Neighbourhood News Magazine

Summer 2024 The opening page contains direct links to: • Latest News and Important Announcements • Upcoming Meetings • Information on Councillors, Community Centres and Halls, Open Spaces, Recreation Grounds, • Neighbourhood News Magazine and Committees and Meetings. If you haven’t experienced the new website, you are greatly encouraged to do so. Clothing Banks Some years ago, the decision was taken to remove the clothing banks on parish land, as collections were erratic and fly- tipping resulted as bins overflowed. However, a new initiative from the Salvation Army who, initially, installed two clothing and shoe bins in the Parish Office car park, has proved to be very popular. With regular collections, the success of these has led to the installation of a further clothing bank at Spencer Meadow playing field, and one is also planned for the Sherwood Park car park. The council receives a small income from the Salvation Army based on the amount of clothing/shoes donated, and it plans to set this money aside for use on appropriate initiatives as decided by the Committee for Sustainability. Please remember that, in the unlikely event that the bin is full when you are delivering donations, please take them home and return at a later date. Community Garden I am sure you will have enjoyed the community garden outside the Marshalswick Community Centre over the past year. Volunteers, councillors and officers have worked hard to create this oasis of calm for everyone to enjoy. It has expanded in scope and now provides a pleasant place for people to relax and enjoy a cup of something, or even just to pass the time of day. Two large water storage tanks have been installed to collect the rainwater from the community centre roof so that irrigation of the garden will use water from a responsible source and not the tap. Another improvement has been in the addition of bird feeders which have been very successful, attracting a wide range of species such as goldfinches, blue tits, blackbirds and, of course, robins. This is a community asset so, if you would like to take part in its development, please contact the Parish Office. Committee for Sustainability This new committee was formed in 2023 from the long established PEAP Committee in order to better address environmental and sustainability challenges relating to Parish Council activities. The committee's remit is summarised under four headings; • Recycling, Reusing, Repurposing, Repairing • Carbon Reduction and Capture • Improving the Natural Environment for Residents • Protecting and Supporting Nature The committee meets four times a year and, as well as councillors, has public members from specialist organisations such as the Herts County Council Rights of Way team and Sustainable St. Albans. 7 www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk