Minutes of APRA AGM Thursday 27th November 2025

Present: 22 including 5 Committee Members (John Hedges, Jacky Stephen, Andrew Yaras, Sally Stevenson and Malcolm Hull) County Councillor Sandy Walkington and District Councillors Edgar Hill and Julian Degg

Apologies: Kate Buckley, Anna and Peter Noble, Graham and Gillian Field, Linda and David Dorkings, Emily Kragh, Margy Stone, David Verdon, Richard Latham, Robert Grover and District Councillor Dawn Gamble

Welcome: John Hedges (Chair) welcomed all present. He reminded attendees that APRA had been formed 13 years ago as a result of an SADC proposal to create a bus stand on the school  side of Romeland Gardens. APRA was founded to promote the identity of the area and to represent the interests of the residents. This is done by working with our Councillors, neighbouring and other RAs. APRA is represented on the SADC City Neighbourhoods Committee (CNC) and a number of working groups.

Presentation of the Local Government Review(LGR)/ Community Governance Review (CGR) by Councillor Edgar Hill.

Edgar reported that Phase 1 of the CGR consultation by SADC had received the highest number of  responses in the county (1925). 1919 residents supported the establishment of a ‘parish’ council for the unparished area of St Albans. Without a ‘parish’ council St Albans would disappear as a local government entity and residents would suffer a democratic deficit compared with existing parishes

The Council is now preparing CGR Stage 2 Draft which will give more detailed proposals as to what the new body will look like and what assets and responsibilities it will take on. The consultation period is from Nov 2025 to the end of Feb 2026. CNC will meet on 3rd Feb to discuss the proposals and put forward recommendations – APRA will be involved in this process and will provide information to members and seek their views whenever practicable.

Chair’s APRA Activity Report 2025

 Abbey Orchard Planning Application

John reminded members that the planning application by the University of Hertfordshire to use the Abbey Orchard for ancillary services during graduation ceremonies was rejected by SADC Planning Committee by 4 votes to 3 in December last year. Several members of APRA helped to lead the objections. We celebrated the victory for residents in the Verulam Arms. There has been no appeal by the University.

George Street

The Urban Design Team has a mandate and budget of £1m to make improvements to George St. Members were asked to give their opinions and suggestions and John voiced these at an onsite meeting in October. These included: changes to gates, planters and street furniture to improve the street scene as well as changes to the cycle lane to improve safety. HCC have plans to improve/widen/lower the pavements and consult residents again in Spring 2026.

SAS buses and Romeland safety

John reported that there are still issues regarding safety around Romeland. Recent photographs demonstrating the issues were shown together with APRA’s proposals for safety improvements (shared with the school in March and councillors over a year ago).

APRA’s Summer Newsletter comments, that progress with safety improvements was slow but could be better assessed in September, were not appreciated by the new Head. As a result APRA was banned from future meeting with the school until such time ‘as it changed its approach and/or leadership’.

There was no September meeting but councillors met the new Head and were optimistic that the new team at the school were much more willing to engage. The school now has two morning drop-offs by Sumpter Yard (traffic permitting) and proposes a trial of two more by Waxhouse Gate. Welcome as these are, they will not do much to improve Romeland safety issues which arise from SAS buses using Romeland Hill as a bus stand for the 4 and 6pm pick-ups.

However, the school has agreed to APRA’s suggestion of a designated ‘bus stop’ opposite to Welclose St. This follows HCC’s reversal of its view on its technical feasibility. The ‘bus stop’ should make clear where buses can legitimately stand in that area and, with SADC stricter enforcement, reduce obstruction of the junction/sight lines. Signs and lines of the existing dual-use parking bay on Romeland Hill will be improved to deter cars from parking there during the 3.30 – 6.30pm bus pick-up time.

The councillors also stated that the mini buses that currently use the Abbey Gateway as a bus stand for the 6pm pick-up will trial use of the Upper Yard car park.

However, despite councillor assurances that APRA’s safety improvement suggestions would be taken up by the imminent Zone B parking review subsequent mixed messages from council officials and councillors have clouded the position. Councillors were also equivocal on APRA’s other safety improvement suggestions, eg more appropriate School Keep Clear signs and lines.

Parking

The much delayed Zone B parking review is planned for end of November. Although APRA has been told this will cover both capacity and safety, this remains far from clear.

Green Spaces

Malcolm Hull reported on activities in Verulamium Park:

• Friends of Verulamium Park was set up around April 2025. It has c.440 members. Members have carried out litter picking, archaeology work and nature recovery. New signs have been erected.
• The Environment Agency has finished the work on revitalising the river in Reach 2.
• SADC has refurbished the Splash Park and built basketball facilities. It is working up a plan for the Lake and Bell Meadow.
• OVO theatre group has been granted listed building consent for St Germains Barn to be turned into a new theatre and performance space.
• The Athletics track has been taken over by the athletics club.
• SADC has started the rewilding the old golf course project using volunteers. Wildflower meadows have been seeded and trees and shrubs will be planted in December.

Membership Communications

• Summer newsletter distributed in July.
• Martin Bleach has kindly helped get the website working and renegotiated hosting costs. We will let members know when the website will be up to speed.
• Social Events are held the first Tuesday of every month at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks. There will be a consultation with members about meeting in a more central location on a bi-monthly basis, on the future of the Summer Party, Street Reps and the use of social media.
• We currently have 115 members but need more, younger members. Any suggestions from members would be welcome.

Finance

Jacky Stephen reported that subscriptions in 2025 were significantly lower than the previous year due to timing of receipts and back payments in 2024. The association reported a deficit of £103 in 2025. The current balance at the bank is £1283. The Committee expects the association to break even in 2026 and recommend that subscriptions remain the same – £6 for individual members and £10 for joint membership and businesses.

Votes

• Members approved the accounts and the appointment of an independent examiner for the accounts.
• Subscription levels approved.
• All existing members of the Committee were willing to stand and their appoints approved.

AOB and Close of meeting

County Councillor Sandy Walkington advised members that the recent repairs to the pavement in Spicer St were not to standard so the contractor would be redoing them at their own expense.

John presented Geoff Dyson with a gift in thanks for his Committee service over many years.

John thanked everyone for their attendance and support. He also thanked Spicer St Church for their hospitality.

The meeting closed at 9.05pm.