News

Parish Council Governance Review – comments needed before end of March 2022

Hertsmere Borough Council are asking the residents of Ridge (currently without a Parish Council), South Mimms and Shenley, to give their opinions on how the Ward should be shaped going forward.

To find out more about the review and to complete the survey, please visit the  Community Governance Review page at www.hertsmere.gov.uk/CGR.

In summary the options are:

  • Should Ridge come directly under the care of Hertsmere and only have a public meeting with representatives once a year?
  • Should the current Parish of Ridge be merged with South Mimms ? This is the preference of South Mimms Parish Council, as we feel we are best placed to serve the residents of Ridge, given the close links that the village centres share, both geographically and through the local school, and St Giles’ and St Margret’s .
  • Should the current Parish of Ridge be merged with Shenley and the residents fall under a Shenley and Ridge Parish Council?
  • Should all three Parishes be merged to form a Super Parish?

This is being held alongside a review of the Aldenham Parishes.

Draft Design Brief for New Houses

South Mimms Parish Council is putting together a Design Brief, to ensure that new homes built in the village meet certain standard of design and quality.

We have put together a draft version and would like your opinions on it. Are there design elements we have missed? Is anything incorrect? Please let us know by emailing The Clerk (Natalie Gettings) on southmimmspc@gmail.com

Please click on this link to see the document.

Local Plan for New Houses

Hertsmere Borough Council have now released their Local Plan for new housing all over the Borough. The plans for South Mimms are shown here: Village residents will be receiving a feedback form through their doors. The full plan can be seen on www.hertsmerelocalplan.com and feedback can also be given online.

The number of homes to be built in South Mimms has been reduced from those first proposed because of plans to build a new town called Bowmans Cross.

This will be on the old mining site next to the M25 and surrounding parts of the Tyttenhanger Estate as you approach London Colney. The developers of the site will be at the 4th November Parish Council Meeting at the Village hall at the usual 7.30pm to explain their approach and outline the plans for building new schools and facilities .

Newsletter August 2021

Click here to see our summer newsletter. Just because there isn’t a public meeting in August it doesn’t mean that SMPC are putting their feet up, far from it! Paper copies of this newsletter have been printed and the Councilors will be distributing them over the next week to ensure all residents see a copy.

If someone you know doesn’t received a paper copy and would like one please get in touch.

Public Enquiry into Aggregates Site Enquiry Delayed – more time to object or give evidence.

Unfortunately the Public Inquiry into the planning breaches by Paving Solutions and Groundwork Ltd (Pavingsolutions.co.uk) that was due to take place on 10th August have been granted a postponement – with a tentative date of now 11th January 2022.

Many residents of South Mimms have suffered appalling dust and noise pollution from this site over the last few years. It is believed that the operators of the site, which is next to Romani House on Blanch Lane, was denied a license to operate HGVs from the site, as well as not having planning permission to operate an industrial company on the site, having cleared all the original trees and shrubs. Ironically, Paving Solutions and Groundworks Ltd state on their website that their” services are underpinned by superior health and safety compliance and quality standards” – even though the heath of local residence of South Mimms is being badly impacted.

Because the Public Enquiry has been delayed there is now more time for residents to send evidence and statements to the planning inspectorate at  teame1@planninginspectorate.gov.uk quoting their reference number; APP/N1920/C/20/3260982 – Land adjacent to Romani, EN6 3PP, explaining how they have been effected by the dust entering their gardens and homes, as well as being woken by the pounding of aggregates.

There is also the opportunity to speak at the inquiry if interested. To be able to do so you need to notify Hertsmere Council and the Planning Inspectorate and forward your statement/proof of evidence to the Planning Inspectorate at least 2 weeks before the inquiry date.

Further information can be found here: Guide to Rule 6 for interested parties involved in an inquiry – planning appeals and called-in applications – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)”

Youth Art Competion

SMPC doesn’t have an official logo, so we are inviting all children and young people to design a logo for South Mimms Parish Council. Entries should be sent to Mrs Toni Johnson c/o St Giles School, Blanche Lane, South Mimms by the end of term, or emailed to southmimmspc@gmail.com by the end of July. GOOD LUCK!

Community Projects

South Mimms Parish has received a few thousand pounds in CIL Funds from Hertsmere to use specifically on community infrastructure projects within the Parish.

These funds are for projects that enhance the fabric of the Parish. An example might be new benches and flower troughs outside the village hall to create an outside meeting spot, or some outside exercise equipment in a public space.

If you have any ideas for a project big or small please email me at southmimmspc@gmail.com with some basic details of what, where and a rough idea of cost if you can.

Natalie Gettings, Clerk

Election Results

On Tuesday 11th May Hertsmere Borough Council formally release the results of the elections for South Mimms Parish Council.

The new team are:

Cllr Chris Myers, who is also a Hertsmere Labor Councilor and has been one of our Stand-in Councilors, Cllr Toni Johnson, Cllr Seth Thomas and Cllr Mark Hedison, all of who now join Cllr Cathy McCaffrey who was co-opted onto SMPC as no requests for election were received for Mrs Harverson’s seat. These positions will stand for two years until the next full cycle of elections.

Acceptance papers and a AGM to elect a chair person will be held as soon as more than 6 people can meet indoors, but no later than the end of June.