The Planning Committee have on behalf of the village
_ submitted their views to Dacorum Borough Council on over 50 planning applications. They strongly recommended refusal to the application made in February by Orange to erect a telecommunications mast and cabinets at a site at the top of a field adjacent to Dunny Lane.
_ attended an appeal against Dacorum’s refusal for the development of the site adjoining the Chapel Croft shops for elderly people’s cottages. The Parish Council considered this would be a planning gain, but the appeal was dismissed.
_ alerted the Borough Council to 3 enforcement issues.
_ submitted views on consultation documents on the development of airports in the South East, sub-regional plans for the expansion of Milton Keynes and Luton, and the government’s new planning structures.
_ attended seminars on the latest development in planning procedures and on best practice in the use of flint in build ing construction.

HIGHWAYS, ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Parking Long term parking in Chapel Croft outside the shops has created serious problems as the shop owners rely on customers being able to park. The Parish Council have applied to HCC for an order to establish a limited waiting zone outside the shops.
Following a request from a residentt two spaces reserved for disabled drivers were marked out in the car park adjacent to the church
Linking Footpaths A proposal to create safe routes through the village for walkers and cyclists has been submitted to Herts. County Council Highways Department District Engineer for comment.
Horse Track An application from the Jasmine Safety Track Trust to re-open the horse track alongside Langley Road was supported by the Parish Council and a grant made towards the cost.
Road Survey Council members inspected all roads, their gulleys, drains and pavements in the parish during February and a full report has been submitted to HCC Highways Department requesting urgent action to undertake repairs and maintenance
FOOTPATHS & OPEN SPACES
Rights of Way A consultation document and draft map issued by the Countryside Commission in connection with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 was received and several errors on the map of Chipperfield Common were brought to the attention of the Commission.
Footpath 14 With the aid of a further grant from the Parish Paths Partnership the re-surfacing of Footpath 14 was completed on 2 March 2004.
Dog Waste The Parish Council has purchased another dog waste bin which will be sited at the junction of Croft Lane and Croft End Road. An additional bin provided by Dacorum Borough Council will be sited on the Common.
Litter Our team of voluntary litter pickers have been busy throughout the year collecting litter from paths and pavements.
War Memorial Following the replacement of the broken cross on the memorial, Bill and John Beavis, kindly offered to maintain the memorial garden keeping the grass cut and the hedges trimmed throughout the year.
A new bench seat, made from re-cycled plastic and maintenance free, was purchased and installed on the grass verge at the end of Nunfield to replace the wooden bench which had been stolen.
Grass Cutting Despite numerous requests from the Parish Council, Hertfordshire County Council failed to organise the contract grass cutting on the Croft Estate. This was eventually undertaken by our Village Warden and the County Council re-imbursed the Parish Council.to pay for his time.