A1(M) Smart Upgrade – the WPAG Response

A Highways England Consultation on the proposed A1(M) Upgrade to Smart Motorway Project has been running until the end of March 2020. On our website report of 19th February we reminded you that work was starting on junctions 6 to 8 to strengthen the existing hard shoulder so that two lanes can be kept open for traffic when work starts on the central reservation. Considerably more detail is included in our earlier report.

The WPAG has worked on this Consultation with the Welwyn Parish Council and the Welwyn Parish Plan Group, both of which bodies shared our concerns and anxieties.

Below is the WPAG’s Response to the Highways England Consultation.

Herts Police & Crime Commissioner – wants to hear from you

Those of you on the Neighbourhood watch OWL system will have received the following notification a few days ago. (If you are not on the OWL system please go to https://www.owl.co.uk to register).

Dear Watch Member,

Hertfordshire’s PCC is refreshing his Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan: Everybody’s Business and wants to hear your views.

At the beginning of his second term, Police and Crime Commissioner, David Lloyd, set out his ambition and vision for community safety and criminal justice across the county over the coming years.

The Commissioner is starting the process of refreshing his Plan that will lead to a refreshed edition in spring 2019. He is asking for feedback from the public and partners on the current Plan ahead of consulting on a new version over the coming months.

David Lloyd said:

 “I want to hear the public’s views on the issues that are important to Hertfordshire and what my strategy should continue to prioritise to help me shape the new Plan and direction for the county, so please do take the opportunity to have your say.”

  • What should the PCC’s refreshed Plan continue to focus on over the years ahead?
  • What are the new and emerging issues that should be included in the refreshed Plan?

The public can read the current Plan (http://www.hertscommissioner.org/plan) and share their views by responding to the questions above via email – 

You can also send your comments by Letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, 15 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4GZ by 10th January, 2019.

Herts. Police & Crime Commissioner – WPAG Response to the Proposed Policing Precept 2018 Increase

Precept Consultation
Police and Crime Commissioner

Further to your Open Letter, the Welwyn Planning & Amenity Group would like to make the following comments:

Welwyn Parish is primarily a rural community, which centres round the village high street and amenities.

There are a large number of elderly residents and properties on the outer boundaries are somewhat remote from transport links.  The roads are very dark at night and, with the exception of the village centre, quiet.

Over the past two or three years there has been a marked increase in petty crime and anti-social behaviour, attributable in many instances to local youths and, on occasion, to travelling community children.

For local businesses, there have been issues of shoplifting, nuisance, vandalism and harassment.

For residents, there have been issues of nuisance, vandalism (especially to vehicles), harassment, dangerous “wheelie” cycling on footpaths and against traffic, speeding at night on roads, general disturbance.  For the elderly this is very frightening.

There have also been the usual burglaries and thefts from vehicles.  Another issue that concerns residents is the very frequent illegal parking on the zigzags, and on the zebra crossing, outside Tesco in Welwyn Village.  This takes place mostly in the evenings between 5:30 and 7:30 pm.

Residents appreciate that, in the great order of issues within the Welwyn Hatfield Borough, the above are of lesser importance to the gang, drug, knife and violent crimes that take place in other parts.  They also understand that the police must give priority to these above the minor issues.

However, two years ago, you promised to increase community policing.  Policing in Welwyn Village is minimal.  The local PCSO has a vast area to cover; we rarely see him.  Policing is, by nature of the limited resources and cuts, reactive as opposed to proactive.

Residents still reminisce to the “good old days” 3 years ago, when a local PC was regularly seen in Welwyn and was known by almost everyone.  Old fashioned policing it may have been – but it worked.  He knew the local youths and communicated with them.  We had no noticeable anti-social behaviour, nor any of the issues that have ensued since the “Bobby was taken off the Beat”.

It is unlikely that residents would object to an increase in local taxation to cover more PCs and PCSOs, providing there was some evidence of better police support for local communities.

Carl Storer

Chairman, Welwyn Planning & Amenity Group

Sandra Kyriakides

Project Manager, Welwyn Planning & Amenity Group

Proposals for the Council Tax Policing Precept 2018

The WPAG has responded to the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s invitation to send comments about his Proposals to increase the Council Tax Policing Precept for 2018 . That Response has been published separately.

