easier to dispose of un-wanted items legally. Maybe publish a list of things such as old paint, white spirit, cooking oil etc with instructions on how to dispose of them and since it cost them so much to deal with fly-tipping wouldn't the money be better spent providing a free collection service, at least for pensioners like Emily Russell (page 3 of the Herald Express).

Alison Record Re your frontpage article in the Herald Express 19/02/09 asking for a plan to reduce flytipping in Dacorum. The answer is obvious, stop closing local tips, as some people won't or can't travel further with their rubbish & will take the easy option. Or have a collection service where people can pay a small fee for these items to be collected if ordinary refuse collections can't take these items. It's all about sensible do-able recycling surely & should be a council priority for all of our futures & about protecting the environment for our childrens futures.

Anon

I feel the reason you have so much fly tipping is because, when anybody takes their rubbish to the local tip, they are treated like a convict, have their bags of rubbish opened in front of them and then told you can't put this in here, I have seen other people pull up with general rubbish in a van and they are told you can't unload that here and are made to leave the tip.

So then people are left with no where else to go, so what do they do, dump it on the road side.

You would of saved a lot more money if you had just let them leave the rubbish at the tip in the first place. Encourage people to take all their waste to the tip without hassel and this may reduce fly tipping.

Council tenant

Northend

Via text

I live in a flat and if we dont drag the wheely bins through two sets of doors then the bins dont get emptied,now they want to put the rent upby nearly 10.

Greg

GROVE Hill, Hemel Hempstead

I think it was just about what you would expect from the council, raising council tax and council rent, maybe to balance the budget they should stop council pensions, Reduce high salary middle management jobs and not waste our hard earned money on stupid sculptures and painting the roads pretty colours. Regards the council rent increase that is way above current inflation if that is possible, I think this is just a forunner to the housing opt out scheme!! So they can pursuade people to vote for it then reap 100% of inflated rent for the new to be formed housing assosiation!! I very much doubt if there would be a drop in rent after the switch over,

Peter Waryszniuk

Redbourn Road

Hemel Hempstead

HOW EMBARRASSING IS THIS COUNCIL ?? First the Cherry picker Fiasco on Breakspearway,I've never heard any thing so daft and as lame an excuse as wasting our hard earned funds.. When we're all having to Budget .... Is anybody in charge at Dacorum Borough Council ? able to tell us why somebody there can't make a common sense decision let alone wasting our hard earned dosh, after making use of and not recovering the Cherry picker on Breakspear Way roundabout, let alone shutting the road n nearby M1 to make recovery possible !! And to add insult to injury they the Council (us actually) are going to have to fork out more in extra costs !! How ridiculous is this ... POT HOLES .. You couldn't make it up... as most of us struggled getting about in the recent Snow, I didn't see any Council workers actually trying to make a difference !!! But on two separate occasions while out and about and with Snow still laying around I came across workers filling in Potholes with Tarmacadam, I really couldn't believe my eyes Regards

Liz.G.

Hemel Hempstead

Join the Facebook challenge!! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50652867218 If enough people join perhaps something could be done for a local charity

JILL PAYNE

MENDIP WAY

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

WHAT 'A WASTE OF MONEY' Yes I agree with the pensioner who had to pay the council to remove or not remove her sofabed. In the London Borough of Hillingdon, collection of items from the over 65's is FREE. London councils treat their elders very fairly – Dacorum Council should take a HINT from some of the other councils on what they do for us ELDERS this word sounds much nicer then Pensioners. Hillingdon also gives all persons over 65 a Special Parking pass, although they still have to pay to park, over 65's get their designated parking places near the entrance instead of having to walk from the other side of the Car Park. Elders do not get treated properly anywhere now, no consideration is given to us at all – although we now get the bus pass BUT not a tube pass the trains, again Londoners get this – We all still have to pay taxes on own pensions and although the bus pass shows we do not have to pay – ALL OF US HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS SERVICE IN OUR COUNCIL TAX ANYWAY. COME ON DACORUM BOROUGH COUNCIL – GET YOUR FINGER OUT AND GIVE US ELDERS SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR, JUST FOR A CHANGE.

