Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 15

Please give some credit to the people who buy these homes, they are the future of YOUR town..I am sure that you would not have the same scathing words for 'Brett Smith' who lived and died in a pitifully small cholera ridden hovel 100 years ago..we need to make the Hertford of today right and this means accepting and involving the people who buy these 'Boxes' not ostracising them!..Teach them about the Hertford that was and the future Hertford might turn out alright.. (Gareth Who lives in a box :)) Edited by - mrmorodo on 07 May 2003 22:26:24

Reply ID 20

You seem to have confused my criticism of the development with those who live in them. This is based on the fact that Coleridge Park (a name which as no connection with Hertford whatsoever) is more akin to something you might find in a metropolitan area rather than a market town. Barratts have also demonstrated that they have no interest in contributing anything to the town. My soundbite would be "Stop Outer London creeping in!"

Reply ID 22

We recently moved to a new development in Hertford (not the Barratt one) from North London. Having lived in London for several years, I can't tell you how relieved we are to get back to a "civilised" way of life in Hertford. London was getting more like New York used to be - with the sirens, helicopters going overhead all night, shootings, etc Although we may be "incomers", we are in a good position to appreciate the quality of life in Hertford and will be doing our best to preserve and enjoy it. Did you all vote in the local elections? Hertford is a lovely, picturesque town (planning department's bizarre decisions excepted) and you are very lucky to live here.

Reply ID 26

Welcome to Hertford "newgirl". Turnout at the local election was disappointing, as was the result (ie lack of any opposition). It always struck me as strange that Hertford had such a concentration of Labour councillors when you might expect the town, given its demographics, to be True Blue.

Reply ID 31

Hear Hear! I'll second what Newgirl says about Hertford. We are relatively new here too - also incomers from London, and also very appreciative of this, the best-kept secret in the Home Counties! Unlike places like St Albans (dreadfully overdeveloped) this remains for now at least a pleasant, well-maintained town where people are generally civilised and friendly and where the stink of London's corruption, crime and social engineering (viz: congestion charge/ residents only parking/etc etc) remain for now at least, a mere whiff! Long live Hertford, my beloved adoptive home!!!

Reply ID 35

Thanks Mike. Actually, it seems that most people in Hertford don't really appreciate what London is like nowadays. It deteriorated rapidly in the last five years to the point where we really feel that we have "escaped". We had machete fights, gang fights, stabbings, shootings etc, all going on regularly. The schools were abysmal, rubbish appalling, rats out in the open, aggressive beggars, nowhere to park, etc, etc. I am NOT exaggerating. Hertford, by comparison, was like stepping back in to real England. People chat to you, shop assistants actually assist, it's clean, you can breath the air, drivers are courteous, you don't have to look over your shoulder all the time when walking home...... I could go on and on. I know that it's not all roses and honeysuckle but it certainly feels like it to me. I hope all you born and bred Hertford-folk appreciate what you and your children have here. Take a ride through North London, if you don't. Thanks for the welcome!

Reply ID 36

Totally agree with you Newgirl - we were in Hackney; a borough which appears to have entirely capitulated to gangs of uncontrolable schoolkids, drug dealers, prostitutes, etc etc. Complaints to the council are routinely met with the old excuse "Inner London authorities have unique demands to meet, hence can't be expected to do their core duties properly"; public transport is lousy; private transport fast becoming politically-incorrect; house prices are at lunatic levels; queues don't move; shop assistants don't assist.... etc etc etc. But for me, the contrast was most marked when I phoned up the local authority here, and was answered by a polite and helpful woman who spoke good English and efficiently dealt with my query. Never in almost 20 yrs of dealing with the London Borough of Hackney did I have that! In fact, they took 6 months to repay my surplus council tax.....

Reply ID 41

Hello Mike and NewGirl :) I grew up in Ware so i didn't really appreciate how bad London had gotten i work in Enfield though and that is pretty grim so i can have a guess. Steve, i think the point i was trying to make is that it takes time for a 'new community' to establish, for tree's to grow and bricks to weather etc. etc. . When the victorian houses along the Ware Road were built i am sure they would have intially looked bare and out of place, the people who bought them seeming to be invaders into the tradional rural Hertford. But, as time went by they became assimilated into the community and became an appreciated part of Hertfords history and image. I think the same will happen with the new developements as long as they are managed correctly and are controlled. I can't speak for the bulders of these new developments and how interested they are in contributing to the community of the towns they are building in. But, i do believe that the people who buy the properties are proud to be living in a town with a heritage like Hertford's and want to see the very best future for it. P.S. i think the 'Coleridge Park' name maybe a reference to 'Reginald Charles Coleridge'???....guy who lived in hertford and died aboard the Titanic in 1912??. Edited by - mrmorodo on 25 May 2003 02:29:15

Reply ID 44

I doubt whether Barratts could be bothered to dig up such a tenuous link. If they wanted a name for the development all they had to do was ask the town council. All they're interested in is shifting units and making as much money as possible. Any regard for the local community is an unnecessary overhead. I'll get off the soapbox now! :-)

Reply ID 51

Generally, I think there are some interesting little developments around at the moment. The small groups of new houses tucked in to mews or small brownfield sites actually contribute to the overall organic, naturally evolving structure of the town. As long as every patch isn't filled in. On the other hand, the Barratt one is far too large and imposing - it's just not in proportion to the rest of the town. My biggest gripe is that it is too HIGH - virtually multi-storey - which does not look good set on a hill. The overall impression from the Ware Road is too big, too officey-looking and too many cars. Shouldn't garages be provided for that price? I should imagine that they are nice inside though........

Reply ID 54

Agree with you 100% newgirl!