The leaders of Dacorum Borough Council are due to decide at a meeting tonight whether plans for a multi-storey car park in Berkhamsted should proceed.

The authority’s cabinet will meet in Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre at 7.30pm and discuss, among other matters, a feasibility study into the plan for Lower Kings Road. Council officers suggested more research into the idea.

The cabinet was originally due to discuss the report in November, but this was put back to January – and then February.

A suspected rogue trader has been arrested after a woman in her 70s was duped out of money on Hemel Hempstead’s Grovehill estate.

The victim had agreed to pay three men who knocked at her door and convinced her she needed urgent repairs to her garden fence last Tuesday. After the work was carried out, the cowboys returned the following day demanding extra cash to carry out more work.

A 51-year-old man from Redbourn was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Dacorum’s Chief Insp Glen Channer said: “People who commit these types of offences can use pressure and intimidation to make the victim agree to the work. Usually the work the offenders say need doing is unnecessary and, when they do ask for payment, it is completely overpriced.

“Rogue traders prey on the most vulnerable in society, increasing the amount of work that needs doing and subsequently conning them out of vast sums of money.

“I would use this as an opportunity to encourage people to protect themselves by simply saying no and shutting the door on cold-calling doorstep traders. If you think you need work carried out on your home, use a local authority approved trader scheme to find a reputable workman.”

If you think a rogue trader is at the door, call police on 999.

St Albans City and District Council has made a request to government to ‘call in’ the controversial decision to expand London Luton Airport.

The authority is the latest to formally oppose the move by Luton Borough Council in December, which would see airport passenger numbers increase by six million a year.

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning has already written to the Secretary of State for communities and local government Eric Pickles, over the adverse impact the planned expansion would have on his constituency. Both parties have raised concerns about the planning process and Luton’s suitability to make the decision, given it owns all airport shares.

With Valentines Day once more upon us, allow me to suggest a delightful little gift idea that might not go down too well, however much you are motivated by good intentions.

The traditional romantic gifts of red roses, chocolates and bubbly are all old hat, you see – particularly as the last two could have an unfortunate side effect for any other half who is watching their weight.

No, today’s must-have gift, only available online from an American website so you’ve probably left it too late for this year, is...a pound of human fat.

Well, not quite, but pretty close. It’s actually a revolting replica that looks and feels just like the real thing, mounted on a handy base and quite the conversation piece if you put it on your desk, or somewhere near the fridge.

After all, a not so gentle reminder of what might happen further down the road if you give in to temptation and scoff a delicious doughnut with your morning coffee might be just the motivational aid you need.

It comes in a stomach-churning shade of yellow, and is made of soft, pliable vinyl plastic so that it can be squeezed and manipulated.

Its makers are quick to big up the educational and health benefits, saying that their unusual offer ‘has a profound and memorable effect when passed among an audience.’

And it could be yours for just $23 dollars or thereabouts.

That’s all very well, but if you ask me this could be just the start of a booming new sector in the gift market?

Surely it is not beyond the bounds of our capabilities to consign this artificial offering to the remainder bins and replace it pretty sharply with the real thing?

With the judicious application of sealants of some sort, it should be perfectly possible to make that step – and heaven knows there is a plentiful supply of raw material which doesn’t look as if it is going to run out any time soon.

That would make the gift even more personal, wouldn’t it? Nothing would demonstrate your commitment and your readiness to share of yourself than a his and hers set, if you ask me.

Then there would be all sorts of organic options, which would come complete with traceability stickers detailing the origin of the raw material.

Charities could get in on the act – sponsor a child, and get back solid evidence of just how they are thriving thanks to your support.

And it wouldn’t be long before those providing liposuction services to the rich and famous would be feeding a black market in celebrity blubber. It would knock a signed photograph or a lock or hair into a cocked hat, wouldn’t it?

Any entrepreneur who wants to take up the idea, feel free – just be advised that I will, in due course, be wanting my pound of flesh.

Here’s the pitch – lardy Nick Frost, Simon Pegg’s oppo in Hot Fuzz and the rest, as a twinkle-toed salsa dancer?