Penny Thornhill, Hemel Hempstead

I think it is unbelievable that the powers at be could possible even think about these increases at times like this and to BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS> What about our budgets which actually involve surviving. Prices should be coming down if anything so that everyone can pull together. I wouldn't dream of asking anyone for more money at the moment so I can balance MY budget. I can tighten my belt and accept to survive on less for a while and be grateful that I still have some work. What especially makes it worse is that they know we would have no choice, we can't decide to do without or cut back on the amount of rent we use like other expenses. I think the council needs to take a hard look at what's important and act accordingly, manage their budgets more efficiently and set a good example for everyone to follow and guide us through these difficult times.

Steve Curtis, Grovehill

Pot holes, cracks and ruts are a scurge for any road user and especially motorcyclists. They are dangerous and damage vehicles causing road users extra expence which at this time with the credit crunch can be hard to find. Dacorum has 14% of the county's roads yet we only recieve 10% of the roads budget which to my mind dosnt add up. You can report not only road faults but sign's, street lighting, footpaths and many others by going to the County Council web site and following the links. http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/hfr/default.cfm or phone 01438 737320 or 01923471320 You see it then report it, dont think that someone else will do it because that way nothing gets done.

Steve Curtis, Grovehill

When Hemel was made a new town a promise was made that Hemel would always have a hospital with a Casulty Department as it was then A&E nowadays. Yet again we see the fallout from the Thatcher years affecting our lives and not in a good way.

anon

Green Bin Waste CONTAMINATED Treated as ordinary rubbish. Bennetts End. We have a small bin and recycle everything that we know about, but I have heard that if a truck load is contaminated with ordinary rubbish the whole truck goes to the ordinary dump. Is this true? Do not put my name on this because the people in my area will do the opposite and cause problems to do with junk, as I have experience of this end of our road.

Joanne Greenaway, Agnells Lane, Hemel

Regarding the potholes, on 8th December 2008 I hit a large pothole in Mark Road (Outside Progression Centre) which caused my tyre to blow and the tracking to go aswell. I had to pay 100.04 to get it repaired and decided to claim from Herts County Council. After making me send a 2nd letter and Photos (I sent approx 6 pics, including one of my husbands feet inside the hole to demonstate how deep it was)Herts council told me that they had checked the road on 3rd June 2008 (6 Months before!!) and it was fine and that they rely on members of the public or police to report potholes but as no one had done so 'we do not consider that there was a breach of duty and regret we are unable to assist in this instance' So I am left 103 out of pocket. Not only that but 6 weeks previously I had spent 115 getting 2 new front tyres fitted. I am outraged that the council is blaming the lack of reports as reason for not maintaining the road. I am going to send another letter as I do not feel justice has been done and also I feel as if I have no rights. I would also like to point out that this was long before the snow and we had no extreme weather conditionas around that time! Anyone have any advice or experience of this in the past?

Debbie, Hemel Hempstead

I've just spent an enjoyable 10 minutes reading "Your Say" for February. The Aussies are right aren't they? Wingeing Poms is about right. Get a life.

jeff, hemel hempstead

I have work colleagues from all over the country who have to visit Hemel Hempstead from time to time. It is worrying to discover that the condition of the roads around here are worse than Manchester, Edinburgh, Leicester, Bristol, Spalding and Farnborough. It is difficult to say which road is the worst, as they are nearly all bad. Maybe we could start just recommending the odd few that seem ok at the moment. Our roads have been neglected for so long they are in a truly shocking state. The council have now built up a problem that they cannot get out from under. Fluffy excuses will not wash, other towns have the same weather as us. Our council are negligent and dangerously so. That is the beginning and end of it.

