founded in 1930 society opposes huge airport expansion ... soc. winter newsletter 19_20.pdf ·...

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TheHarpendenSocietyNewsWinter2019/2020Foundedin1930

ProposalsforyetfurtherexpansionofLutonAirport,increasingitscapacitybynearly80%,from18millionto32millionpassengersperannum(ppa),havebeenmetwithvigorousresistancefrommanyquartersincluding,notably,HertfordshireCountyCouncil.MostrecentlyvehementobjectionstotheplanswerealsovoicedbyHitchinandHarpendenMPBimAfolamiattheElectionHustingsinDecemberatRothamstedResearch’sFowdenHall,sponsoredbytheHarpendenSociety.TheSociety’sownformal–andnolessfervent–opposingresponse,onbehalfofouralmost1000members,hasbeensubmittedtoLondonLutonAirportLtdonthe19-page‘FeedbackForm’accompanyingLLAL’smain166-pageglossyconsultationdocumententitled‘FutureLuToN(sic)-Makingbestuseofourrunway’.

BimAfolami’sclearly-expressedoppositiontotheairportexpansionplanstakesonanewandimportant–darewesayhopeful–significance,becausetheprojectedcapacitygrowth,ofmorethan10millionppa,isadevelopmentdefinedasaNationallySignificantInfrastructureProject(NSIP)underthe2008PlanningAct.AssuchitissubjecttoacentralgovernmentDevelopmentConsentOrder(DCO).Itmeansthat,unlikepreviousLutonAirportexpansions,theultimatego-aheadcanonlybesanctionedbytheSecretaryofStateforTransport,notjustbyLutonBoroughCouncil,theairport’sowner,whichremains,bizarrely,thelocalplanningauthority.

TheHarpendenSociety’sdetailedfeedbackresponsetothelatestairportexpansionproposalsreflectsthefactthatmostofourmembershaveexperiencedoneormoreofthedetrimentalfactorsthatdemandatbestahaltoratworstamajorrevisionoftheplans.Butitis

the‘uncivilised’noisefromaircraftflyinginandoutofLutonbothdayandnightwhich,forpeoplelivinginHarpenden,isthemostdisturbing,ascanbeseenfromtheAMRmapsshowingthefrequencyofregisterednoisecomplaints.Theprojectedgrowthinthenumberofflightswouldonlyexacerbatethecurrentdisturbance,toanextentthatcouldnotpossiblybeoutweighed–asimpliedintheLLALproposals–bytheintroductionofallegedlyquieterplanes.

InthecontextofLutonAirportgeneratednoise,readersshouldperhapsberemindedofthereportinourSummer2019newsletter,whichpointedoutthatnoiselimitsweresetin2015asaplanningconditionoftheairport’sexpansionto18mppacapacity,butthatthelimitswerebrokeninthesummersof2017and2018,promptinganapplicationfora‘temporary’relaxationoftherules,lettingtheairportoffthehookforfiveyearsinthehopethatallaircraftflyinginandoutofLutonby2024willbeasquietaseasyJet’slatestA320neotype.

Thelengthynoise-controlbreach,nowinitsthirdyear,andLLAL’svaguepromisesinitsconsultationdocumentthatitis‘expectedthatcargocarriers(operatingoftenatnight,whichhistoricallyhaveusedmainlyolder,noisierplanes)willmovetoquieteraircraftovertime’,areoflittlecomforttothoseregularlydisturbedbysuchflightsnow.

HopesthatnoisedisturbanceforHarpendenresidentswouldbeameliorated,throughsteeperclimbingtake-offsincombinationwithrevisedflightpaths,remainlargelyunfulfilledbecauseofongoingairtrafficcontrolrestrictionsrelatedtocongestedairspacenorthofLondon,mainlycausedbyplanesclimbingoutofHeathrow.Continuesonpage2

Societyopposeshugeairportexpansion-unequivocally

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Airport LtdLondon

A Luton Council company

About this project

Future LuToN is our proposal for making best use of the existing runway at London Luton Airport (LTN). We are proposing to do this by constructing a new terminal and associated infrastructure to increase the capacity of the airport, in terms of the number of flights and passengers it can handle.

We need to increase the capacity of our airport to help meet the demand for air travel in the UK. The current permitted capacity of LTN is 18 million passengers per year, and we are seeking to increase this to 32 million passengers per year by 2039.

This is the second public consultation on our proposed expansion of the airport. Our latest proposals have been shaped by the feedback we received from our previous consultation in summer 2018.

Taking part in our consultation

We are proud of the economic and community benefits that the airport brings to our whole region, and we look forward to discussing our proposed development with you and listening to your views. This is your

opportunity to comment on our proposals before we prepare and submit a Development Consent Order application to the government, to authorise the proposed development. We aim to submit our application in 2020.

We will be holding 34 consultation events across the region during October, November, and December, where you can speak to the project team, ask questions, and provide feedback. All the documents associated with this consultation will also be available online on our website, futureluton.llal.org.uk, and at document inspection venues at council offices and libraries across the region. The back page of this booklet describes the various ways that you can send your feedback to us.

For more information about our proposals,

please see the Guide to Statutory

Consultation available on our website,

futureluton.llal.org.uk, at our consultation

events, and in document inspection venues.

Future LuToNMaking best use of our runwayPublic consultation – 16 October to 16 December 2019

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Adifferentkindofconcern,butnolessimportantforthoselivinginandaroundHarpenden,isthatofaccessforairlinepassengerstoandfromagreatlyexpandedLutonAirport.Already,attimesofpeakflyingactivity,especiallyaroundholidayweekends,roadtrafficqueuesonthemainapproachroad‘backup’beyondthetaxiwayunderpass,withknock-oneffectscreatingcongestionnotonlytoandfromtheM1butalongminorroads,notablytheLowerLutonRoadfromBatfordandWheathampstead.Inshort,theroadnetworkcanhardlycopenow.Adeterminedcampaigntopersuadepassengerstogettoandfromtheairportbypublictransport–incentivisedbytheforthcomingDARTcable-carlinkfromLutonParkwaystation–mightmeetwithsomesuccess,butcaruseissuretoremaindoggedlyhigh.

Thatisbecause,inreality,theseductivetemptationofputtingtheluggageinthecaranddrivingtotheairportwillsurelyremainallpowerful,withprohibitiveparkingchargesthelikelymaindeterrent.Worsestill,asnow,environmentally,willbetohavesomeoneelse–afriendorataxidriver–driveyou,therebyundertakingTWOreturntrips,generatingextrapollutionaswellasroadcongestion.LLAL’sestimateofanegligibleincreaseinroadmileagefromanear-80%growthinpassengernumbers,throughairportusersleavingtheircarsathomeandswitchingtopublictransport,ishopelesslyoptimistic.

Inanycase,asHarpendenSocietychairmanPhilWaterspointsoutinourformalresponse,theschemeproposalsdon'tcoverthe'true'cost.Attractinghugeadditionalnumbersofpassengerstotheairportneedsmassiveimprovementstorailandotherpublictransportinfrastructure.ThosecostsarelargelyandconvenientlyignoredintheLLALconsultationdocument.Itremainstypicalofmanybigdevelopments,inboththepublicandprivatesector,whichdonotpickupthecostofthethingsthatreallyneedtobedone.Someoneelseisexpectedtopickupthetab!

Allthoseprojectedadditionalflightsandtheaccompanyinggrowthinroadtrafficmovementswouldbringcorrespondingincreasesinpollutantand–separately–carbondioxide(globalwarming)emissions,fromaircraftandfromvehicleexhausts.Jetenginesandthepetrolanddieselenginesinthemanycars,busesandtrucksintheenvironsoftheairportinthecomingyearswill,thankstoadvancingtechnology,individuallygetprogressively‘cleaner’andmorefuelefficient–butnottoanextentthatwouldanywherenearcompensateforLLAL’shoped-forgrowthinnumbers.ThoughthelatestconsultationisnecessarilydirectedatcommunitieswithinaprescribedradiusofLutonAirport,theeffectofitsproposedexpansionofoperationswouldbemorewidelyrelevant–infactasfarwidelyasitcouldbe,thatisglobally.Greenhousegasemissions(principallycarbondioxide–CO2),contributingdirectlytoharmfulglobalwarmingandclimatechange,wouldriseinproportiontotheamountoffuelburntbythegreatlyincreasednumberof

aircraftusingtheairportaswellasthemanymoreroadvehiclesinthevicinity.

IntheviewoftheHarpendenSociety,theLLALconsultationdocumentisdisgracefullymisleading,inthecontextofclimatechange,byeffectivelyignoringtheplannedhugeincreaseinflightnumbers.Notuntilpage113ofthedocumentisthecrucialissueraisedandtheneffectivelydismissedinafewparagraphswhich,convenientlybutshamefully,triestooffloadresponsibilityforLutonAirport’sexpecteddamagingincreaseinCO2aviationemissionsontothefailureofworldgovernmentstoestablish‘globalemissionsreductionframeworksthroughtheInternationalCivilAviationOrganisation’.Itadds,bywayofanexcuse,that‘untilthishasbeendone,anallowance(notquantified)forcarbonemissionsfromtheaviationsectorwillbeincludedintheUK’scarbonbudgets’.

ThereisnoacknowledgementbyLLALthatasothercarbonsourcesarereduced(egas‘renewables’replacefossilfuels),aviationwillbecomeoneof,ifnotthe,majorcontributortoglobalcarbonoutput–possiblyupto25%ofthetotalby2050.Measureslistedintheconsultationdocumentfromsourcesotherthanaircraft,whichareintendedto‘offset’theinevitablymassiveprojectedincreaseinaircraftemissionsatLuton,neverthelessoccupyfarmorecolumn-inches,butare,evenso,derisory.

Offsettingtheadditionalaviation-generatedcarbonbyplantingtreestoreplacevegetationlostintheairportexpansionseemslikeaploytodivertattentionfromthecauseandanywaywouldrequireunacceptableareasofgoodagriculturallandtohaveanyrealeffect.Likewisethoserelativelytrivialaspirations,suchas‘encouragingtheuseofelectricvehiclesontheairfield’.

Thosebehindtheplannedexpansionshouldacknowedgetheircommunal–indeedhumanitarian–responsibilityandrealisethatslowingorevenreversingaviation’sheadlonggrowthmayhavetobeconsiderediftheharmfuleffectsofglobalwarmingonfuturegenerationsaretobeaverted.

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Theseparateissueoftheeffectsofmorenumerousflightsonlocalairquality–increasingtheamountsofnitrogendioxide(NO2),carbonparticles,sulphurdioxideandotherpollutants–isdealtwithintheLLALconsultationdocumentwiththeassertionthatNO2levelsinparticularclosetotheairportarecurrently‘belowthelimitssetoutinlegislationfortheprotectionofhumanhealth’.However,theclaimisrathercontradictedbyareportpublishedinDecemberinthejournalEnvironmentalResearchLettersandpickedupbythenationalpress,whichnamesLutonas‘theUK’sairpollutioncapital’inananalysisofairqualityin146ofthecountry’smostdenselypopulatedareas.

Whileadmittingthatmostairport-generatedclimatechangeandpollutantemissionsarefromairtraffic(ratherthanfromland-basedairfieldactivity),LLALsays‘butwehavenocontroloverthat’clearlyimplyingthatthehugeissueisbeyonditsresponsibility.Butanyairportthatfacilitatesamajorincreaseinemissionsisultimately,alongwiththeairlines,culpable.Suggestionsthattheproposedairportexpansionwouldbenefitthecountry’seconomyshouldbetreatedwithsomescepticism.Some80%ofLuton’spassengerthroughputcomesfromtheleisurebusiness,typicallypeoplegoingonholiday.Flyingmainlytodestinationsabroad,theyspendtheirUK-earnedmoneytothedetrimentofBritain’sbalanceofpayments,addingtowhathasbeendescribedasour‘tourismdeficit’,estimatedtobesome£18billionannually.Anenlargedairporthandlingmoreflightsandmorepassengerswouldinevitablygenerateincreasedemployment.LLAL’sconsultantshaveclearlysoughttooptimisethenumberofjobscreatedanddulyportrayedasaneconomicbenefit.However,themethodologybywhichanadditional300jobswouldarise,foreverymillionppaincrease,deservestobechallenged.Itlookslikeastatistician’sequivalentof‘creativeaccounting’with,forexample,acouriercompanyemployeemakingadeliverytotheairportbeingcountedasanadditionaljob.

HarpendenSocietymembersareinclinedtoinstinctivelysupportHertsCountyCouncil’sstrongly-expressedobjectionstofurtherLutonAirportexpansion.SuchinstinctsarelikelytobereinforcedbyLLAL’sreferencetoasizeablepieceofHertfordshiretotheeastofthecurrentsite,tobeallegedlydesignatedforthecreationof‘wildflowermeadows’,additional

‘publicopenspace’andcurrentlycropped‘habitatcreationetc’areas.

HarpendenSocietymembersareinclinedtoinstinctivelysupportHertsCountyCouncil’sstrongly-expressedobjectionstofurtherLutonAirportexpansion.SuchinstinctsarelikelytobereinforcedbyLLAL’sreferencetoasizeablepieceofHertfordshiretotheeastofthecurrentsite,tobeallegedlydesignatedforthecreationof‘wildflowermeadows’,additional‘publicopenspace’andcurrentlycropped‘habitatcreationetc’areas.

Butbyimplicationthat(currentlyagricultural)landcouldbeusedforfuturefurtherairportexpansion,notwithstandingtheterrainwhichfallsawaysteeplybeyondtheeasternendoftherunway.Alongerrunway,thoughnotreferredtospecifically,mustbemorethanagleamintheeyesoftheLLALplanners,somethingwhichwouldpotentiallyallowlarger-capacitytwin-aisleplanestotakeoffandland.

Thatpossibilityisofconsiderableconcern.WewouldaccordinglyexpectHertsCCandNorthHertsDistrictCounciltoputinplacesomeformoflegalcovenanttoblockanysuchLLALencroachmentacrossthecountyboundary.However,werealisethat,giventheairport’sunscrupulousongoingbreachofoneofthenoisecontrolplanningconditions,itwouldlikelystrivetofindawayofhavingsucharestrictionwaived.Moregenerally,wethinkitimpossible,inLLAL’swords,‘tointegratetheairportwithitssurroundings’(byimplicationharmoniously)duetotheoverall‘urbanising’effectoftheexpansionbringing,fornorthHarpendenresidentsespecially,itsintrusivelightingandground-testingnoise,aswell,ofcourse,astheall-pervadingdeparture/overflightnoise.Shouldtheexpansionbegiventhegreenlight,itwouldfurthererodethesenseofHarpendenbeinga‘towninthecountry’.TheHarpendenSociety’sdepositionontheproposedfurtherexpansionofLutonAirport,enablingittohandle14millionmorepassengersayear,istoregisterunequivocalopposition.

REMINDER!2020HarpendenSocietysubscriptionsarenowdue.Memberspaying(£8single,£10couple)otherthanbyStandingOrder

shouldsendtheirremittancespleasetotheTreasurer,66EastmoorPark,

HarpendenAL51BW.Pleasenotifyanychangeofaddressorcontactdetailstomembership@harpendensociety.org

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Would-beCultureCentreusersvoicetheirconcerns

EverythingisonscheduleforHarpenden’snew‘CulturalCentre’inRothamstedParktobereadyinJanuary2021,accordingtoBarryCronin,StAlbansDistrictCouncil’sprojectmanager,whenhechairedtheinauguralmeetinginearlyNovemberofthefuturecentre’snascent‘usergroup’.Thegroupcomprisedover30representativesofdisparateorganisationsinthefieldsofmusic,dramaandotherentertainment,aswellasthetown’slocalhistorysocietywhichisduetoestablishalong-awaitedHarpendenMuseumwithinthecentre.

Conversionofthelargehalloftheformersportscentreintotheculturalcentre’splanned511-seattheatreauditoriumwasalreadywelladvanced,reportedCronin,thoughconstructionworkonthesupportingfunctionrooms,entrancefoyerandthecafé/barareahadyettostart.

Theofficialnameoftheimpressivenewfacilityhadyettobefinalised,althoughaPowerpointartist’simpressionofthebuilding’sfrontageshownatthemeetingclearlyborethename‘HarpendenCulturalCentre’.Earlyindicationsthatitsauditoriumwouldbenamed‘TheEricMorecambeTheatre’hadlikewiseyettobeconfirmed.Featuresofthetheatrecomplexnotembodiedinearlieroutlineproposalsincludeastagewhichcouldbedismantledandstored.Togetherwiththeretractable‘concertinaed’lowerseating,itwouldmaximisetheavailablelevel-floorarea,tocreateahallabletoaccommodatemultiplestallsataCraftFairforexample,orastanding-room-onlyeventofupto700people.Theflooritselfwouldbesuitablefordancing,butprobablynottap-dancing.

However,shouldamajorattractionpackthevenueneartocapacity,concernwasexpressedaboutthenumberandaccessibilityofplannedemergencyexits,includingthosefromtheupperfloor.Croninhastenedtoassurepotentialusersthattheplansfullymetstatutoryfireandemergencyregulations.Therewererepeatedcallsattheusergroupmeetingforthenewculturalcentretobeviewedasmuchmorethanamere‘replacement’fortoday’sPublicHalls.Croninaccordinglypledgedtoensurethenewcentre’sbroadenedappeal.Itwasconfirmedthat1life,thecompany(headquarteredinCambridgeshire)whichhasforsomeyearsrunthePublicHalls,wasduetotakeoverthenewculturalcentreoperation–somethingwhichitselfengenderedlessthanwhole-heartedconfidenceamongsomeofthoseatthemeetingwhohadday-to-daycontactwithPublicHallspersonnelwhere,itwasalleged,thevenue’ssmoothoperationwasnothelpedbyall-too-frequentstaffturnover.

GlennPovey,generalmanagerof1Life,saidplanswereinplacetomarketthenewfacilityextensively,throughlocalpresscoverageandlocalradio.Hesaidthecompanywouldbeinvestingheavilyinadditionalpersonnelandaprogrammeofstafftraining.Buttherewascriticismfromattendeesatthemeetingthatnothoughthadseeminglyyetbeengiventotherecruitmentofanykindofoverseeingartsadministrator.

ItwasthoughtessentialthatschoolsinHarpenden–notablythroughthetown’sSecondarySchoolTrust–shouldbeinvitedtogetinvolvedinplanningpossibleeventsatthecentre.Likewiseallartsgroupsshouldbeapproached,whetherornottheywerecurrentPublicHallsusers.Inclusionofdifferent-sizedfunctionrooms/studios,aswellasthelargetheatre/hallspace,waswidelywelcomedattheusergroupmeeting,especiallybyamateurdramaticsrepresentativeswhopointedouttheneedtoprovideforsmallerproductions.Theyexpressedsomeapprehensionshoweverabouthiringcosts,inparticularwhencomparedwithtoday’sequivalentPublicHallcharges.Inresponse,Poveysaidtheculturalcentreoperationwouldofcoursehavetobeviable,butthepricingstructurewouldtypicallybebasedon‘marketrate’chargesforFridayeveningandweekendevents,tosomeextenteffectivelysubsidisingweekdaybookings.

Glenn Povey Barry Cronin

ItwashopedtowelcomebackHarpendenMusicaleafteritsdeparturefromthePublicHallsthroughlackofasuitablespace.AnotherkeyaspirationwastoreviveHarpenden’saspirationsforlocalcinema-going.HarpendenFilmSocietyhadbeeneffectivelydisbandedbecauseoftheindifferentfacilities–uncomfortableseatingandpoorsoundreproduction–inthelargePublicHall.Itwaspointedoutthat,howeverattractivethenewcentreinitscinemarole,aprofessional–literallyorotherwise–administrativeorganisationwasneededtodeveloparollingfilmprogramme,withaccompanyingpublicitytoensureviableaudiencenumbers.Asanadjuncttoitsconventionalfunctionasafeaturefilm-showingcinema,itwassuggestedthatthenewHarpendenvenuecouldjointhegrowingcircuitoflive(orrecorded)videorelayshowingsofperformances–typicallyconcertsoroperas–fromelsewhereinthecountryorevenfurtherafield.TherewereassurancesfromCroninandPoveythatacoustically,thenewvenue,aseitheratheatreoracinema,wouldmeetthehigheststandardsforaudiences’enjoymentand,inanswertoaquestionfromaconcernedresidentoftheadjacent23aLeytonRoadapartmentblock,wouldbemorethanadequatelysoundinsulated.Inresponsetoaquestionabouton-sitecatering,itwasexplainedthatspaceconstraintswithintheshelloftheerstwhilesportscentrebuildinghadpreventedtheinclusionofa‘fullyfunctional’kitchen.Buttheideaofashop,presumablysellingconfectioneryinparticular,

integratedwiththeboxofficeand/orthecafé,wasmooted,possiblyusingthecaféwallspaceforperiodicartdisplays.Itwasacknowledgedhoweverthatthefeasibilityoftheshopideawasdependentonthecentre’sopeninghours.AfurthersuggestionwasthatofaCultureCentreloyaltycardasafinancialincentivetoattractregularpatronstotheatricalevents.Itwasrecognisedby1LifeandbySADC’sprojectteamthat,whencomparedwithtoday’sPublicHalls,thenewcentre’smuchlessvisuallyprominentlocation,‘tuckedaway’inRothamstedPark,hadtobeaddressed,notonlywithimaginativesignage,butwithsuitablyvigorouspublicity,especiallyforwhathadtobea‘grandopening’.Avaluablecontributiontothatlocalpublicityshouldbeahigh-profilePublicHalls‘closureevent’,ideasforthenatureofwhichwouldbewelcomed.Suchaneventcouldperhapsbespreadoveraweek,withacelebratoryGangShowapossibility.Thoughtoughtalsotobegivenwellinadvancetothe‘ribboncutting’openingceremonyatthenewCultureCentre,mostobviouslyundertakenbyastarname‘celebrity’,whowouldnecessarilyneedtobebookedmonthsahead.Asoneoftheorganisationsrepresentedonthenewly-formedCultureCentreusergroup,theHarpendenSocietyispledgedtodoeverythingitcantoensurethenewvenueisassuccessfulasitdeservestobe.Overthenextyear,asmembersoftheusergroupweintendtomaintainaroleas‘theeyesandears’ofthelocalcommunity.

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RefreshingtheLydekkerpondLydekkerParkand,inparticular,thepondonitsnorthernboundary,arebeingmademoreattractivetovisitors,andtothoselivingnearby,inarefurbishmentprogrammewhichisnowlargelycompleted.Inthelasttwoorthreeyearsthepondhadbecomecloggedwithunwelcomeinvasivevegetationwhichnotonlydetractedfromitsvisualattraction;ithadalsodeterredvisitingducks,moorhensandcoots,whosepresencewerealwaysadelight,especiallytofamilieswalkingthroughthepark–ahavenofrelativetranquilityonlyyardsawayfromthepersistantwhooshoftrafficalongLutonRoad.FundedbyHarpendenTownCouncilwithsupportfromtheNationalLotteryCommunityFund,theworkonthepondinvolvedinstallingnew,morereadilyrepairable,linings‘redefining’thepondedges–iethebanks–intheinterestsofsafety.Animportantnewfeatureisa‘deckingpier’,enablingwheelchairusersinparticulartogetabetterviewofthepondanditssurroundingnon-invasiveplantings.MeanwhiletheareaofLydekkerParkaroundthesouthernendofthepondhasbeenseededtocreatewhatHTCdescribesasa‘wildflowermeadow’.

AWARDS2019ThisyearwearehopingtocastournetwiderininvitingnominationsfortheSociety’snowwell-establishedAwards

Scheme.WearewelcomingvotesfromanyoneinHarpenden,notjustSocietymembers.Sopleaseaskfriendsandneighboursinthetowntoletusknowofanynewbuilding

developmentsorfacilitiesbeingcompletedduring2019thatareworthyofrecognition.

GototheSocietywebsitetonominateyourentriesbyMarch31st:

www.harpendensociety.orgORemailtoawards@harpendensociety.org

OurAwardsCommitteewillvisitandexamineallnominationsandselectthewinners.ThesewillbeannouncedattheAGMandinthe

Newsletter.

