Question the experts about the River Ver project
Residents have a chance to question the experts about exciting plans to revitalise the River Ver as it flows through the centre of St Albans.
An ambitious project to return a 2.5 kilometre stretch of the rare chalk stream to its more natural state was launched earlier this year.
The plan will enhance Verulamium Park and the water quality of its artificial lakes. Major improvements will also be made to the surrounding wildlife and landscape, including the creation of accessible wetlands.
The Environment Agency has been working on the plan with St Albans City and District Council, which owns the park, and other partners.
Now people have the opportunity to raise any questions they may have with some of the project leaders.
They will make a presentation to a special meeting of the Council’s Community, Environment and Sport Scrutiny Committee.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held in the Council chamber at the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street, on Wednesday 31 October from 7pm.
Those due to address the meeting include Liam Dennis, the Environment Agency’s Project Manager, and Daniel Flitton, the Council’s Principal Green Spaces Officer.
Anyone who wants to raise an issue can do so by email on scrutiny@stalbans.gov.uk by noon on Friday 26 October.
The questions may then be put to the project leaders by the Committee’s Chair, Councillor Anthony Rowlands.
He said:
This important project has attracted a huge amount of interest and I’m sure people will take advantage of this opportunity to quiz those responsible about the future plans.
I welcome any questions that our residents want me to put to the project leaders on their behalf and am sure there will be a wide range of issues raised. It should be an absorbing meeting.
Questions can also be sent by post to the Scrutiny Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street, St Albans AL1 3JE.
The meeting will be screened on the Council’s website by webcast: stalbans.public-i.tv/core/portal/home
A number of community groups have been invited to the meeting, including the Ver Valley Society and the Cottonmill and Nunnery Allotment Association.
For more details about the Revitalising the River Ver project, please see: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/revitalising-river-ver.
Councillor contact:
Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the Community, Environment and Sport Scrutiny Committee of St Albans City and District Council. Tel: 07761 232064 Email: anthonyrowlands@hotmail.com
Media contact:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council.
Tel: 01727 296130 E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk