Good morning
Three days that answered one long-running question and raised several smaller ones: Westminster has finally decided who runs Harpenden after 2028, while closer to home there's fresh cash for community grants, a battery fire on a bin lorry, and two green flags flying over the Common. Here's what mattered since Thursday.
The big story
Harpenden to lose its St Albans council to Hemel Hempstead
The government confirmed on 16 July that St Albans City and District Council will be abolished and folded into a new unitary authority with Dacorum, meaning Harpenden's council will in future be run from Hemel Hempstead alongside Berkhamsted and Tring. The combined area covers an estimated 312,432 residents. Nothing changes for bin collections or planning decisions in the meantime — existing councils carry on delivering services as normal until the new authority takes over — but the town has until next May to work out how it wants to be represented in a much larger authority. It's the kind of change that won't be felt this year, but will shape who residents ring about a pothole for a generation. READ →
In brief
Council offers £2,000 grants for community projects
St Albans City and District Council is inviting applications for grants of up to £2,000 for projects it says will make the district more inclusive, accessible and connected — Harpenden groups are eligible. READ →
Three drivers reported in Harpenden speed checks
Police speed enforcement on Luton Road, Cravells Road, Lower Luton Road and Station Road produced three traffic offence reports. Officers say checks will continue at varying times and days, following resident requests for a crackdown on speeding. READ →
Battery in a Batford bin sets fire to refuse lorry
A battery put out with household waste sparked a fire inside a 26-tonne refuse lorry on Common Lane on 21 July. The crew ejected the burning rubbish onto the road and a fire engine arrived within four minutes; Veolia cleared up afterwards. A reminder that batteries belong in separate recycling, not the general bin. READ →
New caterer registered at Crabtree Junior School
Nourish Contract Catering has been newly registered as the food business operating at Crabtree Junior School and is awaiting its first hygiene inspection — a new registration, not a rating. READ →
Harpenden Common and Lydekker Park keep their Green Flags
Both parks, owned by Harpenden Town Council, have retained their Green Flag awards for park quality, while Nomansland Common picked up its first-ever flag. SOURCE →
Openings & closings
White Horse registered afresh, awaiting hygiene inspection
The pub on the green at Hatching Green has a new food business registration with St Albans council and has no hygiene rating until inspectors visit — worth noting if there's been a change behind the bar, though the register itself doesn't say why. READ →
Getting around
Cash arrives at Harpenden's charged parking bays
St Albans council says 1,150 drivers a day are now using Harpenden's on-street pay-and-display bays, and cash payment is finally available alongside the app. Separately, the top deck of Bowers Way West car park closes for about five weeks for structural repairs. READ →
Harpenden school bus routes renumbered from this term
Red Eagle's Markyate to Harpenden service serving St George's School has a revised timetable from 1 September, with its stop there no longer a request stop. Katherine Warrington School's services from Wheathampstead have also been renumbered and rerouted via Butterfield Road, Brewhouse Hill and St Helen's Church. Parents relying on the old numbers or times should check the new schedules before this week's run. READ →