Feedback Forum

RDRA correspondence with Members and Residents

Opinion on re-organisation

Message received 11 Mar, 2025 – via email.

I know that the re-organisation was mentioned as part of the General Election but when one has one choice of ‘vote for Labour, Conservative or Other’ it does not allow for nuance.

I live in Rickmansworth. I have Batchworth Community Council, Three Rivers and Hertfordshire County Council.

I am very happy with that. BCC is very local and the people managing it know and experience what I do.

Three Rivers manages a wider range of things and HCC overarching and ‘big’ stuff.

Furthermore, it is MY money which pays for these organisations (along side other members of the communities) and it is far closer to Democracy than a once in five year national election.

I do not want to be part of a merger into other localities which bear no resemblance of mine.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Illuminated beacon poles

Message received 10 Mar, 2025 – via email.

Thank you for your recent newsletters which I always find an interesting read.

I was sorry not to be able to attend the recent meeting regarding the crossing by the Batchworth canal.

I regularly drive over it on my way to work in Northwood so I am aware how some other drivers seem to disregard the needs of pedestrians looking to cross and how difficult it can be sometimes be to see people there when it’s dark.

In Ruislip some of the pelican beacon poles are illuminated and that at least makes drivers aware that a crossing is there as they approach it. Better lighting also would help in my opinion.

RDRA response:

Many thanks for your email. I wholeheartedly agree with your comments and these were raised at the forum.

Also look up our column in March issue of Ricky News-page 48.

I sincerely hope that HCC/TRDC take this issue seriously and do something about it.

May elections are your opportunity to express your views to your councillors as they will be after your vote.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Worried about safety of Batchworth Bridge

Message received 7th March 2025 – via comment on Batchworth Bridge Forum – BCC response & petition

I have long been worried about the safety of the Batchworth Bridge, mainly from the point of view of a driver. I always drive as slowly as possible and try to scan each part of the crossing as l approach it, including especially the posts etc at each end where the visibility is quite unclear and confusing. I approve of all the improvements suggested, including lighting, white paint instead of black, though l thought a bright fluorescent paint or covering would be even better, and if allowed traffic lights.

Most people wear dark clothes, especially trousers etc, which makes them even more indistinguishable from the black posts.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Valuable Safety Forum

Letter received Jan 31, 2025 – via email

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to extend my thanks to the Rickmansworth and District Residents Association for organizing the Batchworth Bridge Crossing Safety Forum. It was a valuable opportunity for the community to come together and discuss much-needed road safety improvements.

The discussions highlighted the real dangers posed by both the Batchworth Bridge crossing and the Church Street (A404) crossing near the Moor Lane roundabout. The latter, in particular, seems even more hazardous due to poor visibility and fast-moving traffic.

Would the redevelopment of Trinity Court into residential units strengthen the case for road safety improvements in the area? It would be helpful to understand what the next steps might be and how we can best support efforts to push for action from the relevant authorities.

I’d be keen to stay involved and offer any assistance in moving things forward. Please do let me know how I can help.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

[image attachments]

RDRA response:

Many thanks for your email and feedback. Much appreciated. We’ll always keep you posted and updated on the developments with this issue.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Temporary traffic lights on Batchworth Crossing

Message received Dec 14, 2024 – via Contact us form

Can you tell me what’s going on with regards to the temporary traffic lights on the zebra crossing nr Batchworth lock being set up earlier in the week? Are these a trial to see how it would work if these were made permanent. How long are they going to be there?. 

RDRA response:

I wish I knew. I do hope that they become permanent fixtures.

HCC who are responsible should be able to assist with this. Possible contacts are Reena Ranger or Paula Hiscox who are our county councillors.

Watford Observer article

By R.D.R.A., ago

Raise issues at Local Area Forum

Message received Nov 13, 2024 – via Email

Thank you for the recent RDRA Newsletter.

I was interested to see that a Rickmansworth Area Forum is to be held on Thursday this week. I would have liked to attend, but unfortunately I cannot on that evening.

I have attached a paper I recently prepared for the Environment Forum expressing concern on three local issues, I hope you can raise these issues at the Area Forum.

RDRA response:

Many thanks for your email and the letter to TRDC. I shall raise these issues tomorrow [14th November] and hopefully will have some positives to report back.

By R.D.R.A., ago

No communication

Message received Oct 14, 2024 – via Contact us form

Unless there has been no communication since March I don’t appear to be receiving emails.

Concerned to hear about McDonalds coming to Rickmansworth & wondering if it’s too late or how to object? Thank you for your help.

