Local elections will be taking place across Hertfordshire on 1 May. Are you ready to vote?
Anyone wanting to vote must make sure they are registered. You will need to register if you have not voted before or if you have recently moved house. The deadline is midnight on Friday 11 April.
Find out all of the information you need to get voting, including how to vote in person, acceptable forms of ID, applying to vote by post or how to appoint someone to vote on your behalf (known as proxy) by visiting The Electoral Commission’s helpful webpage HERE: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections
A community space in Stanstead Abbotts is being launched on Saturday 5th April.
WHEN: 11am to 4pm on Saturday 5th April 2025 WHERE: 2b High Street, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts. SG12 8AB
The Hub is a space for workshops, talks and presentations on various subjects focussed on health and wellbeing, as well as an organic food hub where locals can order organic food, home produce, tins, cleaning products and personal hygiene products. All sourced in the UK.
The pet shop at dog grooming parlous will be a permanent fixture and is run by Jo, who has an established shop in South Woodford, so even your pets will get to benefit from this new space!
At the launch event, there will be… * The Nestaurant: serving delicious vegetarian and vegan food. * Phebe’s Bakes: a local pop-up chef serving curries, patties and other tasty dishes.
Please do go along to enjoy some lovely food and find out more about this new venture.
As part of our commitment to supporting local businesses, every month we will highlight one of our advertisers. This month’s winner is Christopher the Locksmith.
A Family Business Built on Trust and Expertise
Founded by Chris’s father, the company has been a cornerstone of the local community for decades. With nearly 30 years of experience, Chris (photographed on the right here), the current face of the business, continues to provide high-quality locksmith services, making him the go-to expert for lock repairs, replacements and security advice for both domestic and commercial clients.
As a Checkatrade Trader and Police Checked professional, Chris ensures that each service is executed with the utmost care, integrity and efficiency. His reputation as a trusted, independent locksmith speaks for itself, with many clients returning time and time again for his honest and reliable work.
Comprehensive Locksmith Services
Whether you’re locked out of your home in the middle of the night or need to upgrade your security after a burglary, Christopher the Locksmith is always just a call away. Available 24/7, Chris aims to arrive at your location within 15–30 minutes, ensuring that help is never far away when you need it most. Some of the top services offered include:
Lock Repairs & Replacements: From snapped keys to faulty catches, Chris quickly repairs or replaces broken locks, offering a no mess, guaranteed workmanship service.
UPVC & Composite Door Specialists: As experts in UPVC door lock repairs and composite door lock issues, Christopher the Locksmith saves you the cost of unnecessary replacements.
Security Upgrades: For those concerned about their home’s security, Chris offers anti-snap lock upgrades to the latest approved standards, ensuring your property is safe from burglars.
Emergency Lockouts & Lost Keys: Locked out or lost your keys? Call Chris anytime for an efficient, caring and friendly emergency locksmith service.
Chris has built a reputation for fast, reliable service. His commitment to the community is reflected not only in his service, but also in his 10% discount for senior citizens and 20% discount for students.
A Personal Touch with Every Service
What makes Christopher the Locksmith truly special is the personal touch Chris provides with every job. Unlike larger chains, you’ll never deal with a faceless representative or automated system. Instead, Chris is the one who answers the phone, provides a free, upfront quote and arrives at your location to carry out the work himself.
Why Choose Christopher the Locksmith?
Family-Run & Independent: Offering personal, reliable and trusted services.
Fast Response Times: Expect Chris to be there within 15–30 minutes, 24/7.
No Hidden Fees: Transparent, upfront pricing ensures no surprises.
Security Expertise: Specialising in burglary prevention, UPVC, composite doors and anti-snap locks.
Discounts for Seniors & Students: Affordable services for everyone in the community.
For any lock-related concerns, whether it’s an emergency or a simple security upgrade, call 07772 111 222 or 0800 988 2424 anytime!
Congratulations to Christopher the Locksmith for being our Advertiser of the Month! For those who value prompt, reliable and expert service from a trusted local business, this is the name to remember.
Hertfordshire County Council are committed to becoming a more sustainable organisation. Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, they have been working with partners and residents to tackle climate change, and its impacts across the county.
To help deliver their sustainability and climate change ambitions, Hertfordshire County Council want to know your thoughts about climate change, its impacts on Hertfordshire and their efforts to tackle it.
Hertfordshire County Council have prepared a short survey that will help to better understand residents’ priorities around climate change, including how they can better communicate and engage with locals on this important issue.
There are only a few days left to have your say! Complete the survey before Friday 21 MarchHERE.
