On Demand Herts Lynx Bus Service

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

This project has arrived because of a successful bid of £1.4 million by Herts County Council to the Dept of Transport & funding from Herts County Council(HCC) itself. It is a four year experiment to supplement rural transport mainly as you will see in the North & East of the County, which is  poorly serviced by commercial operators. HCC currently own three vehicles, a fourth in April and a fifth electric one in the summer all to enable an expanded service.

The more it will be used the likelier it will be to be a permanent feature

Parish Litter Bins

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

It has come to our attention that the parish litter bins are being filled with residents’ household waste, such as dirty nappies and dog waste bags. The parish litter bins are intended to be used to keep the village clean and tidy and to prevent our wildlife from being poisoned.

The parish bins are not to be used for household waste.

There are dog waste bins provided throughout the village, and residents have their own recycling and household waste bins which are emptied frequently. We would kindly ask that the parish bins are not used for household waste or dog waste; please use the dog waste bins and household waste bins provided.

London Luton Airport, Consultation on Arrivals Flight Paths

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

Re : London Luton Airport, Consultation on Arrivals Flight Paths

Dear Sir/Madam

Walkern Parish Council would like to state clearly that it strongly objects to any expansion of Luton Airport.
Having looked at the proposed option for Westerly Winds Arrivals, which is 70% of arrivals to Luton Airport, dispersed tracks need to be considered as we stated in our previous response to the proposed increase in passenger numbers dated 9th November 2020.

Clearly it is fairer and more equitable that the noise and pollution from arriving aircraft should be spread over the greatest possible area, largely over open countryside, not over concentrated populations. In a normal year, especially in the Summer months, the noise from aircraft on their landing approach make it difficult to sleep or have a window open. During the day you cannot have a conversation with a person standing right next to you.

The jettison of fuel is obnoxious and highly pollutant, which raises additional concern as there is a primary school on the flightpath.

The fact that the preferred option of the Airport is to channel arrivals into a narrower approach is irrelevant, as it is they who are the cause of the problem.

The London Luton Airport Authority state that this is a safety issue, because they want to expand passenger numbers. Again, this would not be an issue if they keep to the 18 million limit which was democratically agreed and legally signed up to by all parties in 2013 and expected to hold to 2028.

This consultation seems to assume that numbers of aircraft will increase and therefore plans need to be made regarding their approach to Luton. It is clear that, until the long-term effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the economy are more clearly known, no such assumption should be made.

Yours faithfully
on behalf of Walkern Parish Council

Heidi Broady
Clerk to Walkern Parish Council

LLAOL Consultation

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

Dear Sir/Madam

Re:  Consultation on Expansion of Passenger Numbers from 18 mppa to 19 mppa – LLA

Walkern Parish Council would like to state clearly that it strongly objects to any expansion of passenger number at Luton Airport.  This means breaking through the 18 million limit which was democratically agreed and legally signed up to by all parties in 2013 and expected to hold until 2028.

Financial incentives from Luton Council led to a faster than predicted growth and last year the airport reached and nearly breached the 18 million limit.  This makes it clear that any agreement made by the airport is hardly likely to be kept, even when it is a legal document.

The airport has knowingly breached its noise footprint limits for three years in a row but rather than try to keep within the limits, has applied to have the limits increased.  Despite a legal commitment to scrutinise the airport’s performance against the noise control scheme, Luton Council ignored the fact that the noise conditions were breached and the airport failed to explain the breach.  Neither can be trusted.  The so called ‘less noisy’ aircraft are actually larger and noisier.

The impact on the village of Walkern from noise is devastating, especially in the summer months, when aircraft on their landing approach make it difficult to sleep or even have a window open.

The jettisoning of fuel is obnoxious and highly pollutant, which raises additional concern as there is a primary school on the flightpath.

The Parish Council cannot believe that a slight deviation to North or South of the existing flight path, over open countryside instead of our village, would have a detrimental effect on the airport’s operation.  Likewise, a steeper approach at a higher altitude would reduce noise levels.

The only reason the airport has been compliant with planning limits in 2020 is due to the reduction in passenger numbers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.   It is clear that a reduction in passenger numbers is required until the long-term effects of the virus on the economy is more clearly known.

Yours faithfully
on behalf of Walkern Parish Council

Heidi Broady (Mrs)
Clerk to Walkern Parish Council

 

Box Wood – Latest Update

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

Boxwood is now listed as an Asset of Community Value by East Herts District Council on behalf of Friends of Fairlands Farm Community Interest Company.

 

Successful Nominations
Reference Name & Address of Property Nominee Date Listed Expiry Date
ACv 19/08 Boxwood, Stevenage Road, Walkern Friends of Fairlands Farm Community Interest Company 27/07/2020 26/07/2025

Box Wood – Article 4 Direction

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

An Article 4 Direction was served on 22 July 2020 at Box Wood, north of Stevenage Road, following the potential sale/purchase of these land parcels which were advertised as sub-divided plots.

EHDC were concerned that this increased the possibility of harmful development, such as fences, new accesses and temporary use of the land, within the Metropolitan Green Belt, as well as to the Site of Archaeological Significance, the Wildlife Site and Ancient Monument which are all designated within this land at Box Wood. The Direction removes these permitted development rights. It requires landowners to seek planning permission and creates the opportunity for EHDC to take enforcement action if any breaches occur.

About Article 4 Directions

An Article 4 Direction enables greater management of planning related changes in a particular location. They work by removing permitted development rights over certain works.

This means that planning permission is required for specific developments that would otherwise not require an application for planning permission, enabling the Council to better protect the character or land use in a specific location or area.

Walkern Parish Council would like to thanks District Councillor Ken Crofton for all his hard work in making this happen.

Update on Boxwood

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

Walkern Parish Council was delighted to receive notification from East Herts District Council that a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) has been made for all the trees in the Box Wood location which could be affected by the proposed sale. New TPO’s remain provisional until they have been confirmed and they cannot be confirmed until any objections have been fully considered. The objection period for TPO639 runs until 12th August.

We would like to thank District Councillor Ken Crofton for supporting us with this.

Box Wood Stevenage

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

Walkern Parish Council is aware of the situation at Box Wood Stevenage.

We are adamant that this important part of rural Hertfordshire should be protected from all types of development and to this end we are working closely with Sir Oliver Heald MP, District Councillor Ken Crofton and officers within East Herts District Council to protect this important site.

We will update on our progress in the near future.

Defibrillator – Now Live!

/in News/by Walkern Parish Council

Walkern has a new defibrillator situated at the Recreation Ground by the shop. It’s been registered with the ambulance service and is up and running. A representative from the Community Heartbeat Trust came to Walkern on Thursday evening, 7 March, at the United Reformed Church for a training session. Photos below!