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Community Awards 2023

We all know people who go the extra mile to make our Parish a better place and we at St Stephen Parish Council think they deserve a pat on the back!

We are asking you to nominate people, businesses or groups you think deserve particular thanks for their work in the community this year.

Nominees must live or work in the Parish and have made an exceptional contribution that benefits the community, through outstanding performance and dedication. They must not be a previous award winner.

Click to complete an online form or click here to download a nomination form. Email completed forms to clerk@ststephen-pc.gov.uk or send to us at The Parish Centre, Station Road, Bricket Wood, St Albans, Herts AL2 3PJ.

Nominations must be in by 5pm on Friday 1 December. The nominees will be invited to our awards ceremony at St Stephen Parish Christmas Market on Sunday 26 November where the winners will be announced and awards presented.

Press release from St Stephen Parish Council

The letter in the Herts Advertiser dated 07-09-23 from Richard Curthoys expresses his personal views and not those of St Stephen Parish Council. The council has not formally discussed the issue of the closure of the High Street in St Albans by Hertfordshire County Council but does recognise that it has been controversial.

It is not the practice of St Stephen Parish Council to criticise elected members or officers of other authorities and the council can confirm that Richard Curthoys is in breach of its Media Protocol and Code of Conduct. His letter, had it been sent on behalf of St Stephen Parish Council, would have been in breach of Part II Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986.

Mindful of its responsibilities under the Local Government Act, St Stephen Parish Council asks that the authenticity of any letters purporting to represent its views is verified with the Parish Clerk.

St Stephen Parish Council believes that Richard Curthoys is now fully aware of its Media Protocol and Code of Conduct. 

St Stephen Parish Council expects all of its councillors to work in a collegiate way with other elected members to support the needs of our community.

New Local Plan for St Albans

St Albans City & District Council is developing a new Draft Local Plan, which is like a blueprint for future development. It establishes the Council’s long-term planning strategy for delivering and managing growth and infrastructure, for environmental and heritage protection and enhancement, up to 2041.

This is an emerging Draft Plan, and people who live and work in the District, community groups and businesses are all encouraged to give their views. We want to hear from as many people and organisations as possible. The feedback received will help shape the final proposals.

Government guidance requires that Local Plans should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places, and make sufficient provision for housing (including affordable housing), infrastructure, community facilities and conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment.

Draft Local Plan 2041 Regulation 18 Consultation will be available for you to comment on between the following dates:

Start Date: 12/07/23 10:03 AM

End Date: 25/09/23 5:00 PM

How do I make any comments?

The best way to respond is by using the online consultation system which can be found through links on the Council’s website at: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/new-local-plan

You can send a response by Email to:

planning.policy@stalbans.gov.uk, or by post to:

Spatial Planning Team, St Albans Council Offices, St Peters Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE.

If you have any queries about this Regulation 18 consultation stage, you can contact us using the details above.

At the close of the consultation period, all comments will be considered by the Council and used to inform the next stage of the Local Plan process.

Yours sincerely,

Spatial Planning Team

St Albans City and District Council

Draft Local Plan Consultation Exhibitions:

A series of exhibitions staffed by Officers of the Council will take place over two weeks in September. The exhibition will come to the Parish Centre in Bricket Wood (AL2 3PJ) on Wednesday 6th September from 2pm to 8pm.

St Stephen Parish Council car boot sale

Join us at our parish car boot sale on Sunday 10th September 9am-midday.  Anyone welcome to sell goods also – £15 cash and gates open at 8am. No pre-booking is required.

Weather dependent – we will update Friday 8th September if we have to cancel.

Further details can be found here.

Woodbury Field Phase 2 Consultation Results

A consultation was undertaken find out what the community would like for Phase 2 and to ensure that the improvements reflect the needs of the community and that St Stephen Parish Council make the best use of resources. This comprised an online consultation survey via Survey Monkey which was active for the whole of May and a consultation workshop at Woodbury Field on 30 May.  The online survey was designed to be more general and to get an overall impression of the priorities of the community. The workshop was intended to be a more direct form of community engagement. We received 260 responses on our online survey and 60 responses at the workshop.

The workshop was an opportunity to increase community engagement in the project, to promote Woodbury as a green space for everyone in the community to enjoy and for residents to have their say. We asked everyone who came along to look at the designs, ask questions and choose what they would most like to see at Woodbury Field. Staff and Councillors Kerry and Whittaker were on hand to talk to members of the community and encourage all who attended to complete a consultation form.

All designs were very popular. The overall response from the community was extremely positive. There were about 4 people who were not in favour of any improvements to the site.

Lots of older children were really excited by the ninja area and teq ball. The majority of people who attended were very enthusiastic, in favour of all the areas and very appreciative of any improvements.

Frequent Comments from online survey-see Q7 below.

1) Comments that we can take onboard and add to design:

  • SEN and accessible play ideas to be attached to new fencing
  • Slide for under 2 year olds
  • Coffee shop/tea shop /ice cream van -ice cream concession possible. There         is one café in Bricket Wood and the Station Café is due to open this year.
  • Car parking- we are investigating options to mitigate parking outside Woodbury Field and in the neighbouring close.

2) Comments that are already part of the design:

  • More seating/picnic tables
  • More bins
  • Pull up bar

3) Comments that we cannot accommodate and why:

  • Toilets-S106 money cannot be used for toilet facilities.
  • Lighting for the evening- parks are not usually lit in the evening and the play area is too near to housing. S106 money cannot be used for lights.
  • More for under 5s and babies- Phase 1 has improved the play equipment for        under 5’s we have taken onboard the requests for a slide for the under 2s.
  • A crossing into Woodbury Field- not part of St Stephen Parish Council remit,         this would come under Highways.  
  • Sandbox-unable to accommodate due to the site and ongoing maintenance required
  • Tennis court- unable to accommodate due to the site.
  • Football/Cricket pitches- addressed as goal ends and cricket markings on goal ends in ball games area. Ground conditions unable to support a football or cricket pitch

Click for the online survey results

Consultation Workshop Responses:

Ninja/ parkour Fitness Ball Games Pump Track Negative comments
Number of responses and percentage of total responses
32 11 14 16 3
42% 14.5% 18.5% 21% 4%

Press Release from St Stephen Parish Council

The letter in the Herts Advertiser dated 01-06-23 from Richard Curthoys expresses his personal views and not those of St Stephen Parish Council. The council has not formally discussed the issue of the management of trees by SADC but does recognise the importance of a good tree management regime.

It is not the practice of St Stephen Parish Council to criticise elected members or officers of other authorities and the council can confirm that Richard Curthoys is in breach of its Media Protocol.

St Stephen Parish Council recognises, however, that Richard Curthoys was newly elected to the council in last month’s elections. He will be issued with the Media Protocol again so that he is familiar with its content and able to work in a collegiate way with other elected members to support the needs of our community.

Woodbury Field Phase 2 Consultation

St Stephen Parish Council is updating Woodbury Field Play Area.  Phase 1 to upgrade the play equipment for toddlers and younger children is already underway.

We would like your views about Phase 2 to ensure that the improvements reflect the needs of the community and that we make the best use of our resources.
Our aim is to make Woodbury Field an inclusive green space resource for members of the community of all ages to use, enjoy and to improve their health and wellbeing.

Please scan the QR code below or click to complete the survey.
We will be having a consultation workshop open to all at Woodbury Field on Tuesday 30th May from 1pm to 4pm, please join us, to view draft plans and speak to staff.

Woodbury Field Play Area Phase 1

We are really looking forward to the installation of the new play equipment for Woodbury Field Play Area. Work will be starting at the beginning of April and will be completed in early May.