The Resident Number 141 - 1981
In this Issue
CHAIRMAN'S CORNER As a Residents' Association we are accustomed to receiving many and varied reactions to our different activities. It is obviously very pleasant when people agree with us and with a committee made up of individuals of varied party political persuasions or no obvious accent, we believe that normally we reflect a wide spectrum of views or try to put forward, as fairly as possible, the alternatives. However there are occasions when someone does not agree and when that happens we are always ready to re-examine our position. At the time of our last Annual General Meeting we were accused of siding with one particular political party and more recently of being a training ground for councillors of an opposite persuasion. With a largely unchanged committee, unless we change our minds with our underwear, we cannot be both. I see this as a healthy sign, a mark of respect from those who regard us as opponents. May I stress, yet again, that we seek not to oppose but propose, not to distort but to make plain, not to put forward narrow views but to try to reflect the opinions of the whole of Croxley Green. |
The Resident Number 142 - 1981
In this Issue
WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS AND POWERS OF A PARISH COUNCIL? Parish Councils have the statutory right to be: • notified of all planning applications, and to comment on them • to appoint managers to primary schools • to appoint trustees to parochial charities • to review the annual accounts of such charities • to be formally consulted by the County Council in the survey of footpaths • to be notified by the District Council regarding burial grounds and sewerage works • to be notified by the District Council before laws are made regarding music, dancing and licenced premises licence applications, taxi licences, and paving streets. Parish Councils have the powers to provide or contribute toward: • Recreation facilities such as halls, community centres, youth clubs, playing fields, playgrounds, swimming pools and sports facilities, public open spaces and walks. • Public road lighting. / Allotments. / Seats, bus shelters, toilets, litter bins, car parks, launderettes. / Entertainments for the community. A Parish Council also has the power: • To create and maintain public footpaths, and to acquire rights of way. / To. clean out ditches, ponds and streams. / To maintain War Memorials. / To maintain roadside verges. / To underwrite any loss the Post Office may make in keeping up its service to the community. |
The Resident Number 143 - 1982
In this Issue
CROXLEY - METROPOLITAN RAILWAY STATION Articles have appeared recently in the local press concerning the possibility that the Croxley to Watford spur of the Metropolitan line might be closed. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, it is perhaps worth making a few comments about this situation. 1. The announcement by London Transport of its contingency plans, falls into two parts. The first concerns those stations where passenger traffic is so low that it would be difficult to justify their continued use in any circumstance. The second group is more difficult to define although with the entire network losing money, any closures which concentrate the system would be beneficial. Croxley falls into the latter group and would only be considered if London Transport were under increased pressure to reduce costs. The timing of the statement by London Transport may well be political as it would help to focus attention on the "catastrophic" effect of the Law Lords decision. 2. For many years Hertfordshire County Council have been applying for a transport grant from Central Government to cover the losses incurred by the spur. The latest information available to the Residents' Association suggests a figure of £250,000. After the rise in fares which will take place in March this year, the 1,400 people who use Croxley and Watford will pay an annual average of £800 each to travel to London. The total revenue for the year would thus be over one million pounds. It seems unlikely that the cost of maintenance and salaries would exceed this figure unless London Transport's accounting practice was used. This practice apportions revenue across the total distance traveled, therefore a passenger from Croxley contributes only a proportion of his fare to the spur. This is fine in theory, but in practice it would have to be assumed that all Croxley and Watford passengers would travel to Rickmansworth if the spur was closed. When natural problems have caused the stations to be closed, our experience suggests that the majority would use the British Rail services from Watford. |
The Resident Number 144 -1982
In this Issue