Mrs B A Martin, Lincoln

Recently, my husband and I visited our daughter who lives in Chaulden, Hemel Hempsteead. Whilst there I dropped my purse containing the usual credit & debit cards, cash and personal information. It wasn't until the following day that the loss was realised. We didn't know where it had been lost, and the usual panic took us to all shops etc visited. Eventually, with little hope of recovery, we reported it lost at the local Police station. Amazingly, by the time we had returned to Lincoln on the same day, the Police had left a message to say that the purse, complete with all valuables, had been handed in. This letter is to pay tribute to a very honest gentleman of Chaulden and to say that, even in these selfish and aggressive times, there are honest and kind people who can restore faith in our fellow citizens. Well done Hemel Hempstead - may this story encourage others to gain satisfaction from being honest and caring. 'Sincerely, Mrs. B A Martin

Colin Hirst, Berkhamsted

Re Berkhamsted Football Club - forget the 3 "shortlisted" names. The obvious choice is to use The Raiders name and have adult and junior teams all under the same name. The Raiders are already a sound and well established club so why not simply build on that? "Come on Raiders!" sounds like a better chant than 'Come on you Comrades'. Job done!

Alan Bailey, Valeside Gardens, Colwick, Nottingham

I've just heard about Tom Price one time Gazette Editor and Website host. I was absolutely shocked to hear of his death and my heart goes out to his wife Marion and the children Richard and Nicola. I've known Tom for years and fed him titbits of news about old Hemel in spite of the fact I now live in Nottingham. He had tremendous knowledge about the History of the place which I feel cannot be replaced. R.I.P Tom, you made my life that much richer for knowing you. Alan Bailey.

John, Dunstable

As a regular traveller to Hemel, i have been commenting for sometime about the terrible road conditions in Hemel. This recent cold spell has really highlighted how bad their roads are. Even with the cold spell, the roads in Dunstable are still in far better condition. Maybe, because our council take more time and care on road repairs. Its a shame that Hemel council do not spend as much on the roads as they do on their fancy new speed cameras.

Richard Taylor

Highbarns Hemel Hempstead

Dark times ahead as Safety Engineers murder lampost It was with great shock and horror that I witnessed the demise of a faithful member of our community - for many years a light to us all Mown down by a reversing lorry in its prime for doing what? Standing at the edge of a footpath illuminating a safe way for local residents. The irony being that the Hertfordshire Highways engineers came to place safety lights on a recently re-sited road closure in Highbarns. Currently the lampost is lying across the pavement where it felt earlier, alone cold, it's bright light permanently extinguished.

Carol, Hemel

I have repeatedly mentioned the potholes in Maylands Avenue and now Queensway which of course have now been made even worst due to the last couple of weeks snow and the salt on the roads. Still nothing is being done even to try and patch them up which is what normally happens but to date absolutely nothing has been done. Do the council want all the claims for damage to cars etc ? I dont think so, so please please get them mended.

J. Hollings

Bovingdon

Tesco Express in Bovingdon

I live less than half a mile from this proposed store, in Chesham Road, and no-one has yet consulted with me.

I have happily shopped for my staple food at Tesco for years, and during the prolonged wait for a new hip, have also used their home delivery service to my complete satisfaction.

For fresh British meat (and less British cheese) we have very good shops in the village, although fresh vegetables can be more difficult. I have visited a couple of Tesco Express shops over the years, and these mainly cater for crisps, fizzy sodas, sandwiches and pre-prepared ready meals - both of which the local Co-op, Costcutter and other local shops supply in abundance.

I see absolutely no point in the proposal that Tesco should provide yet further competition in an already over-supplied market.

Anne Beynon

Leverstock Green

Re New Roadworks at Junction 8 Hemel Hempstead

I was interested to read Mr Mike Penning's write up in The Gazette last week, as I had just written to the Highways the week before expressing my concerns of the access onto the roundabout from Green Lane at 8am weekday mornings.