An easy-read version of this survey is also available HERE.
Find out more about our work to deliver the Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy to date, visit their page HERE.
Have you heard about CEO of Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s Big Walk on 20th April? Jim is walking the 20 miles from Bath to Wells to raise money for this important charity. Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s mission is to combat loneliness, and all that goes with it, through community. They have a number of groups that meet around Hertfordshire and they have achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time, but fundraising is vital to help them continue in their work.
Jim’s story… Why walk from Bath to Wells? Well, I’ll tell you! These two places played a major part in my childhood, but also are places where community values were instilled in me! My charity is trying to reconnect community values back into everyday life.
Growing up in Somerset I lived a life filled with people I knew, trusted and relied upon! We were in and out of each other’s houses without knocking. We were able to trust the people who lived in the houses around us and we never got lost because someone around us knew where we should be going.
In this life now all that is lost! I’m not saying to blindly trust everyone or listen to the words of strangers without forethought. I am saying, however, it costs us nothing to listen, talk and support our neighbours!
Help me get where I’m going both mentally physically and emotionally!
If you can support Jim in his incredible fundraising effort, all donations are gratefully received. You can find his Just Giving page HERE.
GROUPS
Coffee and Coping Stanstead Abbotts Drop-in: Midday to 1:30pm, Wednesdays and Fridays at The Ashlea Room, Parish Hall, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts SG12 8EZ. A chance to get together, meet new people and build community. Everyone is welcome!
Hope in Action: 5 to 6.30pm, every Wednesday at St Mary’s Church, 33a Hoddesdon Road, St Margarets, Herts SG12 8EG. An addicts, heavy substance and alcohol users’ safe space to talk, get help and break their cycles of addiction.
Coffee and Coping Hertford Heath Drop-in: 2 to 3pm, every Tuesday at The Silver Fox pub, 16-18 London Road, Hertford Heath, Herts SG14 7RH. This group is for anyone who wants to connect with people, talk about life, as well as get real help for any problems that may arise.
Men’s Communication Collective: 6.30 to 8pm, 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at the Pioneer Club, Heathlands Drive, St Albans, Herts. AL3 5AY. The chance for all adult men to find a safe space to talk about their issues and also look at the way they communicate with their families, friends and colleagues.
These groups are free to attend. No need to book, just go along!
Stanstead Abbotts Concert Society will be holding their next music event on Sunday 16th March.
James Delarre and Saul Rose Fine musicians and long-time friends, James Delarre and Saul Rose are masters of their craft and well known for their outstanding musicianship and crystal clear talent. Audiences are promised a warm, joyful and very personal evening of exquisitely delivered traditional tunes and songs.
WHERE: The Parish Hall, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8AB WHEN: Sunday 16th March (doors open at 7pm)
More about Stanstead Abbotts Concert Society The Stanstead Abbotts Concert Society meets on the third Sunday of each month at The Parish Hall, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8AB.
Doors open at 7.00pm, for a 7.30pm start and the evening ends at 10.00pm.
Soft drinks are available but please bring your own alcohol.
The Hertfordshire County Council has issued several public notices detailing upcoming temporary road closures and restrictions across the county, effective from March 2025. These measures are being implemented under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to facilitate essential works, including utility service installations and maintenance.
Specific to our three villages is the following… B180 Hunsdon Road, Stanstead Abbotts Closure: Starting 17th March, this closure facilitates necessary works over a 90m stretch with a designated detour in place.
(Temporary Closing Of B180 Hunsdon Road, Stanstead Abbotts) Order 2025 NOTICE is given that Hertfordshire County Council intends to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all vehicular traffic from using that length of B180 Hunsdon Road, Stanstead Abbotts from its junction with B181 Roydon Road north eastwards and a distance of approximately 90m (“the Road”), except for access.
An alternative route will be via B181 (Roydon Road/High Street/Station Road), A1170 (Pepper Hill/Amwell Hill/London Road/Viaduct Road), B1004 (Bridge Foot/Star Street/Widbury Hill/Ware Road) and B180 (Hunsdon Road/ Widford Road/High Street/Stanstead Road/Hunsdon Road).
The Order is needed because works are proposed to be executed on or near the Road.
If the Order is made, it shall come into force on 17 March 2025 for a period of up to 18 months.
However, the restrictions specified shall only take effect at the times indicated by signs on or near the Road.
If you have any queries about the proposed Order, please contact Rajesh Goutam tel. 0300 123 4047 at Ringway.
Residents are encouraged to review these changes as they may impact daily commutes and travel plans. For information regarding other road closures in Hertfordshire, see HERE.
