Community Matters
Voice Your Choice
Issue Response
Shaping our Community - Emerging Core Strategy Update Harpenden
Fairtrade Town
Harpenden Urban Transport Plan
East of England Plan
Voice Your Choice
We know people living locally have the best knowledge of an area and know what needs to be done to improve it. The Town Council asked residents how they would improve Harpenden and over 120 people submitted ideas.
During the last financial year the Town Council was been awarded approximately £26,000 from
The Town Council has agreed that the community will decide how this money should be spent. The Town Council asked the community to suggest great initiatives which should be funded. Over 120 project ideas were submitted and the Town Council is currently investigating the feasibility of these projects. Residents of Harpenden will then vote for their favourite projects.
The remit of the projects is very broad but it needs to fit into one of the following themes:
Safer Communities – tackling crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour
Children and young people – improve provision for young people, improve play areas, sporting facilities
Environment – managing/improving open spaces, litter, pollution, promote environmentally friendly living
Economy – improve the shopping area, running training courses
Older People – improve services for elderly people
Sport, Leisure and Recreation – improving sports and entertainment for local people
Community – improve facilities and amenities for local people, enhance community engagement and involvement
Special interest groups – develop local organisations or community events
Further information please contact Helen Eadon on 01582 463665 or helen.eadon@harpenden.gov.uk.
Issue Response
Harpenden Town Council wants to express the views and aspirations of the community effectively and efficiently, but equally importantly, in a timely fashion. The Council doesn't want to enter into long drawn out questionnaires and consultation procedures. We want to know your views. To help us to do this we are setting up a new service called 'Issue Response'. The system will enable the Town Council to collect your views via an online survey on important issues which affect Harpenden. Issues could include concerns over the East of England Plan, building on the greenbelt around Harpenden, environmental issues concerning the expansion of London Luton airport, Post Office closures or local initiatives such as Harpenden Memorial Hospital (the Red House), works to Harpenden Common, Christmas lights, Town Centre parking or the allotments.
It is anticipated that we would be seeking views on no more than half a dozen issues a year, i.e. bimonthly. What we would require from you is your email address so that we can contact you with the question to seek your view. Often it will be a simple 'yes' or 'no'. However, on bigger issues it might lead to a few more questions to seek your opinion. 'Issue Response' will only take a few minutes to complete and it will give you an opportunity to have your say.
It's quick, it's easy and it gives the community a stronger voice and your Councillors a clearer mandate to fight for Harpenden's interests on the many key issues now affecting Harpenden's future.
If you would like your views to be known on these important issues please email: issue.response@harpenden.gov.uk with the subject title 'Issue Response'.
Shaping our Community - Emerging Core Strategy
Reprieve for Green Belt sites
Thanks to Harpenden residents supporting a Town Council campaign to protect our green belt St. Albans District Council has dramatically agreed to remove all proposed housing developments on Green Belt sites from the Emerging Core Strategy Local Development Framework. This strategy will influence the way Harpenden and St Albans District will develop and change up to 2026 and had suggested building 300 homes on Green Belt land on the northern edge of Harpenden bordered by Cooters End Lane. 
The Council Leader at St Albans District Council, Robert Donald has said one of the reasons for removing the eight Green Belt sites in the Core Strategy was due to the strong public opposition to the development of Green Belt land. Studying the report which was presented to the January 2009 Cabinet where this decision was made, it showed at least 60% of the 3,636 individual responses were received from Harpenden via the Town Council’s campaign.
Harpenden Town Mayor, Councillor Rosemary Farmer was delighted with the announcement and commented, ‘This is a real victory for the people of Harpenden. It demonstrates that residents’ opinions do count. Residents taking the time to respond showed the overwhelming support that the Town Council had in their campaign to protect the Green Belt in Harpenden.’
Alternative housing sites are now being investigated and the Town Council will be closely monitoring the outcome of these investigations.
Harpenden Town Council full response to the Emerging Core Strategy.
The Harpenden Society and The Harpenden Green Belt Association response to the to Emerging Core Strategy.
Harpenden - Fairtrade Town 
In February 2008, Harpenden received Fairtrade Town Status, details of the initiative are below.
Fairtrade is an alternative model of trade which seeks greater equity for marginalised producers in the developing world, with emphasis on achieving better terms of trade, decent working conditions, local and environmental sustainability. The better deal from Fairtrade means that producers can cover their costs of sustainable production and also benefit from the additional Fairtrade premium which is invested in social, economic and environmental development projects.
The FAIRTRADE Mark
The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on a range of retail and catering products as a guarantee that disadvantaged farmers and workers in the developing world are getting a better deal.
The Fairtrade Foundation is the independent body in the UK that licenses the FAIRTRADE Mark to products which meet international Fairtrade standards as set by the international certification body, Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). The FAIRTRADE Mark guarantees:
producers receive an agreed and stable price for their products
extra income for farmers and estate workers to improve their lives.
a greater respect for the environment
small farmers a stronger position in world markets
a closer link between consumers and producers
When you choose Fairtrade products you are having a direct impact on the lives and welfare of producers.
What Fairtrade products can I buy?
