The letter is regarding the future of the Green Belt. CVRP would be grateful if everyone can continue to mention the Colne Valley Regional Park to Councillors in your conversations about the Green Belt, biodiversity, paths, farming, rivers and the landscape.
Over recent weeks, local residents have grouped together to press the Three Rivers Council for speedier action in reopening Ebury Play Area by the Aquadrome. A WhatsApp group supported by RDRA co-ordinated strong turnout at council forums and on social media to signal that residents wanted no further delay and that continued excuses were unacceptable.
Work is now underway at Ebury Play area with a target reopening date of 8th July. Furthermore, TRDC are now providing regular updates to residents on the progress of the work – something that hadn’t started to happen until residents came together.
This shows the power of collective action in our community: by coming together from all different backgrounds and having a unified voice, we can effect a change in behaviour from those elected to deliver for our community.
Our work has just begun to make Ricky a much better place to live in and hold our elected representatives accountable.
This is due to work now commencing – we’re all looking forward to the Play Area being completed and open in 16 weeks!
Finally, some action! The 16-week remediation programme has started at long last.
Due to the inaction of the Three Rivers Council regarding the reopening of the Ebury Play Area, closed since March 2024, there will be a Demonstration March starting at the TRDC car park at 11am and ending up at the Play Area.
All are welcome to join – bring protest signs, placards and banners!
Councillors say work has already started but we see no evidence of earthworks happening so we’re joining this Demonstration March in the hope it draws more attention to this issue. Worth noting that Councillors who presided over Ebury Play Area decisions do not live in Rickmansworth and it’s hard to say whether they have personally visited the site since it was abandoned two years ago to check on any progress.
RDRA presented our Ebury Play Area petition to the Climate Change and Leisure Committee on 11th March. We asked Paul Harding to speak on this topic for 3 minutes as he is a nearby resident – his excellent speech is below. After his speech, the Committee lead responded by saying that construction work will commence at the end of the month, before Easter. But in a previous meeting another Councillor said that “boots on the ground” work started last week! All residents at the meeting walked out in disgust because the Committee lead didn’t allow a point of order or discussion.
There is a rumour of a demonstration happening on 28th March starting at the Council offices at and ending at the Play Area – we’ll keep you posted if we find out more information!
“While studying for a post graduate business qualification, I learned a phrase that has stayed with me ever since; behaviour is an observable function.
“With that in mind, I observe the absence of any work in the Ebury Playground since spring last year to demonstrate the council’s inept management of the playground refurbishment project. Although yes, I did see two people in there this afternoon, with their clipboards, hiviz jackets, over shoes and hard hats – but they did no actual work; merely observed and recorded what has lain there – or grown there – for almost a year now. The last time I recall seeing anyone in there was the same day that a TRDC public meeting was to be held that evening in this room.
“To be absolutely clear; I use the word “inept” here because it most closely meets the level of skill observed by TRDC’s behaviour in this matter; synonyms are – clumsy, incompetent, ineffective, inadequate. You will no doubt be aware that, with the arrival of spring, those weeds that were imported to the Ebury Playground a year ago will soon be seeding, germinating, sprouting and spreading. I understand that the recommended remedy to NNIS such as Japanese knotweed is to either treat with pesticide or mechanical removal. I further understand that the contractor has apparently offered removal, but TRDC has rejected this and said it wants to have the weeds treated. Has it escaped TRDC’s notice that this is a children’s playground?
“We, your public, residents and electors are fed up with asking you to do the right thing; you seem incapable of responding without dithering, obfuscation and avoiding the issues. When the forthcoming local government reorganisation is settled, yours will be the worst possible legacy in the history of this town.”
Paul Harding 11/3/26
A statutory consultation from Central Government begins.
After the previous consultation held by Three Rivers District Council, we know that TRDC prefers two. But Central Government would also like to hear from all residents about what they think about the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) – two, three or four unitary authorities.
Please read more about it and find survey link below:
https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/
Click green map below to zoom in.
The application for the Catlips Farm development between Chorleywood and Mill End, the far side of M25, is now open for public comment on the Three Rivers District Council planning portal.
If you or neighbours want your views considered, it’s important to respond before the consultation deadline 20th May.
The upcoming Three Rivers Environmental Network is taking place on Wednesday 18th March at Leavesden HIVE College Road WD5 0NX from 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.
More information: https://moderngov.threerivers.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1146&MId=1846&Ver=4
Agenda
Previous meeting minutes are here, for interest.
Message from Aquadrome Steering Group.
Following a Councillor briefing at the end of last week, I am pleased to confirm that the Public Engagement for the RIBA 2 Concept Masterplan has now gone live. This will run until Monday 16 March 2026 and will include a public drop in event on Saturday 7 March between the hours of 9.30am and 2pm at the Aquadrome.
The following links to the Have Your Say Platform have all the details:
Summary page:
Rickmansworth Aquadrome – share your thoughts | Have Your Say Three Rivers
Direct survey link:
https://haveyoursay.threerivers.gov.uk/rickmansworth-aquadrome-project/surveys/concept-designs
In addition to the engagement, we have also updated “The Story So Far” page on the TRDC website, to include a presentation we shared last week with Councillors, and information on the engagement. Alongside this, we have also received the completed specialist Hydrological Reports. A summary report has been added alongside the engagement information and also included on the specific “Woodland Walk” page of the website. The technical reports can be located on the Aquadrome Data Hub page. I have included all of these links below for you:
We are also seeking input from people with a disability, or those caring for people with disabilities to tell us about their experience and how we can improve the Aquadrome for you. There is a separate Accessibility Survey as part of the “Have Your Say” platform, which if you could also share that would be great: Rickmansworth Aquadrome Accessibility Survey | Have Your Say Three Rivers
The RIBA Stage 2 document will be the main focus of the Steering group meeting in March, however you may wish to familiarise yourself with it beforehand and take the opportunity to complete the survey, so your thoughts are captured.
Please do share this with your local communities and anyone you feel would be interested in completing the engagement form or having a look at the hydrological reports, which are fascinating.