LETTERS - Dear Madam, I read with some dismay, the article in the Croxley Resident regarding the rumours on the closing of the Croxley / Watford branch line. No doubt London Transport have already done their sums and will be telling us that the cost of keeping this branch line open is too great and I would like to make a suggestion how, at least, some costs could be cut. My suggestion, which I hope, would be of some help to any campaign to keep the line open, is as follows:- The terminus at Watford is a complicated one, with a total of 12 pairs of points, a "Scissors" crossover and angles, etc., this could be reduced to 4 pairs of points saving a great deal of cash per annum, the signalling, of course, would be greatly reduced and the maintenance of same would also be cut. The North Curve, Croxley to Rickmansworth, could be dispensed with as this is merely a convenient way of running trains to and from Rickmansworth Depot. To cut out this small piece of line would be another big saving on points and crossovers, etc., and of course maintenance on signals. Referring back to the Watford terminus, the trains now reverse there on two platforms, this could be quite easily done with one platform, with possibly an emergency siding (asper sketch). During peak times, there would be a slight reduction in service (better than no service at all) and as the minimum turn-round time for a train is 4 minutes, this should not affect the service too much. Staffing at stations would be more or less the same as now. Ticket offices would be closed earlier, reducing ticket office staff, with ticket machines installed at Croxley and Watford. |
The Resident Number 145 - 1983
In this Issue
NINE MONTHS' LABOUR Having been Secretary of the Association for ten months it seems a logical time to see what has been achieved and what still remains to be done. There is a new litter bin at the top of the Mill Hill but most of the litter seems to be left at the bottom of the hill or in the woods. There should be a new seat and hopefully a bus shelter at Cassiobridge in the near future, in the meantime be careful not to fall over the angle irons still in the pavement! We supported the Links Way residents in their effort to close Rousebarn Lane, which ironically has now been spoilt for all time by one local landowner marking the Year of the Tree in his own way. Repair work has now begun on the log palisade wall on Scots Hill and thanks to an agreement between local Estate Agents and Three Rivers Council, "For Sale" boards no longer festoon the areas of the Highfield and Mayfare estates. We still have the problems of motor cyclists on the Moor, roadside flower sellers and rubbish dumping but with the help of the relevant authorities, we are confident these can and will be resolved. We also need the help and support of the residents to make Croxley Green a better place to live and work in. We want to hear from you, otherwise my typewriter will be redundant. J.A. Bunce |
The Resident Number 146 - 1983
In this Issue
DO YOU KNOW SIGN LANGUAGE? I was recently approached by a Croxley lady and asked if I knew anyone who could help her. Her husband is severely deaf and has been attending classes in sign language in Harrow. Out of the classes he has no communication with anyone except herself and she says that he is in danger of being cut off in his own world. He desperately needs someone either who like himself is severely deaf and also knows sign language or a normal hearing individual who knows it, for occasional company. Please if you know anyone like this, please contact me at the address on the front page. Thank you. Sue Stagg NEW BAPTIST MINISTER Welcome to the Rev. Derek Fraser who was inducted into the Pastorate of Croxley Green Baptist Church, Baldwins Lane, on Saturday, 1st October. Mr. Fraser and his wife, Linda, who were brought up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, have three small children. The family have just moved down from Aberdeen where Mr. Fraser was formerly ministering. Edward Lambden |
The Resident Number 147 - 1984
In this Issue
COMMUTING TO LONDON? - Then Read this Carefully I wonder if you are one of the many who think that commuting to London by coach takes ages, is very unreliable, and most inconvenient with the only thing to recommend it being cheapness? If you are one such person, ask yourself this question: why do about 200 members of the Croxley and District Commuters' Club travel every day using this method, and why is the Club thriving after 2 full years of operating? A few facts about the Commuters' Club will answer the question for you:- 1. Croxley to Baker Street in less than 45 minutes (even quicker from Watford.) 2. Coach stops are probably near your home and office, thus saving you more time and money by giving virtually a door-to-door service. 3. Reliability of service and strict adherence to a firm timetable with a choice of several coaches giving flexibility of travel time. 4. Your own GUARANTEED seat on a clean, modern, luxury coach with up-to-date heating and cooling system for passenger comfort. 5. A relaxed and very friendly travelling atmosphere with familiar Club members to chat to if you wish. 6. An EXTREMELY low fare of £40 return per month irrespective of the local or London stop used. Our coaches serve a large number of local stops in Mill End, Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Watford and North Watford, and a multitude of central London locations. Try it, just for a week - you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. If you do try it, you will have one regret - that you didn't start simply years ago! Club membership details will be provided on request. |
The Resident Number 148 -1984
In this Issue
