Archive for category: News

Vacancy for Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO)

Cottered and Throcking Parish Council are seeking to recruit an energetic and self-motivated individual for the role of Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) to the Council.

The role is Part Time (29 hours per month) working flexibly from home

and including some evening work.

Salary (Local Government Association [LGA] Pay Scales) Scale Point 18 £14.21 per hour.

The Clerk has the responsibility to:

• Advise, provide information and ensure the Council is acting lawfully
• Deal with the Council’s day to day administration including; correspondence, updating website, maintaining and updating Council records, receiving and processing planning applications and monitoring and updating Council policies
• Prepare and publish agendas for Council meetings, recording minutes and ensuring decisions are implemented
• Manage Council resources and assets (as appropriate)

The Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) has the responsibility to:

• Adhere to proper practices with regard to accounting and audit regulations
• Make payments and keep accounting records up to date
• Prepare budgets
• Complete a VAT return
• Complete the end of year Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR)
• Liaise with the Internal Auditor and External Auditor

Good communication and sound IT skills are vital as is being responsible for own training needs and updating by attending courses offered by the Hertfordshire Association of Parish and Town Councils (HAPTC) and that provided by other bodies.

If not already qualified the Council will encourage and fund the Clerk and RFO to obtain the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CilCA) within a reasonable period.

If you are interested in applying for the role please contact:

Denise Anderson

or

Chairman of the Council Cllr John Wiblin

NOTICE is given that Hertfordshire County Council intends to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all vehicular traffic from using the following lengths of roads (“the Roads”), except for access and to prohibit all vehicles from waiting at any time on both sides of these lengths of Roads whilst works are in progress:-

1. that length of B1037 (unnamed road), Cottered from its junction with Blind Lane north eastwards, south eastwards and north eastwards to its easternmost junction with A507 Baldock Road, a distance of approximately 1299m.

An alternative route will be via B1037 (unnamed road/White Hill/High Street/Stevenage Road/Fairlands Way), A1155 (Fairlands Way/St Georges Way), A602 (Monkswood Way/ Broadhall Way/Hooks Cross/Watton at Stone Bypass/Ware Road/Tonwell Bypass/ Westmill Road), A10 (unnamed road/Wadesmill Bypass/Puckeridge Bypass/unnamed road/Buntingford Bypass) and A507 Baldock Road.

2. that length of B1037 (unnamed road), Cottered from its westernmost junction with A507 Baldock Road south eastwards for a distance of approximately 68m.

An alternative route will be via A507 Baldock Road and B1037 (unnamed road).

I am writing with an update on construction of the new shared use cycling and pedestrian path along the eastern side of London Road/Station Road. Phase H works, between Downhall Ley and Rib Way, are due to start shortly. Phase H is scheduled to take two weeks to complete, after which Phase I, between Rib Way and Hare Street Road, will start. We expect these works to begin on 22 June, subject to weather and construction conditions.

During Phase H, the road closure will extend to the southern half of the Hare Street Road roundabout. Access between High Street and Hare Street Road will be maintained via traffic signals.

Phase J, the last phase of this section of the project, is set to start in early July. The road closure during this phase will cover the northern half of the Hare Street Road roundabout, altering access through Buntingford. Traffic from Hare Street Road will be able to travel southwards along Station Road and London Road to the A10 roundabout for the first time since construction of the shared path began. To access High Street from Hare Street Road during Phase J’s 2.5-week construction period, a diversion will be in place along London Road, the A10 Buntingford Bypass and Baldock Road.

Phase J will bring Stage 1 of the scheme to completion in late July. All road closures linked to the scheme are set to be lifted by end of July. Stage 2 designs for High Street (Hare Street Road – Vicarage Road) are currently underway, with the aim of completing the detailed design by the end of this year and, subject to localised engagement and statutory processes, starting construction in early 2024. We will provide further updates in due course.

Carriageway resurfacing on the approaches to the new raised zebra crossings will be carried out at a later date. This work will be undertaken at night and will be the subject of a separate communication.

We thank you again for all your patience during these works. Please continue to allow more time for your journey through the area and plan ahead to avoid disruption.

Please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/activetravelfund for the latest information on the phased road closure dates.

