News Round Up 2026

Harpenden population 32,500+

Harpenden’s 3 GP Surgeries registered patients = 43,274.

What’s going on??

A chance visit to the NHS Choices web site on May 6 revealed the following registered patient numbers:

Village Surgery = 15,983

The Elms = 14,749

Davenport House = 12,542

SO if the numbers are accurate where do all these people live? (Redbourn and Wheathampsted have their own surgeries.

OR are the numbers duplicated OR are they simply out of date?

WELL, on average GP Surgeries are funded at £136 per patient so the numbers generate high income.

THE average number of patient visits per year is 7 giving a cost per visit of £19.42.

YES it’s obvious that very young patients and elderly patients have more than the average number of visits.

These figures do not cover the prescription costs.

AND YES we know averages disguise the actual numbers BUT something is amiss?

WITH more and more homes bing built in Harpenden how will GP Surgeries cope with this influx?

More to come on this story.

New Garden Town planned close to Harpenden

A massive project described in detail in ‘A Spatial Vision’

Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) is an ambitious development programme that will transform Hemel Hempstead and create attractive and sustainable new neighbourhoods and communities to the north and east of Hemel Hempstead, through the delivery of more than 11,000 new homes ( That will be 30,000 + people) and 10,000 new jobs by 2050. Many of these jobs will be in Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, a new business park with a range of facilities including flexible office and industrial spaces, and a variety of amenities to serve the local community.

The whole project will be part of a Dacorum Borough Council scheme on land within their boundary. providing a variety of benefits to Hemel Hempstead.

These include new high-quality homes, of which 40 per cent will be affordable. New neighbourhoods will be set around vibrant local centres, green spaces and play areas, all easily accessed on foot. Sustainable travel such as walking, cycling and public transport will be given priority as we target a greener, healthier environment, which includes open spaces as well as new country and district parks.

A priority for Hemel Garden Communities is to accelerate a shift to public and active transport and increase the share of journeys taken by cycling and walking, and providing high quality infrastructure to support the creation of new homes and jobs.

HGC partners – Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership - are working with The Crown Estate and other landowners to deliver the HGC programme.

Phillipa Zieba (right) has been appointed to the role

of Programme Director. Phillipa brings with her a

wealth of experience, from her previous role as

Head of Planning at Hammerson, with a strong

track record of delivering masterplans and a range

of high profile mixed-use projects. Cllr Chris White,

Chair of the HGC Delivery Board (also Council

leader of SADC)

said: “I am delighted that we have recruited someone of Phillipa’s calibre to the role of programme director and welcome her to the team.

ONE KEY CHALLENGE (of which there are many)

Although Hemel’s neighbourhoods will be used as model for growing and regenerating the town, certain aspects of them will need to be significantly modified to meet twenty-first century challenges. The challenges to be met are tackling car dependency, responding to large portions of the housing stock aging at the same time, and diversifying local centres. Development of new neighbourhoods will also need to ensure that places and communities are integrated with each other and with established neighbourhoods.

Read ‘A Spatial Vision’ and you will be amazed at the detailed progamme already devised. The Spatial Vision is a high-level document that provides a series of aspirations for the future of HGC.

Hemel Garden Communities Spatial Vision (PDF 11MB).

THE BIG QUESTIONS

How will this affect Harpenden?

How will this affect SADC’s Local Plan?

Follow Harpendia for answers

GP Surgery Phone call Scam

READ BELOW TO ENSURE YOU DON”T BECOME A VICTIM

Dear Victim

I am writing to let you know of an active phone call scam where when you answer the phone it has a recorded voice that appears to be from the NHS or your local surgery. The message informs you that your details at the surgery are out of date and that unless you update them you will be removed from their list. The message then encourages you to go to a link or press a number button that takes you to where you will be requested to give your details. THIS IS A SCAM.

If you receive such a call, put the phone down, and to set your mind at rest, call your surgery to check your details. Please be wary.

Across Hertfordshire in 2025, Hertfordshire Constabulary received 5,278 reports of fraud with a total loss of £34 million. Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. Cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks.

To report an incident of cybercrime or fraud and for further information visit the Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) website here UK's Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud - Report Fraud.

