Archive

  • Man escapes car fire on M1

    A DRIVER had a lucky escape on the M1 motorway this afternoon when the vehicle he was travelling in suddenly burst into flames. Firefighters from Garston and Hemel Hempstead were called to the burning people carrier between junctions eight

  • St Albans Mayor preparing to sleep rough tonight

    HUNDREDS of residents will join the Mayor and take part in a sponsored sleep out in St Albans Abbey tonight to illustrate life on the streets. The annual event, now in its 15th year, will see the abbey precinct transformed into an open air

  • Streaker storms Eastenders film set in St Albans

    A STREAKER prompted a few scarlet blushes from the cast of EastEnders yesterday as they filmed in St Albans. A 20-year-old man stripped down to his underwear and began parading his half-naked body in front of Barbara Windsor, Albert Square's

  • Railfreight clash over junction details

    HELIOSLOUGH and the council have clashed over the details of the junction giving trains access into the freight depot. The council has proposed a condition that there must be a feasibility study on a single track leading from the main line into the

  • Alleged child rape victim flown abroad for abortion

    A 48-YEAR-OLD Welwyn Garden City man who went on trial this week accused of raping a teenage girl took his victim abroad to terminate a pregnancy, a court was told today. Stephen Bailey, of Boundary Lane, denies raping the 13-year-old girl,

  • Strife: "Prove us wrong about noise"

    THE noise limits suggested by Helioslough will not be achievable in practice, campaign group Strife has argued. Helioslough has suggested a planning condition keeping daytime noise at any home to 50 decibels or 60 decibels at night, with higher

  • Strife: "Railfreight lorries must be limited"

    CAMPAIGN group Strife is trying to impose a new planning condition to restrict the railfreight terminal to Helioslough's prediction of 3,200 lorry movements a day. Mr Kingston argued against the condition, claiming it was designed to ensure

  • 'Side by side' fire initiative launched

    Ambassadors from community and faith groups across the district were invited to the launch of the ‘side by side’ campaign at the new Watford Fire Station. More than 50 people attended to the initiative's launch, which aims to build relationships

  • Bed-bound paedophile jailed

    A DISABLED paedophile - carried into court on a stretcher - was jailed today after subjecting a child to years of sexual abuse more than two decades ago. Bed-bound Colin Wray, who suffers from osteoarthritis, was this morning delivered to St

  • Hard fought railfreight battle

    THE railfreight inquiry is going at a snail's pace with only 12 out of 32 planning conditions agreed in more than two hours this morning. Helioslough claims that fears of traffic chaos are unfounded as it will make improvements to the local

  • Residents unite to plant trees at open space

    RESIDENTS will join the district council to plant trees at Netherway Open Space this weekend. Hazel, Guelder Rose and Field Maple are among the types which have been purchased with a grant from Watling Chase Community Forest and will be planted on the

  • New cancer ward unveiled at Harpenden Spire Hospital

    A NEW ward for cancer patients and a critical care unit were officially unveiled at the Harpenden Spire Hospital last night. The private hospital has expanded its services and says it is aiming provide a better quality of care for local people

  • Railfreight inquiry overwhelmed by detail

    THE railfreight inquiry is bogged down in a morass of detail as the barristers debate what planning conditions could be imposed on the project. After half an hour's debate this morning, inspector Andy Mead observed : “We are only on Condition

  • Railfreight inquiry probes collapse of rival scheme

    CLAIMS that a railfreight project in Cambridgeshire collapsed because of the problem of crowded tracks are being challenged at the inquiry. Yesterday Park Street resident Chris Brown, echoing other inquiry witnesses, claimed that the Alconbury

  • Christmas carol concert tonight

    A CHURCH in St Albans will be holding its annual Christmas carol concert tonight. Guests will be treated to the beautiful sounds of a choir and soloists which will entertain throughout the night. From 8pm the Church of Jesus Christ of

  • No-one hurt in lorry collision

    Emergency services were called to M1 motorway this morning after two lorries collided. Paramedics and fire crews called to the scene, between Junctions 6 and 7 of the northbound carriageway at about 5am this morning. However, nobody

  • Delays on M1 near St Albans

    AN earlier accident on the M1 near St Albans is still causing long delays for motorists. There are reports of heavy congestion on the northbound carriageway of the motorway between junction six a (M25) and junction seven (A414).