Wednesday 30 November 2011

New Westminster Lodge visitor cabin now open

A visitors’ information cabin, showing plans, layouts, materials and models of the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, is now open.  The new leisure centre is being built off Holywell Hill in St Albans to replace the current leisure facility. The visitors’ information cabin, which is open seven days a week 7am – 10pm, is located right next to the entrance of the current leisure centre, alongside the building site.  Visitors can also see the building works in progress on the construction site from the cabin, which was previously the site of a car park serving the existing Westminster Lodge and Abbey Theatre.  


The visitor cabin gives detailed information about the facilities in the new centre. The first floor gym and exercise studios, accommodating up to 180 pieces of equipment including cardio vascular and resistance apparatus, will have spectacular views of the Abbey and Verulamium Park. There will also be a youth gym and chill out space. There are to be two exercise studios with sprung floors for dance, aerobics or for community based activities. The studios have a central folding partition and can be opened up into a single large space for functions and special events.  There will also be a small spinning studio for around 20 spinning bikes. For younger residents the new centre will have a crèche and soft play area which can also be used for children’s parties, Yoga, Pilates, and community use.  


In the split level spa there will be a walk in hydro spa pool, an aroma steam room, Kelo (scented) sauna, hot rooms and monsoon and bucket showers. The spa will have under floor heating and will be fully accessible for people with disabilities.  Also featured are pedicure and nail bars, treatment rooms and a relaxation lounge opening onto an external sun terrace with views of the Abbey and Verulamium Park to the west. The new 4-court sports hall with a semi-sprung floor will accommodate a range of sports including badminton, basketball, volleyball, 5-a-side football, netball, gymnastics, trampolining, short tennis, handball, table tennis, martial arts, community events and much more.  A 12m high climbing wall and standalone pinnacle will offer a variety of climbing routes from beginner to expert levels. 


There are three pools in the new Westminster Lodge; a 25m x 21m ten lane main pool with 50% moveable floor, a 17m x 10m teaching pool with a 100% moveable floor, and a confidence water area for young children providing shallow water and fun play elements including water spouts, slides, showers and interactive wet play equipment. A spectator balcony for 250 people is being built above the main pool. The swimming pool flexibility will allow the Council to provide a diverse range of water sports for all the community from recreational, training and short course competition swimming, to water polo, synchronised swimming, sub-aqua, canoe training and under water hockey.   The main pool includes a platform lift for people with disabilities. The new Westminster lodge Leisure Centre Café / Bistro will also be accessible directly from Verulamium Park for use by park visitors and theatre goers.  It will have an external terrace overlooking the Park’s Meadow Area and with views to the Abbey in the distance.

Cllr Mike Wakely, Portfolio Holder for Sports Leisure and Heritage a St Albans City & District Council commented:  "We are inviting residents to view and comment on the finishes that have been chosen.  You can let us know what you think by emailing leisure@stalbans.gov.uk.  Having listened to the suggestions of the Willmott Dixon construction team, in my view it could be argued that the finishes are better than before we undertook the value engineering exercise in order to deliver the improved 10 lane pool. This decisive and effective exercise was taken by the Council's new leadership team and will result in a main pool that is 25% bigger within the original budget."  The new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre is due to open in Autumn 2012.  

Sunday 27 November 2011

Council hears from Network Rail and FCC following November rail disruptions

Network Rail and First Capital Connect responded to District Councillors’ questions following major disruption to the Thameslink service in early November. Martin Frobisher, Route Managing Director from Network Rail and Jerome Pacatte, Area Business Manager from First Capital Connect were speaking at St Albans City & District Council’s Full Council meeting on Wednesday 23 November.


The Council had invited the two companies to answer questions about how they are proposing to deal with the issues highlighted by the recent disruptions and how they intend to minimise any further disruption to commuters. In particular, unreliability and consequent diminishing confidence in service and a lack of communication from FCC were high on the councillors’ list of concerns.


The companies’ representatives apologised for the delays, described what had led to the latest disruptions and what they were doing to improve the service.  They also invited councillors to see for themselves various upgrades that they said had been put in place as part of a major improvement programme. A webcast of the Council meeting is available online. Both FCC and Network rail are also due to attend the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny (Public Services) Committee on 26 January 2012. This meeting is open to the public to observe and can be also be viewed via webcast, both live and after the event.


Councillor Julian Daly, Executive Leader of the Council said: “I am glad that FCC and Network Rail both agreed to come and hear our concerns.  It is a credit to both organisations that they were willing to engage with us in this way.  Sadly this is not the first time we have felt the need to invite them to account for the poor service experienced by local commuters.  As a regular commuter myself, I know the impact of long delays and the negative effect they can have on business and the lives of local people.” 

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Applications open for primary, junior and middle schools in 2012

The under-11s application process in Hertfordshire opens on 14 November 2011 so if your child is due to start school in 2012, or move on to junior or middle school next September, Hertfordshire County Council needs to hear from you. During November, leaflets explaining the process will be posted to families of reception age children and distributed to families of junior and middle applicants through their child’s current infant or first school.


Information about the application process and timescales is also available in the interactive version of the 'Applying for a School Place' booklet. The online directory of schools contains details of every infant, first, primary, junior and middle school in Hertfordshire. Alternatively, copies of the booklet, local school directories and paper application forms can be obtained from the Customer Service Centre by calling 0300 123 4043.


The easiest way to make an application is via HCC's website. You will be able to amend your application at any time up to the closing date and receive immediate confirmation that your application has been received. Online applicants can access their school offer before allocation letters are received and parents are also able to accept the school allocated online. Last year 97 per cent of parents applied this way and found the system quick, easy and secure. Parents that do not wish to apply online can request a paper application form that must be returned direct to the admission and transport team.  Application forms cannot be returned to schools.


The closing date for applications is 15 January 2012. Before making an application, parents and carers are strongly advised to visit schools to help them make their preferences. Parents should contact schools directly to find out more about visiting a school.


Frances Button, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Understandably, parents and carers want their children to attend the school they most prefer. Hertfordshire has a good track record and last year over 94 per cent of families were allocated places at one of their three ranked primary schools. I urge parents to consider carefully the preferences they make and to visit local schools before applying. It is also vitally important that parents and carers get their applications in on time as late applications are much less likely to secure one of the parents' or carers' preferred schools."


Parents are advised to check the county council's website for any updates to the application process or timescales. Details about new schools and additional places will also be published on the website. To apply online and for more info on school admissions log on to www.hertsdirect.org/admissions. Parents with younger children will be able to apply for nursery schools and classes in mid February 2012 when a leaflet about the nursery admissions will be sent directly to parents. If your child is due to start secondary or upper school next year and you haven’t yet made an application you need to make a late application for a secondary school place. This can still be done online or on a paper application form.