Harpenden Town Council is set to take over ownership of a number of green spaces across the town. The devolution of open spaces at Wood End, Roundwood Lane, Oakley Road and Parva Close from the District Council will enable these areas to get the dedicated investment they need, and benefit from Harpenden Town Council’s high environmental standards.

This is the latest in a long history of Conservative-led initiatives to ensure that local green spaces are managed by the closest level of local government to residents.

But investment in Rothamsted Park has been put on hold after talks with the District Council over the transfer of ownership stalled.

The Town Council had committed to over £750k of investment to improve Rothamsted Park upon taking ownership, but talks over the transfer stalled in July after St Albans demanded Harpenden cover immediate District obligations totalling over £200k.

These included vital health and safety tree works, demolition of park buildings in major disrepair and legal commitments that the District Council will have to cover should the transfer not go ahead.

Your Conservative Town Councillors will continue to work towards securing the devolution of Rothamsted Park in a way that ensures Harpenden residents do not lose out.