Add in current queen of all she surveys Olivia Coleman and you’ve got the recipe for a feelgood Brit hit of reduced budget, clear if limited aspiration and plenty to make you smile.

Cuban Fury gives us Nick as a former dance prodigy gone to seed but getting back in the game to capture the new love of his life.

Coleman is his sister, Chris O’Dowd his love rival and the likes of Ian McShane and Rory Kinnear also crop up in a very predictable but harmlessly enjoyable rom com that should be a hit with the Strictly set.

There’s been a film called She, now there’s a film called Her, in which lonely Joaquin Phoenix falls for his computer’s advanced operating system – well, it does a very good job of looking like Scarlett Johansson. Sounds weird? It comes from Spike Jonze, who made his name with Being John Malkovich and is renowned for matching top talent with left-field ideas. One that will get you talking, if not an obvious date movie.

Global marketing opportunities ahoy – the title of The Lego Movie tells you all you need to know. Lots of top voice talent has been harnessed to bring life to this computer animated adventure from the creators of quirky hit Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. Only to be watched if accompanying small children, but you could do a lot worse.

George Clooney leads an all-star cast in The Monuments Men, another of those American wartime dramas based on a true story which casually rewrites history to remove the bulk of the British involvement.

Yes, there was a team of soldiers and art experts tasked with rescuing art looted by the Nazis as the Allies advanced across Europe.

It’s a glossy, well-packaged adventure which is perfectly acceptable if you view it as fiction, not fact.

New figures show that during a week-long speed survey at an accident hotspot 13,253 of the 16,335 vehicles monitored were breaking the 30mph speed limit.

Just 3,082 of the Gravel Path drivers were within it, while 66 of were going at more than 50mph and five were recorded at more than 60mph.

Neighbours on the Berkhamsted street have long campaigned for a 20mph zone to be introduced there.

They say that because it is steep, narrow and bendy, it is particularly dangerous to drive on – and that there have been multiple accidents there in recent years.

To make their point, they commissioned the same company that supplies vehicle activated signs to Herts Highways to carry out a speed survey in Gravel Path in November.

The results were presented in a report to Berkhamsted Town Council’s transport and environment committee on Monday.

The report says: “Worryingly, the high speeds were not restricted to the middle of the night. Four of the five vehicles in excess of 60mph were travelling at 9.30am, 3.05pm, 4.15pm and 5.10pm.”

The committee heard that Herts Highways aims to become more responsive to people’s concerns and introduce more 20mph speed limits across the county.

But Councillor David Collins warned that many drivers could end up simply ignoring a new 20mph limit.

He said: “If we are going to spend money on this, it must be enforced by the police.”

It seems the people of Tring know how to have a laugh, as a record 15 people have signed up to have a go at the annual Roving Comedians night.

Starting in May, the eight-week training course moulds amateur funny people into confident stand-up comedians under the watchful eye and wisdom of teacher and funny man Logan Murray.

The event is now in its fifth year and organiser Ben Moorhouse – the man behind the annual Tringe comedy festival – said: “It’s tricky, because each year I get a bit nervous and I’m never quite sure whether I’ll get enough people signing up.

“I know there’s only so many people who have a screw loose! It takes a special kind of person to get up on stage.

“But this year it’s filled up more quickly than ever. Usually, we’d only ever have seven or eight people committed by this stage.”

Come June 29, the wandering wisecrackers will be let loose to roam from pub to pub, entertaining the punters.

But, in a difference to previous years, they’ll be judged on their ability and given a chance to win a coveted spot on stage at The Comedy Store in London. For more, visit www.get-stuffed.biz.

Dacorum’s political leaders heard last night that new bin collection arrangements are expected to get borough households recycling close to 60 per cent of their waste.

The figure now stands at 48 per cent. The new, simplified system – to be introduced in November – will see food waste collected in a new kitchen caddy each week.

A third wheelie bin will be issued to homes for fortnightly collections of ‘dry’ recycling – which includes cans, plastic, paper, card and glass. They are now collected in separate boxes, bins and baskets.

Non-recyclable waste will be collected every fortnight – which will also apply to garden waste in green bins between February and November. They will not be collected in December and January.