Today I was still aware of no sign of improvement and the barriers over the M1 bridge onto the slip road which leads onto the Ml and M10 are still incomplete and one lane only open with the other lane conned off. There are no signs of workmen or any work being complete, just looks as if it will never be completed! !

The big problem still is getting onto the roundabout at Breakspear Way from Green Lane, as the traffic backs up along Breakspear Way at that time in the morning blocking access onto the roundabout and is extremely dangerous to try and get across.

I have been doing this journey to work via M10 to St Albans for over 15 years and I can honestly say it has never been as bad as it is now.

On reading Mike Penning's article I was pleased to know that his concerns are mine too.

Ronald

Hemel Hempstead

Why doesnt someone write a piece and ask the question "why is Junction 8 slip road not fully open, when they tell us that the work is all finished, one lane still has cones north and south bound, this for anyone who uses it in the mornings is a nightmare".

Hi Ronald

See http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/M1-slips-still-not-fully.4852522.jp or http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/MP-wades-into-J8-cones.4949703.jp

Regards, Editor

Anon, Tring

As a full time working parent myself, the school closures last week were as difficult for me as they were for everyone. But I did have to laugh at Debbie of Hemel Hempstead with her comments about parents being 'held hostage'. You only need to have watched the forecasting over the past ten days to know how quickly things change which gives headteachers a very task in deciding whether to open – do they give us good notice and risk our wrath if they get it wrong? – or do they close at the drop of a hat and, guess what? risk our wrath at the short notice closure? And how much more accurate does Debbie think the advance decision would be in considering opening for a half day? As a parent, if I was held on tender-hooks, waiting to find out whether school was or wasn't going to open in the morning or was or wasn't going to open later on in the morning, and perhaps have to close early at short notice if the weather deteriorates, this would make my job of arranging alternative care a whole heap more difficult.

The headteacher has to think first about the safety of our children – I'd put money on the parents that complain about schools closing being the first to leap on the compensation band-wagon if their child was injured at school or to complain if their child spent a day with insufficient supervision. The headteacher doesn't look out of the window at 8 in the morning and decide not to bother trying to get the school open – behind the scenes there are many phone calls and emails going back and forth, guidance from the local authority, talking to other heads, keeping in touch with the weather forecast, finding out how the school grounds are from the site management, checking with each individual member of staff as to whether their journey is likely to be possible – and weighing up all that information to make a decision. Ultimately, the head has to ere in the side of caution – because Debbie, yes, you are right – everyone else does have to still try and get to work – but for most of us, if we arrive an hour late, our managers are pleased we've made the effort – school staff don't have the luxury of their work waiting for them – they have to be there before the children arrive.

Schools are there to teach our children – not for our convenience as free childcare – and INSET Training days are not days off – staff at school need to keep up to date with regular training in order to give our children a current education and to keep them safe at school. One final thing, a great many teachers are working parents themselves – and they have to cope with just the same problems as we do.

Anon

Hemel

Oh Dear Darren!!!! Ever thought of checking the DBC website which, during the bad weather, gave up-to-date news of what was happening with refuse collections; meals on wheels; even cess pit emptying etc, every single day during the severe weather conditions. They gave dates of when they would start collecting bins and recyclables and which bins to leave out and said you could even leave out two extra bags with your bin that would be collected when they managed to get round to everyone!!!! Can you imagine what it would have been like A. for refuse lorries negotiating snow and ice covered side roads trying to avoide parked cars and possibly small children playing in the snow and..... B. for the poor collectors trying to push a heavy wheeled bin on the icy paths to the lorry!!!! I thought the council should be praised for once on doing such a good job of keeping us informed!!!!

