I’m sure you’ve noticed there’s been a lot of rain lately. From my office at The Bury the unofficial lake at Gadebridge Park has been very obvious.
At one point, water was pouring through the garden at The Bury into the river where the river makes a sharp man-made 90 degree turn. Of course, all that is actually happening is the river is finding its natural course. Many years ago the river was diverted to feed the Bury Mill and create watercress beds with sharp right-angles created near to what is now the car park and in The Bury garden.
I therefore happily support the collaboration between the Environment Agency, Dacorum Borough Council and Affinity Water in their efforts to reinstate the river to its original course.
The Gade is one of three globally-rare chalk streams in Dacorum – the others being the Bulbourne and the Ver. The Gadebridge Park river restoration project aims to restore the river in the section between the cast-iron bridge and The Bury. Chalk streams are unique habitats fed from chalk aquifers. This means they are mineral-rich, clean, and at a consistent temperature. The right-angles slow the natural flow and this degrades the natural habitats and causes loss of wildlife.
Some of the legacy concrete structures will be removed and replaced with structures that are passable to fish. It is not all about nature, new paths and ‘dipping platforms’ will be created. This is a great project and I look forward to watching it take shape.
At time of writing, I am about to attend the annual remembrance service for PC Frank Mason QGM. Back in 1988 PC Mason was off-duty when he stumbled upon an armed robbery in progress at a security van outside Barclays. Despite being unarmed he tackled one of the robbers but was tragically shot and subsequently died from his injuries. It is absolutely right that we continue to mark his bravery, we must never forget.
PC Mason’s memory is further honoured by Dacorum Police with the presentation of the Frank Mason Memorial Award to the local PC who most exemplifies PC Mason’s qualities of dedication, professionalism and selflessness in protecting the community.
Contact Mike:
Web: www.penning4hemel.com
Email: mike.penning.mp@parliament.uk
Telephone: 01442 251126
