community

Survey: What would make your town centre feel safer this summer? Deadline 31st July.

Message from the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner.

Take this short survey and let them know: https://tinyurl.com/yccymbn4

Whether it’s tackling anti-social behaviour, reducing retail crime, improving safety for women and girls, or making sure our parks and public spaces feel welcoming, I want to hear what matters most to you.

This summer, I’m launching the next phase of my Safer Town Centres campaign, building on work that has already helped reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in hotspot locations across Hertfordshire through extra patrols and targeted activity.

We’re stepping up action this summer

Over the coming months, Hertfordshire Constabulary and local partners will be carrying out:

✅ Extra police patrols in town centres and hotspot areas
✅ Targeted action against anti-social behaviour and violence
✅ Work to tackle retail crime and support local businesses
✅ Activity focused on improving safety for women and girls
✅ Partnership work with councils, businesses and community groups to make public spaces feel safer and more welcoming

With more people expected to be out and about over the summer, we’re focusing resources where they can make the biggest difference.

The best way to improve local areas is by listening to the people who use them every day.

If you live, work, shop or spend time in Hertfordshire town centres, I’d like to hear your views. What concerns you? What would help you feel safer? What should be prioritised?

Take our short Safer Town Centres Survey before 31st July and help shape future action.

👉 Take the survey: https://tinyurl.com/yccymbn4

Funding available for local projects

I’m also opening a new grant scheme to support projects that improve safety and help communities thrive. Councils, charities, community groups, business organisations and local partners are encouraged to apply.

Funding could support innovative initiatives that:

  • Improve community safety
  • Reduce anti-social behaviour
  • Help people feel more confident using public spaces
  • Support safer high streets and town centres

👉 Find out more about the grant scheme: https://tinyurl.com/ywrrkrj2

The more people who take part, the better the picture we can build of what matters in communities across Hertfordshire.

Spend three minutes sharing your views and help make a difference where you live.

👉 Take the survey now: https://tinyurl.com/yccymbn4

Together, we can help keep Hertfordshire’s town centres welcoming, vibrant and safe for everyone.

Kind regards,

Jonathan Ash-Edwards
Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner

By R.D.R.A., ago

Walking Audit by Age Friendly

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.

Send Age Friendly a message: https://www.livelongerbetterinherts.co.uk/contact/
Or email them: info@livelongerbetterinherts.co.uk

By R.D.R.A., ago

Water the trees in the verges outside our houses

If you notice that trees planted in the verges outside our house are wilting, then please give them a bucket of water because they might die, especially if they are new and their roots aren’t properly established. We don’t want the council to have to replant dead trees again. Please pass this message on to your friends and neighbours!

By R.D.R.A., ago

Seniors Sip At McDonalds : Tue 02 Jun 09:00

McDonald’s will be hosting a Seniors Sip, offering older residents a free hot drink and a warm, welcoming space to meet others, have a chat, and enjoy some time together.

Neighbourhood police officers will also be there, giving you the opportunity to speak with us in a relaxed setting. We’ll be happy to offer crime prevention advice, share local updates, and listen to your views by completing a short “feelings of safety” survey.

This is a great chance to connect with your local community and policing team—we’d love to see you there!

If you are unable to attend, you can still have your say by completing the survey using the link below. Your feedback is important to us and helps shape how we support our community.

Please click here to complete the Hertforshire Constabulary survey:
https://survey.hertsconnected.co.uk/Survey/HASH/38FEF8C0617D70E62641F559011E39B9

By R.D.R.A., ago

Urgent community meeting about metal recycling today at 4pm

Meet at Springwell Ln, Harefield, Rickmansworth WD3 8UW. https://maps.app.goo.gl/2fqPLhCUh8vcMNpd9maps.app.goo.gl

Metal recycling urgent update: Springwell community meeting this Saturday 25th 4:30pm at Springwell Barn. Your chance to be heard. I’ve been furiously writing letters to Councillors, our MP and candidates of all parties in the forthcoming local election. This has resulted in the offer of a visit from Councillor Wayne Bridges, the current Cabinet Member for Community & Environment (Conservative) and Tommy Halaam, Conservative candidate for Harefield Ward (Jane Palmer is stepping down). It would be great so see a big turnout from as many of us as possible, as the level of support we get will be directly proportional
to the size of the crowd! They are coming to Springwell Barn at 4:30pm and we will all walk down to the metal recycling yard, stopping to point out J Byne’s yard on the way (there has been a resurgence of waste transfer and skip fires recently). Please please come along if you can make it. If you’ve not yet seen the devastation caused by Springwell Lane Metal Recycling, I urge you to take a look. It makes Byne’s antics look like a picnic.

See you on Saturday and spread the word!

Further reading:

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/26018022.unauthorised-scrapyard-near-beauty-spot-an-environmental-disaster/

Metal recycling next to the Colne on the Stockers lake boundary is leaking pollutants into the waterways.
By R.D.R.A., ago

Local PC & PCSO outside The Wimpy on Saturday 2nd Aug at 2pm

Rickmansworth Neighbourhood Policing Team will be holding a Community Engagement Session.

Meet PC Gottmann and PCSO Moy outside The Wimpy in Mill End – they are keen to hear about any concerns you have regarding Anti Social Behaviour, crime or any other issues affecting you or our local community.

If you can’t attend this event, we are still keen to hear about any concerns through this short survey:
https://survey.hertsconnected.co.uk/Survey/HASH/9BC4A71D79CC2095B46B11317633E6D4

By R.D.R.A., ago

Wildlife area in Mill End needs help

Message from volunteers at the Community and Rose Gardens

As you may know, there is a wildlife area in Mill End, next to the allotments. Although it was cared for by local people for many years, these residents are now very elderly and unable to continue. TRDC approached us recently to see if we could help.

At this stage, all our gardening volunteers are busy looking after our community garden and the rose garden. So we’re looking for younger people who might be willing to lend a hand. As it’s a wildlife area, if doesn’t need a great deal of care, but at present it’s really overgrown and in a state of neglect.

If you would like to volunteer, please send a message to Jane & Annabel who are leading this project via: www.sustainablethreerivers.org/contact

By R.D.R.A., ago