Marsworth: What's On

Works progressing well at Wilstone Reservoir as spring re‑opening nears

Visitors to Wilstone Reservoir can expect easier access and improved safety this spring, as essential works around the popular beauty spot continue to move forward on schedule.

A spokesperson for Canal & River Trust and contractors Kier has confirmed that both the car park and the main footpath are on track to re‑open by the end of March.

The footpath, which has been temporarily closed during the winter, is being resurfaced to make it more accessible for walkers, birdwatchers, and local residents.

A set of new steps is also being installed to link the car park with the upper path. This will include a resting platform halfway up, designed to make the climb easier for visitors of all ages and abilities.

About 200m of the footpath into the woods on the north-west side is being partially surfaced, as well as the whole crest around the reservoir of approximately 1,250 linear metres.

And where the piles extend out of the ground for approximately 200 metres on the south west embankment, nine new seating areas are being installed, each measuring three metres long on top of the flat steel pile cap for public viewing and resting points.

Alongside the access improvements, engineers are continuing work to reline the culvert that runs beneath the site. The ditch downstream of the culvert outfall is also being cleared.

The culvert gives the reservoir engineers the option of diverting the water from the upstream reservoirs (Tring etc) to either Wilstone Reservoir or into local watercourses.

Red Lion

Regardless of on-going repairs, the pub is still holding events.

• Friday, January 23rd: Indian street food van, 5pm–9pm
• Friday, January 30th: Dough with the Flow pizza van, 5pm–9pm

Looking ahead, the ever‑popular Quiz Night returns on February 1th.

ASHRIDGE HOUSE A HOTEL:

Ashridge House, near Berkhamsted, can now be used as a hotel after Dacorum Borough Council’s planning committee agreed to a change of use. So, it can be stayed at by leisure guests, not just those attending for conferences, training or weddings. Ashridge House, as it looks today, dates back to 1808 and has gardens designed by Humphrey Repton and Capability Brown.

PARKING ISSUES:

Villagers have been posting about parking issues in Church Lane, Marsworth. Those leaving their cars there are urged to consider whether a fire engine would be able to get through. Delivery vans can find it hard to access homes. A utilities van reportedly damaged grass and a wall this month because of parked cars and, in the past week, a lorry broke its wing mirror on bushes because it could not get though, say residents.

COLD CALLERS:

Marsworth Neighbourhood Watch is warning that cold callers have recently been to the village, apparently collecting late into the evening on behalf of Great Ormond St Hospital. ‘This may be genuine but we cannot verify this,’ says MNW.

Fraud services advise that you do not reveal any personal details to strangers and do not enter into any agreement if you feel pressurised. If you wish to support the hospital, you can do so via their website.

DOG CONCERN:

Worried dog walkers have posted on Everything Marsworth about a large white dog which they claim can appear out of the control of its owner and has been aggressively chasing other dogs in the area close to the recreation ground. The dog warden is being contacted.

LIDL OPENS SOON:

Lidl in Tring is due to open on February 12th. There are 99 car parking spaces, of which six are disabled spaces and seven, parent and child. There will be opening offers, and five tills, plus self-service, and a customer toilet.

There will be plenty of fresh produce and a ‘middle of Lidl’ selling a changing range of goods.

The majority of staff have been recruited locally, says Debby Hughes who has been posting regularly about Lidl’s progress on Everything Tring and has been invited to the opening. Debby adds that there is no immediate bus stop there, but Lidl is looking into this.

BREWERY DAMAGE:

On Thursday, Tring Brewery staff were in for a 6.30am surprise when an 18-tonne lorry loaded with a crane careered into its brewery shop, due to a reversing mishap. While repairs are instigated, the shop is still open, having moved into the unscathed Piggeries taproom next door where 14 beers are on tap. Food is available at Dunsley Farm Shop café Street Food Saturday is back from February.

LIGHTS OUT:

The traffic lights were out at Marsworth bridge, close to Waters Edge Café, on Thursday, with traffic stationery and a red light both sides. Temporary traffic lights were later in place over the weekend while Thames Water worked on pipes close to the White Lion site. There was also a road closure at Cook’s Wharf in the parish, due to water main repairs, causing some issues for drivers.

There is a large pothole on the road coming from Dunstable to Ivinghoe, just below the Beacon turn-off. Drivers are also complaining of a large pothole near the Denbe Theatre on Station Road, Tring.

FOLK GIG:

There is a folk gig coming up on April 11th at Pitstone Memorial Hall – Gaz Brookfield. Tickets are available at wegottickets.com, at £16.50. Following the success of his 10th studio album, Waiting for Wisdom, Gaz is bringing his chart-topping blend of folk rock to the more rural parts of the country.

BUS ISSUES:

On Everything Tring there has been much discussion about delays involving the 500 bus to Hemel and Aylesbury, run by Red Eagle. The company recently introduced a new timetable.

MARSHCROFT:

The stage 3 hearings on the Dacorum Local Plan, which includes the huge Marshcroft development near Tring Station, will be in the weeks commencing March 2nd, 9th and 23rd, in the Council Chamber at Dacorum Council Offices, Hemel Hempstead.