Friends of Bernards Heath (FoBH) urge you to act today to protect our local representation.
In 2028, under central Government reforms, St Albans District Council (SADC) will cease to exist.
Bernards Heath – your local green space – could be managed by people many miles away, with no knowledge of the area.
Central St Albans doesn’t currently have local representation in the form of a parish council and soon we will lose our councillors.This means:
– no-one to speak up for local residents and businesses.
– nobody based locally to look after our parks, community spaces and markets.
The FoBH believe that establishing a Parish Council for central St Albans is the best way to keep our local voice and to protect our Heath.
We urge you to get involved with the consultation scheme which runs until Monday 6th October.
What can you do?
We risk losing the chance to have any future influence on our community.
To support a parish council for central St Albans, email CGR@stalbans.gov.uk
Include your name and address (your details will be kept confidential).
The wording can be short and simple –“ I/We support the creation of a parish council for central St Albans to ensure that the city has local representation.”
Further information is available at: www.stalbans.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation
FAQ: provided by the CWARA
Q1. We’re already in the parish of St Peter’s. Why would we need anything else?
A1. Strangely, parish councils have nothing to do with churches. The word ‘parish’ has two meanings. The non-ecclesiastical version just refers to the smallest or lowest level of local government.
Q2. Why doesn’t central St Albans have this ‘smallest or lowest’ level of local government, given everywhere else in the district (Harpenden, Sandridge, London Colney etc) does.
A2. Because St Albans City and District Council (SADC) was allowed to direct-govern the centre through the City Neighbourhoods Committee. This will disappear when SADC and our local councillors go, leaving a gap.
Q3. Hertfordshire councils are merging. Won’t the city of St Albans be the new HQ for the unitary authority governing its area?
A3. Very unlikely. Land is expensive and space and roads tight. That’s why we need a local body to speak up for us.
Q4. Why a parish council and not a town or city council?
A4. Parish council is a general term for the smallest or lowest level of local government. Our ‘parish council’ would no doubt be called a town or city council. Harpenden Town Council is a parish council.
Q5. The process for creating a parish council (town council/city council) is a Community Governance Review (CGR). A consultation on this is running till 6 October. There’s a later consultation stage with more detail. Can I just ignore this first stage?
A5. Not if you want there to be a second stage. We understand that SADC needs a show of interest to move things forward effectively.
The deadline for CGR consultation responses is Monday 6 October. If you have a view on whether we should be progressing to the next stage on creating a parish council (aka town council/city council) for central St Albans please send your consultation response to CGR@stalbans.gov.uk.