Batchworth

Neighbourhood Plan Referendum Result

Message from The Batchworth Plan Steering Group.

We are really pleased to announce that 81.7% of those who voted in the referendum on 1st May 2025 have voted in favour of the Neighbourhood Plan being used to help determine planning applications in the Batchworth area.

The full results were as follows:
Electorate: 9242
Turnout: 31.1%

“Do you want Three Rivers District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Batchworth to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

Response Votes
Yes: 2264
No: 505

Now that the Neighbourhood Plan has been adopted, Batchworth Community Council will be looking to take forward the projects outlined in the plan. If you would like to be kept informed of this work and other council news, please sign up to the newsletter at
https://www.batchworth-ecc.gov.uk.

Thank you for your involvement over the last few years – the adoption of the Neighbourhood Plan is a big step forward in bringing about the positive changes we would all like to see in our neighbourhood.
By R.D.R.A., ago

Batchworth Island Development

The Island site is an outline notification of a subsequent planning application and mentions compulsory land purchase may be necessary. The applicant has put together an indication of his intent together with documents to support their application to build. However, the concrete foundations will impact the flood plain; the build will be on stilts but the foundations are still there.

The applicant would like to apply for 2 x four-storey blocks with 95 residential flats (39 x 1-bed, 53 x 2-bed & 3 x 3-bed) and 16 parking spaces (2 of which are disabled).

Note the objections/comments from Hampton Hall Farmhouse; Affinity Water; Batchworth CC and British Waterways Trust to fully appreciate what is at stake.

Click here to go to the Three Rivers planning website and leave your own objection/comment.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Batchworth Boat Rally instead of 2024 festival

An update from RDRA ex-Chairman Michael Stimpson

A number of boats who had planned to attend the Rickmansworth Festival, and had planned the route they were taking from Marsworth to Paddington, are still going to come to Batchworth regardless of the Festival being cancelled.

A group of people, many of whom were involved in the Festival, decided that a much smaller event could be held.

They wanted to keep a Canal event in Batchworth following the hard work of the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust over the past 30 years.

Plans are well in hand for a weekend based just on the canal for an event from 10am to 5pm only (i.e. nothing in the evening) which will involve Trade Boats and ex-working boats for the public to visit as well as private pleasure craft.

Boat entries are already coming in and there will be a tug of war and a parade of boats on the Saturday and entertainment on the Sunday.

The Canal and River Trust are supporting the event which is being called the Batchworth Boat Rally. If a profit is made from the event, this will be donated to a Waterways Charity retaining seed funding for another event in 2025.

By R.D.R.A., ago

Batchworth Local Plan survey

Batchworth Community Council is preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for the area covered by the two wards within the boundary of Moor Park & Eastbury and Rickmansworth Town Ward.  It is important that this Neighbourhood Plan reflects your ambitions and views. Last year and early this year, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group asked for your ideas on important matters to be addressed in the Plan. They have now used these to prepare a draft vision for the area, a set of five objectives and three ideas on how to deliver each of these five objectives.

They would like you to indicate how you feel about these ideas by completing the online survey at www.batchworthplan.org.uk/questionnaire by 18th July.  There is also an opportunity to tell them whether you have any suggestions for the Neighbourhood Plan. The questionnaire can be completed online (from link above). If people wish, they can download it, print, complete and return to the BCC offices at Basing House, 46 High Street, Rickmansworth.

By Michael Stimpson, ago