The Parish Pump
Official Magazine of the Croxley Green Parish Council
Issues 27 to 47
Official Magazine of the Croxley Green Parish Council
Issues 27 to 47
The Parish Pump - Official magazine of Croxley Green Parish Council - Issue 27 to Current Issue
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In this Issue
Annual General Meeting - The evening of 12 May saw a change within the Parish Council. In addition to Councilor Mark Saxon being elected as Chairman of the Council and Councillor Nick Bennett Vice-Chairman, a number of new Council Members were co-opted. Councillor Saxon in taking the Chairmanship for the rest of the AGM firstly gave a vote of thanks to Cllr Vassiliou, the former Chairman, for the hard work and dedication that he had given the Parish during his Chairmanship. The new Councillors co-opted onto the Council include Cllr David Bains, Cllr Kathryn Duffy, Cllr Carol Hearn and Cllr Tony Munroe. Cllr Tony Bennett—has lived in Croxley Green for 9 years and worked in Croxley as an Estate Agent for 11 years. Cllr Bennett is 43, married to Jackie and has two children William and Aimee. He went to Rickmansworth School and has been a member of the E&A committee for 2 years. | ||
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In this Issue Council at full strength - For the first time in a number of years, the Parish Council is at full strength and up to its maximum of 16 Members. Chairman of the Council, Cllr Mark Saxon said “This is an excellent position to be in. With new Councillors representing their Ward Parishioners, their views and opinions will greatly add to the quality and depth of discussions at meetings for the betterment of Croxley Green. I recently called to talk to Dave and Carol Edwards to discover the story behind the “Christmas House”. Dave told me that the whole idea started in 1978 with the decoration of the porch, and this, like Topsy, “just grew and grew”. He has no specific plan for the decorations, but certain items do have particular places. The decorations start to go up during the second week in November and this takes three weeks to complete, but only two days to take down! An interview by Cllr Christine Jefford | ||
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In this Issue So who spotted the deliberate mistake! Ms Matheson did. In the last edition of the Parish Magazine we ran a competition to see who could spot the deliberate mistake. On page 7 we had reported on the Chairman’s Charity Challenge Trophy for 2005. In the article we said that 72 people took part on a gentle “amber” over 3.5km. Of course the word should have been “AMBLE”. By the way, ‘Amber’ is the name of Councillor Christine Jefford’s dog. Ms Matheson’s name was picked out of a hat from those who entered by Councillor Kathryn Duffy at the Parish Pump magazine Editorial Committee meeting held on 7 February. Ms Matheson wins a framed copy of the Parish Map. Well done! | ||
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In this Issue Fireworks on the Green - Many avid readers will have noted the article in the last issue of The Pump and already made a note in their diary for 31st December 2006. For those who have not, here is a gentle reminder so that you and your family can avoid the disappointment of missing this firework extravaganza. Fireworks on the Green is the opportunity for the village of Croxley Green to join together and see in 2007 with this celebration. Timetable for events: Assemble on the Green from 11.45pm (near the Revels site);Fireworks commence at 12.00 midnight sharp. It is anticipated that the display will last approximately 15 minutes as we welcome in the New Year. The exciting and spectacular show is being provided by Whizzz Bang Fireworks of Kings Langley. As with any large gathering there are a few rules to make this an enjoyable and safe evening for all. | ||
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In this Issue
Croxley Green Junior Council - In January this year Croxley Green Parish Council decided to set up a Junior Council. The Members of the Junior Council are from the three junior schools in Croxley, namely Harvey Road School, Little Green School and Yorke Mead School. The Junior Council meetings are chaired by one of the junior members with the Clerk to the Parish Council, David Allison, providing the necessary support and guidance at the meetings. One of the first initiatives the Junior Council has focused on has been an anti-litter campaign. The Junior Council together with other pupils from some of the schools organised a litter pick session in Croxley Hall Woods on June 14. This was to highlight the amount of litter that is just thrown on the ground. After only an hour some 12 plastic bin bags had been filled. As a follow up to this litter pick, pupils from each of the schools designed anti-litter posters; the winning ones will be used in an anti-litter campaign around Croxley Green. | ||
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In this Issue Social Afternoon Tea The Parish Council tried something new this year – mainly for the users of the free community bus provided by the Parish Council on Fridays (the timetable is printed on page 12). With the use of the hall at the Community Centre and organised by Cllr Christine Jefford and Helena Flynn, our Social Afternoon Tea was a great success. About sixty people were offered a great selection of cakes and biscuits as well as tea, coffee and soft drinks. Everyone had a very enjoyable couple of hours and we received many letters to say so, as well as verbal thanks. Having tried this out we would like to make this event bi-annual if possible. We are really glad that all of you who joined us had such a good time. Cllr Hazel Seeley | ||