Darren, Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead

I am very annoyed at how the business of emptying bins has been handled. Our bins have been left outside for over a week now with no news of what is happening to sort the problem out. Our green bin (in theory) should be emptied this week, but our black bin is still sitting outside, getting fuller every day. What do we do though? bring the bin back in? put the green bin out? forgive me but my psychic powers just aren't that strong! I'm worried that they are going to ignore last weeks scheduled pick up and carry on with the scheduled green bin this week without so much as even letting anyone know, leaving us to go 4 weeks with rotting rubbish building up. This wouldn't surprise me as a while back we put our rubbish out as the bin men were parked infront of our house and one of them just smiled at us before ignoring the bin and getting in the lorry and driving off. How can we expect good service in bad weather when that is the attitude on a normal day!?!

Debbie, Hemel Hempstead

Have you notice that because the repairs of potholes were not done properly in the first place that they are even worst now that the snow and ice has been and gone. To repair a pot hole is on average 72 why not be financially prudent and repair properly so you do not have to keep returning to the same pot holes time after time.

Roy, Hemel Hempstead

lt would be a shame if Bovingdon missed out on this smaller Tesco shop, they may not get another chance, we have one of these stores and they are a godsend for the non car owning old age pensioners,(yes OAP need this) good quality food, and a free to use cash machine at all these outlets. lts all very well for the car owners that can drive to Hemel Hempstead large Tesco's etc..

Pat Yirrell, St Albans Hill Hemel Hempstead

The attitudes of Tesco's really makes me cross they do this all the time, moving in, buying land, and then trying to open shops there. We have 4 Tesco stores in Hemel now, Gradually the small competing shops have to close. How many butchers do we have left in Hemel? I always used a butcher years ago, but one by one they closed. This was because people deserted them for the big boys. I am not totally anti supermarket, but although they claim to have a big choice, often I cannot buy what I want, and they suddenly drop items from their ranges totally without warning. I would say fight it as much as you can. Someone in North Wales has recently taken on Tesco and planning permission has been refused. Part of the problem is that people are so busy earning that they no longer want to shop around.

mark jones, hemel hempstead

whats with the state off our roads, i travel all around europe as a lorry driver and i do not see pot holes or bad road surfaces like you do in Hemel, look at peascroft road pot hole pot hole pot hole the duel carriageway pot holes road crumbling away belswains lane and by what was once sappi graphics pot holes and big dips in the roads as well as other roads in hemel. whats the excuse NO MONEY well what does my car tax or lorry tax pay for? or should we be charging road tolls like in the rest of europe? i think this is one of the best ways of getting money to pay for our delapidated road system and to finally get rid of road tax and the car tax dodgers.can anybody give me any answers as to why we have these problems and why we dont charge to us the motorway network? put 7.5tonne weight limits in and around towns except for loading and that will keep lorries out of town and residential areas.

Sue Hughes, Lindlings, Chaulden, Hemel Hempstead

What to do with the Market Square? Best possible solution would be to move the market back where it belongs. Custom built stalls with lighting and shelter within easy access to the market holders storage facilities. The current arrangements with the stalls going through the centre of the town are appalling. Fruit & Veg traders are having to move stock along the narrow pedestrian area outside McDonalds, as the young lads charge through this is an accident waiting to happen. Anyone walking through Marlowes in the late afternoon and early evening are having to wade through rubbish which is just left to blow around. It is nigh on impossible to sit on the public seats as the stall holders have blocked access to them to mention just a few of the disadvantages of having the market in the town. Forget ice rinks and fairgrounds - use the market square for the market.

Ron, Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead

Magic Roundabout. For me, one of the best inovations ever developed for that type of road layout. I can understand how a driver confronted with this for the first time might be a bit nervous, but the rules are so simple, that is, just treat each mini roundabout as any normal roundabout and give way to the right. If a driver makes a mistake, it's easy to correct, just go around. I have thought for years that our traffic would move a lot easier if we had a lot more roundabouts instead of traffic lights, which are expensive to install and maintain. They can also go wrong as we all know, but once a roundabout is built, it's virtually maintainence free. Two Waters junction would, in my opinion, benefit from a roundabout instead of the expensive system of around 30+ lights that it has.

jennifer grindle

west yorkshire

re: school reunion.IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE MY SCHOOL MATES AGAIN AND WHAT THERE DOING WHITH THEM SELVES YOU LOOSE TRACK OF TIME

WILIAM FOSTER

HIGHFIELD HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

We have lived in this road 35 years and have never ever had our part of the road gritted, we are down the bottom of hill and it is impossible to get the cars up the hill, and even more impossible to get the cars out of the council garages which dont come cheap these days when we have snowfalls,in the past we did have a salt grit container, many years ago and the neighbours used it when neccessary . as pointed out by other people perhaps council tax revolt might be the answer.

