SAPHRA
The Residents’ Association for Sopwell Lane, Albert Street, Pageant Road, Hart Road,
The Ryder Seed Mews Estate, Saracens Head Yard, Pearce’s Walk and Keyfield Terrace
______________________________________________________________________________
Notes of SAPHRA meeting held on Tuesday 29 July 2025
at the White Hart Hotel, Holywell Hill, St Albans
Present: Officials: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Minutes Secretary
Plus: Cllr Juliet Voisey, 1 resident of Pageant Road, 1 resident of Sopwell Lane,
1 resident of Hart Road
Apologies for absence: 1 resident of Albert Street, 1 resident of Sopwell Lane
The subjects discussed in the meeting were:
- Finances and banking arrangements:
Our current balance with Metro Bank stands at £533.83.
- Former Ryder Seed Hall / Proposed Moka restaurant:
Moka restaurant has applied for a Premises Licence for the hours 8:00pm – 00:30am Sunday to Thursday and until 02:00am Friday and Saturday. Under advisement from the police the closing time is to be cut back to 01.30am on Friday and Saturday.
Cllr Taylor has agreed a number of additional conditions with the applicant.
Applicant describes the operation as a restaurant and no live music licence has been applied for.
Because objections have been made the application will go to a hearing to be held on 18 August 2025 (but it is very likely to be approved).
- SAPHRA’s informal Get-together:
We will be holding our SAPHRA summer gathering on the Green Oasis site this coming Sunday, 30 July 2025, from 3pm – 5pm. Invitations have been distributed. Cllr Voisey has offered us the use of a gazebo in the event of rain during the afternoon. She has also offered us some ‘Mad About Bats’ leaflets to hand out to local residents.
- Sopwell Lane Green Oasis:
In readiness for the SAPHRA informal Get-together, some weeding has taken place in the main flower borders. Several new plants have been added, including a poinsettia, blue geranium, lavender and catnip. One of the existing crab apple saplings, from the Woodland Trust free hedging offer, has replaced the sweet damson tree that failed to grow. The grass will be cut before the gazebo arrives.
We still await the long-promised posts to protect the oasis from vehicles. Cllr Voisey will make enquiries as to any progress.
- Local Government reorganisation - unitary authorities:
- SADC will most likely cease to exist by April 2028
- All 11 councils in Hertfordshire are now working together to assess what local government structures would best serve Hertfordshire’s communities, services, and places. This is an opportunity to build a responsive and resilient system of local government – one that reflects local identity while unlocking long-term benefits for residents and communities.
- Final proposals must be submitted to the government on 28 November 2025.
- Local Government reorganisation - unparished area in central St Albans:
- The City Neighbourhoods Committee will cease when SADC ceases to exist
- CNC is of limited value but is the only body representing the city centre
- SADC has launched a Community Governance Review to seek views on the establishment of a Parish (City) Council for the unparished area. It was approved at the full Council meeting on 16 July 2025.
- All District Councillors, the CNC, RAs and the Civic Society support this review.
- Consultations scheduled to begin August 2025, draft recommendations November 2025, second consultation November 2025 to February 2026, final recommendations June 2026, Community Governance Orders to be made September 2026.
- Local Government reorganisation - Elected Mayors:
- Just as important, but attracting less attention
- Strategic Authorities, led by an elected Mayor, serving a population of 1.5 million or more (so a bit bigger than Herts) will be responsible for planning, housing, transport, health, environment etc.
- Combined Central residents Associations:
- Continue to act as a pressure group to CNC / SADC / HCC
- Travel & Movement Group still working with HCC and SADC on a travel strategy
- Local plan:
- Inspectors Examination part one has finished. Their initial report is awaited.
- Parking review in Zone M:
- Key proposal is to extend hours from 6 days until 8:00 pm (current) to 7 days until 10:00 pm
- Also various tidying up of regulations, creating a few extra spaces
- Consultation has now closed, but broadly this is what we asked for four years ago
- SAPHRA’s next meeting: Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 8pm in The White Hart Hotel, 23-25 Holywell Hill.
- Any Other Business:
- The “Unsuitable for HGV” signs have been removed from entry to Albert Street by HCC contractors. Cllr Matt Fisher took this up at request of RM. HCC are now “looking at options to get them back”
- Wildly overgrown hedges in Albert Street CPZ car parks cut back after RM lodged a complaint.
- The Venus & Adonis mural in the Pots of Art Studio, Holywell Hill, St Albans:
The owner of the premises has given permission for an expert survey to be done on the mural. An anonymous donor has agreed to pay for the survey.
- Cllr Voisey went on a tree walk around St Peter’s Street with tree expert, Anthony Helm, and learnt that a walnut tree once stood on a green patch by the Arena car park. It has been proposed to plant another walnut tree on that site.
----------------------------------------------
Useful information about a range of local services can be found through our website…