NEWSLETTER MARCH 2007 Procedure for elections at A.G.M. 1. The current Officers of the Association are:- Chairman: James Evans CBE Secretary: Anthony Eilers Treasurer: Madeleine Sansom. The current elected members of the Committee are:- Anne Valentine ,David Scott, Eric Roberts, Mark Clements , Ann Stearn and Jenny Berryman . Anthony Oliver , Kate Taylor and Simon Gleadale are co-opted members. The Association’s Honorary President is Betty Davies. 2. All Officers and Committee Members and the Honorary President automatically stand down at the AGM but are eligible for re-election, if they are nominated and willing to stand. 3. If you would like to be elected to any of the above positions or to propose someone else, please ensure that the Nomination Form is received by James Evans at No.6 (Tel. 853064) not less than 72 hours before the start of the AGM. In the event that nominations exceed the number of vacancies, a vote is taken at the AGM. A Nomination Form (and an Attendance Form) are on page 7. 4. The Association provides a focal point for residents’ concerns in dealings with the Council and other bodies on matters of common concern, such as traffic, planning issues, rubbish collection, litter and licensing hours – in fact most things which affects the quality of life in the street. If these things matter to you, do get involved, by putting yourself or someone else forward for election. 1 THE BLACK LION The Black Lion can now be open on certain days of the year until half-past one in the morning. That is the decision of St.Albans and District Council, in spite of over 20 objections from residents of Fishpool Street, Branch Road and Gonnerston. Gonnerston is likely to be particularly affected, since it adjoins the Black Lion’s car-park, at the rear of the pub. Residents were mainly concerned about the possibility of being woken by the noise of departing customers and their cars. The pub is situated at the junction of Fishpool Street and Branch Road, a densely populated residential area. The Council took over responsibility for licensing decisions from the Magistrates’ Courts under the Licensing Act 2003 and its decisions since have shown scant regard for residents’ desire for a good night’s sleep for themselves and their families, nor for the fact that what might be more tolerable for the town centre (though that has become a no-go area for a lot of people particularly on a Friday or Saturday night) is not appropriate for pubs which are cheek by jowl to housing. Nor have the Council’s decisions been consistent with each other. The Association pointed out that in its decision on the Fighting Cocks, another pub close to housing, the Council imposed a condition that the licence holder ‘shall ensure that any noise emanating from the premises is not such as to cause annoyance or disturbance in the locality’. The Association requested that a similar condition be imposed on the Black Lion, but the Council refused to do so. Why? What request could have been more reasonable? The end result was that the Black Lion’s application was granted in full (the new hours are set out on page 3), subject only to conditions that the outside area (basically the car park, in which there are currently 5 ‘Forester Tables’ set out close to the back of the pub) shall be cleared by 2300 hours, notices are to be displayed asking customers to leave quietly, a contact telephone number is to be provided, and doors and windows are to be kept closed (except for access) when live music is being played. The contact number provided is 851786. Contact is Gail Payne (Mobile (07977) 022397. The Council has set up special lines for reporting breaches of licence conditions and/or complaints about licensed premises. These are 819453 (office hours) and otherwise (07770) 701720. Leave a message to phone back if you get an answerphone and also get them to log your complaint. In making their decision the Council said that it had taken into account that the police had made no objection to the application. It is also the fact that Gail Payne, who runs the pub, stated that half the income of the pub comes from people who are staying overnight, so that it is very much in her interest to try to ensure that they are not disturbed. The hearing of the Black Lion’s application for extended hours took place on Thursday 18th January before a Licensing Sub-Committee of the Council. The Sub-Committee was chaired by Councillor Flynn (Labour, London Colney) and the other members were Councillor Swendell (Independent, Redbourn) and Councillor Myland (Conservative, St.Stephen’s). 2 Black Lion’s New Hours Live Music Recorded Music Facilities for Dancing 6pm-11pm Fri & Sat /Indoors Bands playing amplified live music/non-standard timings -additional hour Christmas eve, New Years Eve and Fri+Sat nights at Bank Holiday weekends. 