parks and culture The name of the new Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge has been unveiled by the district council following a public survey Three Rivers District Council engaged with local communities and the Three Rivers Museum Trust to put forward five shortlisted names for the public to vote and comment on for the new key link to the well-loved nature reserve said: “Our residents have spoken and so the town’s amazing new bridge will be aptly named the Aquadrome Bridge “Our residents and visitors value our parks and open spaces highly the Aquadrome has been a big part in so many people’s lives across the generations so it’s a fitting choice that the new bridge is named after the very place it will improve connectivity to “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the survey and I look forward to seeing residents and visitors use this key link to our beloved local nature reserve very soon.” the council is exploring options to include an information board that will give an insight into the history of the Aquadrome as well as Harry Walker and his brothers who bought the land in 1913 intending to turn it into a public pleasure ground and boating lake These plans also include the ornamental penny farthing that used to perch on the old bridge railings Generations of residents and visitors will soon be able to use the new bridge which was funded by developer contributions As the new bridge is double in width compared to the old one buggies and cyclists to pass each other safely as well as encourage sustainable travel New landscaping and attractive seating will also provide a stunning new pedestrian entrance into the Aquadrome and offer a beautiful view of Batchworth Lake Accessibility Statement To access services provided by central government departments and agencies, visit the GOV.UK website Copyright © Three Rivers District Council 2024   |   Headless Content Management with Blaze parks and culture With works on course to install the new gateway into the beautiful Rickmansworth Aquadrome it’s only fitting that a new pedestrian bridge comes with a new name – and your help is needed Three Rivers District Council is asking residents and visitors for their comments on each of the five names shortlisted below The council is interested in hearing your thoughts on the names to gather feedback before a final decision is made later this year Residents and visitors have until Friday 28 March to share their comments on the proposed names via the Have Your Say platform Information on the names can be found on the consultation page said: “It is only fitting to have a name for the new bridge that best reflects the character and heritage of the Rickmansworth Aquadrome – and we want your input I would also like to thank the Three Rivers Museum for their assistance on the information presented.” will be 48.6m in length and 3m wide – double in width than the old bridge to allow pedestrians buggies and cyclists to pass each other safely and encourage sustainable travel and the surrounding area will be attractively landscaped to provide a great view of Batchworth Lake a new bridge – residents are advised to plan ahead as works to replace the Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge will soon commence will be installed to serve as the new key link to the 41-hectare nature reserve It will have a deep red finish and be 48.6m in length and 3m wide – double in width than the old bridge to allow pedestrians The surrounding area will be attractively landscaped to provide a great view of Batchworth Lake The replacement will require the bridge and Ebury play area to be closed from Monday 20 January 2025 until Easter for Three Rivers District Council’s contractor Pedestrians can still access Rickmansworth Aquadrome and town centre during these works The established diversion route will be in place with on-site signage Three Rivers District Council’s Lead Member for Leisure said: “This is an exciting milestone for the Aquadrome We know that the nature reserve is well-loved and well-used by residents and visitors alike but the time has come for a new sustainable replacement so people can continue to have access to this amazing site and experience its unique biodiversity “The current bridge is at the end of its useable life and would require multiple repairs over the years This is not sustainable and would require further disruptive work The new bridge will serve the users of today and of future generations It has been carefully designed to strike a balance between the local wildlife and as a visitors’ destination vital work like this will create some short-term disruption and we are striving to keep this to a minimum We will be putting up signage warning people of the works taking place as well as diversion signs in advance I thank everyone for their patience and understanding." The council will be communicating further information on the bridge and play area works in due course. More information on the Rickmansworth Aquadrome project can be found here which relates to the Yellow Express vape shop on the High Street was granted at St Albans Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday 19 February) under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 Anyone who breaches the terms of the order which prevents anyone from entering the property for three months This comes after authorities received numerous reports about the premises relating to the suspected sale of illegal products as well as reported breaches of advertising regulations the Rickmansworth Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) worked alongside Hertfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards and HMRC after the shop was deemed to be having a negative impact on the local community all three agencies attended Yellow Express alongside officers from a HMRC dog unit to serve the initial closure notice before the full order was granted yesterday (19 February) Now businesses and residents are being urged to report any concerns or incidents in relation to this shop to police from the Rickmansworth Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “We have spent time collaborating with our partners to gather evidence for the closure order so we are pleased that it has been granted by the court “Following the enforcement of the order items including vapes and children’s toys were seized, and the investigation is continuing as led by Trading Standards. As part of police enquiries, we are actively encouraging the public to report their concerns regarding this premises if they haven’t already done so by emailing us at sntrickmansworth@bch.police.uk.” You can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report, use online web chat at herts.police.uk/contactor call the non-emergency number 101 Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org parks and culture The old Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge off Riverside Drive will soon be removed to make way for the new gateway to the nature reserve Three Rivers District Council’s contractor will be disassembling the bridge on Saturday 15 February and Sunday 16 February Beaver Bridges will install the new bridge in March Pupils from four local primary schools have been invited to watch the crane drop the bridge following a technical talk with the council’s contractors For the works to be conducted safely on the dates mentioned this will require Riverside Drive to be reduced to a single lane to facilitate the crane to remove and later install the pedestrian bridge The footpath and cycle path will remain open Temporary traffic lights will be in place on Riverside Drive to facilitate the removal and installation of the Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge between 9:30am and 3pm said: “It was always our intention to use the playground as the compound in order to avoid any traffic disruption it is no longer an option to have the crane in the play area without causing significant damage to the surface and buried utilities “We appreciate this is not ideal and we apologise for the temporary inconvenience caused this was the only option to