RDRA response:

My sincere apologies for the delayed response. I got your message only yesterday. It seems that we’ve had difficulties with our website hosts and we were unable to either send or receive any communications from our website portal. It’s all sorted now with our new hosting company.

Re: Mcdonalds you can see our post at:
https://rickmansworthresidents.org/2024/05/mcdonalds-coming-to-ricky/

Please also check the current status on the TRDC website. 

By R.D.R.A., ago

How can we help

Message received Feb 27, 2024 – via Contact us form

Thank you for your latest e-news about Batchworth Bridge. I am so sorry to hear about another person being injured and hope that they have recovered.

I too witnessed an accident a couple of weeks ago, and as a regular user of the pedestrian crossing in the morning and evening most weekdays, I almost always encounter a scenario where the vehicles have not seen me and would run me over if I stepped out. Indeed, I often wave an arm or leg or even my bag to indicate that I am about to cross, only to find the vehicle would have taken it off if I had proceeded. Also, if the lane nearest to me does stop, it is quite likely that the far lane won’t. So, back to the accident I saw a couple of weeks ago, a car did stop on the far lane. However, it had to stop so suddenly that the car behind it went into the back of it. Luckily no one was hurt. I have though seen an ambulance at another incident involving a pedestrian a year or so ago, and the road had to be completely closed. It is therefore only a matter of time before there will be a fatality if there hasn’t been one already.

I would say it is clear that a zebra crossing is insufficient and that a pelican or puffin crossing with traffic lights is required. Many vehicles are going much faster than 30mph, and it would make sense to have speed cameras. Vehicles are regularly doing 50mph along the lower Batchworth Hill section of London Road where the speed limit is also 30mph, and drivers similarly speed along Church Street where the bridge is and into Harefield Road.

Having to cross Harefield Road next to the White Bear Pub, which is a little way from the bridge and near to where the bus stops are, is just as dangerous. It is a blind corner so pedestrians cannot see an approaching vehicle and vice-versa. So, a pelican or puffin crossing with traffic lights around the corner is also required here in my opinion and it would make sense to address this together with Batchworth Bridge. Again, vehicles are travelling very fast and for someone with less mobility, it simply is not possible to cross the road safely.

I thus fully support the RDRA’s warnings and campaigns, and if you need a volunteer for monitoring speeds, I would be happy to assist.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Multiple crossing comments

Three messages received Feb 25, 2024 – via Contact us form

Message 1:
I use the Batchworth Bridge crossing frequently and have no problem. I stop, check for oncoming traffic and only cross when it is safe to do so. Don’t blame the council, blame those who do not take responsibility for their own safety.

RDRA response:

Like you I use this crossing at least twice a day everyday and on some days more times than that as I live just off Harefield Road. I agree with you entirely that we are all responsible for our own safety and should always be aware of and be responsible how we negotiate our way in traffic  

However for those who are either very young or old and some other vulnerable or disabled people,( we’ve had a few near misses) this crossing can be made safer.

Let’s accept that this crossing can be improved and made more safer for all users. It’s not asking a lot to make some minor improvements. We do not need a fatality to do some common sense improvements. I do also accept that most county and local councils are overwhelmed and overstretched with limited resources so it’s not a priority until a major accident and fatalities occur.

Message 2:
We have lived in Rickmansworth for 39 years and I have lost count of the number of times pedestrians have been hit on Batchworth bridge. I think it’s time to up the ante. Get the BBC South East news out to the scene and have our MP and County Councillor down to be interviewed at the bridge. Have Watford Observer report on this. Get an interview and phone in arranged with 3 Counties Radio. They do push local issues. You only have a few weeks before HCC shut down on all activities in the run up to the local elections.

RDRA response:

Many thanks for your email. I agree with you that this crossing should be made safer. However, I believe that we will not get any media attention unless there is a fatality there. We do our best to lobby the relevant authorities. We’d appreciate if you have any contacts that you might be able to tap to raise the awareness and expedite the process for getting some positive responses from our county and district leaders.

Message 3:
My husband and I regularly have to use the crossing and every single time we approach with apprehension, having had many “near misses” over the 30yrs we have lived here, with cars not stopping .one lane will stop and a car in the other lane will not. We always stand as near the edge as poss to be as visible as we can.

If we reach the other side with no problems we are greatly relieved . The cars seem to accelerate from the traffic lights on one side or the roundabout from the other. Being a dual carriageway the drivers seem to think they can drive more quickly and are reluctant to stop for a crossing.

We have lived here for nearly 30th and this crossing has always been contentious and we do appreciate the efforts put in to try and improve safety but we cannot wait until the inevitable fatality,it’s a miracle it hasn’t happened already.

By R.D.R.A., ago