Neighbourhood News Magazine

www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk 6 Summer 2024 In the past year, we have installed a new outdoor table tennis table at William Bell open space, step poles and stepping pods in the adventure playground at Jersey Farm, and a basketball hoop and dribble area at Sherwood Park. Significant maintenance has also been carried out at the Damson Way and St. Leonard’s playgrounds. A major disappointment for this committee, after three years of hard work, has been the escalating costs of the proposed bike/pump track for the Jersey Farm Open Space, making its provision impossible for the council to fund. The increase has been the direct result of the insistence of Herts Highways that we carry out extremely costly amendments, albeit mostly temporary, to the existing entrance (which is only for maintenance vehicles). It is with regret that the track will not be available to local residents as originally planned. Grants The council always sets a budget for grants to local groups and organisations, from football clubs and churches to welfare groups. This past year has been no exception, and we have supported a wide range of worthy causes such as Sustainable St. Albans, Jersey Farm Day Centre, Hornbeam Hedgehog Sanctuary, Sandridge Cricket Club, Friends of Jersey Lane, Sandridge 10k Run, St. Mary’s Holiday at Home and St. Leonard’s Cemetery maintenance. I am sure we will continue to support these and other organisations going forward. Planning and the Neighbourhood Plan Your council continues to scrutinise all the plans submitted to the District Council which fall within Sandridge Parish. We are mindful of the need that any objections we might wish to make should be based around the planning rules and, in particular, how they comply with the requirements of the Sandridge Neighbourhood Plan. The latter is normally cited when we lodge an objection. The council has an appointed Planning Committee which meets every three weeks throughout the year in order to ensure that we do not miss the closing date for comments on any application. We will continue in our efforts to retain the open character of Sandridge Parish, with particular reference to maintaining the green belt, and this is helped by reference to our Local Plan. The Local Plan drawn up by the Parish Council, which was the work of a number of councillors and community volunteers, is undergoing a review. This is to ensure that it is working as it should and remains relevant to both current planning laws and the needs of various communities across the parish. This review by councillors should be complete later this year and a revised plan will be forthcoming. It is interesting to note that the Local Plan, which is a formally approved planning document, is often cited as reasons for supporting a planning application. Conversely, it may also provide reasons for objecting when proposals fall foul of its requirements. Website One outward facing change for the Parish Council has been in the introduction of an exciting, modern website. It is much more user friendly and it is now straightforward to find information that you might wish to access.