Recycling advisors will tour the borough this summer to spread the news about the changes.

Different arrangements are being considered for waste collection from flats, which will be introduced in 2015.

Dacorum Borough Council’s portfolio holder for environment and sustainability Julie Laws said: “We are introducing the new scheme to make it easier for our residents to recycle more.

“We expect the new scheme to bring other benefits too, such as preventing contamination of green compostable waste from tape and glues on cardboard (which will instead be collected with mixed dry recycling) or from non-compostable bags in food waste.

“The new collection should also reduce issues with insects in bins during warmer weather.”

The decision to proceed with the new collection arrangements was made by Dacorum Borough Council’s cabinet panel at a meeting last night.

Weather buff Stephen Wilson, who has been monitoring the elements from his back garden for 35 years, is unsurprisingly reporting record rainfall.

The former geography teacher of Hollybush Lane, Hemel Hempstead, says that in just seven weeks we’ve endured almost half a year’s worth of rain.

Overnight last Thursday his garden gadgets recorded 28.4mm – over an inch – of rain, which explains why many awoke to flooding and the River Gade had swamped Gadebridge Park.

Stephen, who is also secretary of the Friends of Gadebridge Park, said: “The river simply had no way of containing this as water poured off roads and fields. To give a bit more perspective to the current weather, my records for Warners End show that we have received 350mm of rain since December 15. In just seven weeks we are approaching the average rainfall for what would normally occur in half the year.

“I suspect that further rain this weekend and next week will certainly take us to that half year total if not beyond.

“In my 35 year record we have never had such an intense and prolonged period of rain.

“December had 150 per cent and January more than 200 per centof normal rainfall.

“We had the average for February in the first week!

“With the ground now so saturated it seems likely that any further heavy periods of rain will be followed by more local flooding.

“On this occasion no additional management of the Gade would have helped.

“The river has simply done what most rivers do and flooded its floodplain.”

Political leaders decided to proceed with plans for a multi-storey car park in Berkhamsted last night – despite fears that it could lead to higher pollution levels.

Dacorum Borough Council’s cabinet panel heard that nitrogen dioxide levels in Lower Kings Road, where it would be built, are already above average for the area.

Transition Town Berkhamsted member Danny Bonnett said that the project would encourage people to use their cars more rather than walking or using public transport.

He added that the public should be consulted more widely about how they would like to see the area – and the town – developed.

But Berkhamsted town councillor David Collins said that much of the pollution is caused by drivers spending longer in their cars trying to find a parking space.

The new multi-storey would mean drivers spend less time driving between often full car parks, he said.

He said parking had been an unsolvable problem in Berkhamsted for 12 to 15 years.

Dacorum Borough Council leader Andrew Williams said: “People are not going to leave their cars at home and go shopping on a bus or bike.

“Our towns would die without adequate car parking.”

The meeting heard that the new multi-storey would have between 225 and 275 spaces.

It would take the council about 20 years to get a return on the amount it invests in what it gains from multi-storey parking charges, cabinet members were told.

The councillors said plans for the project should proceed alongside plans to encourage the public to walk and use public transport more often.

A headteacher has rejected government education secretary Michael Gove’s claim that there is a Berlin Wall between private and state schools.

Berkhamsted School’s Mark Steed pointed to how his pupils use the astroturf pitch at nearby Ashlyns, while its state pupils use the swimming pool at his institution.

But he accepted that while his pupils can go climbing and skiing as part of their curriculum, opportunities like these are not always open to state school students.

He said: “I think every young person should have the opportunity to go on a camping expedition. Every young person should have the opportunity to sing in a choir, play regular sport and be part of a team. I think they are important things. I went to a state school myself and had those opportunities. I was lucky – not all state pupils have that.”

Headteacher of Berkhamsted Pre-Prep School and Day Nursery Samantha Jaspal discussed Gove’s comments on Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday. She used to teach in a London state school.

She said in the independent sector there are on average 10 to 12 fewer children in each class, so teachers can spend more time with their pupils.

She said: “There was a wonderful creativity that I had not noticed so much in the maintained sector.”

As more specialist activities are available to children in independent schools, teachers have more time to reflect on their lessons, she added.

