You are invited to attend our AGM to let us know your views regarding matters related to Rickmansworth and surrounding districts.
All residents of Ricky town, Mill End, Penn and surrounding areas are welcome, but only paid-up members can vote. Refreshments will follow the meeting. Please Park in Church Street, Moor Lane, or Tesco.
Education Centre address: Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, Batchworth Lock Canal Centre, 99 Church Street, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 1JJ.
Our guest speakers
Susan Shanahan
Senior Trading Standards Officer
Hertfordshire County Council How to keep safe from fraudsters who knock at the door or call on the phone – advice from Hertfordshire Trading Standards as to how to find good traders, how not to find them and what the common problem traders are that we’re seeing at trading standards. Plus, telephone frauds, how to keep safe and examples of frauds that we’re seeing at the moment. Sue Shanahan is a Senior Trading Standards Officer who only works in the area of fraud – giving talks and training, supporting victims and investigating and prosecuting fraudsters. She has been with Hertfordshire Trading Standards for over 35 years which is a frightening amount but shows a true love of the job
Chen Tsui
Cyber Protect Officer, Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit
Hertfordshire Police I am one of the Cyber Protect and Prevent Officers, based in the Serious Fraud & Cyber Unit. Join us to for some practical advice and guidance on how to protect yourself against a cybercrime and (online) fraud, including:
the warning signs of cyber fraud and cybercrime.
how to protect yourself by securing your online accounts, personal data, and devices.
how to report and recover from fraud and cybercrime.
You are invited to attend our AGM to let us know your views regarding matters related to Rickmansworth and surrounding districts.
All residents of Ricky town, Mill End, Penn and surrounding areas are welcome, but only paid-up members can vote. Refreshments will follow the meeting. Please Park in Church Street, Moor Lane, or Tesco.
Education Centre address: Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, Batchworth Lock Canal Centre, 99 Church Street, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 1JJ.
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.
The upcoming Three Rivers Environmental Network is taking place on Wednesday 18th March at Leavesden HIVE College Road WD5 0NXfrom 7.30-9.30pm focusing on Sustainable Transport.
We hope you are able to attend and please do spread the word with friends, colleagues, neighbours and community groups.
A talk from Tom Rankin – Transport Officer Local Beryl Bike expansion, cycle lanes, capital projects, the LCWIP, electric vehicle charge points and more.
A talk from an HCC transport Officer (to be confirmed)
Discussion time in breakout groups
Round table of upcoming events/schemes/initiatives
When the RDRA Committee attended the last few Sunday Markets, we asked residents to sign our two RDRA petitions – one for the opening of the Woodland Path (flooded in March 2024 and closed ever since) and the other for the opening of Ebury Play Area (blighted by Japanese Knotweed and closed since January 2025).
We have now submitted these petitions so that the Council knows the strength of feeling in Rickmansworth & its districts for these two wonderful places and that we all demand they take swift action and open them as soon as possible.
If you didn’t manage to sign our RDRA petitions, then please let your local Councillor know what you think about these closures: https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/councillors
The RDRA hopes to be given 3 minutes to speak about the Ebury Play Area petition at the next Climate Change & Leisure Committee meeting on 11 March 2026, 7.30pm (arrive from 7pm) to be held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, WD3 1RL – if you are free and able, then please attend to add weight to our cause! Note, this meeting does not allow open questions or comments, unless you submit in writing 8 days before the Agenda is posted to committeeteam@threerivers.gov.uk.
Full Council meetings are the main forum for Three Rivers District Council, typically to discuss and make decisions on major policies, the annual budget, and strategic plans for the district.
This meeting usually discuss a wide range of topics related to improving the quality of life, safety, and wellbeing of residents in the Three Rivers district through partnership working.
This meeting was attended by multiple local residents. The next Local Area Forum is 13th November.
2. Ebury Play Area
As we are all aware, during the construction of the bridge and renovation of the play area, Japanese Knotweed was brought in to the area with the top soil. A 16-week Remediation Plan is still being negotiated with the contractor in charge of renovating the Play Area. There are 7 different ways that Knotweed can be treated: chemical methods or manual digging methods. In order for the Remediation Plan to start, the most appropriate method needs to be agreed and vetted by the Environment Agency. Certainly the chemical methods are deemed problematic in a place where children will play and next to the River Colne.
One resident said that the Aquadrome was the jewel in the crown of Rickmansworth, that all residents loved it and to see it in rack and ruin – a jungle – is devastating. Another resident requested that the council sue whoever was responsible for the situation.
Ebury Play Area is a jungle
One resident suggested the Aquadrome was “littered with Knotweed and because it’s not a poisonous plant”, the Play Area should be strimmed and opened up for use. This can’t happen because the contractor is still in possession of the site. And the council confirmed that the Aquadrome is not littered with Japanese Knotweed but there are certain areas where treatment is needed every year. Paula Hiscocks suggested that this yearly treatment is all that is needed in this instance for the play area. The council said that they wanted a permanent solution for this area.
One resident asked why all communications about this issue are not in the public domain. But the council said some things that aren’t yet negotiated cannot be in the public domain yet.
So, although this is the same thing the council said 4 months ago, we suspect they can’t tell us anymore because they might be in some sort of legal situation but we hope that they’re getting a good deal, on our behalf!
3. Aquadrome
One resident reported that people had set up tents in the Aquadrome with tent pegs, i.e. flouting the no-dig rule. The council said that the restrictions placed upon the Aquadrome, due to asbestos being found, can be overcome by using vehicles instead of tents and that whoever needs to can always talk with officers of the council.
The council said the annual Boat Rally would like to expand into areas of the Aquadrome and these areas are being investigated.
4. Woodland Path
This path is still closed because a report denounced it as “structurally unsound”. They are awaiting on a FRAPP but this in turn is waiting on new Environment Agency modelling to determine future flooding. The council meet with the Environment Agency weekly to discuss this issue but this new model is always late – the next launch date is set for 29th September but we’re not holding our breath! Once the FRAPP and modelling are in place then the following items need to be agreed for a durable and long-standing path, that will probably cost 6 figures:
The route the new path will take
The materials used
The construction method used.
Let’s all hope the Ebury Play Area contractors aren’t used!
As the meeting drew to a close, there was a consensus among residents that there wasn’t enough time to hear all the questions and queries from locals about the Ebury Play Area/Aquadrome/Woodland path. The council said they hold regular meetings in Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Northway – here are the next ones from the TRDC website:
Connecting Three Rivers (formerly Local Strategic Partnership and Community Safety Board) meeting on 25th September, 10am
Audit Committee meeting on 25th September, 7.30pm
Local Plan Sub-Committee meeting on 8th October, 7pm
General Public Services and Community Engagement Committee meeting on 14th October, 7.30pm – future agenda.
Climate Change and Leisure Committee meeting on 15th October, 7.30pm
**Local Area Forum** meeting on 13th November, 7.30pm – future agenda.
Full Council meeting on 21st October, 7.30pm – future agenda.
Agendas are usually set after the preceeding meeting. Anyone can attend any meeting to observe only. Questions from members of the public must be submitted in writing beforehand. However, we can freely get involved during Local Area Forum meetings. To suggest topics for any meeting agenda, submit questions for discussion or to request to speak/present, please email: committeeteam@threerivers.gov.uk.
