News from Rickmansworth Liberal Democrats - Three Rivers, a Lib Dem Run Council

Welcome to this edition of 'Rickmansworth This Week e-news'

Do you cycle? If so, please do take care. Recent government statistics show that 257 cyclists were killed or seriously injured by pot hole accidents during the period 2010 - 2015. Potholes are not unknown round here.……………………………………………………………….

Garages to rent. Available in most areas. Further information on the Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) website www.threerivers.gov.uk or 01923 776611
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Have you visited the Aquadrome car park last month and wondered why logs had been spread about. A group of travellers tried to settle temporarily in Tesco's car park. They left but the TRDC Environmental Protection Team placed a number of logs in the Aquadrome car park to deter vehicles towing trailers or caravans while maintaining access for cars. ……………….

The Getting Together Service at Watford and Three Rivers Trust uses 2 vehicles to help isolated elderly people across SWHerts. These 2 minibuses were attacked and seriously vandalised 2 weeks running - so seriously that the services had to be suspended. TRDC has offered overnight safe parking at the Council Offices to protect this valuable service.………………………………………………………

Last year 14 young local people spent a week end painting and decorating West Hyde Youth Centre, taking part in the Volunteer-It-Yourself initiative being run by Youth Connexions and supported by Wickes DIY store. The young people were taught professional decorating skills and used these to renovate the Sports Hall while also gaining an Entry level 3 Employability Skills qualification. All the materials and tools were provided by Wickes and local volunteers provided the knowledge. At the end of the week end the Sports Hall had been transformed and the young people were justifiably proud of their achievements and new found skills. …………………………………………............................

Ricky CAB is coming to Maple Cross. 9.30 -11.00am on the last Tuesday of each month at Maple Cross Community Centre. Free, confidential advice on any issue - no appointment needed .……………………………………………………….

It is very disappointing to learn that the woodland areas, owned by and protected by the Woodland Trust have suffered a huge increase in illegal tipping of business (mostly building) waste and household rubbish. Last year it cost the Trust £44,520 to clear. This funding could have been spent so much more positively in tree maintenance.…………………………………..

Following a Lib/Dem Motion Herts County Council agreed to speak out against Government cuts in pharmacy funding. Cllr Tindall (LD) said " At a time when we are asking Pharmacists to do more to take the pressure off GPs and A & E Depts the government has introduced cuts to pharmacy fnding that fly in the face of economic reality and which could lead to local community closures. Community pharmacists play a far bigger role than most people realise.…………………………………

Dates for your Diary.

• Friends of Watersmeet Film Society films: Thursday 16 Mar 'United Kingdom'

Ongoing

• Three Rivers Museum in Basing House next to the library, have displays featuring the Great War & Ancient Order of Foresters - Museum open Mon to Fri 2-4pm, Sat 10am to 4pm. Support your local museum. www.trmt.org.uk videos https://www.youtube.com/user/ThreeRiversMuseum/videos
• Adult oil painting class by local artist Andrew Schofield:- Monday evenings 7pm to 9pm at the Mill End Community Centre. Tuesday daytime 11am to 1pm at the Croxley Sports Guild. All abilities, beginners welcome, I will guide you thorough the oil painting process and after the first class you will have an oil painting you can be proud of. All equipment provided. In my opinion oil painting is the easiest and most forgiving medium to paint with and I hope to prove this to you. Contact me for details ArtAndrewArtist@gmail.com 07908 832834
• The Mill Photography Club has produced its programme for the second half of this year. You can find it on the website www.millphotos.com. The club meets Fridays, fortnightly at The Mill at Berry Lane Methodist Church. All welcome, any standard, no fees.
• Croxley Camera Club is known as the friendly photographic society for Three Rivers District. They have photographic advice available from specialists in many genres including nature, landscape, and studio. Meet on Thursdays in the Croxley Green Community Centre at 7:45. New members of all abilities are always warmly welcome. http://croxleycameraclub.com/
• Rickmansworth Town team are responsible for most of the events organised in our area. They organised the Queens birthday Celebrations https://youtu.be/cEs9QdKK2XE , Ricky Folk Festival and the flags in the High Street commemorating those who gave their lives in World Wars and the Winter Fayre.
• Watford Mencap hold a Coffee Morning every 3rd Tuesday in the month at their Head Office in The Town Hall, Rickmansworth High Street from 10.30am to 12.00 noon. Apart from it being a social opportunity for our clients and their carers to meet and catch up over refreshments and cakes, one of the aims is to raise local awareness of the charity and how they support people with learning disabilities. Anyone is welcome to join us if they are passing.
• Ricky Folk meet at 8.15pm in the back bar of the Conservative Club, Bury Lane on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. You can sing, play or both or simply come and listen. No entrance fee and drinks are at club prices. In exchange for the facilities they entertain members of the Club at summer events each year and participate in other local events.
• A full list of forthcoming events at Watersmeet - click link http://www.watersmeet.co.uk/whats-on/
• Ricky Green Social are a group from Rickmansworth who meet on the first Saturday every month to socialise and work on greening the area. Meetings take place at the Cafe in the Park at the Aquadrome - 11.00am to 1.00pm.
• Police Officers from the Local Neighbourhood Team would like to hear from residents if they have any information about drug use or crime. To report any information, intelligence or suspicious behaviour. Phone 101, or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111 or email Neil.CANNING@Herts.pnn.police.uk
• Highway Faults - Fault reporting https://www.hertsdirect.org/faultreporting/

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The small print. This newsletter started in February 2006 and is sent to more than 550 local people - it is distributed by Mailchimp. Ann Shaw is a local Three Rivers Councillor. Les Mead is a Trustee at Rickmansworth Waterways Trust and Vice Chairman of Three Rivers Museum Trust.