She said: “I have found in the independent sector that my personal development as a teacher and a learner has been much more enriched.”

‘Bunch of idiots.’ That’s what one man muttered loudly as he walked past people selling tickets for a talk by international environmental campaigner and barrister Polly Higgins. I prefer “bunch of do-ers!”

Polly was coming to Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted to talk on the subject ‘Dare to Be Great: Eradicating Ecocide’.

Polly is lobbying the United Nations to make ecocide an international crime and campaigns globally, so the least Transition Town Berkhamsted could do was fill the hall!

And fill it we did – with 130 residents eager to know more about ecocide, and what we can do.

We learned that ecocide is defined as ‘the extensive destruction, damage to or loss of ecosystem(s) of a given territory, whether by human agency or by other causes, to such an extent that peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants of that territory has been severely diminished’.

We all know that ecocide happens – for example, we know along the Amazon in South America an area of forest the size of France is lost every day.

But many of us prefer to not think about the human impact on our planet. It’s a bit over-whelming!

Polly brought her passion for confronting ecocide to Berkhamsted, illustrating her talk with worrying examples.

Canada’s Alberta Tar Sands produces four times more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil extraction, and ironically uses enough natural gas to heat three million Canadian homes.#

Then there’s the Pacific Trash Vortex – 100 million tonnes of floating rubbish polluting sea and coastlines, not to mention 100 species become extinct every day… the list is depressing.

But Polly is inspiringly determined to make ecocide the fifth crime against peace – alongside genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression.

Perpetrators would therefore be liable to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.

Illogically, ecocide is already a crime in wartime – this makes no sense at all.

Nor does it makes sense that ecocide was on the Rome Statute but disappeared in 1997 without judicial process. Figure this out – the US, UK and Norway all objected to the proposal.

On the night, Polly dared the audience to be great, admitting she was nervous about starting her Eradicating Ecocide campaign, afraid of failing.

But not trying is failing, so the very least we can now do is join Polly’s campaign at www.eradicatingecocide.com.

And we can also do a little bit more. If you have any concerns about the environment, please join the action group that formed on the night.

It’s called B-WEL (Berk-hamsted Wants Ecocide Law). Call Sue Hampton on 07975 812866 or visit www.transitionberkhamsted.org.uk.

We’d be idiots not to do something.

Losing your eyesight has been likened to a bereavement, but those working for a charity that helps the blind say there’s no need to go through it alone.

Help is on hand and not just from trained outreach workers. People who have been through the devastating experience themselves offer their support, too

But sadly not enough people know about the Hertfordshire Society for the Blind and some have never even heard of its base tucked away in Boxmoor’s Alston Road.

There are around 22,000 people living in Herts with sight loss but the charity is only in touch with around 4,000 of those.

The charity offers lots of help and support including training, aids to help make life easier at home, help back into work, social meet ups, a befriending service and much more.

Hemel Hempstead’s Social Centre for the Blind hosts a sight information point on the second and fourth Monday of the month, when gizmos and gadgets are on show from raised bump stickers to fix onto cookers so that a blind or partiality sighted person can still set the oven temperature, to magnifying computers and walking canes.

Outreach worker for the area Dawn Bunting said: “I come across so many people that don’t know we are here and don’t know what we do, and we are the only centre of its kind in Hertfordshire.”

There’s also a low vision clinic, cooking classes, yoga, computer sessions and more.

Dawn said: “I do think losing your sight is comparable to someone having a massive bereavement – you can lose your job, you can’t drive any more, there is the threat to your independence, when everything you do you use your sight for.

“It’s a journey when you lose your sight or you have the knowledge that you are going to lose your sight. People react in all different ways.”

Among the helpers at the Boxmoor base is volunteer Pauline Hawkins, who suffers from macular degeneration, a condition that was diagnosed shortly after she retired after 30 years as a medical secretary.

The great-grandmother, who lives in Boxmoor has been a volunteer for 10 years. She said: “I’m able to say now – which astonishes people – that I can’t regret it because it has opened doors.

“All my life I worked with people and here is a wonderful opportunity working with people who are hurting, because I know what it is like.

