It's been a while since we last emailed you, but it's not because we've been slacking. Much has been going on in the background.

The ongoing inaction of Hertfordshire County Council to seemingly do anything to improve the situation of flooding on Green Street has become a considerable issue for the local community. Safety issues for school children trying to get to school. Delivery drivers avoiding the village. Disruption to the 336 bus. Resulting slower traffic on the A404. Poor road closure signage by Herts Highways. Numerous drivers getting caught out and their cars written off. And ongoing inconvenience for the community.

Whilst there have been terrible floods in many places in the UK, and in context to other places the impact upon Chorleywood is really limited to inconvenience, we really need County Hall to understand that this issue is a recurring problem that is not going to go away and is hence a priority and needs the root cause addressing. 

Working with Chorleywood Magazine and Chorleywood Mums we've done an update on the Green Street issue.

Please  - take time to read our article The Saga of flooding on Green Street continues and MAKE TIME to take action:

Are you aware of the Chorleywood Common Project and the plans for the Common? The Parish Council has employed an extra member of staff to consider a number of specific projects, this being one of them - read more about it in The Chorleywood Common Project

Linked to the Green Street issue is the fact that many students at St Clement Danes walk to school - it's a good thing and to be encouraged. However when Green Street is closed, the students have to divert via Common Road and Chenies Road. Common Road has no footpath for much of its length, and the footpath on Chenies Road floods to the west of the junction with Common Road to the extent that Children often end up walking on the road. We have highlighted these on many occasions as have others, and an Chorleywood CAIRS (Chorleywood Action Group for Road Safety) has formed to spearhead road safety issues in Chorleywood. We're happy to support Chorleywood CAIRS and will be working with them.

The good news is that next week - during half-term week - a French Drain is due to be constructed in the pavement on Chenies Road to try and alleviate the flooding on the pavement which will hopefully mean that students no longer need to walk in the road on the A404 to get to school. We're hopeful that this work will go ahead after many years of campaigning by local residents, and others alike.

Are you aware of potential cut backs in Bus Transport budget for Hertfordshire? Read more about it in Bus transport in and around Chorleywood

We've also attended a Highways Locality meeting with Chris Hayward to identify with others in his County Ward opportunities to use his Highways Locality budget for some repairs that might not otherwise be priorotised from the operational and capital maintenance budgets at County Hall. We'll write about this and other matters next time, Green Street and other Highway issues have been taking up too much of our time!

Despite the setback in Autumn regarding the Play Area, work is continuing in the background between various stakeholders on how to progress the Play Area project for the community. We don't have any more news at this stage, but work is underway.

Our half-yearly newsletter will be published in April, and we would like to invite the community to submit any articles for inclusion to the newsletter by Friday 7th March - so you've got three weeks to write in - email your submissions to newsletter@chorleywoodresidents.co.uk

We've been invited by the Parish Council to be involved in the creation of a Community Plan. It's an opportunity for the community to create a road map to inform and shape how our community will develop over time, and we've confirmed our involvement with two members of the executive committee being involved in this project. We'll keep you updated.

There's also a change in with our Planning lead Annette Naughton handing over the reigns to new committee member. Planning advice and involvement is a considerable time commitment for any Residents' Association, not least ours and we have to thank Annette for the work she's done in this area over the past few years. She will continue to be a member of the Executive Committee. Continue to contact us about planning matters at planning@chorleywoodresidents.co.uk

The planning proposal for Lidl in Rickmansworth was rejected by the Three Rivers Planning Committee, expect them to come back with a modified scheme. And the developer trying to knock down the Long Island Exchange has submitted a 3rd scheme for the demolition of our local hotel.

A new Youth Club is planned for Chorleywood through a partnership with Watford YMCA. There is a "have your say" session on Wednesday 26th February at 6.30pm in Rootz Cafe Bar (free hot drinks!) so please encourage those who may wish to attend to pop down and influence the new club.

An opportunity for children to find out more about our local wildlife on and around the common this week, during half-term with Bug Storeys.

Our What's On Diary is packed as usual with lots of high quality local events to keep us busy and informed. 

A special mention for the upcoming Little Lit Fest on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March, organised by Chorleywood Bookshop. We hear that places are selling quickly, which considering the line up they've prepared is not surprising.

And our AGM will take place on Wednesday 7th May from 7.30pm in the evening in the Memorial Hall.