It is recommended that you first understand the background to his Proposals, and you have a choice of going to his official website and reading his Open Letter  or reading the letter which members of the Police OWL system (Online Watch Link) received on 22nd January 2018 which provides an excellent summary and which we have copied below for your convenience.

The following is an OWL message from the P&C Commissioner dated 22nd January 2018. It is very easy to join OWL. If you have not already done so – simply go to www.owl.co.uk

Dear Watch Member,

I hope that you have had a good start to 2018.

Before Christmas I sent a message regarding my proposals for this year’s council tax precept to be spent on policing.

The government recently gave Police and Crime Commissioners the flexibility to apply an increase equivalent to £1 a month on the average household to fund local policing. I propose to take advantage of this flexibility and raise the precept by this amount which is £12 a year.

Many of you have taken the time to share your views with me on this, for which I am grateful. With just over a week to go before I present my proposal to the Police and Crime panel, I want to give those of you who have not had a chance to share comments another opportunity to do so.

In Hertfordshire, this additional funding will be spent on protecting neighbourhood policing teams and investing in additional police officers for Hertfordshire’s specialist Operation Scorpion units to help tackle burglary, anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime.

More resources will also be placed into the Force Control Room, where 999 and 101 calls have risen dramatically since the terrorist attacks in Manchester and London.

There will also be more funding for crime investigation teams to make sure that victims of crime receive the best care possible.

You can read my Open Letter attached to this email, or at the website, where you can also see the press release and FAQs.

Under these proposals, Hertfordshire will continue to have one of the lowest council tax levels in the whole country. I welcome your views on this proposal – please email :    or write to:

Precept Consultation
Police and Crime Commissioner
Harpenden Police Station

15 Vaughan Road
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
AL5 4GZ

Anti-Social Behaviour in the Village

The following Report was prepared by Sandra Kyriakides, WPAG Project Manager and former Welwyn Hatfield Borough Councillor.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

The meeting held at Welwyn Civic Centre on Wednesday 8th March provided the impressive number of local residents and businesses who attended the opportunity to express their concerns to members of the Police, Fire Service and Borough Council officers.

The issues raised were primarily those of public safety and the wish for more visual police presence in the area, particularly at times when incidents are more prevalent. The concerns were duly noted and taken on board.

There has been a slight increase of police car patrols through the village and there would appear to have been a corresponding decrease in the kind of anti-social behaviour that was taking place.

Please be aware of anything untoward and be sure to report it immediately to 101.  As I said last time, we need to keep the police aware of any concerns in the village and, “if it isn’t reported, it didn’t happen” so be sure to pick up the phone!

WPAG – Project Manager

I have recently been appointed Project Manager of the Welwyn Planning and Amenity Group and would like to take this opportunity to explain the function of this role:

As matters arise that are of concern to the area, they will be researched and details will be posted on the WPAG website, together with a summary of queries and/or comments received from residents which relate to specific issues.  I will also post updates giving information on progress, resolutions or the failure thereof.  I would like to encourage residents to write to me at: 

Current issues on which the WPAG is keeping a very close eye are:

  1. Crime and Anti-social Behaviour
  2. Parking and speeding offences
  3. Singlers Marsh

 

  1. CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOURPetty crime and anti-social behaviour are steadily on the increase and can be witnessed on more or less a daily basis.  Local shops are experiencing frequent shoplifting by minors, there have been many incidences of abusive and unpleasant behaviour, particularly affecting the High Street businesses and houses in that area.  The latest dangerous craze amongst young boys is riding bicycles on one wheel up the middle of the road into oncoming traffic or pedestrians!The police have been made aware of what is going on.  They urge residents to report to 101 each and every incident that takes place, no matter how minorIf it isn’t reported, it didn’t happen!Please note:  On WEDNESDAY 8th MARCH, between 14:00 and 16:00, The Community Safety Partnership will be visiting Welwyn. (High Street Car Park, or in the Civic Centre if weather bad).  Crime advice, OWL signups and much more.  This will be an opportunity to make the police aware of local concerns and it is therefore really important that as many people as possible come to this event.NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH.