“I would almost say that although it has been a disaster, it has also been a blessing to lose my sight.”

The charity needs volunteers, donations and would love a handyman.

A spring bazaar will be held at the centre on Saturday, March 29.

It is open to all and will run from 11am to 3pm with crafts, lucky dip and bric-a-brac on offer.

Contact Dawn on 07825 330648, email dawn.bunting@hertsblind.com or visit www.hertsblind.com for more information.

Police are this week appealing for help to trace a man who assaulted a pensioner in a Berkhamsted bank - two days after Christmas.

The incident – in which a man in his 70s was attacked after a verbal altercation – took place in the town’s Britannia Building Society on the High Street.

Though the assault happened on Friday, December 27, police are now releasing CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

The victim was approached by a man who said he had pushed past him at around 3.20pm. The offender then followed the victim into the bank where the assault took place.

Officers have been conducting a number of enquiries and are now asking for the public’s help to identify the man pictured. Call PC Karen Wright on 101 with the crime reference number D2/13/950 with information.

Long-awaited plans to give Hemel Hempstead’s tired town centre a 21st century facelift have been given the green light.

The far-reaching blueprint, part of the wider Hemel Evolution project which takes in a string of high-profile projects set to take shape in the near future, promises a fresh new look for the town’s main shopping area.

Highlights include a town square linking the centre of Marlowes to the Water Gardens, with a water feature and a performance space for events, new tree planting to bring nature and shade to the area, unique play areas for children and improved lighting which aims to encourage more people to use the town centre at night.

Work should start in late spring or early summer and take around a year, with a break for Christmas.

Dacorum Borough Council leader Councillor Andrew Williams, who also holds the Civic Centre regeneration brief, said yesterday: “We’re investing in this major regeneration project to attract more businesses and visitors to the area.

“We want to make sure that Hemel Hempstead becomes a more vibrant and busy place for people to enjoy working, living and visiting.”

The county’s top cop has pledged to embrace social media after joining Twitter in May last year but not making much use of it.

Now Herts Police chief constable Andy Bliss says he will be using the popular online tool to communicate directly with the public.

He said: “After years of resisting change, technology has finally caught up with me and you can now follow me on @cchertspolice.

“I plan to tweet just a few messages a week about operational activity and the great work of my frontline team, snippets about my job as chief constable and updates about my national work tackling drug and heritage crime.

“I hope people find my tweets useful and interesting. As I get more confident I want them to provide some insights into my working world.”

Since joining the social network revolution last year, so far Mr Bliss has tweeted 10 times.

A man who suffered from a string of physical and mental health problems took his own life in order to escape his pain, an inquest heard this morning.

Barry Victor Feist, of Barnes Rise, Kings Langley, was discovered dead by police on August 12 last year when they were alerted to concerns over his welfare. The 41-year-old had missed a hospital appointment which was unlike him.

Mr Feist regularly attended St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London as he had various medical conditions relating to immune deficiency and hip pain. He had also spent a brief spell in hospital under section two of the Mental Health Act in 2012, and had experienced delusions.

Though he had been provided with care from a community mental health team, he had not had any contact with them since the January prior to his death, after failing to get back in touch following a holiday in Thailand.

His body was discovered in the untidy bedroom of his village home, along with an iPad displaying a note with instructions to sell his property in order to help find a cure for the “terrible diseases” he was suffering. The message also indicated he “could not carry on living like this.”

According to coroner Edward Thomas, a postmortem examination revealed that natural disease did not cause Mr Feist’s death, but that a cream-coloured liquid in his stomach was indicative of dissolved tablet contents.

A toxicology report found no alcohol in his blood, but although there were therapeutic levels of his medication present, the concentration of one substance in particular in his system was enough to be fatal independently.

Mr Thomas recorded the cause of Mr Feist’s death as toxicity, and added: “Having seen the note on his iPad, I conclude that he took his own life.”

Inspectors who arrived at Tring School last month for a snap inspection found lots to praise.

The report on their findings describes the Mortimer Hill secondary school as “good school with many outstanding features”.

The inspection team said that they were particularly impressed with the quality of teaching, describing 85 per cent of the lessons which were graded as either good or outstanding.