Although we use these emails, as well as our website to keep in touch, don't forget our Twitter feed. A lot of what is going on locally ends up on our twitter feed, and we now have over 1000 followers. You don't need to use Twitter or even understand what Twitter and all this tweeting is all about to be able to see our Twitter updates - you can just go to http://twitter.com/chorleywoodres on your computer to be able to see what we have been tweeting recently. There are many things that we tweet that never make it onto our website or in our email updates. But if you do use Twitter, don't forget to follow us.

When we wrote previously it was in the run up to a rescheduled Parish Council meeting about the Play Area. You will probably be aware by now that the Parish Council voted to reject the proposed Play Area on Chorleywood Common. We were very disappointed that after over two years of discussions and consultations the Parish Council decided to stop the project in its tracks to provide the community with much needed additional play area. 

It is evident that the issue of the Play Area and it's siting on the common has become a very divisive local issue. Our previous email the wording of the message was ambiguous - we just want to note that Friends of Chorleywood Common had, and continue to be, very helpful to us as well as their members and other stakeholders, and we apologise for any misunderstanding.

As an Executive Committee we continue to review what the next steps are regarding the Play Area and will continue to engage with all stakeholders to try and find a way forward for the benefit of the community. If you have any views please get in touch at playground@chorleywoodresidents.co.uk

Our members should have received over the past few weeks the most recent edition of the Chorleywood Newsletter. We hope you've all enjoyed reading about what we have been doing. We always welcome your comments or feedback so please get in touch at newsletter@chorleywoodresidents.co.uk - Thanks to our Area Reps for making the deliveries.

Herts County Council's Libraries consultation is still ongoing until 31st December, we would encourage all residents to find the time to respond if you have not already done so.

We've been given a preview of the few extra Fast Trains we'll get from the 8th December, but not the reinstatement of all fast off-peak services we would prefer to see on the Metropolitan Line.

And we've asked TfL to review the finger pointing between themselves and NCP their Car Park contractor that left the station car park in the dark for 3 weeks. We helped escalate the issue within TfL and get the lights turned back on.

You have until next Friday to register any comments on the Lidl proposal for Rectory Road in Rickmansworth.

As the winter starts to bite, a reminder that It's the Cold, not the Snow that really has the impact for elderly and vulnerable residents there may be additional help for to help counteract the effects of the cold.

And if you need health care, especially out of hours, do you really know all of the local options available to you? read our article Which Emergency Health Service. As we live on the border of Herts, Bucks and Hillingdon you may not always be told about services outside of Hertfordshire.

And if you're not working on Monday 23rd December, how about giving someone the chance of life as a Christmas Present? There is a Blood Donation session at St Clement Danes school on Monday 23rd December. Call 0300 123 2323 to register or visit www.giveblood.co.uk - more detail in our What's on Diary

we would just like to highlight the POSTPONEMENT of the Chorleywood Presents... that was planned for next weekend in the Memorial Hall.

Our latest email is very focussed upon the issue of the proposed play Area for Chorleywood. You will be aware that over the past couple of years, the Residents' Association and others have been working on the Play Area project. We're now in the final approval stages, but there seems to be a significant risk that the Parish Council may at the last minute deny the necessary approval for the project to proceed.

A very busy weekend of local events, and more for you calendar up until the end of October.

It seems that an incorrect licence application for the proposed new use of the Sheratons building has raised concerns for some local residents on Lower Road. We're continuing to keep an eye on these developments.

We have a number of updates including a CCTV image of someone the police would like help in tracing.

Launched at village day, the Police would like to encourage local dog owners to sign up for Dog Watch.

The final preparations for our new Autumn newsletter are underway. If you have any contributions to make please email newsletter@chorleywoodresidents.co.uk in the next couple of days.

We're lucky that there have been several occasions this year when London Underground have been running special events on the Metropolitan Line as part of the 150 year anniversary celebrations. But is it right that off-peak steam trains can run quicker than off-peak modern metropolitan line trains? 

Support the proposed community centre facilities in Lower Road.

A repeat of last years sell out event. Blokes over 45 should sign up as soon as possible.

Next 3 weeks is Herts Open Studios - several local artists exhibiting locally.

And as ever there we have a busy schedule of local What's On events.

You can check out the diary online for more information.