Debbie, Hemel Hempstead

Will the schools make up for the time they have had off? They can take the make up time from Inset and Training days they have every term. After all every one has to still go to work, why should teachers hold working parents hostage because they have not even tried to open for business. Half days were and are possible this week.

Mr Phelan, Hemel Hempstead

I thought I would praise the efforts of my postman during this week's blizzards. Delivered the post on time all week and didn't seem too bothered by the awful weather conditions. Rather him than me but well done. Shame it was all bills and junk mail though ! In stark contrast London Midland Trains have been a disgrace. The station at Hemel was iced up as were the platforms. No effort whatsoever to clear it. Cancelled trains and overcrowding. Thank God I don't commute on a daily basis. Awful.

Catherine Pelley, Great Gaddesden

where are the bin men? despite the snow we have had our newspapers, post and supermarket deliveries but we haven't had our bins emptied. surely if everyone else can get through and we can get to work and out and about we should expect the bins to be emptied. the borough council say leave your bins out so we have and all week the rubbish has sat there with no sign of a bin man to take it away. will we be reimbursed our council tax for lack of service i doubt it! i also cannot believe in countries where snow is an everyday occurrance in winter they don't empty their bins. surely we can do better than this?

Mr R Stevens, Hemel Hempstead

My concern is the pothole on boxted road warners end, by the crossing that has no lights the pothole is bad for motorists and when a car drives through the pothole, tarmac is kicked up towards people some one will get hurt i just hope a small child doesn't loose an eye or something like that as that is the hight of the tarmac that gets kicked up.

Jennifer Peltenburg

Former Old Town Resident, Chapel Cottages

About a year ago, a Gazette news reader had offered the suggestion of expanding and overhauling the current bus infrastructure in place of the old market square. I have taken the bus several times to LHR, and needless to say, it is not the prettiest nor safest bus station especially when you take it very early in the morning and/or late in the evening. Given that it would open the space up to the canal, I believe it's time to utilise the canal and expand the bus station with some new buildings set for cafes, smaller restaurants where people can wait for the bus and watch the geese/swans, other wildlife that live there. It's a very special place, and believe that it is wasted. Having a better bus/public transport infrastructure would attract more people to Marlowes shopping centre vs. going to Watford, and create a trendy path to the likes of Debenhams, M&S, etc., which is what Hemel Hempstead needs. An ice rink is a good temporary idea, however, thinking about the future, one would think to utilise this 365 days out of the year.

Anon

To charge 2.50 to park at Tring trains station on Sunday/Bank Hols is sheer greed & a disgrace - & encorages people to park outside nearby houses - & to drive the whole way whatever the rail spokesman 'thinks' (& does he?!)

gillian stimpson

loxley road, berkhamstead

its all very fine salting the bus routes but do the council think people in the other roads not need to get out?we all pay council tax so we should all get the same service. some elderly people have no one to run errands for them, unsalted paths and roads leave them at a greater risk. pay more council tax get less sevices i think that is back to front. i have a better idea lets all with hold payment of counciltax till we are all treated the same, cant lock us all up can they. lets have a revolt

john daly

Turners Hill, Hemel Hempstead

i live on a hill that is a bus route and quite a busy road,but as we are on a side street we are not deemed to require a gritter to come into our road,if only they would put a salt bin at the corner of turners hill and toms croft i would go out and grit the road myself so we could all get to work,we do not all work for the council so if we miss a day we do not get paid,i bet this is not the rule for all those who did not make it in who are council employees

