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BUILDING work has begun on an unpopular project to transform a historic sports club in Croxley Green into 156 new homes.

Planning permission to build on Durrants, in Links Way, was granted on appeal in 2006, despite fierce opposition from residents.

The house and grounds were formerly owned by Old Merchant Taylors' - the trust which runs Merchant Taylors' School, in Northwood - before the site was sold to developer, Barratt Homes.

Four years after winning the appeal, initial work on the project began on Monday last week (25).

A SPEED limit in a Rickmansworth road is set to be reduced, thanks to the efforts of local campaigners and a funding grant from a county councillor.

The speed limit in Woodcock Hill will be lowered from 60mph to 40mph, after Cllr Barbara Lamb allocated £2,000 towards the necessary legal orders and signs from her locality budget.

Mrs Lamb said: "Residents have been campaigning for a lower speed limit on Woodcock Hill for some time and I'm pleased to be able to provide the additional funding needed to bring this into effect.

THREE Rivers residents are being warned to brace themselves for 'some tough decisions' by the district council, following cuts in government funding.

Cash grants for local councils will be slashed by 7.1 per cent annually for the next four years, Chancellor George Osborne announced last Wednesday (20).

While the exact details for each council will not be known until December, the Liberal Democrat controlled Three Rivers District Council (TRDC), which this year has an annual budget of about £46.7million, says it is 'seeking to reassure residents' and has pledged to protect a number of services from being axed.

For 2010/11, TRDC received a government grant of almost £5.7million, together with 14 pence from each pound for council tax - totalling about £7.4million - a share of which is also divided between parish councils.

PUBLIC services across Hertfordshire are under threat as Chancellor George Osborne's spending review hits the county council harder than expected.

Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, Robert Gordon, admitted the reduction in government grants for local authorities was 'rather higher than previously assumed'.

Mr Gordon said: "As the reduction will be phased in by four equal installments over four years (rather than three), it will give us more time to plan for later years' savings.

POLICE in Hertfordshire say they are 'well prepared' to manage funding cuts announced by the coalition government on Wednesday (20) - but admit maintaining current staff levels is not an option.

Chancellor George Osbourne revealed in the comprehensive spending review that the police budget will be slashed by four per cent each year, until 2012-13.

Chairman of Hertfordshire Police Authority, Stuart Nagler, insisted the county was 'better placed than many other forces to deal with the difficulties ahead'..

THE future of school transport in Hertfordshire is up for debate, driven by the county council's efforts to reduce its £25m annual bill.

A series of proposals have been announced by Hertfordshire County Council, which, if approved by cabinet members on March 21 next year, will affect pupils receiving free or subsidised school transport.

However, some children, such as disabled or special needs pupils, will not lose their entitlement.

VISITORS to Rickmansworth will find it easier to spend a penny from next month, thanks to two new venues signing up to the community toilet scheme on a pilot basis.

Watford Mencap and Watersmeet Theatre, both in the High Street, will open their doors to the public in late November, ahead of the annual Victorian evening on Friday, November 26.
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LOVERS of literature will be in their element at the fourth annual Croxley Green Book Fair, due to take place on Saturday, November 6.

As well as an array of great-value books, visitors can also enjoy coffee, cake and a friendly chat. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to Christian Aid.

BUDDING playwrights are being encouraged to put pen to paper at a series of creative workshops in Rickmansworth.

The six weekly sessions, entitled Staging History, will be led by professional writer, Brian Abbott, who will reveal how to produce an exciting story.

The workshops, which are jointly run by Three Rivers District Council and the Land of Liberty history project, will give participants the opportunity to create scripts based on their own interest and research, and share their ideas.

TRANSPORT around Three Rivers and the future of local farming will be discussed at a pensioners forum in Rickmansworth next Friday (29).

Dozens of pensioners from across the district are set to descend on the council offices for the autumn meeting, held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Northway, from 2-4pm.

Parking permits and transport assistance may be available - call Ryan Watson on 01923 727 334 for more information.