"FRIENDS OF THE GREEN" In 1066 it was Croc's Lea - the field of the Saxon, Croc. Today it is Croxley Green, and a Conservation Area in its own right, under the Town and Country Planning Legislation. Like so much of Hertfordshire, Croxley Green once belonged to the Abbot of St. Albans, but after the Reformation it became Crown Property, and was granted to John Caius (of Gonville and Caius College renown) by Queen Elizabeth I. Comparatively recently, Gonville and Caius College conveyed the Green to the local authority, and now TRDC owns it as one of its public open spaces. And in acquiring it, Three Rivers became Lords of the Manor. But not a lot of attention was paid to looking after it, and in 1973 local residents became alarmed at a number of threatened developments. They joined together to form the Friends of the Green, with the simple aims of safeguarding and promoting its amenities. The organisation succeeded in having the Green designated as a Conservation Area, under the Town and Country Planning laws. This meant that Three Rivers agreed to consult local residents as to the best way to manage the Area, and the Friends of the Green set to work to draw in as many leading local groups and societies as possible to form a representative Croxley Green Conservation Area Committee, which has put a Conservation Plan to Three Rivers for discussion. But apart from an overall plan, the Friends of the Green play their full part in dealing with day-to-day problems. The new litter-bins are the result of FoG representations to Three Rivers. The FoG in fact paid for one of them and the Copthorne Residents' Society paid for another. |
The Resident Number 149 - 1985
In this Issue
IT'S GOODBYE TO THEM ... We would like to record our appreciation of the services of two members of the Committee who recently resigned for various reasons. Kay Delfs joined us originally as our treasurer when the post was vacant. She served us well in this capacity for two years and afterwards as an ordinary committee member. Martin Harris joined us when we had need of renewal of a committee which was shrinking due to long service by its members. He served us faithfully, representing us also on the Road Safety Committee. Martin is well known for his scouting activities and felt unable to serve the Resident's committee to his own satisfaction and high standards at the same time. Our thanks to both our colleagues, who will, of course, need replacing at the A.G.M. John T. Hedges |
The Resident Number 150 - 1985
In this Issue
A BOOK ABOUT CROXLEY - Local journalist and designer, Peter Frost, is planning a book about Croxley. The book will consist mainly of historic photographs, but Peter hopes to include other material as well. The book will be published next year and any profits that it makes will be given to local good causes. Can you help? Do you have any old pictures, postcards, old adverts or handbills from local traders? Even interesting anecdotes of old Croxley. He would be most grateful. Peter promises to take great care of your material copying it and quickly returning your originals. You can contact Peter Frost at 56 Valley Walk, Croxley, or ring him on Watford 32661 most evenings. Sue Stagg OUR INSURANCE - Some doubts about the adequacy of insurance cover for the Association has led to an extension of our earlier arrangements. We are now quite clearly covered not only for public liabilities connected with the holding of meetings and the normal business of an association, but also for loss of funds or injury which members (including collectors and distributors) may suffer when acting on behalf of the Association. lan Thomas |
The Resident Number 151 - 1986
In this Issue
BEN TULLETT - Ben Tullett came to Croxley Green with his wife, Winifred, many years ago - a vigorous young man, energetic and eager to lead a useful life. He soon fitted into Croxley Green, a willing and helpful friend to everyone he met, an ardent worker for St. John Ambulance, an indefatigable collector for National Savings, a keen gardener and, not least, a faithful churchman. He earned our respect. I think that over the years I best remember him for his cheerfulness, kindness and steadfast work for the causes he supported. Towards the end, we admired his courage and stoicism in illness. We thank Ben for his work for all of us. He will be remembered as one of the outstanding characters of Croxley Green. Kay Raggett GOODBYE BOB AND HELLO PETER - Bob Hampson having given the Committee some years of service both as "Resident" editor and latterly as committee member, decided to resign at our A.G.M. and we were joined by Peter Ibbott. Thank you Bob for all your hard work and good wishes for the future. Peter's fresh approach and ideas have already been useful to us, and we are grateful to him for volunteering his help. Sue Stagg |
The Resident Number 152 - 1986
In this Issue
CROXLEY GREEN RESIDENTS' AND RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the above Association will be held at THE LIBRARY, BARTON WAY on FRIDAY,MARCH 21st at 8.00 pm Guest Speaker: FRED HOUSEGO CROXLEY GREEN PARISH COUNCIL - ELECTION DAY 13th MARCH 1986 We ask for your support for the following candidates who have been nominated on behalf of the Croxley Green Residents' and Ratepayers' Association as a non-party based panel for election as parish councillors. |