including Beech Bottom Dyke and Sandridge Road Wastes
Still digging – efforts continue to ease access for residents of Fontmell and Bridle Close. Mud has been a real problem and now a third almost diagonal track is being developed across the Lower Field, this time with a more substantial base of sand and gravel, similar to that used on the Green Ring. It will be accessed through the old Fire Station Grounds.
This young tree on the upper field received unwanted attention recently – broken at the stump (inset A) and a broken retaining strap (inset B, shown on another tree). Straps have been broken on other support posts in the background too. If you have any information on the culprit, please let us know – click the FoBH icon in the sidebar.
While the unresolved problem of the sinkhole, or crown hole, has been less prominent in the news of late, activity has been focused on access for residents of Fontmell Close and Bridle close. It is still a very muddy, but at least residents have been connected to essential utilities. A shuttle service truck is shown alongside.
Access on foot has been improved by the extending the footpath from the children’s play area to the end of Bridle Close, but rain has made vehicular access a real problem.
Continue reading “Fontmell/Bridle Close access update”
Friends of Bernards Heath and St Albans District Council have shared the cost (50/50) of extending an existing path off Harpenden Road to the Ancient Briton junction, a length of about 100 yards. An overgrown area has been cleared and a hardcore path laid.
Having recently cleared much of the litter from the Heath, we now have two cases of illegal fly-tipping. This irresponsible practice is not only dangerous and unsightly, but has cost the Council £35,000 in the year 2014 – 2015. You can report cases of fly tipping to the council using the hotline on 01727 819598 or email: a.cleanerdistrict@stalbans.gov.uk
Update 14 March 2016
Another example in Spinney Lane – it was very promptly cleared by Council contractor. These finds are searched for evidence of source, but nothing was found in this case.
Photos: PC
Beech Bottom Dyke is a large ditch up to 33 feet deep running for almost a mile at the northern edge of St Albans. It is of considerable archaeological importance, contains a valuable area of ancient woodland flora, and is an area of green infrastructure which deserves improved public access.
To conserve and improve this area, the Beech Bottom Dyke Greenspace Action Plan (GAP) was produced by The Countryside Management Service (CMS) in collaboration with FoBH in 2013 and you can read it here (pdf).
Continue reading “Beech Bottom Dyke – Greenspace Action Plan Update”
Our Action Day was positively balmy with warm autumn sun, and it probably helped to bring out a record number of volunteers. When you hear of the comment ‘couldn’t find any litter’, who could hope for more.
Litter picking was was not the only activity – strimming, cutting back and other general maintenance was also achieved.
No doubt you were wondering what this is. It’s the mud that residents of Fontmell Close and Bridle Close have to cope with to access their homes. A temporary road made of large plastic panels has been installed across the Lower Field to provide access to the houses that are still unreachable due to the sinkhole (geological term ‘crown hole’).
FoBH is collaborating with St Albans District Council (SADC) on a project to reduce underage drinking in Bernards Heath and the associated extreme litter problems that have resulted. The Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) is an organisation, funded by the major retailers, which brings together all the interested parties including SADC, Police, local retailers,
Trading Standards and the Community to address the problem in a co-ordinated way. They claim to have had very positive results in other parts of the UK and the Bernards Heath CAP will be a pilot for the whole of St Albans.
Find out more from this CAP presentation document (pdf).
These gateposts are one of the few reminders of the Ariston tallow works on the Heath, a site that has been under consideration for residential development for some time.
In January 2013 Hertfordshire County Council, HCC, announced its decision to sell the former Ariston site, including the Lower Field of Bernards Heath. HCC subsequently decided to offer the site for sale with planning permission in place for residential development and the relocation of existing community uses. Following discussions between HCC and St Albans District Council, SADC, a public exhibition of the planning proposals was held in December 2013 and January 2014.
Continue reading “Ariston Site and Lower Field Update”