Andrew White

Albert Street Tring

Last weeks Gazette: Closing of the Gable Hall, Berkhamsted I've written to the Councellors concerned as I dont believe they asked the users of the hall. I can send a copy of the letters on request, but: My wife runs a dance school which has 100 children from Berkhamsted and surrounding area. She reserved the Civic Centre and Gable Hall last August for her end of year show this July (reservation no: 2152). She heard rumours that it might be closing and has contacted the Civic Centre numerous times to ask of any news. She was always told she would be informed of any news. However, the first we heard of it was in the Gazette last week. I would ask the Hall to be kept open for the following reasons: 1: She has been left-out of all communications. I understand people who use the Gable Hall weekly were informed, but there seems an avoidance to inform other users. This will be the 6th year my wife has used the hall, and I'm sure other people who use the hall other than for weekly classes would also would have been excluded. It is therefore a biased decision made without consulting the community, which the town council must serve. 2: Lack of funding is not a reason to sell an asset. This is a short term solution as councils are required to meet their budgets. What will happen when the Civic Centre is used less, due to people who need the Gable Hall going elsewhere (if possible)? Is the council not simply selling off community assets for a more 'business based' strategy? Selling the Gable Hall is a 'one way' move, which cannot be reversed. 3: I understand from Garrick Stevens, that the hall is short-term viable – which asks the question, why isn't it long-term viable? 4: Ashlyns School is not really an alternative venue, as believed by some. It is far more expensive. My wife's business 'Dance Dayz' is quite price sensitive and many parents would feel the cost of show tickets similar to more professional plays or musicals. How would you think parents would feel if a school charged extortionate prices for the school play? Ashlyns also wont open on a Sunday without special consent. What if Ashlyns was to reverse this decision or simply be over subscribed? There is absolutely no alternative to Ashlyns, which isn't really suitable for the type of show we need any rate. Further, the expense of Ashlyns is only for the use of the hall, changing facilities would be an additional expense putting it right out of the question. 5: What's going to replace the Gable Hall? Is it for the community? – I doubt it. 6: What measures are being used to see if the Gable Hall is viable? Statistic from towns with less community always show higher rates of crime, family disorder, lower house prices etc. Finally, I would ask the Town Council what provisions have they made to honour the reservation for this years dance show? My wife is nearly 30 weeks pregnant and has gone to great lengths to make sure everything is ready. The tickets have been sold, the brochure designed and the costumes, etc. ordered. The emphasis is on those responsible for running the Civic Centre to have adequate facilities for 100 children to get changed in a suitable and safe environment.

Jo Sunley

Tring

Yes, yes and yes! We live in Charles Street and would VERY much appreciate salt bins!

H. Mann

Berkhamsted

"You'll get your say over Hemel birth centre" - I looked at the calendar: no it's not April 1st. These people really do insult our intelligence if they think we're going to fall for that one again. Apparently we had a say over the hospital then they totally ignored what we said. The West Herts PCT (Primary Care Trust) is an absolute disgrace!

debbie hackett

high street green hemel hempstead

outside my house the road is actually splitting due to the incline and the numerous trees that are not maintained. I have been complaining for 6 years and still nothing has been done, but across the road by the park they put speed bumps in and resurfaced the road and it was not in as bad a shape as high Street Green by the water tower. They also have recently put in hardstanding for 2 police cars/ vans to catch people speeding up the road?.This was done of course to make money ?. Fixing the roads in hemel is not going to make the council money so that is why they possibly wont do anything (I will not be holding my breath to see the repairs to the road done). Perhaps when the trees eventually start to topple and really damage the road more they might act then.