10am-11pm Mon-Thu, 10am-Midnight Fri+Sat, Noon-11pm Sun Music from CD player/indoors/ Non-standard timings - additional hour Christmas eve, New Years eve and Fri+Sat nights at Bank Holiday weekends 6pm-11pm Fri+Sat/Indoors/in bar area only during live performances/non-standard timings - additional hour on Christmas eve, New Years eve and Fri+Sat nights at Bank Holiday weekends Late night refreshment Supply of alcohol Premises open to public 11-11.30pm Sun-Thu, 11pm-00.30am Fri&Sat/ extra half-hour for diners only in restaurant, indoors 10am-11pm Mon-Thu, 10am-midnight Fri& Sat, Noon-11pm Sun/for consumption both on and off premises/non-standard timings - additional hour Christmas eve, Fri&Sat nights at Bank Holiday weekends/New Years Eve the period between the end of permitted hours on that day and the beginning of the next/not applicable to residents 10am-11.30pm Mon-Thu, 10am-12.30am Fri&Sat, Noon-11.30pm Sunday/non standard timings -additional hour Christmas Eve, Fri&Sat nights at Bank Holiday weekends/ New Years Eve the period between the end of permitted hours on that day and the beginning of the next. Policing P.C. Jodie Dalzell, our Ward Constable (on the right in photo), supported by P.C.S.O. Jill Brown, continues to hold regular meetings with residents’ groups and Councillors. At the meeting on 25th January, various topics were discussed, including the possibility of a ‘covert camera’ in the Abbey area, communication links with and support for the Park Ranger, who is expected to be operational in Verulamium Park from 1st April, and provision of a form of transport for P.C.S.O. Brown, when covering the vast area of the Abbey Orchard and the Park. We learnt that a mobile Police Station visits various parts of the district and it was suggested that it might be advantageous to park it near the Abbey from time to time, especially when trouble was anticipated from young people, such as those who blighted the area last summer. 3 Summer Party 2007 – Sunday 17th June 2007 at 3.00pm Please note this date in your diary. A formal invitation will be issued later. As usual, it will be held in the paddock of 59 Fishpool Street, by kind permission of Betty Davies. Meanwhile, many thanks to all those who helped with the Ploughman’s Lunch on 24th February, especially Jenny and John Berryman , Tessa Oliver , Madeleine and Roger Sansom , Ann and Stuart Stearn and Eric Roberts , who between them made all the arrangements, bought and served the food and drinks and generally made it an enjoyable occasion for all those that attended, who numbered over 30. Not many people know this At the Black Lion licensing application, residents of Gonnerston were vocal in their opposition to the later hours applied for. Just off Fishpool Street, it is the name of a relatively modern development adjacent to the Black Lion car park. How did it get its name? Some people think it refers to a stone which used to mark the borough boundary at the corner of Fishpool Street and Branch Road and that it may be the large Hertfordshire ‘pudding stone’ visible in front of Kingsbury Mill, but others dispute this. According to ‘Alban’s Buried Towns’ by Rosalind Niblett (former District Archaeologist) and Isobel Thompson, the name refers to ‘Gunnar’s enclosure or farmstead’. Maybe it was nearby. They say Gunnar is a Scandinavian personal name with an English suffix and might indicate the 11th century. Also that the name was transferred to the marker, not derived from it. Anyway the Branch Road/Fishpool Street junction was being called ‘Gonnerstone’ not later than 1327. Thanks Gunnar. Your name lives on. P.S. Did you by any chance have any Viking connections? Note the slab of ‘Hertfordshire Puddingstone’ in front of Kingsbury Mill. Is this the ‘Gonnerstone’? At least two other stones, one in the garden of Kingsbury Manor, claim the title. Puddingstones consist of pebbles bonded together by silica and were often turned into mill-stones, used for grinding corn and known as ‘querns’. However, don’t try making them at home. Geologists say they take millions of years to form. 4 Major theft from Fishpool Street So what’s been stolen? Kingsbury Manor, that’s what. Until recently, Kingsbury Manor was 200 Fishpool Street. Now the Post Office has decided its address is 200 St.Michael’s Street, notwithstanding that there are nothing like 199 other houses in that street. Could it be because it looks as though it might be in St.Michael’s Street, as it is separated from 198 Fishpool Street (The Black Lion) by Branch Road? Since Branch Road has been there since the 1800’s when it was built to connect Fishpool Street to the newly-built Verulam Road, it seems rather late in the day to change the address of one of the handsomest houses in the Street. Note to Post Office: Can we have our Manor back please? ‘Haunting Beauty’ of Fishpool Street This was the headline on a two-page article in the February issue of St.Albans Life, written by Ian Port, who lives in the Street (no.174). He was partly referring to some of the ancient legends, ‘ghoulish tales of hauntings and apparitions that disturb residents’. He claims his own personal ghost, the ‘Blue Lady’. He also recalled that by the early 20th century, Fishpool Street had fallen into ‘decay and economic stagnation’ and was regarded as a rather insalubrious area. Nowadays, he says, it has not only become a desirable place to live, but has been re-invigorated by ‘cyber-workers’ who work from home using ‘the marvels