Cancelled: Parish Council Meeting
Please note that the Parish Council meeting for 13 April 2023 is cancelled due to the local elections.
Ken Crofton Notice
Dear Residents and friends of Walkern.
There will be District and Your Parish Council Elections on 4th May 2023. I have served as your District Councillor since 2011 for the Walkern Ward which included Walkern, Ardeley & Benington. I believe and hope you feel I have supported our community well during my three terms in office. I served on several important committees and uniquely honoured to twice be appointed Chairman of East Herts Council.
You may be aware there will be Electoral Boundary changes at District level due to population growth areas. Walkern Ward from now on will be part of Aston, Datchworth & Walkern boundary grouping. The enlarged Ward will have two Councillors working together to cover resident’s needs. Ardeley Parish will now be part of The Mundens Ward.
I have decided not to stand again for East Herts Council in May and concentrate on my role as your County Councillor seeking senior roles which although unpaid will be a full time commitment. My position at District I hope will be filled by your capable Parish Council Chairman Tom Deffley who when elected will work alongside the experienced current Councillor Tony Stowe. I have committed to support and work with both these excellent candidates to ensure a smooth transition and pass on my local knowledge.
Thank you for electing me as your East Herts Councillor for the last 12 years and hope to serve as your County Councillor for many more years.
Ken Crofton F.Inst.D. JP
District and County Councillor
Walkern Ward & Hertford Rural Division.
THE HERTFORDSHIRE (TEMPORARY CLOSING OF BENINGTON ROAD, WALKERN) ORDER 2023
NOTICE is given that the Hertfordshire County Council intends to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all vehicular traffic from using that length of Benington Road, Walkern from a point 200m south west of its junction with Clay End Road south westwards for a distance of approximately 250m (“the Road”).
An alternative route will be via Benington Road, B1037 Stevenage Road/Fairlands Way), A1155 St Georges Way, A602 (Monkswood Way/Broadhall Way/Hooks Cross), High Street, Walkern Road and Benington Road.
The Order is needed because utility service works are proposed to be executed on or near the Road.
If the Order is made, it shall come into force on 27 March 2023 for a period of up to 18 months. However, the restrictions specified shall only take effect at the times indicated by signs on or near the Road.
A copy of the proposed Order may be inspected free of charge at County Hall, Hertford between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm (excluding weekends, bank and public holidays).
If you have any queries about the proposed Order, please contact Vivian Ravnali tel. 02476 642 814 at Kelly Communications Ltd or Andrew Crosby tel. 0300 123 4047 at Hertfordshire County Council.
County Hall
Hertford
Herts
SG13 8DN
9 March 2023
Mark Kemp
Executive Director
Environment & Transport
Make sure you have ID ahead of May elections
With local elections taking place on 4 May for both Parish Councils and East Herts District Council, for the first time voters will need to show photo ID at the polling station to receive a ballot paper.
Accepted forms of photo ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
For those that do not have an accepted form of ID, you can now apply for a new form of free ID that can be used at elections, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
Applications can be submitted online at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. Application forms are also available to download and print. Paper application forms must be returned to Electoral Services, East Herts Council, Pegs Lane, Hertford, Herts, SG13 8EQ. Those that have an accepted form of ID already do not need to apply.
The deadline to apply for free ID before the May elections is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April. Applicants must be registered to vote, and will need to provide their date of birth, National Insurance number, and a photograph with their application.If you need any help with applying for free ID or want to request an application form, you can contact the electoral services team on 01279 655261.
We are asking all voters to check whether they have an accepted form of ID and, if not, to apply for the certificate.We know from research that the vast majority of people already have the ID they need. Those voters only need to remember to bring it with them on polling day. However, anyone who doesn’t currently have an accepted form of ID can now apply for free voter ID.
Resurfacing works in High Street
‘Please ensure you have moved your car on the date below’
Resurfacing works in High Street
Works will be carried outfrom the high friction surfacing panel outside Walkern Primary School to level with No. 15 The Maltings
OnMonday 13 February 2023
Works between 9:30am and4:00pm
We are writing to tell you about works we’ll be undertaking in your area.