The first issue of 2025, but also the first FREE issue.
Hopefully you will have seen the news that as part of our plans for 2025, our print magazine is now FREE. We have made this decision in order to help facilitate the magazine reaching more of our residents in the three villages.
Not everyone carries cash these days, so now you can just grab a copy when you see one. We have also increased our print run by 100% and you will be able to find the magazine across more locations in the villages.
You can get The Three Villages Magazine from, but not limited to, the following locations: The Village Pharmacy St John the Baptist Church St Mary’s Church St Andrew’s Church The Bridge Shop The Red Lion George IV The Jolly Fisherman The Oak The Maltings Café St Margarets Train Station
Furthermore, if you can’t get out to get a copy, you can text (07488 914972) or call us (01920 870115) and we will get one to you.
Thank you for your continued support, The Three Villages Team
If you love walking and would like to help others experience the health and wellbeing benefits of walking, join a team of over 300 Health Walk volunteers. You don’t have to be super fit or know how to read a map. You can lead walks or provide support from the back.
Volunteer once a week or once a month – it’s up to you. The next free training is on the 11th April in Stevenage, which will be followed by other training events across the county during the year.
What you’ll be doing Typically, a walk requires a leader and backmarker, but there are other roles that are equally important. Your role during a walk depends on what you feel most able and comfortable to do. The roles and responsibilities include:
Walk leader
Backmarker
Walk support
Greeter/buddy
Adminstrative
Skills and experience Previous experience isn’t necessary as volunteers get training before starting their role. All new walk leaders will be paired up with those who are more experienced and given time to learn the existing routes.
How much time you need to give There is no expectation of time commitment – you can volunteer as little as an hour per month, or more frequently, up to several hours per week. There are many different walks throughout the week including weekends and summer evening walks.
Where you’ll be located Hertfordshire Health Walks are in many areas across the county. The district council areas with walks include Dacorum, Watford, Three Rivers, St Albans, Hertsmere, North Herts, Welwyn Hatfield and East Herts. Administration volunteers can be supported to work from home or at the CMS office.
What you’ll gain from the role Volunteering with Health Walks will give you the opportunity to keep fit, meet new people and get out in the fresh air. You’ll also be helping us to get more people out enjoying the countryside and keeping active. Area groups also arrange ad hoc social events, ranging from barbecues to pub lunches and special guided walks.
Training and support All Health Walks volunteers start by attending a free one-day course, certified by Ramblers UK. Once this is completed, you’ll be given a Progress Card to note when you have completed your practical training. This training includes shadowing an existing walk leader/backmarker and then co-leading a walk.
There is no obligation to become a walk leader. Some of our volunteers find that they prefer to serve as a backmarker and encourage/motivate participants who are walking for the social aspect more than the fitness.
Support is available during this time from fellow volunteers and your Countryside Management Service (CMS) Health Walks co-ordinator. There is also the opportunity to obtain basic First Aid training.
Equipment will be provided to ensure the delivery of safe and enjoyable walks including a Health Walks backpack, clipboard, high-vis vest, whistle and a Health Walks polo shirt.
Remaining Training dates 2025* When Where Friday 11 April 2025 Farnham/Robertson House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2ST Tuesday 8 July 2025 To be confirmed *Dates and availability are subject to change and additional dates may be added.
If you’d like to know more, you can speak to a member of the team on 01992 555888 or visit the Health Walks website.
Every issue we pick one of the local businesses that advertise with us to win our Prize Draw. They win a FREE full-page, full-colour advert in a prime spot within the print magazine.
For our March issue, the winner is Little Blue Van Nursery!
Little Blue Van Nursery is based in a beautiful location in Great Amwell, with access to a large open field, secure playground and with a large indoor and weather proof outdoor classroom. Little Blue Van is the perfect location for active, inquisitive children.
The staff at Little Blue Van are all qualified to the higher level of childcare, learning & development qualifications and are all trained practitioners in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. The EYFS is regulated by OFSTED and ensures that each child’s individual learning needs and styles are catered for in a stimulating and educational environment. They promote ‘learning through play’ by using an interactive, engaging and fun curriculum. All staff are qualified to level 3 or above in Childcare, Learning and Development.
Little Blue Van Nursery accepts children from 2.5 years old until they start Reception at their chosen school.
The annual fee for the rest of the year is now only £90 and includes a slot within every remaining 2025 issue of the print magazine, and inclusion in our advertisements directory and scrolling adverts panel (that appears on every page) on the website.
Sign up now to advertise with us for the rest of the year and be entered automatically into our prize draw!
Email us for more information: threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com.
The Three Villages 