    One of the most beneficial aspects of living in Welwyn and surrounding areas has been the low crime rate.  This is mainly due to the very close-knit community spirit that exists and how people look out for their neighbours.  Maintaining this will help to ensure that Welwyn continues to be a safe and delightful place in which to live, and I would ask any residents who have not already done so to sign up to Neighbourhood Watch OWL (Online Watch Link).  This will enable you to receive online messages from the police about incidents throughout the Borough, as well as putting you in touch with local co-ordinators for your immediate area.  Feel free to contact me for more information.

  2. PARKING AND SPEEDING OFFENCES

    Illegal and inconsiderate parking is an ongoing problem, particularly during rush hour periods and school runs.  Vehicles are frequently parked on double yellow lines, on corners, on the pedestrian crossing and zigzags.  All of these offences create traffic jams and dangerous situations.  The perpetrators are breaking the law.  The Police and the Borough Council are equally responsible for enforcement but, due to staff and finance cuts, neither organisation is able to efficiently control the situation on a regular basis.Speeding and driving carelessly through the village are also a matter of concern.  Suggestions of a 20mph speed limit on some roads and slow down “smiley face” signs have been suggested by some residents as a possible solution.
  3. SINGLERS MARSH      

In April 2017, Affinity Water are scheduled to cease abstraction from the Fulling Mill Pumping Station on Singlers Marsh.  Through liaison with Affinity Water and the Environment Agency, I am able to provide residents with the following information:

EA asked their modellers to test the proposed changes in the Singlers Marsh area.  These were carried out on an early version of the model therefore the results are precautionary and will be improved with further modelling work.  A precautionary approach was also taken with how the interaction between the river and the groundwater was modelled, meaning that the EA approach will overstate the impact.  With flood modelling, they think it is always better to over-estimate rather than under-estimate and, with this precautionary approach to modelling, the EA predict that the River Mimram could see a small rise following the sustainability reduction.

The EA’s technical experts have reviewed the initial model results and, at this stage, believe that a negligible increase in flood risk is the most likely outcome but cannot prove or rule out a small effect on flood risk.

The EA are liaising with Affinity Water to provide an interim operating agreement that would mitigate the possible change in risk and are currently making very positive progress towards this.

The WPAG are keeping a close watch on developments; are in regular communication with Welwyn Parish Council and will keep residents notified of any significant information as it becomes available.

 

Defibrillator – News about Training – and an update.

Welwyn’s Community Defibrillator

AED Barclays WelwynWelwyn Village now has an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) located outside Barclays Bank in Church Street.  This is accessible 24/7 without prior training by anyone witnessing a person having a suspected heart attack.  It will significantly increase the chance of saving their life before Paramedics arrive.

If you are in this situation:

  • Call 999
  • Go to the AED cabinet outside Barclays
  • The Ambulance Operator will give you the code to open the cabinet door so you can retrieve the AED and at the same time they will despatch medical help
  • Take it to the patient and follow the easy video and audio instructions on the AED unit
  • You cannot harm someone in error; if they are not actually in cardiac arrest (heart attack) the AED will not shock them!

Many thanks to everyone who supported the fund-raising initiative.  In particular we thank the Welwyn Wailers for donating £1,000 from this year’s Wail, and the four village businesses that responded with donations, Mimram Veterinary Centre, Neel Dentistry, Putterills and SuSu.

Training

We have arranged for the Community Heartbeat Trust to run an awareness session at 8 – 9.30 pm on Wednesday 28th September in St Mary’s Church House.  This is for anyone who would like to know how to recognise someone having a heart attack, how the AED works, how it links with the ambulance service and how to look after the patient until medical help arrives.  This session is free of charge and you are very welcome to attend.

We almost have funds for a second AED and pending further fund-raising are investigating other locations within the civic parish of Welwyn.  If you are able to contribute to this important community asset please contact us for details.

