The evening is organised by the BCC (Batchworth Community Council) and will cover Community Safety, Cyber Security and Burglary Prevention. Our local policing team will be there for you to raise any concerns or share feedback.
Have your say on the future of Rickmansworth’s historic town centre.
Three Rivers District Council is reviewing the Conservation Area to help protect its character, heritage and important buildings while guiding future development. If you live, work or visit the area, this is your opportunity to influence how it is preserved and enhanced for future generations.
We joined Age Friendly on their walking audit of Rickmansworth High Street this month, with a particular focus on the experiences and needs of older adults.
The walking audit lasted around 30-45 minutes and was a friendly, community-led walk to highlight accessibility issues, safety concerns, signage and seating.
The Metropolitan service has issued an apology, giving the following explanation:
“Unfortunately we’ve got a couple of big issues going on:-
We do have some train operator resourcing issues, we’ve had higher than expected attrition however we do have new train operators coming in so this should resolve soon.
We are also having to train all our operators on the next section of the 4LM signalling upgrade (SMA9) so this is not helping with our availability. We’ve reviewed the training programme to lessen the burden on coverage. Next week there will be less courses running and so should help with our duty coverage.
In addition there are some issues with the track condition so there are currently speed restrictions in the Wembley area. The whole area will be rerailed over the coming weeks which will mean the speed restriction can be lifted.”
The Government has announced that four new unitary councils are to be formed in Hertfordshire.
The decision means that Hertfordshire County Council and the ten district and borough councils will be reorganised to form four new unitary authorities, North West Hertfordshire, South West Hertfordshire, Central Hertfordshire and Eastern Hertfordshire. The four new authorities will, from April 2028, provide the services previously provided by the county, district and borough councils.
This means that Three Rivers District Council will form part of the South West Hertfordshire Council.
Eastern Hertfordshire Council will also include Royston Heath, Royston Palace, Royston Meridian, Ermine, Weston and Sandon wards from North Herts Council, and Northaw and Cuffley ward from Welwyn Hatfield District Council.
What does this mean for you?
There will be no immediate changes to services and you will continue to represent your residents until Vesting Day on 1 April 2028.
Elections for the ‘Shadow Authority’ will take place in May 2027 which will oversee the transition from the existing councils to the unitary authority. On 1 April 2028, councillors of the Shadow Authority will formally take over responsibility for the new authority.
How can you find out more?
A members’ briefing will be scheduled for the coming days, at which you will be able to ask more questions and find out more from me, the chief executive, and the leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE.
Find out what was discussed at the last Rickmansworth Local Area Forum, including policing, the Local Plan, Beryl Bikes, Woodland Walk and other matters affecting the local community. Although the Mill Stream was discussed, no actions were recorded.
I am writing to provide an update on the formal enforcement action the Council has taken against the operators of the unauthorised scrap metal site on Springwell Lane.
Following the Interim Injunction granted on 8 May 2026, the Council has now successfully obtained a Full Injunction. This sets out a timetable for the closure and clearance of the site.
The Full Injunction requires Springwell Lane Metal Recycling Limited to comply with the terms of the Court Order. The Council’s claim against the landowners has been postponed for nine months. If the site operators do not comply with the Order and clear the land as required, the Council may ask the Court to take further action against the landowners.
The main requirements of the Court Order are:
The site must no longer be used as a scrap metal yard.
No further development or works may take place on the land.
No waste, hardcore or similar materials may be brought onto the site.
No vehicles, machinery or equipment may be brought onto or stored on the land, except where needed to help clear the site and comply with the Order.
By 4.00 pm on 23 August 2026, Springwell Lane Metal Recycling Limited must remove:
All scrap metal, gas canisters, tyres and waste materials.
The fence panels and posts installed along the site boundary.
All skips, containers, vehicles, diggers and machinery used for the unauthorised scrap yard.
The weighbridge.
The new concrete bases shown in the evidence provided to the Court.
By 4.00 pm on 30 September 2026, Plot B must be re-seeded with grass.
The Council will closely monitor the site to ensure the Order is followed. An inspection will take place on or shortly after 24 August 2026 to check that the land has been cleared as required.
Failure to comply with the Court Order may result in the Council applying to the Court for contempt of court proceedings. This is a serious matter and could lead to penalties including fines, imprisonment and/or the seizure of assets.
Thank you for your patience while the Council has pursued all available legal options to stop the unlawful use of the land as a scrap metal yard. Despite delays to prosecution proceedings that were outside the Council’s control, we were able to demonstrate to the Court that the ongoing unauthorised use, its impact on local residents through noise and nuisance, and the potential harm to the Green Belt and natural environment justified the granting of an Injunction.
We welcome the Court’s decision and hope the matter will now be brought to a successful conclusion.
Take a journey through the history of Three Rivers, from its early settlements and waterways to the growth of its towns and villages, in this fascinating local history booklet first published in 1992.
Residents received a flyer through the door recently about this proposed development but only have until 19th July to reply to the online survey.
Although the land is in Hillingdon, affected houses are all in Three Rivers, and as you will see from the link below, they want vehicular access onto Rickmansworth Road where the speed camera currently is, which would have a huge impact on the traffic situation, which is already bad.
Our concern is that only a tiny area will have been leafletted, and some people will think it’s junk mail and just throw it away. Some elderly neighbours are not able to complete an online questionnaire.
