SAPHRA
The Residents’ Association for Sopwell Lane, Albert Street, Pageant Road, Hart Road,
The Ryder Seed Mews Estate, Saracens Head Yard, Pearce’s Walk and Keyfield Terrace
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Notes of SAPHRA meeting held on Tuesday 3 September 2024 at 8pm
at the White Hart Hotel, Holywell Hill, St Albans
Present: Officials: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Minutes Secretary
Plus: 3 residents of Sopwell Lane
2 residents of Albert Street
1 resident of Pageant Road
1 resident of Hart Road
Apologies for absence: Cllr. Juliet Voisey, 3 residents
Two officers from St Albans District Housing Team came to talk about their role and to answer questions. There was a very useful exchange of information benefiting both parties. The link below will take you to the District Council’s Housing web pages:
https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/housing
The main subjects discussed in the remainder of the meeting were:
- Finances and banking arrangements:
Our current balance with Metro Bank remains unchanged at £487.83.
- The Green Oasis in Sopwell Lane:
SAPHRA gardening team will meet up (date to be agreed) to:
weed the plant borders
prune back the new hedging and excess ivy
establish what plants to keep and which to remove
dig out the dead field maple from the centre of the site.
We will seek advice on the removal and replanting of a donated rowan tree to take the place of the field maple.
We will continue to chase the District Council with regards to the promised installation of wooden posts as well as the funding for the two information boards from the CNC budget.
- The future of SAPHRA:
Roger spoke about the changes that have recently taken place within the District Council and the City Neighbourhoods Committee. The new Leader of the District Council is Cllr Paul De Kort, who represents a Harpenden Ward. The Central Combined Residents Association have requested a meeting with Cllr De Kort in his role as Leader, but that has not happened so far.
The new Chair of the CNC is Cllr Anthony Rowlands and the new Vice Chair is Cllr Robert Donald. Cllr Rowlands has set up a working party of councillors and residents’ associations to consider the purpose of the CNC.
Roger asked the meeting for thoughts on the purpose of SAPHRA and its way of working. The overwhelming response was the meetings are useful and help people keep up with what is happening locally – we should carry on with what we are doing.
- Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 29 October 2024 at 8pm in the first-floor meeting room (Resident’s Lounge) in The White Hart Hotel, 23-25 Holywell Hill.
- Any Other Business:
Broken cobblestones were reported at the entry in Albert Street to the car park at the rear of the former Café Rouge. (This has now been reported to Hertfordshire County Council.)
Conservation 50:
On Tuesday 1 October 2024 at 7pm Professor Tim Boatswain will be giving a philosophy talk on ‘What is Freedom’ at the Lower Red Lion, 36 Fishpool Street, AL3 4RX. The philosophy is free, but you will have to pay for your own drinks (any donations to Conservation 50 will be gratefully received).
At the close of the meeting, as is our habit, a number of residents adjourned to the hotel bar to continue the conversation in a less formal setting.
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