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🌞 Happy Bank Holiday Monday! 🌞

This edition is landing in your inbox a little later than usual (yes, even editors deserve a Bank Holiday lie-in!), but the news never takes a day off. Today’s newsletter brings you everything from protestors in Broxbourne to pubs taking a stand on public safety.

As a special Bank Holiday feature, we’ve included an editorial on immigration and the symbolism of flying the St George’s flag. It’s a debate sparking very different views across the county, and we’d love for you to read and share your perspective in our quick poll.

With summer now in its final stretch and the weather still playing along, we hope you find time today to relax, recharge, or celebrate before the longer nights of the ember months begin.

Here’s what’s making headlines across Hertfordshire today:

• 🇺🇦 Hertfordshire marks Ukraine’s Independence Day

• 🗑️ Bin collections shift for Bank Holiday week

• 🏨 Broxbourne Council considers legal action over hotel use

• 🌱 Three Rivers expands energy efficiency drive for homes

• 🏴 Editorial: St George’s Flag and English Identity – a must-read

📜 Historical Highlight: On this day in 1939, Britain and Poland formed a military alliance pledging defence against foreign invasion. In 1942, the Duke of Kent, youngest brother of King George VI, was tragically killed in a plane crash during active service — the first royal to die in action.

Here’s to making the most of the last rays of summer. Have a great week ahead!

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Update From County Council

Ukraine’s Independence Day: Local Heroes Recognised

Hertfordshire marked Ukraine’s Independence Day on Sunday by celebrating two outstanding community heroes.

🏆 Pierre Bosdet, winner of the Ukraine Support Award at the Heart Radio Hero Awards, and 👏 Viktoriia Myronova, highly commended, were recognised for their tireless work helping Ukrainians settle locally.

Their efforts show how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

👉 Discover more here

Bin Collections Shift for Bank Holiday Week

Councils across Hertfordshire are reminding residents that bin collections will run one day later than usual this week because of the Bank Holiday.

Collections will return to normal on Monday 1 September. Households are advised to place bins at the boundary of their property by 6am on collection day.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

BROXBOURNE BOROUGH

Broxbourne Council Considers Legal Action Over Hotel Use

Broxbourne Borough Council is seeking urgent legal advice on the use of the Delta Marriott Hotel for asylum seeker accommodation, following a recent High Court ruling in favour of Epping Forest District Council.

Council Leader Cllr Corina Gander said the hotel should be used for its intended purpose and warned the arrangement puts pressure on local services and risks community tensions.

The council has written to the Government and the Home Office, urging an end to hotel use and seeking assurances that asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping will not be relocated to Cheshunt.

👉 Read more

Broxbourne MP Responds to Epping Court Ruling on Asylum Hotels

Broxbourne MP Lewis Cocking has responded to the recent High Court decision preventing the Bell Hotel in Epping from being used to house asylum seekers.

Mr Cocking said many Broxbourne residents had contacted him with concerns that asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel might be transferred to the Delta Marriott Hotel in Cheshunt. He confirmed that ahead of the court’s ruling he wrote to the Home Secretary to express his opposition to this outcome, and added that he is not aware of any transfers having taken place.

He welcomed the court’s ruling, which confirmed that the Bell Hotel will no longer be used for asylum accommodation, and argued that this strengthens the case for Cheshunt. Mr Cocking said he would continue to work closely with Broxbourne Borough Council to press for the Marriott Hotel to be restored to its intended use and to prevent further strain on local services.

Reaffirming his position, the MP stated that the use of hotels for asylum seeker accommodation must come to an end, and promised to keep pressing the Government for a long-term solution.

NORTH HERTS

Venues Take a Stand: Hitchin Pubs Join Safety Charter to Protect Women

North Hertfordshire District Council has recognised local pubs and venues that have committed to improving women’s safety through its Women and Girls Safety Charter. At a ceremony on 15 August, four Hitchin establishments, The Angel Vaults Inn, The Arena Tavern, Kite at The Red Hart, and The Three Moorhens, were accredited for meeting strict safety standards.

Accredited venues train staff to spot signs of danger, provide drink spiking test kits, and take part in the “Ask for Angela” scheme. The initiative, supported by Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards, will expand across the district in 2025.

👉 Learn More

EAST HERTS

New Skills Campaign Opens Doors to Jobs and Training in East Herts

East Hertfordshire District Council has launched its Open Possibilities campaign to boost skills, training, and career opportunities. Backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme gives residents and businesses free access to online courses through SEEDL, covering IT, customer service, sector-specific training, and more.

Businesses also benefit from tailored support via the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal, while young people can look forward to the return of the Generation Hertford and Stortford Careers Fairs this autumn.

👉 Learn More

170+ Arts Events Coming Back to East Herts in 2025

The much-loved Arts in East Herts programme is back for 2025 with more than 170 events lined up. From painting and jewellery making to theatre workshops, sewing clubs, and even a pop-up planetarium, the programme is bigger than ever.