These repairs have been recommended as a priority by your local County Councillor
Ken Croftonand are funded using the Highways Locality Budget.
Information about locality budgets can be seen here www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/localitybudgets
What you need to do:
- If you need to use your vehicle, please make sure you move it outside the road closure area shown on this letter, at least 30 minutes before we are due to start working
What you need to know:
- Vehicles may not be allowed access through the road closure during the works, except for emergency vehicles. We are unable to provide information of which part of the road will have access and when. Please speak to the on-site team on the day who will be able to advise on access.
- Please refer to the yellow signboards on your street to see the exact dates, timings and permit number. Any date changes to these works will be communicated on the yellow signboards at either end of your street and at hertfordshire.gov.uk/roadclosures
- These works are weather dependent and may be postponed if poor weather is forecast.
- Details of any disruptions to bus services can be found at intalink.org.uk/timetables(search for your service). If you’re unable to find this information, please call our customer service centre on 0300 123 4050.
All local businesses will be open as usual.
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Further information:
- The permit number for these works is BA0080000007181full details can be found at network
- If you have any special needs or circumstances, please contact Eurovia–07703 796403 –(during office hours) or CSC on 0300 123 4047or email us at
We understand these works may be an inconvenience to you, however, we ask you to support us as we make the necessary improvements.
To hear live traffic information and news across Hertfordshire, please follow us on social.
Facebook: @HertsHighways
Instagram: @HertsHighways
Twitter: @Herts_Highways
Proposed updated neighbourhood plan session
We will be running this Sunday between 11am and 1pm at the Walkern sports and community centre to show the proposed updated neighbourhood plan to any interested residents and businesses.
All welcome.
£2 price cap on HertsLynx single fares
As part of the Bus Fare Cap Grant, funded by the Department for Transport, all single fares on the HertsLynx service will be capped at £2.00 between 1st January 2023 and 31st March 2023.
Concessionary discount will still be available during this period; SaverCard and Children’s discount will only be applicable for any journey under 2 miles.
For any journey booked between 16th December and 31st December for a trip taking place in January, please use the following discount codes:
£2 trips (0-2 miles) [for £3]
£2 trips (2-5 miles) [for £4]
£2 trips (5-10 miles) [for £5]
£2 trips (>10 miles )[for £6]
Please follow the steps below to apply the discount code:
- Select your chosen journey and continue to the payment screen
- Select ‘Add a discount/subscription’
- A “Discounts and Subscriptions” box will appear:
Select the discount code based on the number of miles you are travelling and add +1 discount code for each passenger.
The £2 fare will be automatically applied
- From 1st January 2023, all journeys booked will be automatically capped at £2.00 and you will no longer need to apply any discount codes.
For more information on fares, please visit: https://www.intalink.org.uk/hertslynx-fare-prices
Travel in style this Christmas on the HertsLynx service
Throughout December 2022, HertsLynx is operating an evening service on the following dates:
- Friday 2nd December
- Saturday 3rd December
- Friday 9th December
- Saturday 10th December
- Friday 16th December
- Saturday 17th December
The service will run as normal between 07:00 – 19:00 on these dates, with an additional service from 20:00 – 23:30. You can book journeys for these dates via the app, booking website or by calling 01992 555 513.
Group bookings of 4 or more full fare-paying passengers can get 15% off trips between 1 – 31 December. Please follow the steps below to apply the 15% discount:
- Select your chosen journey and continue to the payment screen
- Select ‘Add a discount/subscription’
- A “Discounts and Subscriptions” box will appear:
- Select the ‘Christmas Group Saver (4+)’ and add +1 for each passenger.
- The 15% discount will be automatically applied
For more information, please visit: https://www.intalink.org.uk/christmas-hertslynx
Attempted burglaries
There have been a number of thefts/attempted burglaries in the Walkern/Benington area recently. If you see anything suspicious please call 101 for non emergencies or 999 for emergencies.
Make sure all cars, garages, outbuilding etc are locked when not in use and be aware of unfamiliar and suspicious people/cars/vans.