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Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall awarded £75,000 grant for extension

A planning application has been submitted to East Herts Council for a £400,000 scheme to build a first-floor extension at the back and side.

Cllr Graham McAndrew responded to a query from the Indie on weekend works at the Hockerill junction and outlined future works in the town.

Executive member Graham McAndrew: "I find the... holding of a public exhibition at such short notice absolutely disgraceful and disingenuous."

As part of a raft of changes brought about by financial pressures the district council planned to scrap free parking on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hertfordshire Highways workers painted double yellow lines on West Road, prompting residents to question why they were not informed.

The residents of West Road were furious when the lines appeared, claiming they were given no warning.

John Burmicz, who represents Sawbridgeworth on the district council, says its proposed changes on parking are the last straw.

County councillor Graham McAndrew responded to criticism over works at most entry points to the town which caused traffic gridlock at busy times.

The town and district councils said monitoring of the project revealed that "little or no work has been carried out in recent weeks".

The area will be named Jubilee Gardens after survey respondents favoured the royal theme with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee still fresh in minds.

The construction of a long-awaited new skate park which began in May is now unlikely to be finished until September.

The scheme is set to include an arts centre with a public square as part of a mixed development of 150 new homes, shops and other commercial spaces.

A raft of changes that see the removal of free 30-minute parking sessions and introduce new charges on Saturdays and Sundays.

Residents have until Friday to register their comments with Uttlesford District Council on the scheme proposed for land east of High Lane.

East Herts' Tuesday evening meeting postponed because of “extensive representations being received very late in the afternoon on Monday".

"We want to develop an action plan in conjunction with the local community on how to achieve a zero carbon Sawbridgeworth."

Refurbishment of the Shell filling station in London Road was beset by delays caused by issues including contamination and Covid-19.

West Road, Sawbridgeworth, has been subject to several closures due to works at new housing developments causing a loss of trade for businesses.

Hertfordshire County Council said if the November 2 deadline to reinstate Footpaths 1 and 3 was not met, Countryside could have faced prosecution.

Councillor Eric Buckmaster reported last week that lorries were ignoring road closure signs in West Road.

The West Road woes have been described by town, district and county councillor Eric Buckmaster as “beyond the pale”.