of modern technology such as broadband’ and who counter the relative isolation of working from home, by getting their ‘social interactions’ in the many pubs in the area. And yes, he had a good word for the Association for being active in preserving the ‘local’ environment on matters such as planning, traffic and policing, as well as organising social events. Speeding in the Street Several residents have complained about the above, believing some, if not all the ‘boy-racers’, to be pupils from St.Albans School. The School will help on this but cannot do so unless the car registration number is taken and the culprit(s) can be definitely identified as ‘one of theirs’. So if you have a complaint, send it to the School direct with details of car, date, time and place. Neighbourhood Watch Please note that the Police are making an important change to the system for alerting residents. Up to now, Street Co-ordinators have been receiving alerts by telephone (the Ringmaster system), which they then pass on, if relevant, to residents whose houses they cover. In future, it will be possible for residents to receive alerts direct from the Police. You will shortly receive a letter from Ken Lane (Community Safety/Watch Liaison Officer) based at St.Albans Police Station explaining the new system and asking you to fill in a form saying how you would like to receive alerts direct. Please fill in the form as soon as possible and pass it to the Street Co-ordinator who covers your house. Street Co-ordinators need to know which residents have gone direct, to avoid unnecessary duplication of alerts. Having noted who has gone direct, Street Co-ordinators are asked to send the completed forms to James Evans (Chairman of the Association) at 6 Fishpool Street (Tel.853064), who will also note the details and then pass the completed forms on to Ken Lane. This is because the Association organises Neighbourhood Watch in the Street and needs to be able to monitor ‘take-up’ of the new system. Until such time as Street Co-ordinators know that a particular resident has ‘gone direct’, they are asked to continue to pass on relevant alerts as in the past. If anyone has any queries on the new system, they should contact James Evans at the above address or phone number. As a reminder, here is the list of Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators for Fishpool Street: James Evans (No.6 – tel.853064) covers Nos 2-22 and 1-15 Anthony Eilers (No.38 – tel.811614) covers 24-56 and 17-51 Madeleine Sansom (No.124 – tel.846761) covers 58-132 and 53-59 Graham Branch (No.164 – tel.730668) covers 134-168 Sian and Stuart Bates (No.184 – tel.842554) covers 170-Kingsbury Manor Geoff Kirk (No.137 – tel.858236) covers 93-139 and St.Michael’s Court 5 Florence Swain (1915-2006) Betty and Roland’s daughter Josephine was born some years later and when she started school at the Abbey Junior School in Spicer Street, Betty started to work there as a dining room assistant. When the school moved to Grove Road, Betty was promoted to Head Cook where she stayed until her retirement in 1975. When Roland died in 1987, Betty decided to stay in the cottage. Betty loved Fishpool Street and had seen many changes over the years she lived there. She saw the street change from being one of the poorest areas in St.Albans to one of the most sought after areas to live in. With a little bit of help from her family, Betty achieved her ambition to stay in her home until she died on the 2nd December 2006 after living there for a total of 72 years. Betty was cremated at Garston Crematorium on Tuesday 12th December as she had requested, just a few weeks before her 92nd birthday. New Arrivals Many thanks to Rosie Cinicolo who typed the Newsletter. If you have any word processing needs, you can telephone her on 864473. 6 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THURSDAY 17th MAY 2007, 8.00pm, ST.MICHAEL’S PARISH CENTRE FISHPOOL STREET RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NOMINATION FORM Annual General Meeting, Thursday 17th May 2007, 8.00pm Name(s): House No: I, ………………………………………………………of No. Fishpool Street wish to nominate …………………………………………………………of No. Fishpool Street to serve as Chair Treasurer Secretary Committee Member (please delete as appropriate). The Nominee has consented to serve, if elected. This nomination is seconded by of No. Signed: Please return to James Evans at No.6, no later than Monday 14th May 2007. ATTENDANCE FORM Please return to Madeleine Sansom, No. 124, in good time before the Meeting – we should hate to run out of wine! From: No.: Thank you for the invitation to F.S.R.A. Annual General Meeting on Thursday 17th May 200 at 8.00pm * I/we will attend and stay for refreshments (Total number attending: …… ) * I/we will not be attending (please delete as appropriate) Signed: Date: 7 HAVE YOUR SAY! COME TO THE AGM ON 17TH MAY 2007 AT 8.00pm AT ST.MICHAEL’S PARISH CENTRE ? ASK QUESTIONS – VOICE YOUR OPINION ? YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION ALREADY – YOU CAN JOIN ON THE NIGHT. ? £5.00 COVERS MEMBERSHIP OF ALL ADULT MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD FOR 2007 ? 8