Jane Carr                                                         Ian Skidmore

                            

01438 712510                                                 01438 716428

 

 

 

Defibrillator – Welwyn High Street – Now Ready for use

Welwyn Village now has an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) located outside Barclays Bank in Church Street.  This is accessible 24/7 to anyone witnessing a person in cardiac arrest (or having a suspected heart attack) and will significantly increase the chance of saving their life before Paramedics arrive.
If you are in this situation:
  • Call 999AED Barclays Welwyn
  • Go to the AED cabinet outside Barclays
  • The Ambulance Operator will give you the code to open the cabinet door so you can retrieve the AED and at the same time will despatch medical help
  • Take it to the patient and follow the easy video and audio instructions on the AED unit
  • You cannot harm someone in error; if they are not actually in cardiac arrest (heart attack) the AED will not shock them!
Local Training
Clearly, despite the designed ease of use, it is important that local people should familiarise themselves where the AED is sited, so that in an emergency they are in a strong position to advise and help visitors to Welwyn’s retail centre. Despite the ease of use of this equipment,  extra training will be provided in due course for interested and concerned local people,.
You too can Help!
  • Please pass the message on. 
  • Tell people where the defibrillator is sited.
  • Tell people to be confident and use it in an emergency.
  • Tell people that they will be given clear instructions.
 This could save a life!

Welwyn’s First Defibrillator Installed

Welwyn’s First Defibrillator Installed
As a result of an initiative and fund raising jointly by St Mary’s Church and the Welwyn Parish Plan Action Group, an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) has now been installed in Welwyn High Street, and will soon be commissioned into service for the community.
The AED is designed to be used by anyone who witnesses someone in cardiac arrest in conjunction with calling 999.
Sponsors

Four Welwyn businesses have actively contributed as sponsors: Putterills, Neel Dentistry, Mimram Vets and Susu, along with many very generous individual AED Barclays Welwynbenefactors.

The Welwyn Wailers also gave a substantial donation from their 2016 ‘Wail’.
Training
The Community Heartbeat Trust will provide some training and the Parish Plan Action Group will advise about that when known.
More details, including instructions in the use of the AED, will be issued on the WPAG website as soon as the AED is commisioned and ready for service.
A Second defibrillator planned.
The Welwyn Parish Plan Action Group is well on the way to raising sufficient funds for a second AED for the civic parish of Welwyn and the project team will meet in early July 2016 to debate where it should be located.
More about that when it is decided.

Drivesafe Survey – Support from the Police Commissioner

The following was published on the OWL (Online Watch Link) system on 21st September 2015 for all Neighbourhood Watch members.

Dear Watch Member,

We would like to say a huge thank you to all those who completed our survey on Hertfordshire’s Community DriveSafe scheme.  It was completed by an overwhelming 1,288 of you, with many more comments sent by email.

We were incredibly pleased to see that 74% of survey participants support the principle of the DriveSafe scheme, many sending positive comments about their experiences. However, it was also clear that some respondents are uncertain what DriveSafe is about and that more publicity and awareness is needed. If you’d like more information please visit the Police Commissioner’s site for details.

The full results of the survey can be found here: http://hertscommissioner.org/fluidcms/files/files/pdf/Drivesafe/DriveSafe-Survey-Analysis-2015.pdf

Community DriveSafe is an important part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s wider volunteering strategy empowering people and local businesses to support traffic speed reduction in their village or town. The aim is to educate drivers on the impact and dangers of their speed.

The survey showed there is a perception by some that speed monitoring should not be carried out by volunteers.  We would like to clarify that this scheme is about educating motorists and empowering local people; DriveSafe schemes are supported by police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and designed to complement speed enforcement carried out by officers. We also now have 27 Special Constables who support the schemes, using a laser speed gun at DriveSafe locations.

Feedback from the survey will be used to inform future improvements of the DriveSafe Scheme. Two if the most popular suggestions were to extend the scheme to include drivers on mobile phones and illegal and unsafe parking.

Both are in the Police and Crime plan around anti-social driving and will be taken forward over the coming months.

Again, thank you to all who took the time to respond to the survey.

Kind regards

DriveSafe Admin Team

If you need to reply regarding this message, click on this email address:

Regards,
David Lloyd Police and Crime Commissioner
.
Neighbourhood Watch
Email: