Three Rivers District Council has slammed plans for a proposed site for traveller’s and gypsies right here in Abbots Langley. Two sites that have been proposed are just north of Langleybury Lane and Woodside Road . The announcement follows the publication of a consultants' report on the allocation of Gypsy and traveller sites in districts across South and West Hertfordshire. This is sure to come as a blow to local residents of Abbots , who see their village as being a peaceful suburb with very low levels of disturbance. The Scott Wilson report is an independent study commissioned by local Councils to help inform the consultation on Gypsy and traveller sites, which is being led by the East of England Regional Assembly. The Regional Assembly's consultation process is expected to begin in May. These plans have not gone down well with Three Rivers' Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Councillor Martin Trevett, who is strongly opposed to the possible site proposal in Abbots. He said: “We believe the sites put forward by the Scott Wilson report for Three Rivers are flawed as appropriate locations for Gypsy and travellers. To reassure people we are publishing our concerns about the draft ideas straight away.” There is slight hope for Abbots residents however, as the identification of a site in the Scott Wilson report does not necessarily mean that it will be considered further by the Councils. This also means that sites not identified could subsequently come forward as options for consultation. Residents should be made aware that no final decision will be made on the proposed site until 2008. Any final decision will then be made by elected members of the District Council. The Council has promised to keep residents informed throughout the consultation process through Three Rivers Times magazine. You can access this magazine by visiting the Three Rivers website www.threerivers.gov.uk.
Residents may make their views known to their Ward Councillors and at Area Forums at any time.
Plans for a new Parish Centre in Abbots Langley have been further delayed after the West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust pulled out of the project. This has come as a major blow, as the PCT was a major partner in the project, along with the community centre, the parish council and Three Rivers district council, in building a new parish centre. The centre would offer both council and health facilities, as well as a new hall for groups to use. The Parish Centre Committee will now have to revive the development by redrawing financial and building plans. The PCT became involved in the project after Popes Road clinic closed in 2006, in order to offer health facilities in the village centre. However, a change in the requirements of the trust have resulted in its withdrawal. A representative of the PCT stated that the trust is happy with the office space it currently has in and close to Abbots, and are more than satisfied with the existing venue for the baby clinic led by their health visitors. The slow progress of the Parish Centre has also contributed to the decision of the PCT. Chairman of the Parish Centre Committee Geoff Emery, expressed his sadness at the decision of the PCT, but stated that a lottery grant application would be submitted soon. Keith Williams, leader of Abbots Langley council, stated that he was disappointed that parishioners were losing out on health facilities due to the lack of a clinic in the area, adding plans are now back to square one. However, Mr Williams did say that plans to replace the existing community centre, which was the original aim of the parish centre, were still ongoing.
A local woman who was drink driving while banned, refused to give Police a breath test because they allegedly called her ‘pissy pants’. Police were called to the Gade car park in Watford after receiving reports of a driver trying to leave without paying. The woman was asked to move back from the car parks barrier, and did so reluctantly, flashing her lights and honking her horn as she did so. On exiting the vehicle, officers noticed her glazed eyes and inability to stand up straight. On hearing the officers do a name check, the drunk tried to flee the scene, but was stopped by the police present. On becoming aggressive, the woman was cuffed and taken to the police station, where she still refused to give a breath test. At sentencing, the woman did show remorse, promised to get a job and cut down on her drinking. She was banned from driving for three years, ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work and various programmes to help her with her problems. Sadly for the woman in question, this is not the only trouble she has had lately. Action by the District Council has led to the granting of a Possession Order against the woman and her 18-year-old son. The pair, of Parsonage Close, sees the Order granted against them by Hertford County Court following anti social behaviour injunctions handed out in December last year. As the Injunctions appear to have improved the situation since December, the date of the possession of the property has been postponed by the Court for as long as the Mother complies with the terms of the Order. As part of the Order handed out, the unnamed female must avoid all aspects of anti-social behaviour in relation to her neighbours. As a result, she has given written undertakings not to cause anti-social behaviour or cause any damage to District Council properties. She must also not encourage others in such behaviour. Patrick Odling-Smee, Director of Housing and Health at Three Rivers, said: "The Council takes breaches of tenancy very seriously and will take all necessary action in proven cases to stop such behaviour. Three Rivers is a safe district and it is important that tenants help to keep it safe. The support and bravery of neighbours in coming forwards, as in this case, can be vital to ensure a successful prosecution.” The council’s efforts were praised by Judge Barr, while he also commended the bravery of the neighbours who were willing to give statements. It was felt that the Council had no choice but to act in the way it did to prevent further disturbances to residents of Parsonage close. An Injunction, with powers of arrest attached, was also obtained against the woman’s 18-year-old son, on the grounds of anti-social behaviour. The Injunction will last for one year.