During Phase H – Downhall Ley to Rib Way (8 June to late June):

• Phase G will reopen and the section of road between Downhall Ley and Rib Way will close in both directions.
• Access to/from Downhall Ley will maintained via the southern end of Station Road/London Road.
• Access to properties along Station Road, between Downhall Ley and Rib Way, will be granted by on-site workers.
• Access to/from Rib Way and Co-op supermarket will be possible from the northern end of Station Road/High Street and will be under two-way traffic signals.
• Access for Buntingford Fire Station and other emergency services will be maintained at all times.

 During Phase I – Rib Way to Hare Street Road (late June to early July):

• Phase H will reopen and the section of road between Rib Way and Hare Street Road will close in both directions.
• Access to/from Rib Way and Co-op supermarket will be possible from the southern end of Station Road under two-way traffic signals.
• Access to Austin’s Funeral Directors and the Church of Saint Richard of Chichester will initially be maintained via High Street, and after a couple days the road closure will progress northwards within the phase, so access will transfer via the southern end of Station Road.
• Access to/from Hare Street Road will be maintained from the northern end of High Street.
• Temporary traffic lights will be in place to manage access between High Street and Hare Street Road.

 During Phase J – Hare Street Road to High Street (south of Chapel End) (early July to late July):

• Phase I will reopen and the section of road between Hare Street Road and High Street will close in both directions.
• Access to/from Hare Street Road will be maintained via the southern end of Station Road/London Road.
• Access up to/from the Chapel End/High Street junction will only be possible from Baldock Road. Travel southwards from High Street through to Station Road and/or Hare Street Road will not be feasible.
• Temporary traffic lights will be in place to manage access between Hare Street Road and Station Road.

The remaining phases consist of:

Phase	Road Closure Points	Dates*
Phase H	Downhall Ley – Rib Way	8 June to late June
Phase I	Rib Way – Hare Street Road	Late June to early July
Phases J	Hare Street Road – High Street	Early July to late July

*dates are subject to weather and construction conditions and may change 

Upcoming raised table works

Raised table works are scheduled to take place overnight on the following dates:

Date/time	Location	Impacts
19 July, 8pm to 5am	Hare Street Road	The road closure will stretch from western arm of the Hare Street roundabout to the rear access of the Co-op supermarket. No access will be possible between Hare Street Road and Station Road, including to Union Terrace, The Tannery or Co-op entrance due to the nature of the works between 8pm and 5am.   Please note that to travel between Hare Street Road and London Road/Station Road/High Street, vehicles will have to use the diversion route along B1368 through Hare Street, Dassels and Hay Street, and back northwards along the A10, between 8pm and 5am.
21 July, 8pm to 5am	Snells Mead	No access will be possible between Snells Mead and Station Road due to the nature of the works between 8pm and 5am.

We ask that if you normally park in the areas listed above and require access at the above times that you move your vehicle in advance. We apologise in advance for any disruption caused.

Bus services

Information on diverted bus routes is available on the Intalink website: https://www.intalink.org.uk/road-closure-london-road-buntingford. Details can also be found at all relevant stops. The HertsLynx demand responsive remains in service.

Please note that bus diversions will alter in Phases I and J as follows:

Phase I:

Richmonds service 18 will not serve stops from London Road Kingfisher Park to Station Road Aspenden Road. The nearest alternative bus stops are High Street The Crown Inn.

Arriva service 331 will run all journeys from Hare Street and will not serve bus stops from Ermine Street Westmill Turn to Station Road Aspenden Road. The nearest alternative bus stops are Bridgefoot, The Crown Inn or Greenways.

Central Connect service 386, journeys which travel directly up London Road will not serve bus stops from Kingfisher Park to The Crown Inn. The nearest alternative bus stops are Baldock Road Greenways. Journeys which travel from Hare Street will serve all usual bus stops.

Phase J:

Richmonds service 18 will not serve stops from London Road Kingfisher Park to High Street The Crown Inn. The nearest alternative bus stops are Baldock Road Greenways.

Arriva service 331 will run all journeys from Hare Street and will not serve High Street The Crown Inn bus stops. The nearest alternative bus stops are Hare Street Road Bridgefoot.

Central Connect service 386, journeys which travel directly up London Road will not serve bus stops from Kingfisher Park to The Crown Inn. The nearest alternative bus stops are Baldock Road Greenways.

Journeys which travel from Hare Street will not serve High Street The Crown Inn bus stops. The nearest alternative bus stops are Hare Street Road Bridgefoot.

Enquiries about the works on-site can be directed to Hertfordshire County Council’s Contact Centre on 0300 123 4040 or emailed to our dedicated email address .

Yours faithfully,

Paul Rogers

Project Sponsor