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In this Issue Dog Time - I was out walking with my master (so he thinks!) when I met Jessie and Louie, two friends of mine. We passed the time of day, and briefly discussed the weather, also, whether it was fair to take us away from a pleasant lie by the fire. We concluded that it was right that we should take our masters’ out, in order to make them feel that they were in proper control of us, but of course, we know who’s in charge! People who are not dog owners, do not understand the delicate balance between an owner and their dog. For instance, “let’s go walkies”, really means they fancy a drink at the local. “I think I will take the dog out” means the TV is rubbish, and vice versa. When it’s raining heavily, I just give that ‘you cannot be serious’ look, or the sad eyed spaniel look – it works every time! But my “master” has been a bit clever and bought me a waterproof jacket; I must see if it can be buried in the garden. Bess - Roving Reporter | ||
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In this Issue: Flowers in Croxley 2 Bulb Planting 2 Sunflower & Pumpkins 3 Garden Competition Results 5 Commemorative Trees 6 Croxley Great Barn 9 Meet your PCSOs 11 Hobbies & Craft Day 13 Junior Council 13 Dates for your Diary 15 Life under Water 16 Carl’s Berlin Potato Soup 19 | ||
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In this Issue ‘New’ Village Hall for Croxley and Free Membership - At a special meeting of Croxley Green Parish Council on 12 January, the Council agreed to enter into an Agreement with Croxley Green Community Association for the provision of a Village / Community Hall for Croxley Green. The Community Association had also got the endorsement of its Members to enter the Agreement at their Annual General Meeting which was held on Sunday 11 January. The Agreement means that ALL residents of Croxley Green may now have free membership of the Croxley Green Community Association. The free membership needs to be activated by filling in a form which is available at the Parish Council Office or from the Community Centre in Community Way. | ||
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In this Issue Gardening Club at Little Green School - Gardening Club started last March at Little Green School after the Parish Council Rangers built some beds for us. We decided to use the beds to grow vegetables and soon set about planting seeds for lettuce, beetroot, carrots, spring onions and radish. We also planted some seed potatoes in four of the deep flower tubs that we have around School. The sunflower and pumpkin seeds were planted and kept indoors. We could not believe how quickly they germinated and the pumpkin plants took over the bench by the window as they seemed to double in size every day. We tidied up our herb garden, with the Rangers’ help. We rediscovered the brick pathways and many different herbs as we weeded, and trimmed back the overgrown shrubs with the secateurs (we enjoyed using the proper, DANGEROUS tools!). | ||
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In this Issue West Herts Against Crime - West Herts Against Crime provide a free home security and fire safety service. Everyone is entitled to a free home security survey and fire safety check; however, to qualify for the free supply and fitting of security equipment, you must be over 60 years of age, disabled, a lone parent, a repeat victim of burglary or a victim of domestic violence, race or hate crime. The service includes fitting a range of equipment such as door and window locks, spy holes, door chains and smoke alarms. They also provide expert advice on how to stay safe and secure in your home and will do presentations to local groups on crime prevention and bogus callers. The Charity also provide a handyperson service for elderly and disabled residents in Watford and Three Rivers for a modest charge of £10 per hour up to a maximum of £45. | ||
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In this Issue
Speeding on the Green If you try to exceed the speed limit on the Green think again. The Community Police for Croxley Green have now been fully trained on the new digital hand held speed camera. It is being deployed with Officers, day or night, randomly on The Green and elsewhere and its range is just awesome! The speed limit across The Green and throughout Croxley Green is 30mph except for New Road where the limit is 20mph. If you spot the camera, it is probably too late as it’s already recorded your speed, captured your number plate and taken your picture – smile, I think not as you’re nicked! The new hand held digital camera does an automatic check with DVLC to check road tax and insurance. Around Croxley Green the Auto Recognition system has been used to great success on those who think they can exceed the speed limit. In doing so they put other lives at risk and this is a message we must all remember. In New Road the speed limited is 20mph. | ||
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In this Issue
Adopt Your Street - Have you ever thought of adopting a street – your own street is a good one to start on! It’s quite simple really if you are a walker on a regular basis, as it involves interest in the community with your own small effort to make the area you live in an even better place. I live in Oakleigh Drive and have adopted it. What does this mean? Litter: I always carry a small plastic bag with me to collect the occasional empty beer can, pizza box or other small piece of rubbish – especially after bin days when small items are lying around. Potholes: if I notice potholes I put down the number of the house adjacent and ring up the Highways Department on 01923 471320 or go online: www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/hfr/ They always try to fill them in within four working days. Many houses have large potholes outside them because so many people do not have time after a busy day’s work to report them or do not know how easy it is. | ||
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In this Issue
