It’s not the headline we want to read, but the local councils, police, fire service and others have been involved in an Emergency Planning event, Operation Orion.  The simulation has been designed to make sure that if we did have a major incident, as we saw with Buncefield, the emergency services and others would be able to deal with it.

The scenario was based on a potential earthquake which impacts on our area, including key areas such as St Albans City Hospital.  Local Councillor Allan Siao Ming Witherick was involved, providing information on the ward as well as looking at emergency contacts in the affected area.
It also involved a number of other authorities, as well as partners from overseas and has had EU funding because of it’s importance.

So next time you’re watching a disaster movie and have that random, worrying, thought…
“What would happen where I live?”
Be reassured that your local Liberal Democrat councillors are doing what they can with our partners to make sure that you’re kept safe.

If you want to find out more have a look at:
http://www.orion2010.co.uk/

Much needed resurfacing and patching work to Harpenden Road (the A1081) is due to be done as part of Hertfordshire Highways’ programme for improvement of the road network. The works are planned to start on the 9th September, and are programmed to take two nights, although as usual they are warning that bad weather could cause delays.
The works the are proposing consist of patching and resurfacing the carriageway, crack treatment, replacing road studs, repairing worn out ironwork, cleaning the existing drainage system and replacing road markings.
The works will be undertaken using a full road closure from the Stonecross Junction to the junction with Beech Road, between the hours of 20:00 until 06:00. There will be a fully signed diversion route in place via Beech Road and Sandridge Road.

Bus services will be affected by this road closure - details of any changes are being posted at the affected bus stops.
Alternatively, you can visit www.intalink.org.uk - where you can find out further details by visiting the news/service updates section and clicking on ‘Service Disruption’.

You can find out more by contacting Alex Moeller, Tel No.: 01707 356282 or e-mail alex.moeller@hertshighways.org.uk
or the customer service centre on 0300 123 4047 and quote the IWP number: WRC10018
or visit www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/hfr/default.cfm

Every year St Albans Liberal Democrats organise a number of litter picks through out the District.  Beech Bottom Dyke is one of the popular local areas that is targeted every year.  Over the years we have, with local volunteers, pulled out innumerable bags of rubbish, tyres, and even stolen bicycles which have been reunited with their owners!

One question we get though is why do we do this using volunteers- surely the council should do it?

Well A Keep Britain Tidy survey of local authorities in England has found the cost of cleaning up litter and chewing gum has risen by £100 million in the past year, to £850 million a year.
I think that figure helps to put the issue in context.  We all agree that it’s important, but that’s money we could have used on schools, on hospitals, on police, or reducing council tax.

So next time, think twice before dropping that piece of litter, and encourage other people you see to do the same.  It would save nearly £1 billion if everyone did the same.

If you’ve never been to Beech Bottom Dyke, please do!

It’s a nice walk and beautiful when the bluebells are out.  You can read more about it at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beech_Bottom_Dyke

Your Liberal Democrat St Albans City & District Council are keen to keep council tax down.  One of the key areas that we are all looking at is our contracts and suppliers.
We want to do more to support local businesses, and with them the local community, and so this provides an opportunity for a “double benefit”!
Of course there isn’t just St Albans City & District Council, or Hertfordshire County Council locally, there are a number of other public sector organisations.  So together they have come together to create a single website that local businesses can use to find out what contracts etc are available.

So if you have a local company and think you might have something to offer sign up at www.supplyhertfordshire.g2b.info/hpf/ to find out more.

Looking for something for the kids to do this summer?

There are a number of activities taking place across the St Albans City and District this summer for children and young people and you can now find a listing on the St Albans City & District Council website.

It is the first time that details of the majority of the District’s summer activities for children and young people has been brought together in one place on the internet.

The move has been welcomed by Cllr Amanada Archer as it is part of an initiative by the St Albans District Children’s Trust Partnership to provide easy access to information on activities for children and young people.  She said:

“Being a new Councillor it is always good to learn about the huge amount of work which already goes on locally.  This is a positive step forward in terms of making it simpler for people to plan their summer and take advantage of some of the incredible opportunities out there.  Of course this is in addition to existing facilities such as our leisure centres, theatres, museums etc.”

Residents now have three simple ways to find out what activities children and young people can attend this summer. They can:

• visit the Council’s website where activities for 5-11 year-olds and for 11 to 19 year-olds are listed at www.stalbans.gov.uk/summeractivities;
• visit the Children’s Trust Partnership’s website, www.mogozout.org ,for information on activities for 11-19 year-olds;
• call the Hertfordshire Family Information Service on 0300 123 4052.

‘Summer in the St Albans District’ posters and postcards are also being distributed to local schools and community and civic buildings and at events in the District with the aim of promoting the all the activities that are taking place this summer.

Thanks to the sterling efforts of a number of local residents we met today with Highways and County Council officers at Stone Cross Junction (outside the Cricketers) to discuss safety of pedestrians and parents on the school run.

As a result of traffic/people counts the County Council has agreed to fund, initially for one term, a crossing patrol to cross from the area just adjacent to the Cricketers, across Harpenden Road.

This will mean that some families end up crossing Harpenden Road twice, once at the existing crossing further down towards town, and once with the crossing patrol, but this has the advantage of missing out the narrow pavement further down as well as having to cross the busy junction itself.

Of course now the difficulty is recruiting someone (or jobshare) to help main the spot in the mornings and evenings during term time.  The post is paid at over £6.  If you’re interested please contact:

Heather Hill
Manager
School Crossing Patrol Service
01992 556815

A few summers ago the Liberal Democrats were pleased to announce that mobile roaming charges were slashed within the EU so that you could call home cheaper.  This year, for those who run in to problems in the EU, there are now new safe guards so that you are entitled to translation in court.

Most people don’t go on holiday expecting problems, but for some it’s a sad reality that things can go wrong.

In what Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP has hailed as a “leap forward for European justice” the European Parliament has voted to give all EU citizens rights to interpretation and translations when they are questioned by police or tried in another EU country where they do not speak the language.”

Cllr Allan Siao Ming Witherick commenting on this said:

“We hear of too many cases where people find themselves accused of a crime abroad, but are unable to understand the details of the accusation or proceedings.   Court is an ordeal in your own language, but it can feel far worse in a foreign language where nothing feels certain or makes real sense.

These changes mean that when we’re in the EU we have that bit more support and show the value of having Liberal Democrats such as our own Andrew Duff MEP fighting for us.

Today we (Batchwood Liberal Democrat Councillors Amanda Archer and Allan Siao Ming Witherick) went up to the Folly Lane allotments with council officers and representatives of the Folly Lane Allotments Group to look at what we could do to improve the local area as well as secure possible security improvements.

There are some wonderful plots and a lot of time and love get spent on them, but sadly there are always the few who ruin it for all.  We will do what we can to address this, but there are a large number of access and egresses.

Whilst we were there one resident came up and presented each of us with a lettuce.  It might seem like a small thing but actually it’s touching, especially when you consider the effort and care which goes in to managing a patch.  Sadly we didn’t catch her name, so this is just our chance to say thank you (and yes, it does taste as good as it looks!):

The District Council has put together a whole series of things for Bike Week, next week.

Cllr Allan Siao Ming Witherick, a keen cyclist, said:

“Many of us see the signs when we’re out and about, and may have even picked up one of the old cycle route maps, but each route had a different map and it was a bit disjointed.  These new maps are great if you just want to explore- although sadly they can’t list all the potholes along the way so please be careful- don’t cycle and read!”

The map has been designed to help both new and experienced cyclists plan their routes across the District. It plots a variety of routes and includes information on road surfaces, points of local interest and locations for cycle parking.  Locally it covers things like the new link across Bernards Heath.

The map, which is being launched during National Bike Week, will be available from 19 June at local libraries, local cycle shops, St Albans Tourist and Information Centre, Market Place, St Albans and the Council’s offices at the Civic Centre in St Peter’s Street, St Albans. You can also obtain a copy of the map by emailing cycling@stalbans.gov.uk, telephoning 01727 819359 or downloading it from the internet at www.stalbans.gov.uk/cyclemaps.

If you prefer to see the cycle maps online you can also access the county council maps at: www.hertsdirect.org/cycleweb

Bike Week is from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 June and will be packed with more than fifteen events organised or supported by the St Albans Cycle Campaign. In particular, there will be a range of cycle rides to suit all ages and abilities but also bike check-ups, barbeques and pub lunches. It is a great way to discover the quiet and beautiful lanes of the area and spend the day in family. Just take your pick by looking at the whole programme - available on their website: www.stacc.org.uk.

St Albans District and City Council, in order to promote cycling, is also sponsoring a free biker’s breakfast on Tuesday 22^nd June. Turn up with your bike and enjoy a FREE breakfast from Tasty Bites on St Peters Street, St Albans. See the Council’s website for more information: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/walking_cycling/cycle-routes/cycling-events/

As our local County Councillor, Allan Siao Ming Witherick has a “Locality Budget” of £10,000 a year to spend on local community groups, activities and the like.  Last year the focus was on both activities for young people, but also on providing support to organisations which help those during the recession.  This saw grants being made for well known local groups, like the successful St Albans Judo Club, and St Albans Youth Council as well as some of the smaller organisations such as St Albans Credit Union.
(You can see a full list below.)

This year he is already searching for other worthy causes, groups and organisations to support.  They can be based in Batchwood, or Marshalswick South, or outside of the area, but they must be able to show how they benefit local residents, or the wider community.

If you think your organisation could benefit you can contact Allan at a@witherick.org.uk or find out more about making a grant application at:
http://www.hertsdirect.org/localitybudget

Last year the grants made included:
St Albans Judo Club £3000 - To help make capital repairs to the facility.
Pioneer Club St Albans £2000 - To help improve facilities for users.
Summer Sounds ‘10 (St Albans Youth Council) £1000 - A project chosen by young people for young people.
Centre for Voluntary Service St Albans City & District £1000 - To encourage volunteering etc.
Community Payback (St Albans City & District Council) £500 - To to paint railings etc.
Computer Friendly £500 - To support teaching older people about the internet.
Hertfordshire Practical Parenting Programme Ltd £500 - To support families in need.
St Albans District Credit Union £500 - To support local people with financial concerns.
Home-Start St Albans City & District £500 - To support local families with housing concerns.
Verulam Community Radio (Radio Verulam 92.6 FM) £500 - To invest in new equipment.