Walkern Parish Council Report – February 2025
The Parish Council met on Thursday 6th February 2025 at Walkern Sports and Community Centre. This report covers some of the issues we have been dealing with over the last few months. The full minutes of the meeting will be available on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council Notice Board
Playground Update
We have now received all three plans and quotations for the update of the High Street playground. When meeting the representatives of the companies we stressed the need to incorporate inclusive equipment that could be enjoyed by all children of infant and primary school age, no matter what their physical and mental abilities. We sought advice from them on how play could include physical movement, such as coordination and balance, as well as quiet areas for language development and stimulation of the senses: sight, sound and touch.
We will now approach East Herts District Council with our recommended plan and, with their approval, engage the company of our choice.
The funds will come from S106 monies given by the developer when the new Meers estate was built. These funds are held at present by EHDC.
Parking at Roaring Meg Carpark Stevenage
There are a number of entrances and exits to the car park and it is possible to enter and leave a number of times on the same day using a variety of exits. This seems to have led to some fines being issued incorrectly. It’s a good idea therefore to keep till receipts and use Google maps to show location history in case evidence is needed in an appeal against a wrongly issued fine.
Maintenance of Walkern Benches
We hope that Spring is on its way; it’s certainly been a dull, wet and cold start to the new year.
Once the weather improves, we will ask our maintenance staff to wash and oil the seats owned by the Parish Council. There are a number of them at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre and dotted around the village. Hopefully the sun will shine and encourage us all to spend more time outside making use of them.
Do you really need an Ambulance?
We would like residents to be aware of HUC, who provide a range of NHS 111 and out of hours services, minor injuries units and urgent treatment centres in Hertfordshire. They run early intervention vehicles and can help with:
Clinical assessments with medications
Care for falls without injury or minor wounds
Support with poor mobility (stuck in bed or chair) or mobility aids
Support for carers’ families who are struggling to cope
Emergency care packages
Onward referral to other prevention of admission teams.
For HUC call 0300 123 7571 or go online to hucweb.co.uk
The urgent treatment centres are walk-in centres. You do not need an appointment:
QE11 hospital Welwyn Garden City closes 10pm 01438 314333
The Old Ambulance Station, Ascots Lane, open 24 hours 0300 033 9982
National Association of Local Councils
The NALC is urging the government to adequately fund parish and town councils so they can make an even more significant difference in their communities. In response to the government’s consultation on local authority funding reform they urged the government to grant mandatory rate relief on all parish and town council owned buildings and a share of business rates to reinvest in community projects. They also asked the government to allow parish and town councils to apply for all relevant central government funding on the same basis as principal authorities in the future.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 6th March 2025 at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre commencing at 7.00 pm.
Christine Nudds, Parish Councillor