The council has awarded £40,000 in grants to support local artists and cultural groups, ensuring most events remain free or low-cost. With participation expected to exceed last year’s 5,000 residents, the initiative promises creative fun for all ages.

👉 Learn More

THREE RIVERS

Three Rivers Expands Energy Efficiency Drive for Homes

Three Rivers District Council continues to roll out new initiatives to help residents cut energy costs and reduce emissions. From insulation upgrades and heating system improvements to the installation of new EV charging points, the council is delivering a broad programme of eco-friendly measures.

Recent projects include the SuperHomes scheme, which offers expert guidance on energy-efficient improvements, and new charging points in South Oxhey. The council also promotes its Home Energy Support Service, giving households free advice on reducing energy consumption.

👉 Learn More

DACORUM

Wilstone Self-Build Homes Approved on Appeal

A plan to build nine self-build homes near Wilstone has been approved after the Planning Inspectorate overturned Dacorum Borough Council’s refusal. This was reported by Christopher Day of Local Democracy Service.

According to the report, the council had rejected the scheme by Sedas Strategic Land last year, arguing it would harm the character of the area and conflict with its development strategy. However, the inspector ruled this month that the benefits, including new self-build housing, biodiversity gains and economic uplift, outweighed the harm.

The site, next to Dixons Wharf, lies in open countryside. The inspector accepted it would cause “moderate harm” by urbanising the area but noted the council’s “very poor” housing supply of just 1.03 years and a shortfall of 138 self-build plots. Under national planning rules, this tilted the balance in favour of approval.

Outline permission has now been granted, with detailed designs and parking arrangements to be set out in future applications.

Final Chance to Comment on Three Rivers Housing Policy

Residents of Three Rivers District are being urged to give their feedback before the consultation on the Housing Allocations Policy closes tomorrow, 26 August.

The updated policy will shape who can join the housing register and how social housing is prioritised across the district. Officials stress this is the last opportunity for the community to have its say before decisions are finalised.

👉 Learn More

Watford Borough Council

Scam Alert: Fake PCN Texts Targeting Watford Residents

Watford Borough Council has issued a warning about fraudulent text messages demanding payment for Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). The council confirmed it does not send text reminders for PCN payments.

Residents are urged not to click on any links if they receive such texts and instead report the scam immediately to Action Fraud.

👉 Report to Action Fraud

TRENDING TOPIC - EDITORIAL

Flags, Protests and Identity: What the Delta Marriott Debate Reveals About Modern Britain

The debate around asylum seeker accommodation in hotels is intensifying across the UK, and Broxbourne has become one of the flashpoints.

At the Delta Marriott Hotel in Cheshunt (Broxbourne Borough), protests have continued for weeks, with demonstrators voicing anger at the government’s use of hotels to house asylum seekers. Alongside placards, the St George’s Cross has become a striking symbol of this resistance, painted onto roundabouts, on the lamp posts and flown proudly from windows. To some, this is an ordinary act of patriotism, being proud to fly the national colours. To others, it signals an undercurrent of division.

This tension is not unique to Broxbourne. Across Hertfordshire, for example, streets have been lined with Union Jacks and St George’s flags by groups who are being patriotic. Their message is framed as reclaiming pride, unity and love of country. Yet the association of these same flags with far-right movements has left some residents uneasy, worried that patriotism and protest are being blurred with xenophobia.

In Broxbourne, Council Leader Cllr Corina Gander has made clear the borough’s opposition to the hotel being used for asylum seeker accommodation, stressing that the facility should return to its purpose as a hotel and warning that the situation places pressure on local services. Meanwhile, residents are left to grapple not just with questions of housing and resources, but with the symbolism of the flags themselves: do they represent national pride, or do they risk fanning resentment?

Across England, flag-waving has become a grassroots form of protest and identity politics, reflecting deeper frustrations about immigration policy, community resources, and a sense of being overlooked. What may appear on the surface as simple street decoration is in fact a complex response to how people feel about the state of the country.

The challenge for Broxbourne, as in Epping, and elsewhere, is to separate rightful concerns about planning and capacity from symbols that can harden divisions. Whether the painted roundabouts and fluttering flags fade with the summer or become permanent features will tell us much about where the debate on immigration, identity and belonging is heading.

✍️ Editor’s Note: What do the flags mean to you? Are they a proud display of English identity, or do they carry a different message in today’s climate? We’d love to hear your perspective. Share your thoughts with Hertstown and join the conversation.

MONDAY WEATHER ☀️ 

WELWYN GARDEN CITY

26°C 🌡️ 14°C | 🌤️ Sunny and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 20:04

STEVENAGE

26°C 🌡️ 14°C | 🌤️ Sunny and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 20:04

HERTFORD

26°C 🌡️ 14°C | 🌤️ Sunny and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 20:04

LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY

26°C 🌡️ 14°C | 🌤️ Sunny and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 20:05

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Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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