CATEGORIESfor2019TheHarpendenSocietyPlaque

AHarpendenSocietyCertificateofMeritALetterofCommendation

Bim’slocalparliamentaryperspectiveInaface-to-faceinterviewwithRonTaylor,thisnewsletter’sassociateeditor,HitchinandHarpendenMPBimAfolamideclaredhimselfalltooawareofthemajorissuesconcerninghisHarpendenconstituents.HighontheagendawereLutonAirport’splanstoexpanditsoperationsoverthenexttwentyyears,to32millionppa(passengersperannum),byadding80,000moreflightsayear,generatingaprobable28millionpassengerjourneystoandfromtheairport,ofwhichonlyamaximum45%wouldbebypublictransport–theremaining55%arrivingorleavingintheirowncars.‘ThereshouldbenofurtherexpansionofLutonAirportwhatsoever’,declaredBim.Onspecificairport-relatedissues,heagreedwithmanyHarpendenresidentsthat‘currentnoiselevelsareintolerable’.Furthermorehesaid‘guarantees(fromtheairport’smanagement)toreducenoiselevelshavebeenignored’,addingthat‘theyjustdon’tcare’.Airpollution(fromaircraftandfromairport-generatedroadtraffic)was,saidBim,anothervitalconcern,pointingoutthat‘highlevelsofparticlesarealreadyinevidencearoundthewholearea,causinghealthconcerns’.Aconnectedissuewasthatoftraffic;Bimsaidherecognisedthat‘localroadsandtheM1junction10Amotorwaylinkarealreadysubjecttocongestion,butnoexpansionoftheroadnetworkisplanned–andiftherewasthiswouldremovevaluablefarmland’.Railservices,vitaltotheareaforthemanyHarpendenresidentscommutingintoLondoneveryday,aswellas–currentlyandpotentially–forLutonAirportpassengers,cameinforunbridledcriticism.‘Noreliance’,saidBim,‘canbeexpectedfromGoviaThameslinktoexpandserviceswhich(liketheBedfordtoStPancrasline)areonlynorth-south.IhaveheldmeetingswithGTR;theyrefusetoacceptcriticalissues.Theyarenotfittoholdthefranchise’.HeacknowledgedthatStAlbansDistrictCouncilwaspushingThameslinktoimprovetheserviceforHarpendenpassengersandpraisedlocalpressuregroupsfortheir‘constantaction’.But,hesaid,‘withthreegroupscontrollingtherailways–GTR,NetworkRailandtheGovernment–thereisnosingleaccountability’.Unfortunately,headded,‘wewillhavetowaitforthereportfromtheWilliamsReview(seeRailDeliveryGroupwebsite)toseewhatcanbedoneforthefutureofrailtravel’.TurningtomoreHarpendentowncentrespecificissues,Bimsaidherecognisedthat‘retainingamixedHighStreetisessentialformaintainingathrivinglocalcommunity,withoutwhichHarpendenwouldbecomeaboringcommutertown’.Thenextgovernment‘could(thoughnotwould!)’,hesaid,helpbyincludingnewlegislationinitsfirstbudget’.ItwasrecognisedhoweverthatHarpendenresidentshaveLutonandStAlbansshoppingcentresclosebyaswellastheon-lineshoppingoption.Hitchin,theotherlargetowninBim’sconstituency,manages,hesaid,‘toattractmorelocal

shoppers,thanksinnosmallmeasuretotheHitchinBusinessImprovementDistrict(BID)schemesetupin2009’.Abusiness-fundedinitiative,possiblysettinganexampleforHarpenden,itissupportedbyNorthHertsDistrictCouncilandaimstodeliverimprovementstothetowncentrethatbusinessesthemselveshaveidentifiedaskeytoimprovingthetradingenvironment.TheHitchinBIDscheme’s‘TownCentreRangers’actasitseyesandears,liaisingwithpoliceandstatutoryservicestoensureaclean,safeandsecureenvironment.Recycling,streetdeepcleaning,ChristmasLights,eventsandmarketing,carparkpromotions,snowclearance,trainingandbusinesssupportareallpartofthetown’sBIDportfolio.

AliterallyburningissueforthepeopleofHarpendenistheproposalbyEmsrayneforalargeindustrialincineratorontheLowerLutonRoadatNewMillEnd,whichhasmetalmostuniversalopposition.InBim’swords,‘thedevelopmentofthisprojectsoclosetoHarpendenisabadidea.Giventhelevelofprotestoverthepastyearormore,thereseemstobeadistinctpossibilitythattheplanningapplicationwillnotproceed.However,IhavebeenworkingwiththemainoppositiongroupSHLIand,shouldtheneedarise,Iwillrejointheirefforts.Meanwhile,residentsshouldkeepacheckonanyprogress,andbereadytorenewtheirobjectionstoEmsrayne’sactions’.BimsaidhewasmonitoringHarpenden’sRedHousehealthandwellbeingcentreproject,sayingthat‘havingcheckedthebackgroundonthisproject,Iamdismayedbytheongoingdelays,butIhavenowheardfromtheNHSprojectteamandtheyarelookingtobringforwardtheopeningdateaheadof(theindicated)2023’.Broaderenvironmentalquestionswere,saidBim,assumingevergreaterimportance,locallyaswellasnationallyandglobally.‘EducatingschoolchildrenaboutsuchissuesinHarpendenhasbeenanobjectiveofminewithinvolvementatbothRoundwoodParkandStGeorge’sschools.BiodiversityisanothersubjectIhavebeencampaigningabout.Twolocalchalkstreams,notablytheRiverVer,havefartoomuchwaterextractedbyAffinityWater;Iwillbepressingforthistobesignificantlyreduced’.

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HistoricalvacancyHarpendenLocalHistorySocietyislookingforaGeneralSecretary,someonewithsomesparetimewhichtheycouldputtogoodandinterestinguse,inmaintainingsocietyrecordsaswellas,forexample,dealingwith

questions–oftenfromnon-members–aboutHarpenden’srichheritage.Ifyouwanttoknowmoreaboutwhat’sinvolved,contactsocietychairmanGavinRossatgavros.ross@btopenworld.comoronHarpenden715399.

