A NEW LOOK FOR THE DPC

Since the May local elections Datchworth has a brand-new council, one with a new ethos, new approach and new agenda.

And now a council with a totally new look.

Although not a priority, we were – for various reasons – immediately required to change our logo and identity, which we took as an opportunity to create something distinctive, unique, strong, idiosyncratic. And fun.

Fortuitous personal connections allowed a top UK brand designer to be engaged totally free of charge to professionally create something that answered the DPC’s brief of being a beautiful, traditional, rural parish.

One that above all reflected us being a friendly community.

With an empathetic and positive minded council.

Restoring Harmony!

Welcome to the new DPC look – centred around our unique icon – ‘the people tree’.

A fun symbol of rural nature fused with lively people.

From the end of this month this new identity representing the DPC’s values – will be seen on all our communications, website and in social media.

 

We hope you like it.

Website Logo hi res

Digital Support Sessions Resume 12th September 2023

Datchworth Parish Council  free Digital/IT drop-in sessions 

Areas where we can help include:- 

Digital – IT – Tech – Zoom – Email – Apps – Facebook – NHS online  – Surfing the Internet – Getting Online – e-shopping

The sessions are free digital/ IT 121 advice for beginners and those wanting to be able to do more in this digital world. You can bring along your own device or, alternatively, we can provide one. You will receive technical guidance/support/advice from local Digital Champions.

The sessions will resume on:

Tuesday 12th September at Datchworth Village Hall
from 1:00pm until 3:00pm

Booking is advised places are limited.

If you are interested and want to book a place, please contact the Parish Clerk:-

by telephone: 07938 743424 or email:-

Cost of Living Communications Toolkit

Cost of living communications toolkit

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) are continuing to work closely with partners across the county to promote the local and national support available to help our residents deal with the challenges of the rising cost of living.  HCC communications team have created a toolkit of resources and are asking Parish and Town Councils to share these through their networks and communications channels. Please see links below to the toolkit and other useful sources of information.

Key links

Cost of living landing page – Help to manage the cost of living | Hertfordshire County Council

Communications toolkit – Cost of living toolkit | Hertfordshire County Council

There’s also a wide range of central government content you can download and share – Images and Video – Government Support for Household Energy Bills – Government Support for Household Energy Bills (frontify.com)

Civility and Respect Newsletter

CR-Newsletter-MARCH23

Hertfordshire Recycling Centres ID requirements

Luton Airport Public Inquiry

Luton Airport Public Inquiry – progress update from LADACAN
What’s happening?
The Public Inquiry into the attempt by Luton Airport to legitimise its multiple breaches of noise controls opens on 27th September. LADACAN is representing the interests of local communities impacted by the excess noise from flights which are now “bouncing back” towards previous levels.
This Inquiry will be the first time for over 15 years that any independent light has been shone on the planning decisions relating to Luton Airport – normally they are just made by its ultimate owner and financial beneficiary Luton Borough Council. Just getting to this point was a huge achievement.
What’s been achieved so far?
We have pulled out all the stops, and thanks to massive support from local people who been very generous we’ve raised sufficient funds to engage a team of experts and an advocate to help us face the Airport operator and Luton Council with equivalent talent on our side:
Richard Wald KC, an environmental, planning and public lawyer
Alastair Skelton, a town planning expert
Seth Roberts – a professional acoustician
Cait Hewitt – a climate change policy expert
Dr Alex Chapman – a socio-economics expert
Together, and supported by the expert local knowledge built up over the last 12 years by Andrew Lambourne, our Chair, the team has developed and submitted a hard-hitting set of Proofs of Evidence to match those from the other parties.
To fund this, we and the other community groups, with generous support from a matched funding charity, have raised some £75,000 so far. This is an incredible achievement, and has been matched by a huge amount of unpaid voluntary effort all round.
What’s the remaining target?
We’re on the final furlong now, and need to raise just another £15,000 to be sure of covering the costs of appearances at the Inquiry by our experts and our KC.
We know we can count on local people to give us this support, since by putting down some very clear markers that profligate noise increases will not be tolerated, planning conditions are there to be respected, and governance matters, we hope to slow down the DCO threat.
If you are able to assist, please use LADACAN’s GoFundMe page with its initial £10K target, or email for online transfer details. Together we can do it. Thank you. https://gofund.me/3d997128

LNER-Customer and Community Investment Fund (CCIF)

Please vote for our ‘Community Park Improvement Project (Turkey Farm, Datchworth) under the following themes:-

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Mental Health
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Education and Employability

Link to survey – https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90493480/2023-LNER-Customer-and-Community-Investment-Fund-survey

Luton Airport Expansion – Objection

Datchworth Parish Council strongly objects to the proposal.

See our comments attached.

Digital Support Volunteers Required

Are you interested in helping those who struggle with digital skills? 

Datchworth Parish Council have recently secured funding to run free weekly drop-in IT digital support sessions 

Areas where you can help include:- 

Setting up devices, getting online, emails, Zoom, electronic communication, Apps, Facebook, NHS online, surfing the internet, e-shopping & e-banking, social networks, photographs, Word and Excel documents, applying for jobs online, how to stay safe online.

The first digital session/IT learning session will take place on:

Tuesday 18th January at Datchworth Village Hall
from 1:00pm until 3:00 pm

The sessions will take place weekly over next 10 weeks. We will provide a friendly, informal environment with a cup of tea & cake, where learners can bring along their own devices or use the IT equipment provided, Support is offered on a one-to-one basis and tailored to individual needs.

To become a volunteer you don’t need to be an IT expert or qualified in any way, as long as you can operate a mobile phone, tablet or PC / laptop and be able to impart your own personal knowledge and ways to do things onto others.

If you are interested, please contact Mr Andy Short, Parish Clerk: –

by telephone: 07938 743424 or email:

Sessions will be run in line with current COVID safety guidelines.

Rural Funding Digest

The Rural Funding Digest is a monthly bulletin facilitated by the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities

Rural Funding Aug 2023