Proposed closure of Radlett Fire Station
Adopted at Council on 29 November 2005

There has been a Fire Station in Radlett for almost a century (originally paid for by public subscription), and Aldenham Parish Council believes it to be an essential element of community safety.

Aldenham Parish Council deplores the proposal by Hertfordshire County Council to save money by closing Radlett Fire Station because it would undermine local people’s feelings of security, and because the saving would be much less than local taxpayers contribute to Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Local knowledge of traffic conditions suggests that response times from surrounding fire stations estimated in the Draft Community Safety Plan are unrealistic, especially during morning and evening peak hours.

Whilst the incidence of house fires on Radlett Fire Station’s ground is low, its crew has responded many times in recent years to support crews elsewhere at fires and other emergencies. If Radlett Fire Station closes, that support would not exist and areas of very high risk in Hertsmere and Watford would be more vulnerable.

The initial response is what people want, and the new attendance standard offers no improvement in that respect over the former national response standard.

Making the members of Radlett fire crew redundant would be a significant waste of skill and training that local taxpayers have funded.

We support the Fire and Rescue Service’s intention to extend its community safety work. However, we believe that the initiative will be less effective if delivered by a unit covering the whole County, rather than by local firefighters.

Aldenham Parish Council strongly supports the plan to develop Radlett Fire Station to collocate all the emergency services on one site in Radlett.

We are concerned that Hertfordshire County Council sees the site of Radlett Fire Station as a saleable asset, possibly for a development that might not be welcome.

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Statement by Aldenham Parish Council on increased use of Elstree Aerodrome for helicopter flights
March 2003

This Council is concerned at the increase in number of helicopter flights at Elstree Aerodrome including pilot training, sight seeing and taxi flights.

In our view consideration should first be given to all potential heliport sites which already have the appropriate infrastructure to serve North London and South West Hertfordshire before Elstree Aerodrome becomes that site by default.

We believe that a limit should be placed upon the number of helicopter flights to and from Elstree Aerodrome so as to limit the disturbance to residents of the Parish of Aldenham.

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Policy on Telecommunications Masts
Adopted at Council 26th February 2002

Aldenham Parish Council recognises that mobile telephones are a part of everyday life and provide a useful means of communication. It is the Government's policy to facilitate the growth of new and existing telecommunications systems whilst minimising environmental impact.

Hertsmere Borough Council has a legal duty to consider matters such as alternative sites, mast sharing, technical or health concerns when applications are made to site masts within the Parish. There is a statutory obligation to consult the Parish Council about such applications and the Parish Council's Boundaries & Planning Committee reviews those cases.

The Committee will consider each application on its merits, and will pay careful attention to the siting, size, design and amenity value of each proposal. It will be especially vigilant about perceived health risks, particularly in the vicinity of schools and recreation areas, and about any potential impact in conservation areas and upon the local environment.

The Council will not object to applications to place masts on Green Belt land when special need can be proven, but it will look carefully at the installations that invariably accompany them to ensure minimum compromise to the openness of the Green Belt.