BimAfolamiwithinterlocutorRonTaylor

DidYouKnow?FromHarpenden’s

history‘AWELCOMBEREMINDER

OFYESTERYEAR’

AfteralengthyrefurbishmentfromitsroleastheHarpendenHouseHotel,thevenerableandimposingWelcombeHouse,ontheedgeofHarpendenCommon,hasrevertedtoitsoriginalprivateresidencestatus,albeitnowconvertedintospacious(upto2340sqft)andluxurious(upto£2.7millionaskingprice)apartments.ItformspartoftheFairviewHomesdevelopmentontheextensiveSouthdownRoadsite,theremainderofwhichcomprisesnew-buildhousesandapartments.Thebuilding’sGradeII*listingimposedrestrictionsonwhatcouldbedonetothestructure.Someoftheinternalalterationshaveprovedcontroversialwithinthetermsofthoserestrictions,thoughthereisgeneralagreementthattheoutsideappearanceremainsessentiallyunaltered,apartfromageneral‘smarteningup’.VerylittleisknownabouttheoriginsandearlyownersofWelcombe,withitsimposing,butoddlyasymmetricalearly18thCenturythree-storeyfaçade.Butitislikelythatitshandsomedoorwayand‘brokensegmentedpediment’of1710-20,(toquotePevsner’s1953bookonHertfordshirearchitecture),andimposingcentralentryhallandstaircase,werepartofawingaddedtoa17thCenturytimber-framedhouse.Sometimberbeamsandwallingofanearlierstructurewerestillevidentinthekitchenquarterswhenthebuildingwasrefurbishedinthemid-1970s.Thehouseprobablyoriginallyfacedsouth,maybewithacourtyardoverlookingthegardens.ItisthoughttobecontemporaneouswiththeearlierpartsofBennetts(nowthehomeoftheRoyalBritishLegion),ontheothersideofthecommoninLeytonRoad.Inthe18thCenturyanewwingwasaddedonthesouth-eastcornerbehindthe1720sfrontage–somethingapparentfromanobviousjoininthebrickwork.In1930Welcombebecameaconventofthe700-year-oldDominicanOrder,andforthenext34yearsthebuildingremainedessentiallyunchanged,thoughin1936LourdesHallwasbuiltinthegrounds,followedmuchlater,in1964,byStDominic’sRomanCatholicSchool.ButatthatjunctureWelcombe’sacquisitionbyMoatHouseHotelsledtomanyinternalalternations,notablyalteringwallsanddoorwaysonthegroundfloor,insertingmockioniccolumnsinAdam-styleandre-configuringlate19thCenturyroomsasalong‘Georgian’diningroomgivingaccesstoanewsingle-storeyextension.Ontheupperfloors,plasterboardfalseceilingsandpartitionswereaddedtocreatebedroomsandpassageways.

Acknowledgement:HarpendenLocalHistorySociety

7

SomeofWelcombe’soccupantsItisknownthatinthelate18thCenturyaMrsElizabeth

MercierwasrunningaboardingschoolforgirlsinHarpenden,thoughttohavebeenhousedatWelcombe.Butby1843,

accordingtothe‘titheawardschedule’,themansionwasempty,havinglatelybeenoccupiedbyaMrFogg.

Bythe1871Census,ithadbecomethefamilyhomeofHenryTylstonHodgson(1843-1918),andhiswifeCharlotte,withtheirthreechildren,Aubreyaged4,Eustaceaged1andthree-

montholdGerald.Befittingafamilyoftheirstatus,theyemployedahousekeeper,anupperhousemaid,acook,anurse,anundernurse,akitchenmaidandafootman.HenrywasadirectoroftheMidlandRailway,whosetracksformedtheeasternboundaryofWelcombe’sgrounds.By1904hehad

risentobecometheMR’sdeputychairman.HenryandhiswifebecameactiveinHarpendenculturallife,particularlyintheprovisionoflandfor,andbuildingof‘theInstitute’(HarpendenLectureInstitution–nowtheFriendsMeetingHouse)in1887,aswellas‘Hodgson'sCottages’alongsidetothenorth(oneofwhichwasmorerecently

occupiedbytheHarpendenSociety’slatechairmanIanFulton).HodgsonservedasaJPfrom1874,asHarpenden'sfirstCounty

Councillorfrom1889andwasappointedHighSheriffofHertfordshirein1907.

HechairedHarpenden’selaboratecelebrationsforQueenVictoria'sGoldenJubileein1887.Sometwentyyearslaterhebuilt‘Rosemary’(28MiltonRoad)forhiswife.However,shesadlydiedthefollowingyearandthehouseremainedempty,thoughhemadeitavailabletoserveasamilitaryhospital

duringtheFirstWorldWar.In1914heerectedariflerangeatthesouthernendoftheWelcombeestate.

HenryTylstonHodgson'sdiedin1918andthefamilysoldthehouse.HissonGeraldneverthelesscontinuedhisfather's

interestinpublicworksforthebenefitofHarpenden.GeraldHodgsonandhiswifelivedfirstat‘Blantyre’inArden

Groveandthenat‘Bennetts’inLeytonRoad.HeplantedScotspinesandlarchesaroundtherun-offpondsinSouthdownRoad

in1929.HisbrotherVictorHodgsonhadcollectedmanyartefactsandpaintingswhichhelodgedwithHarpendenUrban

DistrictCouncil'forafuturemuseumforHarpenden'.ButonHenry’sdeathWelcombepassedtonewowners,theWaltons,describedas‘richandgenerouspeople’whoweresaidtohave‘popularisedtheirwealthbyvariousfetesforcharitiesandpoliticsintheWelcombegrounds’.TheWaltons,whohadbeenassociatedwithVauxhallMotors,leftHarpendenin

1931(theyear,perhapsnotcoincidentally,thatVauxhallwasacquiredbytheAmericanGeneralMotors).

