In March 2004 all members undertook an inspection of the roads in the Parish checking road surfaces, drains and gullies, footways, verges and street furniture. A Report on the Condition of the Roads in the Parish listing, road by road, 158 items that needed repair, was submitted to Hertfordshire Highways Department. To date only some of these matters have been addressed, although following a change of personnel within the Highways Department, the Parish Council has been assured that matters will improve. Members continue to check the items listed and report their findings to our Clerk for further action.
The application made in June 2004 to Herts Highways for limited waiting and parking restrictions in Chapel Croft and The Common outside the “Two Brewers” has still not been implemented at the time of writing.
The Langley Road Horse Track was re-opened in December thanks to hard work by the trustees of the Jasmine Safety Track Trust and in particular its Chairman, Tina Robinson. The success of this project owes everything to the excellent co-operation between all bodies involved and the support received from local residents, horse owners and riders. Additional road stone will be added to the track shortly to enable walkers to use it as a safe route away from the traffic.
During the year we have continued with our plan to link the existing footpaths in the village to form a continuous route. We are investigating funding and seeking permission to allow the following areas to be utilised as links between the existing footpaths:
¥ A field-based footpath along Dunny Lane;
¥ The adoption of unofficial footpath from Windmill Hill to Dunny Lane, which requires cleaning and signing;
¥ The creation of a footpath from Whippendell Bottom up the hill towards Kings Langley, proposed as joint project with Kings Langley PC ;
¥ The extension of pavement at Tower Hill Garage ;
¥ A proposal that the hedge at junction of Dunny lane and Tower Hill be cut back or re-aligned to give better sight lines at junction;
¥ The extension of the pavement from Blackwell’s Club to the Allotment Field entrance track.
There remains the proposed pedestrian crossings outside the Royal Oak and adjacent to the Two Brewers which are being investigated.
A radar controlled speed warning sign was demonstrated by a police officer from the Traffic Division and the council hope to work with neighbouring parish councils to purchase one or more signs in an attempt to tackle the problem of cars speeding through the village.
Cllr. John Carter

FOOTPATHS & OPEN SPACES
Work on existing footpaths continues using grants from the Parish Paths Partnership. In June 2004 Cllrs. Berners-Price and Jarrad checked the signs on all official footpaths on The Common and working with the DBC Rights of Way Officer supervised the installation of replacement and additional signs. Barriers to stop motorcyclists using Footpath 14 have been installed.
A designated permissive bridleway has been established along the edge of the woodland alongside The Common to improve safety for both riders and motorists using this narrow road.
Thanks to the team of eight voluntary litter pickers who continue to support the work of the Common Ranger and the Village Warden, litter in the village has been kept to a minimum.
Working with the Countryside Management Service, a survey of hedgerows in the Parish took place in the late summer. 29 volunteers recorded the species growing in the hedges and on their condition. The results of the survey are being collated by Anna Cohen, the Project Officer from CMS, and will be reported in the Chipperfield News.
Maintenance work in the woodland continues, following the plans drawn up by DBC’s Woodland Officer. One of the huge, old sweet chestnut trees appears to be dying and has been fenced off for protection and another was blown down in a winter gale.
Many fish in the Apostles Pond died in the heat during the summer and it had to be re-stocked. Undergrowth round the Pill Pond has been cleared, making it more accessible. It is being maintained as a “boggy pond” to allow the bog plants and wildlife to flourish.