Protestors from around the country went on a march last month in opposition to changes that have been announced by the government regarding medical training. The demonstration took place between The Royal College of Physicians and The Royal College of Surgeons, both in London, and was attended by around 13,000 people. The main purpose of the march was to protest against the new changes known as MMC, Modernising Medical Careers. The changes are likely to see junior doctors given fast track training to specialist level, such as GP or surgeon , which will involve significantly less time or experience. For example, surgeons operating time will decrease from 30,000 hours to just 8,000 when they become consultants. The application system is likely to be made entirely anonymous and on-line, therefore leaving short listing of candidates mainly to a computer, which will see many of the best candidates without even a single interview. What will alarm people also, is the possible decrease in the number of training posts. There are thousands of exceptional young doctors who may never get the chance to progress in their career and may possibly have to leave medicine entirely, with an estimated 8,000 likely to be culled. What will make people angry however is the fact that tax payers are likely to lose out. It is they who contribute to the huge bill to send medical students through university, in the hope that they will work for the NHS some day. Many young doctors are now having to leave their family and seek work abroad because of the new changes, meaning other countries such as Australia are gaining from tax payers money. Dr Anthony Barron and his Fiancé Kim Johnson, of Broomfield Rise, were just two of those in the medical profession who attended the march. Anthony currently works around 80 hours a week training at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. His education and hard work includes a bachelor of honours in medicine, surgery and pharmacology and an additional degree in cardiology. He spends his spare time attending expensive courses and sitting three postgraduate exams, but now faces having to leave medicine or emigrate. A disgruntled Anthony told My Abbots: “All doctors off duty should have been at the march. The new rules will see training get worse and less hours committed, which will create second class consultants. Our salary will go down and there is a chance I may have to drop back a year because of the competition from more experienced doctors than myself.”
Emergency vehicles were called to the scene of a crash on the M1 last month after a woman had to be cut free from a vehicle. The woman was a passenger in a green Peugeot 406 which was travelling northbound on the M1 at around 3am on a Sunday morning. The car hit the central reservation and spun, coming to a standstill in the middle lane of the motorway. The driver had fled the scene by the time police and fire services had arrived, with the motorway having to be closed off on their arrival for one hour. Specialist equipment had to be used to free the woman from the wrecked vehicle, with paramedics having to treat her for neck injuries. A 33-year-old man from Abbots Langley has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and is currently on police bail until April 10th.
Three Rivers District Council has slammed plans for a proposed site for traveller’s and gypsies right here in Abbots Langley. Two sites that have been proposed are just north of Langleybury Lane and Woodside Road . The announcement follows the publication of a consultants' report on the allocation of Gypsy and traveller sites in districts across South and West Hertfordshire. This is sure to come as a blow to local residents of Abbots , who see their village as being a peaceful suburb with very low levels of disturbance. The Scott Wilson report is an independent study commissioned by local Councils to help inform the consultation on Gypsy and traveller sites, which is being led by the East of England Regional Assembly. The Regional Assembly's consultation process is expected to begin in May. These plans have not gone down well with Three Rivers' Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Councillor Martin Trevett, who is strongly opposed to the possible site proposal in Abbots. He said: “We believe the sites put forward by the Scott Wilson report for Three Rivers are flawed as appropriate locations for Gypsy and travellers. To reassure people we are publishing our concerns about the draft ideas straight away.” There is slight hope for Abbots residents however, as the identification of a site in the Scott Wilson report does not necessarily mean that it will be considered further by the Councils. This also means that sites not identified could subsequently come forward as options for consultation. Residents should be made aware that no final decision will be made on the proposed site until 2008. Any final decision will then be made by elected members of the District Council. The Council has promised to keep residents informed throughout the consultation process through Three Rivers Times magazine. You can access this magazine by visiting the Three Rivers website 
Plans for a new Parish Centre in Abbots Langley have been further delayed after the West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust pulled out of the project. This has come as a major blow, as the PCT was a major partner in the project, along with the community centre, the parish council and Three Rivers district council, in building a new parish centre. The centre would offer both council and health facilities, as well as a new hall for groups to use. The Parish Centre Committee will now have to revive the development by redrawing financial and building plans. The PCT became involved in the project after Popes Road clinic closed in 2006, in order to offer health facilities in the village centre. However, a change in the requirements of the trust have resulted in its withdrawal. A representative of the PCT stated that the trust is happy with the office space it currently has in and close to Abbots, and are more than satisfied with the existing venue for the baby clinic led by their health visitors. The slow progress of the Parish Centre has also contributed to the decision of the PCT. Chairman of the Parish Centre Committee Geoff Emery, expressed his sadness at the decision of the PCT, but stated that a lottery grant application would be submitted soon. Keith Williams, leader of Abbots Langley council, stated that he was disappointed that parishioners were losing out on health facilities due to the lack of a clinic in the area, adding plans are now back to square one. However, Mr Williams did say that plans to replace the existing community centre, which was the original aim of the parish centre, were still ongoing.