March. Update on Harpenden district neighbourhood priorities’

Progress is underway to address the latest St Albans district neighbourhood priorities, which were agreed last month, in response to issues raised by local residents.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) work alongside district partners to focus on solving long and short-term neighbourhood issues, such as anti-social behaviour, theft, speeding and drug-related crime

They set local policing priorities every four months, providing a specific focus on the issues that residents have raised via surveys, alongside an analysis of data.

Harpenden and rural

You said: Tackle anti-social behaviour around local parks, including drinking alcohol, smoking drugs and abusive behaviour.

We did:

•Proactive patrols around the parks and work with partner agencies including Harpenden Town Council.

•We have identified a group of young people causing anti-social behaviour in parks and in the town. The Community Safety Unit will be making contact with parents.

•We will continue to monitor, engage and deal with any incidents.

You said: Tackle speeding in Harpenden and Sandridge.

We did:

•Speed enforcement checks have been conducted on Luton Road, Redbourn Road, Marford Hill, St Albans Road and Lower Luton Road.

•A man was given a traffic offence report for doing 44mph in a 30mph in Marford Road in Wheathampstead on Monday (23 February). The driver may be sent on a drivers’ improvement course, fined, given points on his licence or could be summonsed directly to court.

•We will continue to go out at different times and days to catch anyone speeding. The presence of officers reminds drivers to slow down.

END

June. St. Albans Council to make permanent use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition vehicle to improve parking enforcement.

A high-tech vehicle used to improve parking enforcement in St Albans District and Harpenden has greatly boosted productivity, a report has revealed.

Now Councillors have agreed to purchase an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) car for permanent use after a successful 15-month trial.

The spotter vehicle has been operating in the District since March last year, scanning the number plates of cars parked in areas with restrictions.

An instant, real-time check can be made to see if a parked car has the required permit or ticket and alerts a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) to any infringements.

The CEO can then issue a Fixed Penalty Notice Fine on an offending vehicle to deter other motorists from also parking illegally.

A report on the outcome of the trial was given to a meeting of the Public Realm Committee of St Albans City and District Council on Thursday 11 June.

Councillors were told the ANPR vehicle allowed the parking enforcement team to monitor 690 locations around the District every day.

That was a 60% increase on the previous figure and the equivalent of having an extra four CEOs on patrol.

The presence of the highly visible vehicle, emblazoned with ANPR markings, on the District’s streets was also likely to deter motorists from breaking the rules.

An increase in compliance improves road safety, particularly around junctions, crossings and high‑demand areas where inconsiderate parking can obstruct visibility or pedestrians.

During the trial, only two complaints were received from residents and both had misunderstood the purpose of the vehicle.

The Committee agreed to the report’s recommendation to permanently lease one of the electric vehicles by a procurement process at a cost of around £35,000 a year and the purchase of an additional £4,600 charger.

Councillor Helen Campbell, the Committee’s Chair and Lead for Parking, said after the meeting: “The Committee was impressed by how the ANPR vehicle has greatly improved the efficiency and productivity of parking enforcement.

“The vehicle has become a well-known sight across the District and a reassurance to residents that Controlled Parking Zones and on-street parking bays are being closely monitored.

“The vast majority of motorists park legally, but unfortunately a tiny minority fail to comply with the rules and even park in a way that endangers the safety of others.

“There are good safety and environmental reasons for parking restrictions and the ANPR vehicle is helping us to deter people from breaking the rules. It is a real game changer.

“Having the vehicle on permanent patrol will help our parking team better manage the limited amount of kerb space there is in busy areas. Our residents often ask my fellow Councillors and me for tougher enforcement – this initiative shows we have listened and acted.”

July. School Cookery demonstrations with Patti Sloley .

Patti had an amazing time demonstrating and cooking with kids at the Harpenden Academy and The King’s School both in Harpenden and also to The Thomas Alleyne Academy in Stevenage. She also demonstrated and shared tasters to 1500 kids in Hertfordshire on their Schools Day Out at the Herts County Show grounds.

The children in all the schools not only enjoyed the cooking sessions, but were interactive and asked lots of questions. I was also impressed with their knowledge on spices and their genuine interest. They enjoyed the tasters and came back for seconds. Learning in this way can be such fun.

A mix of photos below,

JUNE 12. Work is to begin this month on a further Local Plan (LP) for the long-term sustainable growth of St Albans District.

St Albans City and District Council is on track to adopt a new LP next month after more than three years of work.

However, during the plan-making process the Government made major changes to national planning policies including the methodology for assessing housing need.