Don't forget about Elvis in Chorleywood - Sat 3rd Aug 2013 for the Teenage Cancer Trust annual concert

Sat Jul 27, 2013 

10:30am - 12pm Guided walk to Croxley Great Barn in Rickmansworth 
Where: Caravan Lane, off High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1HN 
 
2pm - 4pm 2nd Annual Chorleywood Classic Car Show 
Where: The Common, Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire. WD3 5SG 
 
Sun Jul 28, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 
 
10:30am - 12pm Outdoor Yoga in Chorleywood House Estate 
Where: Chorleywood House Estate, Lady Ela Drive, Chorleywood. WD3 5SL 
 
2:30pm - 4:30pm 
Friends of Chorleywood Common: Wild Flowers and Butterflies walk 
Where: Christchurch car park, The Common, Chorleywood 
 
Mon Jul 29, 2013 - Sat Aug 3, 2013 

All day Burtons Lane closed for 3 days between 29/07 until 02/08 
 
Thu Aug 1, 2013 

10am - 1pm Woodland Maintenance with the Friends of Carpenters Wood 
Where: Entrance to Carpenters Wood, 59 and 61 Whitelands Avenue WD3 5RQ 
 
Sat Aug 3, 2013 

10am - 12pm Chorleywood Orchard - Working Party 
Where: Chorleywood Orchard, Lady Ela Drive, Chorleywood, Herts WD3 5SL 
 
6:30pm - 11pm The Annual Music by Twilight: A vision of Elvis 
Where: Long Lane, Chorelywood, WD3 5BT 
 
Sun Aug 4, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 
 
10:30am - 12pm Outdoor Yoga in Chorleywood House Estate 
Where: Chorleywood House Estate, Lady Ela Drive, Chorleywood. WD3 5SL 
 
11am - 4:30pm Maple Lodge Nature Reserve Open day and 30th Anniversary 
Where: Maple Lodge Close, off Denham way, Rickmansworth. WD3 9SN 
 
Thu Aug 8, 2013 

12:30pm - 3:30pm Blood Donation - St Clement Danes School 
Where: St Clement Danes School, Chenies Rd, Chorleywood, WD3 6EW 
 
5pm - 8pm Blood Donation - St Clement Danes School 
Where: St Clement Danes School, Chenies Rd, Chorleywood, WD3 6EW 
 
7:30pm - 9:30pm Chorleywood Bookshop: Roddy Doyle 
Where: Dr Challoner's High School, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, HP7 9QB 
 
Sat Aug 10, 2013 

9am - 1pm Little Chalfont Farmers Market 
Where: Village Hall Car Park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, Bucks HP8 4UD 
 
Sun Aug 11, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 
 
10am - 4pm Sarratt Antiques Fair 
Where: Sarratt Village Hall, WD3 6AS 
 
10:30am - 12pm Outdoor Yoga in Chorleywood House Estate 
Where: Chorleywood House Estate, Lady Ela Drive, Chorleywood. WD3 5SL 
 
Tue Aug 13, 2013 

10:30am - 12:30pm Rickmansworth Decorative and Fine Arts Society 
Where: Sarratt Village Hall, The Green, Sarratt, Hertfordshire WD3 6AS 
 
Thu Aug 15, 2013 

2:30pm - 4:30pm Keenagers at Chorleywood Free Church 
Where: Chorleywood Free Church, Hillside Road, Chorleywood, WD3 5AP 

Sat Aug 17, 2013 

10am - 1pm Woodland Maintenance with the Friends of Carpenters Wood 
Where: Path between numbers 59 and 61 Whitelands Avenue WD3 5RQ 
 
Sun Aug 18, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 

Dear Residents,

If you use the Independant Living Fund, or know someone who does, please check out this article on upcoming changes to how this funding will work in future.

We've had a couple of reports via Twitter that the mobile signal is bad at the moment in Chorleywood. Apparently Orange are aware of the problem, and aim to fix it in the next day or so, but the more people who report it, the fault will get more priority. Call your customer service number from mobile handset (if it's working!) to complain!

You probably know about Chorleywood Village Day - Saturday 13th July

And also the Christchurch Flower Festival - Sat 13 and Sun 14 July 2013

But do you know about Elvis in Chorleywood - Sat 3rd Aug 2013 ?

And finally our round of What's On events over the next few weeks.

