Latest News

• For local information and advice, including how to get help or volunteer your time, visit www.harpendencares.org
• For information & service updates from St Albans District Council, visit https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/.
• For information & service updates from Hertfordshire County Council, visit https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/. 
• For advice from the NHS, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/. 
• For government information and advice, visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. 

Update 20 August

Harpenden Christmas Carnival Cancelled for 2020

Harpenden Town Council has taken the difficult decision to cancel its annual Christmas Carnival, originally scheduled for 22 November 2020.

The event, which has drawn upwards of 18,000 people to Harpenden’s Town Centre in recent years, would not be possible under current government guidelines. Taking into consideration the resources, upfront costs, and long lead time required to plan Christmas Carnival, even if guidelines were to change in the months leading up to Christmas Carnival, we would be unable to carefully organise an event of this scale in a short amount of time.

Town Mayor Cllr Mrs Nicola Linacre said, “While we are disappointed we will not be able to bring this community event to life, we must do all we can to ensure the safety of Harpenden’s residents and visitors. Despite the cancellation, we will still have our brilliant Christmas lights throughout the town this year and we look forward to bringing Christmas Carnival back to the high street in 2021.”

While the Carnival and Lights Switch On will not be taking place, the annual Christmas lights will still be on display in Harpenden, and the scheduled Farmers’ Market will go ahead on 22 November. In addition, several bookable festive workshops are currently being planned by the Town Council; more details will be announced in due course on our website and social media channels.

Update Monday 3 August

**New Opening Hours for the Harpenden Cares Contact Centre**

As of today, the Harpenden Cares Contact Centre will be open from 10am-1pm, Monday to Friday. If you need support, please call 01582 460457.

Update 29 May

• The June Harpenden Farmers' Market is returning to the Common (near the Public Halls), with several important changes being implemented to create a safe environment where people feel confident to come and visit. Please visit https://www.harpenden.gov.uk/event/4609-harpenden-farmers-market for further details. 
• The following events have been cancelled: Harpenden's Talent Stage (28 June); Storytime with Outdoor Games (26 July); Teddy Bears Picnic (5 August); Harpenden Food and Drink Festival (20 September).

Update Friday 27 March 

Harpenden Cares, Harpenden’s community-led response to the coronavirus, is launching its website and contact centre today. If you are isolated and require support or essential supplies, please call the Harpenden Cares Contact Centre on 01582 460457. The Contact Centre will operate Monday to Friday from 10am-2pm.

The Harpenden Cares website, www.harpendencares.org, has further information on how to get help or volunteer your time, in addition to other information and resources.

Update Tuesday 24 March

CANCELLED - Harpenden Carnival – Saturday 13^th June

Harpenden Round Table and Harpenden Town Council have been closely following the development of the Coronavirus.

The government have issued clear advice that members of the public should avoid gatherings and non-essential social contact. Following this advice, we have now taken the decision to cancel Harpenden Carnival, which had been due to take place on Saturday 13^th June. We appreciate that this will be disappointing for many people but we believe that this is the appropriate action given the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in.

We are looking forward to seeing you all for Harpenden Carnival next year on Saturday 12^th June 2021.

Update Wednesday 18 March

• Park Hall is not accepting new bookings 
• The Information Point is closed until further notice, except for appointments made for pension form signings. If you would like to book at appointment to have a pension form signed, please contact us at harpenden.town.council@harpenden.gov.uk or 01582 768278.

Update Tuesday 17 March

• Following the latest advice from Government, we have taken the decision to cancel non-essential Council initiatives and activities between now and the end of May. We appreciate that this will be disappointing for many people but we believe that this is appropriate action given the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in. The following events have so far been been CANCELLED:

  • Dementia Friends Talk on 18 March
  • River Dipping at Batford Springs on 21 March
  • Harpenden Street Festival on 22 March
  • Farmers' Market on 22 March
  • Harpenden Memory Lane Cafe gathering on 24 March 
  • Wild Wellbeing Walk on 24 March
  • Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament on 2 April 
  • Wild Woods Day on 6 and 7 April 
  • Easter Funfair on Common Common from 9-13 April
  • Harpenden Memory Lane Cafe gathering on 14 April
  • Harpenden Memory Lane Cafe gathering on 28 April
  • Farmers' Market on 26 April
  • Wild Wellbeing Walk on 1 May 
  • VE Day 75 on 8 May
  • Dusk Bat Walk on 11 May 
  • Farmers' Market on 24 May
  • Batofrd Springs Open Day on 28 May

Update Monday 16 March

• The Harpenden Street Festival and Farmers' Market scheduled for Sunday 22 March have been cancelled. 

  We are expecting further Government advice shortly regarding mass gatherings and social distancing which will impact on our programme of events and initiatives in the coming weeks. We have in the meantime taken the decision to cancel the Harpenden Street Festival and Farmers Market scheduled for this weekend (22 March 2020). We appreciate that this will be disappointing for many traders and residents but we believe that this is appropriate action given the current situation.

• The Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament on 2 April has been cancelled 

Update Friday 13 March

• The Transport and Movement Public Meeting scheduled for 19 March has been postponed

• The Dementia Friends Talk scheduled for 18 March has been cancelled

• Harpenden Memory Lane Café (Dementia Café) has been cancelled for 24 March, 14 April & 28 April and is cancelled until further notice

Friday 13 March

Coronavirus - Town Council actions following latest advice

The Town Council has been closely following the development of the Coronavirus and considering what action it needs to take to mitigate any risks to its Employees, Councillors and members of the public.

There is a clear advice now around those with mild symptoms isolating themselves regardless if they have travelled. This places the emphasis on individuals with symptoms to follow this advice. Many of them will, but some won’t, and these are the individuals that we are concerned about as they pose a risk to our Employees, Councillors and members of the public.

As a result of this we have taken the decision to cancel non-essential Council meetings and initiatives between now and the end of April. These are meetings/initiatives that were due to take place indoors involving Councillors, Employees and members of the public.

We appreciate that that there will be differing views as to what should and shouldn’t be happening in response to the Coronavirus. However we believe the Town Council is taking proportionate measures at this point in time to help mitigate any risks.

Essential business of the Council will be continuing at this point and we will be working with other organisations locally to do what we can to help support the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you have any questions regarding our approach please get in contact with me.

Carl Cheevers – Town Clerk

Harpenden Town Council

carl.cheevers@harpenden.gov.uk

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Last updated about 1 month ago