A local woman who was drink driving while banned, refused to give Police a breath test because they allegedly called her ‘pissy pants’. Police were called to the Gade car park in Watford after receiving reports of a driver trying to leave without paying. The woman was asked to move back from the car parks barrier, and did so reluctantly, flashing her lights and honking her horn as she did so. On exiting the vehicle, officers noticed her glazed eyes and inability to stand up straight. On hearing the officers do a name check, the drunk tried to flee the scene, but was stopped by the police present. On becoming aggressive, the woman was cuffed and taken to the police station, where she still refused to give a breath test. At sentencing, the woman did show remorse, promised to get a job and cut down on her drinking. She was banned from driving for three years, ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work and various programmes to help her with her problems. Sadly for the woman in question, this is not the only trouble she has had lately. Action by the District Council has led to the granting of a Possession Order against the woman and her 18-year-old son. The pair, of Parsonage Close, sees the Order granted against them by Hertford County Court following anti social behaviour injunctions handed out in December last year. As the Injunctions appear to have improved the situation since December, the date of the possession of the property has been postponed by the Court for as long as the Mother complies with the terms of the Order. As part of the Order handed out, the unnamed female must avoid all aspects of anti-social behaviour in relation to her neighbours. As a result, she has given written undertakings not to cause anti-social behaviour or cause any damage to District Council properties. She must also not encourage others in such behaviour. Patrick Odling-Smee, Director of Housing and Health at Three Rivers, said: "The Council takes breaches of tenancy very seriously and will take all necessary action in proven cases to stop such behaviour. Three Rivers is a safe district and it is important that tenants help to keep it safe. The support and bravery of neighbours in coming forwards, as in this case, can be vital to ensure a successful prosecution.” The council’s efforts were praised by Judge Barr, while he also commended the bravery of the neighbours who were willing to give statements. It was felt that the Council had no choice but to act in the way it did to prevent further disturbances to residents of Parsonage close. An Injunction, with powers of arrest attached, was also obtained against the woman’s 18-year-old son, on the grounds of anti-social behaviour. The Injunction will last for one year.
Protestors from around the country went on a march last month in opposition to changes that have been announced by the government regarding medical training. The demonstration took place between The Royal College of Physicians and The Royal College of Surgeons, both in London, and was attended by around 13,000 people. The main purpose of the march was to protest against the new changes known as MMC, Modernising Medical Careers. The changes are likely to see junior doctors given fast track training to specialist level, such as GP or surgeon , which will involve significantly less time or experience. For example, surgeons operating time will decrease from 30,000 hours to just 8,000 when they become consultants. The application system is likely to be made entirely anonymous and on-line, therefore leaving short listing of candidates mainly to a computer, which will see many of the best candidates without even a single interview. What will alarm people also, is the possible decrease in the number of training posts. There are thousands of exceptional young doctors who may never get the chance to progress in their career and may possibly have to leave medicine entirely, with an estimated 8,000 likely to be culled. What will make people angry however is the fact that tax payers are likely to lose out. It is they who contribute to the huge bill to send medical students through university, in the hope that they will work for the NHS some day. Many young doctors are now having to leave their family and seek work abroad because of the new changes, meaning other countries such as Australia are gaining from tax payers money. Dr Anthony Barron and his Fiancé Kim Johnson, of Broomfield Rise, were just two of those in the medical profession who attended the march. Anthony currently works around 80 hours a week training at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. His education and hard work includes a bachelor of honours in medicine, surgery and pharmacology and an additional degree in cardiology. He spends his spare time attending expensive courses and sitting three postgraduate exams, but now faces having to leave medicine or emigrate. A disgruntled Anthony told My Abbots: “All doctors off duty should have been at the march. The new rules will see training get worse and less hours committed, which will create second class consultants. Our salary will go down and there is a chance I may have to drop back a year because of the competition from more experienced doctors than myself.”
Emergency vehicles were called to the scene of a crash on the M1 last month after a woman had to be cut free from a vehicle. The woman was a passenger in a green Peugeot 406 which was travelling northbound on the M1 at around 3am on a Sunday morning. The car hit the central reservation and spun, coming to a standstill in the middle lane of the motorway. The driver had fled the scene by the time police and fire services had arrived, with the motorway having to be closed off on their arrival for one hour. Specialist equipment had to be used to free the woman from the wrecked vehicle, with paramedics having to treat her for neck injuries. A 33-year-old man from Abbots Langley has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and is currently on police bail until April 10th.