John Brannan

Okeley Lane Tring

In twenty-five years living in Tring, I only remember grit being sprayed on Okeley Lane, Beaconfield Road, Buckingham Road and Highfield Road once; last snowfall in January.Due to the orientation of these roads, the sun, at this time of year, does not hit the roads for sufficient time to help melt the snow. This means that these roads and the side roads off them are iced over for long periods whenever any reasonable amount of snow falls. This meant that rubbish collections were delayed until the gritters finally appeared and bins sat on the pavements for days. If gritting is not thought to be feasible, salt bins would be a useful alternative.

karen Harrison

High Street, Cheddington

The price of parking at Tring station is extortionate. Bus services are infrequent and if you live in the villages non-existent. With the increase in ticket prices for rail travel this only encourages people to use their cars to travel distances instead of the train. Whatever happened to being eco friendly and going green, not likely especially with the credit crunch!

M Chury

Nash Mills

My comment is regarding the Proposal for admission to Kings langley School 2010/2011. In brief details of the proposal: • The priority area 6 covering Bovingdon would be split into two, with Bovingdon overlapping into both priority areas instead of one, to improve parents' access to local schools and to introduce separate admissions criteria for Kings Langley School. Local Proposal 2 : Bovingdon Parish – introduce local oversubscription arrangements. Fundamentally, this would mean that Bovingdon parish would become a sliding parish, between two co-educational priority areas, which would be created by splitting the existing Priority Area 6. The benefits of this would be that parents would be considered under Rule 4 for both The Hemel Hempstead School, and also for The Kings Langley School. In reality - What they did not clearly publish was the small print found much deeper in the document – Nash Mills and surrounding areas will no longer be permitted to apply to Kings Langley School. Surly this should have been clearly stated under the 'Fundamentally' bit! I feel for the Bovingdon Parents and Pupils,I truly do, but not at the expense of our own kids school places. Many children from the Nash Mills area have always and naturally gone on to Kings Langley School - it is part of our community. Dispite the LA saying Hemel Hempstead school is one of the nearest schools. No one from our area has been granted a place as the distant is to great and again the surounding area has been developed so much it has pushed us to far out. The LA need to come up with another plan. Nash Mills, Apsley etc has been developed so much in recent years, the schools will need expanding now to ensure the kids have a local school and a choice.

Alex Whittle

Tring

The new parking area is great, It is a nice new asset for the people who drive to the station and it makes the old station look more modern, It would be nice now for the Train Prices to come down

Mr Burns

I felt compelled to write follow this terrible incident reported in the 28th Jan 2009 edition of the Berko and Tring Gazette. The story that highlights that the Sainsbury store in Apsley served raw chicken nuggets to a 2 year old boy deserved the half page spread you gave it. I am totally angered by the severity of this story for two reasons.

Firstly, the audacity of the little boys mother. She make a conscious decision to buy him nuggets and chips (albeit garnished with a couple of peas) from a supermarket 'restaurant' and then accuses Sainsbury's of trying to kill her son. Granted, eating frozen nuggets would not be good for your health, but feeding him with this rubbish is her choice and clearly not a good one, even if it is cooked properly. The consequences later in life could be just as dire.

Secondly, the naivety of the little boys mother. Does she think Jamie Oliver is in the 'restaurant' kitchens cooking this stuff? A Michelin Star eatery it is not. You get what you pay for. It's all mass produced frozen garbage and yes, we all feed our kids (and ourselves) this stuff occasionally but don't go to the local paper when it all goes wrong. People will just comment on the parenting skills not the cooking skills.

I do hope the little boys traumatic experience hasn't 'affected him long term' as quoted by the mother. The fact that he didn't eat his bacon sandwich (which replaced the deep fried frozen lunch) might have more to do with the fact he craves healthy food and not the fact that he is mentally scarred for life and thinks everything is now 'raw'. Perhaps his mum can cook his next meal to reassure him.

I look forward to next weeks edition when hopefully you will be reporting, sensationally on the irreversible child obesity problem in Hemel Hempstead. Maybe you could give that a full page.

I leave you with another great quote from the little boys mother.

'It's wrong'. Ironically, this is the only thing she got right that day.

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