Dr Bethan Rees, Clinical Director, Harpenden Health,Primary Care Network (PCN) will give an overview of what a PCN is and what the Harpenden Health PCN is achieving.

The Local Plan

The Harpenden Society's response to the Regulation 18 Consultation exercise in respect of SADC's Local Plan 2041 can be downloaded by clicking here.

Controversial plans to axe the ticket office at Harpenden’s train station need to be seriously reconsidered to protect this public service.

Infrequent train users in Harpenden could be in for a shock if ThamesLink proceed with the  closure of the Harpenden ticket office along with their other ticket offices in the region.

Without the helpful ticket office staff many travellers will be confronted with the complications of using the ticket machines outside the station. OR trying to book on line via a home computer or smart phone. 

Certain ticket fares are unavailable on the machines at the station like those requiring long and complicated journeys with multiple tickets. Plus booking tickets ahead of the travel day can be complicated. That’s why staff at the ticket office can be so helpful and need to be retained.

Our MP Bim Afolami is totally opposed to the closure and has set up a campaign to garner support.

Society chair Jeff Phillips said:

"This loss of this public service could have an adverse effect on elderly residents and those with disabilities and needs to be seriously reconsidered. We will be joining Bim’s campaign by completing the form on his web site."

Click below to add your views.

https://www.bimafolami.co.uk/ticket-offices

As members who are participating in the Luton Airport Expansion Inquiry will know, the 22nd August was the deadline for the submission of Interested Parties detailed concerns about Luton Rising’s airport expansion proposals.

The Society’s submission covered the following areas: climate change, noise, the need for the development and the funding position.

Climate Change

On climate change the Society proposed that, if the development is given the go ahead, it can only begin on the basis of the terms proposed by the Committee on Climate Change (in their report to Parliament 28 June 2023), i.e. “No airport expansions should proceed until a UK-wide capacity management framework is in place to annually assess and, if required, control sector greenhouse gas emissions and non-CO2 effects. A framework should be operational by the end of 2024. After a framework is developed, there should be no net airport expansion unless the carbon-intensity of aviation is outperforming the Government's emissions reduction pathway and can accommodate the additional demand.” The recent headlines re: the impact of climate change on ordinary lives serves to remind us that we have to redouble our efforts to tackle increasing global temperatures. Stopping aviation expansion, which otherwise would increase its emissions up to 2050, is a sensible and measured step.

Noise

On noise, the Society demonstrated that Luton Rising’s expansion plans will not see any reduction in the noise that communities suffer presently over the course of the development and beyond as Luton Rising’s proposed noise limits will remain at a higher level than the long term noise limits agreed when the airport’s application to grow to 18 million passengers per annum was approved. We believe the Inspectors should require Luton Rising to achieve, at a minimum, the long term noise limits previously agreed and also pass an equal share of engine technology benefits to affected communities.

Funding

Finally, the Society emphasised that the development is highly speculative, with few economic benefits to offset the clear environmental harms and there is no evidence to suggest that either Luton Rising or Luton Borough Council can fund the development or that a third party investor is willing to underwrite the development, except, possibly, on terms that will undermine the social benefits that Luton Rising is claiming the development will provide to Luton.

The detailed examination will now begin with a number of Issue Specific Hearings taking place in September, after which the Examining Authority will issue a series of questions to Luton Rising and other parties.  At this stage we will get a clearer idea of the key concerns of the Examiners. The Society will continue to reinforce its position throughout the Inquiry, at every opportunity.

WHY NOT JOIN THE SOCIETY AND BE PART OF HARPENDEN’S FUTURE?

The Society promotes and encourages a range of local activities and initiatives with public meetings and community events. We’re here to help with the concerns people have on things like schools, healthcare, housing, parking, pollution, overdevelopment, lack of infrastructure, and now more than ever climate change with all the important environmental issues affecting the future.

With almost 900 members and an effective committee we can engage with the local community to highlight issues, lobby politicians and present findings via our web site, quarterly newsletter and social media.

Joining is easy and inexpensive. For full details of how to join the society, including how to apply online, please click here.