PotentiallymomentouschangestoHarpenden’stownscapeareinthepipeline.MostareeithersubjectsofplanningapplicationsorareotherwiseenvisagedbuttheyhaveyettohittheheadlinesoftheHertsAdvertiserorcometopublicattention.Forexample,fewpeoplearesurelyyetawarethattheideaofdouble-deckingHarpendenStation’smain(eastern)carpark,longagorejectedfornumerousreasons,notablyobjectionsfromresidentsofMiltonRoad,couldbecomealiveissueonceagain.

HertsCountyCouncilhasindicateditsintentiontobringpressureonStAlbansDistrictCouncil,necessarilyincollaborationwithNetworkRail,toworkoutsuchascheme.Itslikelycostisobviouslyakeyobstacle,giventhatSADC’songoingbudgetplansincludenorelevantfundingallocation.AwaywouldhavetobefoundofcuttingthroughadministrativeredtapetopossiblyenableSADCandNRtosharethecostbetweenthem.

CarparkinginStAlbansDistrictasawholewasalludedtobySADC’snewLibDemleader,CllrChrisWhite,inaninterviewjustbeforeChristmas.Hesaid‘wehaveacunningplanforsomeofthecarparkingissues’–withoutdivulgingthedetailsofanysuchplan.

ItwouldappeartoordinarycounciltaxpayershoweverthatSADCisnotthatshortoffundstospendinHarpenden.CllrWhitehasdeclaredthatoneofitsmoreradicalplansistopurchase,forsome£18million,the‘mixedblockofcommercialletsandflats’onthewestsideoftheHighStreet,extendingthroughtoLeytonRoad,betweenChurchGreenandLloydsBank.Theaim,hesaid,wouldnotonlyprovidearentalincomebut,headdedmoresweepingly,alsopreventit‘beingbrokenupandtransformedintosomethingwhichdoesn’tfitwiththerestofthetown’.

MeanwhileattheSouthdownendofHarpendenthereiscertainlynoshortageofdevelopmentplans.Thelandowner

ofSouthdownIndustrialEstate,thatisBritishCoalPensionFund,isintheprocessofevictingtenants,initiallyfromthosefactoryunitsbackingontotherailway.Artscapeisjustoneofthemorefamiliarlocalbusinesseshavingtorelocate.ItisunderstoodthatBCPFinitiallyappliedforpermissiontobuildnewhousingonthatpartoftheSIEsiteandwhenthatwasrefuseditreappliedtoerectnew‘commercial’units,comprisingofficesandwarehouses.ThatapplicationchangeisatleastincompliancewiththeclauseinHarpenden’sNeighbourhoodPlanwhichseekstomaintainplacesofemploymentinthetown.

ElsewhereatSouthdowntheproposedre-developmentforhousingbyJarvisofthelargePanAutossiteinGroveRoad,inthefaceoflocalobjections,hasmovedforwardafurtherstageafterearlierhiccups.Thebigconcernofmoreardentobjectorswasthattherecentcouncilmeetingtoreviewtheplanswaspoorlyattendedbyfellowresidentsandthatthelocalcouncillorwhoraisedconcernsatthemeetingwasthenunabletobackthemupsufficientlystrongly,seemingtomakelightofwhatwasanimportantsubmission.Residentsatthemeetingwereshockedanddisappointed,somethingmadeevenworsebythecontrastingprofessionalismofJarvis'srepresentative.

If,asnowappearslikely,thePanAutossitedevelopmentisgiventhego-ahead,notwithstandingthescaleofitsthree-storeyfrontagecontraveningtheaimsofthetown’sNeighbourhoodPlan,thenanundesirableprecedentwillbesetforplanningapprovaloftheseparateproposalstobuildyetmoreless-than-attractivehousingontheimmediatelyadjacentJewsonsbuildersmerchantssite.

PlanningapplicationsinHarpendensubmittedoverthenextyearortwoandtheirapprovalorotherwisebySADCwillproveanacidtestoftheNeighbourhoodPlan’seffectivenessandoftheaccompanyingscepticismaboutitstruevalueharbouredbymanyresidents.

EDITOR’SVIEWAlanBunting

WhithertheNeighbourhoodPlanintideofdevelopment?

8

SOCIETYPUBLICMEETINGDATES

BimAfolamiMPFeb27thVenueTBC

Checkourwebsitefordetailswww.harpendensociety.org

Pleasesendcommentsonarticlesoranyotherissuesraisedinthiseditiontotheeditor:AlanBunting

editor@harpendensociety.org.Sub-editorHarryDownieVisittheSociety'swebsite–www.harpendensociety.orgDesignedbyRonTaylor

PublishedbyTheHarpendenSociety,printedbyD2D,Harpendenanddistributedbyhard-working

Societymembers.

SADCwanttoacquirethiswholeblockofHighStreetproperty

These industrial units at Southdown are earmarked for redevelopment.