Remember that you can get more details on any of the below by going to our What's On page

Fri Jul 12, 2013 

2:30pm - 3:30pm Opening of Sarratt School Wildlife Garden 
Where: Sarratt Primary School, The Green, Sarratt, Hertfordshire, WD3 6AS 

Sat Jul 13, 2013 

9am - 1pm Little Chalfont Farmers Market 
Where: Village Hall Car Park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire HP8 4UD 

10am - 3pm Craft Fair at 9 Lives Furniture 
Where: 25 Wharf Lane, Rickmansworth, WD3 1HA 

10:30am - 5pm Christchurch Flower Festival 
Where: Christchurch, The Common, Chorleywood. WD3 5SG. 

12pm - 4pm Chorleywood Parish Council Village Day 
Where: The Common, Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5SG 

12pm - 3pm Sarratt School Summer Fair 
Where: Sarratt Primary School, The Green, Sarratt, WD3 6AS 

2:30pm - 4:30pm Horticultural Society Summer Show 
Where: Memorial Hall, Common Road, Chorleywood, WD3 5LN 

6pm - 10pm Shakespare's "As you Like It" in the Garden at Latimer 
Where: Great White End, Latimer, Chesham, HP5 1UJ 

7:30pm - 10:30pm The Open Road and Nick Battle at St. Andrews 
Where: ST. ANDREWS CHURCH, 37, QUICKLEY LANE , CHORLEYWOOD, WD3 5AE 

Sun Jul 14, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 

10am - 4pm Sarratt Antiques Fair 
Where: Sarratt Village Hall, WD3 6AS 

2pm - 5pm Christchurch Flower Festival 
Where: Christchurch, The Common, Chorleywood. WD3 5SG. 

Tues Jul 16, 2013

1.30pm to 4pm Tea Dance goes Vintage

Where: Chorleywood Memorial Hall, Common Road, Chorleywood, WD3 5LN

Thu Jul 18, 2013 

2:30pm - 4:30pm Keenagers at Chorleywood Free Church 
Where: Chorleywood Free Church, Hillside Road, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire. WD3
5AP 

Fri Jul 19, 2013 

10am - 5pm Inland Waterways Annual Festival at Cassiobury Park 
Where: Cassiobury Park, Watford 

Sat Jul 20, 2013 

10am - 5pm Inland Waterways Annual Festival at Cassiobury Park 
Where: Cassiobury Park, Watford 

10am - 1pm Woodland Maintenance with the Friends of Carpenters Wood 
Where: Whitelands Avenue entrance to Carpenters Wood 59 Whitelands Avenue WD3 5RQ 

Sun Jul 21, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 

10am - 5pm Inland Waterways Annual Festival at Cassiobury Park 
Where: Cassiobury Park, Watford 

10am - 12pm Sarratt Village Sunday Market 
Where: Sarratt Village Hall, The Green, Sarratt, WD3 6AS 

3pm - 4pm Chorleywood Police Street Meet 
Where: Rootz Cafe, Main Parade, Chorleywood. 

Sat Jul 27, 2013 

10:30am - 12pm Guided walk to Croxley Great Barn in Rickmansworth 
Where: Caravan Lane, off High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1HN 

2pm - 4pm 2nd Annual Chorleywood Classic Car Show 
Where: The Common, Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire. WD3 5SG 

Sun Jul 28, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 

2:30pm - 4:30pm 
Friends of Chorleywood Common: Wild Flowers and Butterflies walk 
Where: Christchurch car park, The Common, Chorleywood 

Mon Jul 29, 2013 - Sat Aug 3, 2013 

All day: Burtons Lane closed for 3 days between 29/07 until 02/08 
(Bucks CC closure) 

Thu Aug 1, 2013 

10am - 1pm Woodland Maintenance with the Friends of Carpenters Wood 
Where: Whitelands Avenue entrance to Carpenters Wood 59 Whitelands Avenue WD3 5RQ 

Sat Aug 3, 2013 

10am - 12pm Chorleywood Orchard - Working Party 
Where: Chorleywood House Estate, Lady Ela Drive, Chorleywood, Herts WD3 5SL 

6:30pm - 11pm The Annual Music by Twilight: A vision of Elvis 
Where: Long Lane, Chorelywood, WD3 5BT 