The range of Fairtrade products is constantly growing, so look out for new products with the FAIRTRADE Mark. Currently you can purchase Fairtrade certified:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Sugar
- Fresh Fruit – including apples, avocados, lychees, bananas, oranges, lemons, coconuts, grapes, mangoes, pears, plums and pineapples
- Chocolate
- Cocoa powder
- Fruit Juice
- Yoghurts
- Nuts
- Honey & jam
- Cakes
- Herbs and spices
- Nuts, cereal bars and biscuits
- Rice and quinoa
- Sports equipment including footballs and rugby balls
- Flowers
- Wine and beer
- Cotton products including t-shirts, dresses, trousers, bathrobes and towels.
For more information on each product and where you can purchase them please see http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/products.htm.
What is a Fairtrade Town?
A Fairtrade Town, City or Zone is a community which has made a commitment to supporting Fairtrade, and through it to support disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries. In practical terms, this means the community will have significant levels of awareness and understanding of the concept of Fairtrade, Fairtrade products will be widely available, bought and used, and a commitment will have been made to increasing sales andawareness further still, through promotional and educational activities.
There were five goals to achieve before Harpenden could become a Fairtrade Town:
- The local council passed a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at meetings and in its offices and canteens.
- A local Fairtrade Steering Group was convened to work towards achieving Fairtrade status and ensure continued commitment once it is achieved.
- A range of goods that carry the FAIRTRADE Mark must be readily available in the area’s shops, local cafes and other catering establishments.
- Fairtrade products must be used by a number of workplaces and community organisations.
- Good media coverage and popular support for the campaign.
Harpenden Fairtrade Directory
The Harpenden Fairtrade Steering Group are currently compiling a Fair trade Directory for Harpenden which will give details of where you can buy Fair trade products.
So far we are aware of the following establishments but if you are aware of any others please let us know:
|
Contact Name |
Address |
Tel |
Products |
|
| |||
|
Co-op Supermarket |
Lower Luton Road |
769 811 |
Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Cakes and Biscuits, Fruit Juice, Wine, Sugar |
|
Marks and Spencer Simply Food |
Church Green Row |
763166 |
Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Jams, Marmalade, Honey |
|
Sainsburys |
High Street |
763558 |
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Chocolate, Cereal bars, Fruit, Wine, Flowers |
|
Somerfield |
Southdown Road |
769961 |
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Chocolate |
|
Tesco Express |
Lower Luton Road |
0845 6779331 |
Coffee, Tea, Cereal bars |
|
Waitrose |
Leyton Road |
765 161 |
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Chocolate, Cereal bars Cakes and Biscuits, Fruit, Honey, Sugar Wine, Flowers |
|
Healthy and Wise |
High Street |
761 435 |
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Chocolate, Cereal bars, Cakes and Biscuit, Fruit, Fruit Juice, Honey |
|
Daisy Chain |
High Street |
712 309 |
Toys
|
|
| |||
|
Caffé Gusto |
Thompsons Close | ||
|
Cornelia’s Coffee Shop |
Church Green |
763 996 | |
|
Southdown Methodist Church Halls |
14 Southdown Road |
767 809 | |
|
The Lily Lounge |
High Street |
760042 | |
|
The Gingerbread Man |
Vaughan Road |
||
|
The George |
High Street |
763750 | |
|
The Slug and Lettuce |
High Street |
764624 | |
|
Wesley’s |
High Street Methodist Church |
713 056 | |
What you can do
- Buy products with the FAIRTRADE Mark when shopping
- Tell your friends about Fairtrade
- Ask local shops to stock Fairtrade products
- Get your workplace, church or community organisation to use Fairtrade products
- Give Fairtrade products as presents
- Encourage your local school to learn about Fairtrade
- Join the Harpenden Fairtrade Steering Group
- Visit the Fairtrade Foundation website – www.fairtrade.org.uk
For more information about Fairtrade, visit www.fairtrade.org.uk
Photography © Fairtrade Foundation.
Harpenden Urban Transport Plan
Hertfordshire Highways are looking at the transport issues facing Harpenden and are seeking your views. Click here for details.
East of England Plan
Public consultation on the draft East of England Plan ceased on 16th March 2005 after nearly four months in public circulation. During this period, a series of presentations, seminars and public meetings were held throughout the region giving as many people as possible an opportunity to understand the content of the Plan, how it would impact on their lives and how to respond. The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) announced that over 26,000 responses to the East of England Plan consultation exercise had been received.
The Plan is a pivotal document for all planning matters superseding previous County Structure Plans and (once adopted) is the blueprint for all future policies for economic development, housing, waste management, transport, environment, cultural and house building development programmes for the East of England region.
The East of England Plan was produced by EERA, which is a voluntary body comprising all 54 County, Unitary and District/Borough Councils in the region and sets out a strategy to guide planning and development in the East of England to the year 2021. The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) vision is “to develop a more sustainable, prosperous and outward looking region, while respecting its diversity, maintaining and enhancing its assets and sustaining and improving the quality of life for all people who live in, work in, or visit the region”. The Plan is available EERA website.