THURSDAY 28 JULY 2011Body Found in Suspected Hit & Run
Police are appealing for information following the discovery of a body on the B1000 Welwyn Road yesterday morning.
The dead man has been identified as as 66-year-old David Alderson, also known locally as 'the penny man', from Broadwater Crescent in Welwyn Garden City. He was found by a cyclist at 6.50am yesterday on the side of the road leading to Welwyn Garden City.
Investigations into the incident have led officers to believe the death was caused by a collision with a vehicle anytime between the evening of Tuesday, July 26 and the early hours of Wednesday, July 27.
The B1000 was closed between 7am and 1pm whilst officers carried out investigations at the scene, alongside Scenes of Crime Officers.
Inspector Andy Piper from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit said: "Specialist officers from my team, alongside detectives from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, have been carrying out thorough investigations into David’s tragic death.
"We’re trying to piece together David’s last movements. He was last seen at 10am on Tuesday in Welwyn Garden City and I would like to speak to anyone who may have seen him after this time or knows what he may have been doing in Hertford that afternoon or evening.
"Did you see him walking along the B1000? Did you see or hear the collision, or see a vehicle pulled up at the side of the road?
"I would also appeal to the driver of the vehicle to come forward. You may not have realised you had struck a man or had been involved in a collision. While this investigation is in its infancy I would urge you to call police as it would be in your best interest to come forward as soon as possible. You could provide information that could prove vital to this investigation.
"The front of the vehicle may have been damaged as a result of the collision and I’d ask people if they have encountered a vehicle with new front end damage in the last day or two to make contact with police. You may also have encountered someone during this time who appeared to be in a state of shock or distressed about something that may have happened that evening or in the early hours of the morning.
"Anyone with information, however small you think it may be, is asked to contact police immediately via the non-emergency number, 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Hertford House Hotel have been fined £4000 for breaching fire safety rules after appearring at Hertford Magistrates Court on Monday.
The hotel was prosecuted after failing to comply with a phobibition notice issued at the beginning of December 2010.
Nick Shipton, director and operations manager of the hotel in Parliament Square, Hertford, pleaded guilty to breaching the prohibition notice on two separate occasions in December 2010. He was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,346.
The Hotel had a marquee in place over the patio area during December 2010 for extra dining over the busy Christmas period. The alleyway from the rear patio area was the designated escape route in case of fire in the hotel. A prohibition notice was served on December 2, 2010, to ensure the alleyway was kept clear and secure for public safety.
Nine days later, fire crews noticed combustible items were being stored in the alleyway and carried out an inspection. Unsecured wheelie bins lined the alleyway and blocked the exit. These were cleared at the time and the hotel manager was reminded of what was required.
However, on December 16, 2010 a duty fire officer visited the premises and again found rubbish and wheelie bins blocking the escape route.
Richard Thake, Executive Member for Community Safety, said: “We strive to work with businesses and other organisations to create a safe and prosperous community and we ensure our actions are fair and proportionate to the risk involved.
"Where there is a serious and imminent risk we will serve a prohibition notice so as to protect life. Non-compliance with a prohibition notice is an offence and we will take legal action on the person or the company responsible."
TUESDAY 19 JULY 2011Town Centre Co-ordinator Appointed
Hertford Town Council has appointed a Town Centre Co-ordinator to provide support to town centre businesses. Melvin Caton started work in the new role on Monday 11th July.
Cllr Jane Sartin, Chairman of the Town Council’s Development and Leisure Committee, said:
"I am delighted to welcome Melvin to the Town Council. His appointment represents Hertford Town Council’s commitment to maintaining a vibrant town centre, and supporting those running businesses here."
"Although it is disappointing that there have been a number of shop closures recently, the overall vacancy rate in the town centre is well below the national average and I am confident that, with the continued support of Hertford’s residents in supporting the town centre by shopping locally, Hertford can continue to present an attractive opportunity as a place to open a business. It is certainly an attractive place to shop, eat and drink."
Melvin Caton said. "My aim is to work with town centre businesses, local councils and the wider community to provide visitors to the town centre with an improved experience and to act as a channel of communication between business and local decision makers so that businesses views are taken into account when decisions affecting their livelihoods are taken."
Melvin Caton, who ran his family retail business for twenty years, held a similar town centre management role in St Albans between 1998 and 2000.
Police and Council officers have raided and closed down an unlicensed tattoo parlour operating out of the kitchen of a residential property in Longwood Road, Hertford..
The raid took place on Monday (11th July) and involved officers from Hertford Safer Neighbourhood Team and East Herts Council’s Environmental Health team, who executed a warrant at the address and seized a large amount of tattooing equipment. A 32-year-old woman is being dealt with by police.
PC Mark Bullen said: "We find it hard to believe that members of the public would place their trust and health in the hands of an unlicensed operator."
"We would urge anyone who is considering getting a tattoo to do their research and ensure they check that the person carrying out this procedure is licensed to practise."
East Herts Council’s Executive member for community safety and environment Malcolm Alexander added: "Anyone getting a tattoo from an unlicensed parlour runs the real danger of picking up a serious infection such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV. It’s not worth the risk. We would encourage anyone who has visited an unregistered tattooist to seek medical advice from their GP. We will work with the police to keep the residents of East Herts safe and clamp down on this sort of illegal activity."
A waste site and skip yard in Mead Lane is set to relocate if planners give the go-ahead.
J.Bridgeman and Sons have submitted a planning application to move to premises adjacent to Matthews Haulage at 71 Mead Lane.
The proposed move follows a retrospective planning application that was granted in April 2010, with the condition that operations cease by the end of October 2011.
The company employs ten people and primarily handles waste from construction, demolition and excavation.
Local police have launched a new non-emergency number for the public to contact the police.
The new non-emergency number 101 is aimed at making calls to the service cheaper, easier and more efficient.
The number will gradually replace the current non-emergency number, 0845 33 00 222. However, the changeover will not happen immediately and '0845' number is expected to be in place for approximately a year, running in tandem with 101 to ensure a smooth transition.
The introduction of 101 is part of a countrywide Association of Chief Police Officers and Home Office-led initiative where all forces are due to adopt the number by December, in phases. Herts Police is in the first phase of forces to adopt 101.
Superintendent Rob Henry, who manages the Force Communications Room, said: "The Constabulary welcomes this new number as it means members of the public will soon be able to phone 101 wherever they are in England and Wales, and reach their local force."
"Gone will be the days of people being asked to ring long and often expensive 0845 or 0300 numbers. And it is hoped, because the number is easier to remember, that it will ease the burden on unnecessary 999 calls from people unable to remember the non-emergency one."
101 will cost 15p for the duration of the call, whether made from a landline or mobile phone. However, for those whose current service plans give them free calls to 0845 numbers, it will still be possible to contact the Constabulary non-emergency service on landline number 01707 354000, which is also a free number on some phone packages.