Sun Aug 4, 2013 

7am - 1:30pm Chorleywood Car Boot Sale 
Where: Meadows Farm, A404 junction with Green St, Chorleywood, WD3 5QP 

11am - 4:30pm Maple Lodge Nature Reserve Open day and 30th Anniversary 
Where: Maple Lodge Close, off Denham way, Rickmansworth. WD3 9SN 

Thu Aug 8, 2013 

12:30pm - 3:30pm Blood Donation - St Clement Danes School 
Where: St Clement Danes School, Chenies Rd, Chorleywood, WD3 6EW 

5pm - 8pm Blood Donation - St Clement Danes School 
Where: St Clement Danes School, Chenies Rd, Chorleywood, WD3 6EW 

7:30pm - 9:30pm Chorleywood Bookshop: Roddy Doyle 
Where: Dr Challoner's High School, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, HP7 9QB 

Sat Aug 10, 2013 

9am - 1pm Little Chalfont Farmers Market 
Where: Village Hall Car Park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire HP8 4UD 

It doesn't quite feel like summer, yet this weekend is the battle of the school summer fairs in the Village.

The Russell School festivities kick off at 10.45 with a parade from the bottom of Shire Lane up to the school, and their fair runs from 11 to 2pm at the school.

And not to be outdone, Chorleywood Primary starts an hour later at midday and runs until 3pm.

You don't need to be involved in either school to turn up and support their events!

Please make sure that you've got the Village Day in your diary for Saturday 13th July. This year the event will happen as the Parish Council have got a "Plan B" if the event cannot go ahead as planned on the Common.

So many local organisations are very much dependent upon the Village Day to support their activities, to recruit new members, raise a little bit of money, or even just to spread awareness of their activities. Your very own Residents' Association will be there from Pimm's o'clock (midday), so please come along and say hello.

Thanks to everyone who turned out for our recent AGM and Community Meeting on the 15th May. We've written up a resume of what happened - get in touch if you have any views but where not able to make the meeting.

There's a review of the political boundaries within Three Rivers. A previous round of consultation has seen the number of councillors in Three Rivers cut to 39, and the number of wards reduced to 13. Now the Local Government Boundary Commission are consulting on how to cut Chorleywood in two.

We would encourage anyone with day care activity needs, or know of people in the local area with day care activity needs to participate in the upcoming stakeholder events in Three Rivers organised by Hertfordshire Community Wellbeing. If there's a consultation, it's probably because there's some proposed changes afoot, and with the current funding climate it might not be good news.

 

The Russell School seem to have an action packed day lined up for their Family Fun Day.

It's the Little Chalfont Village day this coming weekend (15th June)

The annual Bucks Art festival has an exhibitor in Chorleywood

New local Tennis League for Chorleywood and Rickmansworth just in time for on Wimbledon. Game, Set and Match!

Three Rivers District Council need to obtain some additional feedback from residents on dog fouling problems, especially on The Common and the Chorleywood House estate. Can you help?

Did you know about this local private nature reserve?

Finally have uploaded some photos from recent events in and around Chorleywood

If you have any photos you would like to share, please get in touch.

Firstly an apology for not having sent out any emails recently. The Spring 2013 Newsletter (which should be hitting your letter boxes by the end of the month) has been written and edited, your Area Rep should be around to deliver it shortly - if you're due to pay a subscription now please help your Area Rep by being ready to pay. We've also been working through some of the detail of the merger of the Chenies Estate Residents' Association. And this combined with some awful weather, dayjobs, and holidays have conspired to create a bit of a pause in our communications.

Please make a note in your diaries for the CRA Community and Annual General Meeting, on Wednesday 15th May at 8pm in the Memorial Hall. We really appreciate getting your feedback on our activities so we hope you will make the time to come along.

To find out more about the developments in Lower Road for a new community centre and give your feedback attend the meeting this coming Thursday at 8pm at Chorleywood Library.

Le marche français reviens à Chorleywood dimanche le 12 mai 2013. 

Policing for Chorleywood transferred from Rickmansworth to Abbots Langley

Does it make operational sense to group Chorleywood with Abbots Langley Police Station?

Are you being badgered?

Have you been affected by the recent Badger activity in and around Chorleywood?

Chorleywood Premier update

The Chorleywood Premier Store gets to keep its alcohol licence due a change of owner and licencee.

Long Island Exchange update

Developers are having another go at getting planning consent for the Long Island hotel.