And they also congratulated the students on their exceptionally good behaviour.

They felt that the curriculum was broad and well-balanced and catered very well for the varying needs of students. The results achieved at GCSE were considered to be good and A-level results were outstanding.

Delighted head teacher Sue Collings said this week: “This is a fantastic and exciting endorsement for the school, given the journey we have been on to raise standards in all areas of school life.

“Last summer’s results were some of the best in Hertfordshire and next summer they will be even better.

“The school is immensely proud of this judgement and feels it is a just reward for all of the hard work put in by the students and staff.

“My heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to all of the passionate and committed staff and students.

“Without their commitment none of this would be possible. However, we will not rest here

“Standards across the board were considered to be well above average and have the capacity to improve even further.

“The feedback received from parents was overwhelmingly positive as were the views of the students themselves. To be so well acclaimed by Ofsted is great news for everyone but we now aim to be outstanding and inspirational in every possible way.”

Pint-sized pirates and fledgling fairies can pop along to Hemel Hempstead’s Marlowes Shopping Centre this weekend.

The magical craft event for children will see Tinker Bell and friends transforming little ones into pirates and pixies, as well as the chance to get involved in a range of activities including decorating fairy wings and making pirate hats.

Ahead of the event – which runs from 11am to 4pm this Saturday – parents can enter a competition to win a range of goodies from Disney’s new movie Tinker Bell & the Pirate Fairy, which sails into cinemas tomorrow. Entry forms can be found at the town centre mall’s customer services desk.

Centre manager Vince Williams said: “We think that it is important to offer free entertainment and events for our shoppers, especially over the school holidays.”

Catch Disney’s latest swashbuckling adventure at Jarman Park’s Empire Cinemas from tomorrow.

A holiday firm with its head office in Hemel Hempstead has defended school break price hikes as politicians prepare to debate the thorny issue.

The discussion, scheduled for later this month, was tabled after a father posted a video rant on Facebook about being ‘sick and tired of being ‘ripped off’ by holiday companies.

Prices for trips away traditionally rocket during the school holidays, and with teachers coming down hard on parents who pull their little ones out of classes to enjoy cheaper deals, mums and dads are being hit in the pocket.

But Naomi Woodstock from Haven – part of the Bourne Leisure Group – said: “We do feel that our holidays offer extremely good value for money.

“The prices are always going to be a bit more expensive during school holidays than they are off peak.

“This isn’t anything new. Prices are and have always been higher in the school holidays and lower off the school holidays because of the demand – a little bit like train fares, it is exactly the same thing.

“Flowers are going to be more expensive on Valentine’s Day, if you try and get a flight to Australia at Christmas time it will be more expensive than if you are going at the height of UK summer.”

A trip to Haven’s Caister caravan site, near Great Yarmouth, will cost £318.46 for a family of four for seven nights from June 23. The same package on August 18 costs £622.78.

Haven says government pressure on schools to crack down on parents who take their children out of lessons for holidays is causing the problem.

Naomi said: “The problem has occurred because of the restrictions the government has put around taking children out of school.

“We are hoping when they debate in parliament they will relax the rules a bit.”

Butlins, also part of Bourne Leisure, has also defended its price rises. A seven night stay at a standard apartment in Bognor Regis rises from £460 in June to £996 in August.

Spokesman James Silverston said: “We offer a very different experience on our school holiday breaks, compared to term time breaks. It is misleading to compare the price of a school holiday break and term time break without understanding that the two break types are very different.

“We design our school holiday breaks around families with school-aged children which means we can offer an expanded and enhanced range of entertainment and activities.

“For example, our free fairground and Splash Waterworlds are both open for longer hours, plus we put on more than double the amount of shows, sports and activities during the summer holidays.”

He said a family of four can holiday in August for four nights for less than £500 and added that some school holiday breaks are cheaper than term-time breaks.

“For example, a three night weekend during February half term in Minehead costs £180 for a family of four in a silver self-catering apartment. The same accommodation on an October term-time weekend costs £205,” he said.

“In July, a family of four can enjoy a school summer holiday break in Minehead for £353 whereas the equivalent break during the school term in July costs £384.”