ASTON PARISH COUNCIL

What's New

February 2024

Rose & Crown - The initial genearl meeting was held on Febraury and attended by 85 shareholders and villagers. The Directors up dated the meeting on the plans for contractors to refurbish the interior and exterior of the building beteen now and April and a progress report on the garden and car parking to the side and rear. Plans for the search for a  tenant were outlined. Futher details in  the Rose & Crown section 

January 2024

Plotlands - Just before Christmas four fencing panels were put up along the edge of a plotland on the side of Ford Lane. The Enforcement Officer at EHDC was informed and they confirmed they will be taking enforcement action. As with all the other enforcement cases, there is a process that has to be followed and unfortunately getting the panels removed will take time.



Winter Salting & gritting: The Parish Council have recently taken delivery of 25 bags of salt from Ringway/HCC highways. If any of the existing volunteers need to restock, please let the clerk know and a delivery will be made. Last year a request was made AFTER a fall of snow and it proved very difficult to get the salt to the location. Please be prepared in advance. If anyone else wants to take on salting of a road junction or dangerous piece of pavement, please contact the clerk with the location. The salt is NOT for private paths/drives!

Biodiversity in Aston

In autumn 2023  an Officer from HCC Countryside Management visited the Aston sites with the Parish Council. His report is on the "Biodiversity tab". It appears that the current management policies are about right. The Parish Council were delighted with the high number of wild flowers growing on the playing field so the cutting regime seems correct. The Officer was also pleased with the current management of the pond surrounds and it appears that this year some small black fish have been seem. Some years ago, Mr.McNab gave Aston School some small black tench which the pupils released into the pond. The Officer said that these fish can survive in the mud for a long time when ponds dry out and hence may be from that release.
The biggest change to be considered would be to scatter more wild flower seed on part of the Centre Field which will not be gang mowed after this year. The grass should beharrowed, the seed scattered, and then rolled.




December 2023

The planning application for the 20m telecoms mast and cabinets in the butchers car park has been allowed by the planning inspector. This is despite local opposition to it being sited in such a prominent position. See the Telecoms Mast page for more details.

December 2023 Grant Application 2024/25

The Parish Council will be setting its budget and hence precept demand at the January Meeting. If any organisation or body wish to apply for a grant you need to have the reason and the amount with the clerk in writing by Dec. 31 st , so that all the figures and implications can be worked out before the Council Meeting. astonpcclerk@gmail.com


November 2023 - Plotlands - progress on plots breaching planning enforcement notices  

East Herts Enforcement Team have advised that they will be taking two of the plots to court as they have failed to remove all the items listed in their enforcement notices. 

If the prosecutions are successful, the plot owners will be fined and have a criminal record. 


See Plotlands tab for more detail.    

12 November 2023 - Remembrance Day Service at the war memorial.


7 November 2023 - A contract for the purchase of the Rose & Crown was completed today.  The pub itself the car park to the west of the pub, the garden to the east and an area behind is now owned by the village investment group, Rose & Crown Aston Limited . Further details are on the Rose & Crown Section.

October 2023 - The Parish Council have updated the 2005 Parish Plan. It is now called Aston’s Strategic Vision and can be found on the  Strategic Vision tab.

Astonbury Wood

We are very pleased to announce that Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust have signed a 125 year lease on the wood. Full details are available on

https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/astonbury-wood-update 

School children from Aston School helped the parish council to plant a tree to mark the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II 

Car Parking on Centre Field

New green plastic matting has been laid on centre field in the corner behind the Village Sign. This will provide an area for up to 28 cars to be parked throughout the year. Currently Centre Field can only be used in the summer in dry conditions. When weddings and church services take place cars are parked on Broadwater Lane, restricting the roadway, and often parked close to the bend. 

In future, when there are going to be a significant number of cars expected they will be encouraged to use Centre Field. The gate into Centre Field will only be unlocked when functions are taking place.







Village sign