Feedback Forum
Here are the most recent messages and questions that have been sent to the RDRA Committee through email or via our Contact us form.
- Vote for no 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.
- 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.
- Support for local government & devolution
Message received 9 March, 2025 – via email.
As an active resident of Three Rivers I support the creation of two or more local government authorities in Hertfordshire.
I do not believe the whole of Herfordshire should become one unitary authority.
- 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.
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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Join RDRA to view content
Message replying to RDRA X post:
A group of people, many of whom were involved in the Rickmansworth Festival, decided that a much smaller event could be held this year, after all the hard work of Rickmansworth Waterways Trust over the past 30 years. Read more: https://rickmansworthresidents.org/2024/02/batchworth-boat-rally-instead-of-2024-festival/Message received Feb 19, 2024 – via X (Twitter):
Seems to be behind a firewall?RDRA response:
You can either join the RDRA (Rickmansworth & District Residents’ Association) for £3 pa: https://rickmansworthresidents.org/members
Or join RDRA 100+ Club monthly prize draw for £5, which includes membership to the Association: https://rickmansworthresidents.org/100plus - Accident discussion
Messages replying to RDRA X (Twitter) post:
Another accident today on Batchworth Bridge early this morning when it was still dark. Pedestrians with dark clothing cannot be seen by drivers! We have listed on our website what the RDRA tried to do over the years to make the bridge safer: https://rickmansworthresidents.org/2024/02/batchworth-bridge-accidentMessage received Feb 22, 2024 – via X (Twitter):
As a driver it can be quite alarming how difficult it is to see pedestrians here. And as a walker, there seems to be an increasing tendency for drivers to plough on over the crossings even when people are on them.Message received Feb 23, 2024 – via X (Twitter):
use crossing poles that also light up for extra safety. Why not try these @hertscc - Dangerous crossing on the bridge
Message received Feb 22, 2024 – via Contact us form
Anne Littlejohn asked me to contact you regarding a post I made on facebook warning others about the accident early Wednesday morning on Batchworth Bridge. Please send a whatsapp phone number and I will screenshot the post and all the comments on the post confirming how dangerous the crossing on the bridge is. I drive over it three mornings a week returning from a night shift and can confirm when it is dark it is virtually impossible to see pedestrians until they are on the crossing. I slow right down knowing this to be the case but if you dont realise this it is very very dangerous
RDRA response:
Many thanks for your email. My contact details as below.
- Pedestrian information
Message received Feb 21, 2024 – via Contact us form
Following on from facebook post of an accident on 21/2 . I can provide further information. It was 06:30 dark & the pedestrian was in dark clothes and could not be see.
RDRA response:
Many thanks for letting us know about the accident on the Batchworth bridge crossing at 6:30am today. Do you have any photos of the incident that we can share with our councillors to make them aware of the incident. We have been pressing the council to make this bridge crossing safe with better lighting generally and also install a pedestrian crossing lights. We appreciate your assistance.
- Empty retail units
Message received Feb 11, 2024 – via Contact us form
I’m keen to find out about activity around the empty retail units on the High Street. I’d love to see at least one of them turned into a community space. Maybe this is something I can develop. I’d love to know of any existing plans like this. Many thanks.
RDRA response:
I agree with your sentiments about vacant units in the high st. RDRA would support you in your endeavour to turn these into productive community spaces/projects.
We however have no control or have any influence with the individual landlords or their agents. You’d have to approach them directly and negotiate with them to get them to agree to what you want to do.
- Wine tasting?
Message received Feb 8, 2024 – via Contact us form
Please can you me more about the jazz cheese and wine night please and also is it wine tasting?
RDRA response:
Many thanks for your enquiry about the wine and cheese tasting with jazz event.
Yes it is a tasting event, you will be able to taste various wines and cheeses from different regions. At this moment, the exhibitors have not yet finalised what they are planning to bring on the night. We’ll update this information as soon as possible.
In the background, John Donegal with two other players will play jazz music. John has performed for the Three Rivers music society on numerous occasions. John is a local pianist and composer with national and international reputation.
We look forward to seeing you at the event on 21 March.
- Aquadrome a ‘no dig’ zone
Message received Jan 3, 2024 – via Email
Is the Association aware of the council’s decision to make the Aquadrome a ‘no dig’ zone, due to apparent (and, if justified, very belated) concerns about asbestos in the ground?This has already forced the cancellation of this year’s Rickmansworth Festival, with a significant impact on the finances of the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust. It would also seem to imply severe restrictions on other uses of the Aquadrome.The councillors I’ve spoken with were not aware of the council’s decision until it had already been made public, which makes it sound like it was taken without proper consultation or consideration.Does the RDRA have any views on this? And, if so, will we be asking the council to review/explain their decision, in the light of its emerging consequences.
RDRA response:
Many thanks for your email of 3rd Jan. My apologies for the delayed response. As you can imagine this came as a shock to all of us and the last thing to do would be to give a ‘knee jerk reaction’. Of course we are all bitterly disappointed that this much cherished Ricky community event is now not happening. Now we have more information at hand, we are able to formulate a view and response. There’s nothing at this stage that anyone can do to save this year’s festival. TRDC and ALL our Councillors know our feelings. It’s an unmitigated disaster and a massive own goal in PR terms. There’s a meeting on the 31st at the RWT, Batchworth Lock which will be on Zoom. (Details from RWT to follow.) We will hopefully find out what happens next and if we are able to save the festival from 2025 onwards.
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