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 25 March 2025
at the White Hart Hotel, Holywell Hill, St Albans
Present: Officials: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Minutes Secretary
Plus: Cllr Juliet Voisey, Cllr Chris White, 3 residents of Albert Street, 1 resident of Pageant Road, 1 resident of Sopwell Lane, 1 resident of Hart Road
Apologies for absence:2 residents
The main subjects discussed in the meeting were:
- Finances and banking arrangements:
SAPHRA has received the usual annual grant payment of £100 from St Albans District Council. Our current balance with Metro Bank is now £571.83.
- The Green Oasis in Sopwell Lane:
A gardening day was held on 27 February. A large pile of chopped off ivy and tree branches, left from the collapsed fence, had to be cleared before the team could set about clearing part of the bank. The vegetation was bagged and taken to the municipal recycling centre. A chainsaw was also used to tackle the larger stumps (there was much blunting of blades).
The water butt on site got broken during last year’s storm and SAPHRA members agreed to pay £38.00 for a replacement. The receipt will be sent to our treasurer for reimbursement.
We have been assured that the funding for the wooden posts is still available, and the District Council will arrange for them to be installed soon. The metal frames for the two information boards have been organised by Fonteyne Signs and we are currently completing the artwork.
We are holding another gardening morning on Tuesday 8 April 2025 at 10.30am. We will continue to clear the bank of remaining foliage and prepare the ground for planting bulbs and shrubs. If you or any interested friends would like to join us, please come armed with branch loppers, garden fork, secateurs and gardening gloves.
- Local government reorganisation:
- According to Government plans, St Albans District Council (SADC) and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) will cease to exist by April 2028 and be replaced by one or more unitary authorities (note that experienced councillors suggest that this timetable will inevitably slip).
- HCC and the various District & Borough councils have submitted an initial joint proposal, with several options, for unitary authorities in Hertfordshire.
- The next significant deadline is 28th November for final proposals to be submitted.
- You can find up-to-date information from this address:
https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation
- Just as important, but attracting less attention, are Government proposals for strategic authorities (led by an elected mayor) covering areas of around 1.5 million people (so bigger than Hertfordshire) to be responsible for planning, transport, public health etc.
- City Neighbourhoods Committee (CNC)
- SAPHRA is a co-opted member of the CNC, which will cease to exist when SADC is replaced.
- The co-opted members of the CNC had a productive meeting with the Leader of SADC on 20th March. It was common ground that a Parish Council to further the interests of the historic City of St Albans would be essential when SADC ceases to exist.
- A Community Governance Review is needed to get a Parish Council. The CNC will push for this.
- Combined Central Residents Associations (CCRA):
- SAPHRA is a member of the CCRA, which intends to continue to act as a pressure group on behalf of city-centre residents, irrespective of the way that local government may be organised in future.
- The Local Plan
The inspector’s examination of SASDC’s Local Plan begins on 29th April. The examination will be webcast.
- Local Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure
- HCC is (at last) proposing some on-street charging points for Hertfordshire.
- They propose around 115 across the unparished (central) area of St Albans.
- None are likely to be placed in SAPHRA’s area as there are already some in nearby car parks.
- HCC is still opposed to any form of cross-pavement charging from (cheaper) household electricity supplies.
- SAPHRA’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 June 2025 at 8pm in The White Hart Hotel, 23-25 Holywell Hill.
- Any Other Business:
a. The Ryder Seed Hall – has now been sub-let to Moka Dining; an Indian restaurant with an existing branch in Northwood. They will refurbish interior of the property before opening.
b. Cllr Chris White has asked HCC to correct issues with poorly placed road signs - the No Right Turn sign from Bardwell Road into Sopwell Lane and the No Entry signs at the junction of Holywell Hill and Sopwell Lane.
c. Cllr Juliet Voisey will ask SADC to improve the poorly worded signs relating to residents’ parking restrictions in Albert Street.
- Forthcoming events:
The Friends of Verulamium Park will be launched on 15th April at 7:30pm in the Abbey Theatre. You can find out more through:
https://www.abbeytheatre.org.uk/whats-on/friends-verulamium-park/
Professor Tim Boatswain, our Treasurer, spoke of a project he and his friend, Dr Florian Ruths, are engaged in, ‘The Nathaniel Cotton Series of Talks on Anthropology and Psychiatry: Cultural Constructs of Mental Illness’. They are raising funds to restore the weathered and lichen covered gravestones of Nathaniel Cotton, Anne Pembroke (his first wife) and Hannah Everett (his second wife) which lie side by side in St Peter’s Churchyard. The fourth talk ‘Why we worry’ will be held on 24th April 2025 at 7pm in The Octagon Room, St Peter’s Church.
Local Government Reorganisation Q&A28th April at 6:30pm in the Cathedral. Book through:
https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/Event/local-government-reorganisation-qa
Tim will also be presenting ‘Philosophy at the Lower Red Lion - ‘What Is Truth?’ on Thursday 29 April 2025 at 7pm. All welcome. The philosophy is free, but you must buy your own drinks.
John Chapple and the Restoration of the Abbey Tower – this talk will take place in St Albans Cathedral on 4th June 2025 at 8pm and is brought to you by St Albans Adult Learning and Blue Plaques St Albans. Book through:
https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/Event/john-chapple-and-the-restoration-of-the-abbey-tower
At the close of the meeting, as is our habit, several residents adjourned to the hotel bar to continue the conversation in a less formal setting.
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