How Well Do You Know Your Croxley Village? - The whole area within our village boundary is only two square miles – not much you may say and yet it is amazing how little so many residents know about the wonderful amenities this little spot of heaven has to offer. I often meet residents who say they have never heard of Croxley Common Moor or of Little Green though they both straddle the edges of our village. Yes, we are uniquely lucky to be surrounded by a flourishing Green Belt – in fact it is even greener now than when I settled here forty years ago. I live in the South of Croxley where once upon a time we had a huge paper mill – now it is gone. We also had unsightly railway sidings which are now covered in green parkland. Walk down Mill Lane (opposite the Metropolitan station) and you come to the Grand Union Canal and the leafy River Gade and across the bridge lies Croxley Common Moor | ||
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In this Issue
Jubilee Tree- To continue a long-standing Croxley tradition I have suggested that we plant an oak tree on The Green to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year. Council agreed and money was put in the budget for this. At the beginning of March I met with Julie Hughes from Three Rivers District Council to discuss the location for this tree. We walked along The Green and I showed her the other commemorative trees as we looked for a suitable site. The location which was chosen had been suggested by a Croxley resident and is at the south end of The Green, near to All Saints Church. The tree will be planted in the autumn (to give it the best chance, especially with the current dry conditions). It means that it will be ‘next to’ Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee tree outside the gates of All Saints and near to the tree planted to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. We hope to make this quite a big event so we will keep you posted. | ||
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We In this Issue Croxley Green’s First Wassail Ceremony (as far as we know!) When: January 17 2012 Where: Stone’s Orchard Time: 6.30pm to 8.00pm with formalities commencing at 7:00pm Why are we doing it? - We have an orchard and Wassailing the fruit trees is an old custom although mainly found in the West Country. So, why have one in Croxley Green? Well, we seem to be very short on local tradition and ceremony, we have an orchard, the organiser of the event was born in Herefordshire and it will be a fun evening in a dreary month! Who will be there? - It is all very much in the planning stage but we have invited at least one Morris Side, Folk Musicians and our very own Croxley Mummers. We hope, therefore, to have dancing, singing, playing and Mumming and, most importantly, YOU!!! | ||
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In this Issue COUNCILLORS North Ward: Nik Bennett 773623 (Vice Chairman—P&D Committee) Frank Brand 248704 / Julie Isard-Brown 711107 Hazel Seeley 772696 (Vice Chairman—E&A Committee) Wendy Shafe 441638 (Vice Chairman of the Council) Croxley Green Ward: Kenneth Baldwin 225460 / Leighton Dann 778484 Dudley Edmunds 721214 (Chairman—E&A Committee) Peter Getkahn 464606 / Wendy Jordan 777880 (Chairman—P&D Committee) Janet Martin 774514 South Ward: Phil Brading 492893 / Chris Mitchell 775642 (Chairman of the Council) / Robert Ridley 778638 / Anthony Vane 243068 David Wynne-Jones 251905 | ||
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In this Issue Annual Report Events Dog show, the fun was had by so many and I was doing a little judging last year. Pity I do not know anything about dogs (!), so I had to choose which one I would like best to take home. I took home 5!! Fireworks / Wassail / The Revels / Croxfest / Quiz at the Sportsman New Christmas tree at the Library. These are all things that are free to join in with, and are open for all. These are the things that contribute towards Croxley Green being a community rather than just a dormitory village. Grants Last year we gave grants to local organisations - Croxley Green Mummers (up to £500), Croxley Green Guild of Sport (£3,750 for kitchen upgrade), Croxley Green Residents Association (£500 for CGRA history project). I will discuss the budget in the F&A report. | ||
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In this Issue Councillors have three main areas of work: 1. Decision-making: through attending meetings and committees with other elected members, Councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented. 2. Monitoring: Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working. 3. Getting involved locally: as local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. This often depends on what the Councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available. | ||
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In this Issue
The “Hazel Seeley Award” - Last year the Parish Council agreed to present an annual civic award to someone who has improved the lives of the people within the Parish or someone who has provided services to the community of Croxley Green. At the Annual Parish Meeting back in April this award was presented by the Chairman, Cllr Chris Mitchell, to the awards namesake – Hazel Seeley. Hazel served as a Parish Councillor for 18 years up until 2015 and she was also one of the founders of the Flowers4Croxley group. As well as this, she also helped to raise money over the years for the Parish Council’s various charities. Hazel stated that she was delighted to be the first person to receive the “Hazel Seeley Award” and added that she had really enjoyed the time she spent on the Parish Council. Hazel has lived in Croxley Green for 78 years and she thinks it is a lovely place to live.
In This Issue Cllr Mark Saxon is "“Delighted and honoured to have been elected for a second time to be Chairman of the Croxley Green Parish Council. The last time I was Chairman was in 2007 and it seems a long time ago and a lot has changed." Issues that affect us MLX. Now on back burner due to costs. They have gone very quiet on us, but basically it has gone over £50m over budget. Neighbourhood Plan - This has now been submitted to TRDC who are going through their own consultation on it. The latest version is on our website. Cllr Gallagher will update this, and many thanks to him for all the work he has put in and to the rest of the working party. | ||||