allow the work to be conducted safely “We would also like to remind visitors that the Aquadrome is still open and can be accessed via the car park or by following the established diversion signage.” To read more information on the bridge and the wider Rickmansworth Aquadrome Project, please click here A new Controlled Parking Zone will operate Monday to Saturday (except bank holidays) when drivers will need a valid permit to park on local roads The scheme was developed by Three Rivers District Council in response to requests from residents and the general public for a solution to local parking problems Complaints included problems from inconsiderate parking in local roads including from drivers seeking free parking while commuting to nearby towns from the railway station The scheme has only been introduced in roads where a majority responded in favour of the new controls The council surveyed every address in the area then carried out careful consultation as the scheme developed through several stages to ensure that residents and the general public contributed to the design The final scheme being implemented followed extensive public consultation and feedback over several years in order to seek the views of residents and traders the council amended the scheme several times including more visitor bays and took on road safety concerns along the Uxbridge Road as well as excluding two roads where a majority of residents said no Parking will be available in permit parking bays and was carefully designed using feedback from the consultations Short-stay ‘Pay By Plate’ - with the first hour free (where you register your car number plate at a parking payment machine) - parking bays are available for shoppers and other visitors businesses and other people with a legitimate need to park near local addresses The Controlled Parking Zone is planned to start operating from 9 December 2024 subject to any changes in national guidance and legislation said: “This new scheme will help people at local addresses to find parking spaces more easily during the day and increase the turnover of parking for shoppers and visitors to the various shops and services in the area “By prioritising parking for people who need it most preventing all-day parking in residential roads by non-residents we are also improving the experience and safety for people travelling locally providing more space to manoeuvre and better visibility at road junctions.” ● More information can be found at: https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/parking-consultations ● This new Controlled Parking Zone and the layout of parking bays and waiting restrictions is shown in the detailed plan parks and culture A lot can change in a year and this is certainly the case at Rickmansworth Aquadrome Three Rivers District Council received a £161,691 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver a 10-month long project at the Aquadrome looking specifically at recovery and resilience This involved undertaking a series of ecology surveys a complex hydrological study to better understand how water flows at the site and an extensive programme of community activity engagement during the school holidays The funding marked the start of the larger Aquadrome Project to conserve enhance and protect the local nature reserve Almost a year on, the council is celebrating the ‘Identify, Inform, Involve’ - Natural Heritage Networks project successes and sharing the baseline knowledge captured with the local community including the discovery of 13 invertebrate species that hold a national status and confirming the presence of habitats of principle importance These habitats were found to be invaluable to many species of bats some believed to be roosting or have maternity colonies using the site The council also welcomed 150 people of all ages to attend creative nature and well-being based activities through the spring and summer months where they learned more about the social or natural heritage of the site More than 300 hours of volunteer time were dedicated by children from a local primary school work experience and university placement students and specialist training in various fields was given to staff working on the project Whilst remaining true to the Aquadrome’s character and natural surroundings Branding Guidelines and a Site Narrative have also helped to establish a much-needed identity and voice for this special site helping the council to better tell its story said: “The vital information that has been gathered as part of this project will enable future work to be fully informed and any decisions correctly made by the team We are progressing closer to better understanding preserving and cherishing the Aquadrome for future generations where this has not previously been possible.” Other exciting plans for early 2025 in the Aquadrome include the replacement pedestrian bridge off Riverside Drive the enhancement of Ebury Play area and the refurbishment work to the fishing areas around Batchworth lake The council will also be submitting a larger application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the next Development stage of the project To keep up to date with the Rickmansworth Aquadrome project, please click here The Natural Heritage Networks project has been generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund which distributes a share of National Lottery funding to support a wide range of heritage projects across the UK That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination and to build pride in place and connection to the past we aim to invest £3.6 billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund parks and culture The vital parts to assemble the new gateway into the Rickmansworth Aquadrome have been created as the town eagerly awaits the new pedestrian bridge gave a behind-the-scenes look at the progress of the bridge's construction The bridge is being developed at its subcontractor to serve as the new key link to the 41-hectare nature reserve It will be 48.6m in length and 3m wide – double in width than the old bridge to allow pedestrians decking and columns are currently being worked on and finished before the pieces are assembled The bridge will then be transported to Scunthorpe to be shot-blasted and finished with its deep red look it will start its escorted journey from the north to be craned and fitted on-site at the Aquadrome the new bridge is shaping up to be a good fit for the Aquadrome and will create much more of an entrance to this beloved site that will be enjoyed for generations to come “I would like to thank everyone so far for their patience and understanding while the key link is closed until Easter 2025 We will continue to strive to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure the bridge can be installed as soon as possible the Aquadrome is still open to the public and can be accessed via the car park RickmansworthUpdated: 3 October 2024 Steps star Lee Latchford-Evans is leading the cast of what promises to be a pantomime full magic laughter and fun in Rickmansworth this coming festive season Lee and the cast of Jack and The Beanstalk gathered at Watersmeet Theatre as rehearsals continued last week ahead of the production’s opening in December The cast includes Britain’s Got Talent’s Bunny Galore who is returning to Watersmeet as Dame Trott Alongside Lee and Bunny are record-breaker Jay Rawlings The pantomime schedule includes a Boxing Day themed ‘green’ show a relaxed performance and a signed performance The production tells the timeless tale of the eponymous Jack and his daring journey to Cloudland making it a must-see show this festive season Watersmeet – which is owned and operated by Three Rivers District Council – opened in May 1975 said: "I am delighted to see such an outstanding production come to life in our community With an incredibly talented cast and a show of this calibre it promises to be a truly memorable experience for everyone “This is a shining example of the high-quality entertainment we strive to offer year-round at Watersmeet Jack and the Beanstalk runs from 6-31 December 2024 Watersmeet.co.uk