As a consequence, it has now instructed the Council to begin work by the end of June on an LP that conforms to its revised guidelines. The Council is one of 39 local authorities instructed by the Government to do this.

The first stage will be the publication of a timetable, including key dates, with the goal of completing the LP by 2029.

A report on the requirement to start work on a new LP was given to a meeting of the Council’s Planning Policy and Climate Committee on Tuesday 9 June.

Councillor Paul de Kort, the Committee’s Chair and Council Leader, said after the meeting: “It may seem strange that we are embarking on the creation of another Local Plan just as we are due to adopt our first one since 1994 which takes us up to 2041.

“However, we have no option but to do this as it is an instruction from central Government.

“We were well aware that revisions to national planning policies were on the cards, but it was essential that we continued to work on the LP that we are on track to adopt next month rather than abandon it.

“We needed to get this LP in place to deliver more infrastructure, more managed green spaces, more affordable homes, better transport provision and to help protect us from speculative planning applications by developers.

“Moreover, if we didn’t push ahead, the Government was threatening to step in and write the LP instead. It was in the best interests of our residents that the LP was produced by locally-elected representatives with a feel for the District rather than distant Whitehall officials.”

One other complication is that the Council is scheduled to be abolished in the spring of 2028 and replaced by a new unitary authority before the next new LP can be completed.

Cllr de Kort added: “Again, reorganisation is an issue that is out of our hands. We simply need to get on with the work of devising the next new LP and then hand it over to the new authority to complete.”

The LP scheduled for adoption next month allows for the building of 15,000 new homes in the District at carefully selected sites. This figure conformed to Government guidelines at the time and includes 1,200 social rent properties.

It also provides for £750 million of new infrastructure including eight primary schools, four secondary schools, improvements to public transport, locations for thousands of new jobs, green spaces and health facilities.

Friday 24 July 2026

Battery placed in bin causes fire inside refuse collection lorry

A refuse collection crew’s prompt action helped to prevent a fire caused by a battery placed in a waste bin from getting out of control.

The Veolia crew spotted smoke pouring out of the rear of their 26-tonne lorry after emptying residual waste bins in Batford, Harpenden.

They safely ejected the smouldering rubbish onto the road at Common Lane while warning motorists and pedestrians to stay clear.

The crew alerted Hertfordshire Fire Service with a fire engine arriving within four minutes to extinguish the blaze.

It is believed the cause was a battery within electrical equipment which had been disposed of incorrectly in a household waste bin.

Lithium-ion batteries are a major waste disposal hazard as they can spark a fire when crushed by a bin lorry’s compactor or blades.

Veolia, St Albans City and District Council’s waste contractor, is campaigning to raise awareness of the issue.

Improperly discarded batteries cause approximately one fire a day across all Veolia's operations.

Recently, one collection crew working in St Albans spotted a large motorbike battery in a bin before it was emptied into their lorry.

Lawrence Foley, Contract Manager at Veolia St Albans, said of the Batford incident: “Thanks to the quick actions of our crew and the Hertfordshire Fire Service, the fire that broke out in the back of the collection vehicle caused no injuries.

"However, this incident is a reminder of the dangers that our people face on a daily basis as a result of items like batteries being disposed of in household bins.

“We urge residents to visit the St Albans Council website to check how to safely dispose of items before putting them in their household bins. Small actions like carefully separating waste can have a huge impact on our people and the essential services they deliver.”

Councillor Edgar Hill, the Council’s Lead for Waste and Recycling, said: “We are grateful to the Veolia crew for acting quickly to prevent a major fire.

“This is a striking example of the serious dangers posed by discarded batteries which can nowadays be found in all sorts of personal and household items including vapes and toys.

“We ask all our residents to follow the guidelines for recycling and waste disposal which can be found on our website to prevent any further incidents.”

The lorry fire occurred on Tuesday 21 July with the rubbish being cleared from Common Lane by Veolia once the fire was extinguished.

Veolia carry out weekly kerbside collections in the District of small electricals and batteries which residents should bag and leave beside their bins or containers on collection days.

Alternatively, batteries can be taken to household recycling centres or to disposal points at supermarkets and other stores. On no account should they be discarded in a waste or recycling bin.

More information about how to properly dispose of batteries and electrical items can be found here: https://www.veolia.co.uk/dangerous-waste