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London travel news LIVE: Police investigation closes Hainault station; Six mile queues on M26

LIVE – Updated at 13:31

Hainault station has been shut by police after multiple people, including two police officers, were attacked.

Footage on social media shows someone wielding a samarai sword in the area, before police said a 36-year-old man was arrested.

Meanwhile, there are major delays on the M26 into London on due to emergency repairs.

Six-mile queues were reported on the M26 Westbound at the M25 due to a lane closure, traffic monitoring service Inrix said.

The repairs were also causing delays on the M25 in both directions between J5 for Sevenoaks and the Clacket Lane Services.

There are also minor delays on the Circle and Northern Lines due to train shortages and cancellations.

While hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport are on the second day of their four-day strike.There is a warning passengers could face longer queues as more than 300 members of the Public and Commercial Services union continue their walkout, affecting Heathrow terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, in a dispute over working conditions.

For the latest updates please scroll down.

South Western commuter route hit by signal failure

South Western Railway routes between Waterloo and Shepperton are disrupted due to a signalling fault.

Train services running to and from these stations will be suspended between Shepperton and Fulwell.

Disruption is expected until 6pm, says National Rail.

Crash on M25

There is currently queueing traffic due to traffic signal failure on A12 both ways at the M25 J28 (Brentwood/Brook Street Roundabout). 

Congestion to M25, five miles anticlockwise back past J29 Romford, and a couple of miles on the A12 Brentwood Bypass.

Thameslink routes affected by earlier points failure at New Barnet:

Brighton to Cambridge and Horsham to Peterborough.

Great Northern routes affected by earlier points failure at New Barnet:

Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and London Kings Cross to Cambridge / Ely / Kings Lynn.

Disruption to Kings Cross trains

Two train lines which go between Stevenage and London Kings Cross are disrupted because of an earlier points failure at New Barnet. The following routes are affected:

• Great Northern between Peterborough / Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross, and also between Welwyn Garden City and Moorgate
• Thameslink between Cambridge and Brighton, between Peterborough and Horsham, and also between Welwyn Garden City and Sevenoaks

Lines have reopened but may still be cancelled or delayed by up to 10 minutes.

This disruption is expected to last until at least 11am.

Elizabeth line no longer delayed

The Elizabeth line has reutrned to running a good service.

British Transport Police on Hainault closure:

The British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to the area near Hainault underground station at 7.07am today (30 April) to assist Metropolitan Police.

“Officers are currently in attendance. The station is closed and a cordon is in place."

The Standard is looking into what impact this violence will have on transport today.

What have police said about the Hainault incident?

Police have released a full statement on the incident which closed Hainault station:

Minor delays to Elizabeth line

There are currently minor delays between Paddington and Heathrow due to an earlier person ill on a train at Whitechapel - good service on the rest of the line.

'Multiple stabbings with samurai sword' at Hainault

There are unconfirmed reports of multiple stabbings and footage at the scene appearing to show a man with a samurai sword.

A large police presence was seen outside Hainault tube station.

Labour MP for  Ilford  North Wes Streeting said a “critical incident” has been declared following the incident asking for people not to speculate or post footage on social media “until details are confirmed.”

Read more here.

Man arrested after incident at Hainault station

Redbridge Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested in the Hainault area.

'Critical incident' in Hainault

A “critical incident” has been declared in Hainault, Labour MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting has said.

He did not reveal any more details, except to say that one man has been detained.

Mr Streeting also asked people not to speculate or post footage on social media “until details are confirmed”.

Northern line no longer severely delayed

The Northern line was severely delayed between Kennington and Morden due to an earlier faulty train at Clapham South.

This is no longer the case, but there are still minor delays across the whole line because of a shortage of trains.

Circle line no longer delayed

The Circle line has returned to running a good service.

Severe delays to Northern line

There are currently severe delays between Kennington and Morden due to an earlier faulty train at Clapham South.

This is on top of the minor delays to the rest of the line that we told you about earlier - due to a shortage of trains.

In video: Hainault station closed

Hainault station closed for police investigation.

Hainault station is shut for a police investigation in the area.

The Standard has contacted the police for more information.

Trains to and from Alexandra Palace delayed

There is currently disruption to Great Northern and Thameslink trains which run between Potters Bar and Alexandra Palace.

This is because of a points failure at New Barnet, meaning some lines are blocked.

These delays are expected until at least 8.30am.

Minor delays to Northern line

There are currently minor delays due to a shortage of trains.

Minor delays to Circle line

There are currently minor delays due to train cancellations.

Heavy traffic on another part of M25

There is heavy traffic on M25 clockwise from the QE2 Bridge to J3 M20/ A20 (Swanley Interchange).

Traffic queuing for six miles

Cars are backed up for six miles on M26 Westbound at the M25 - one lane is closed.

Lond delays on M25 and M26

There are long tailbacks with one lane closed both ways on the M25 between J5 M26/A21 (Sevenoaks) and Clacket Lane Services.

There is also congestion to J4 Orpington clockwise, and back down the M26.

This is because of emergency reparis on the M25.

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As Welwyn turns 100, does it live up to its garden city name?

It was built as a happy, healthy alternative to urban squalor but its ideals are being buried as the need for housing stock grows

F rom the station in Welwyn they walked along a farm track to Sherrardspark Wood, minding their step on the grassy floor, and made their way down to a naturally forming hollow, where they paid two shillings and sixpence to see a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream . Surrounded by larch trees, 130 players took to the stage of the Dell theatre . They travelled on Saturday 6 June 1925 not only to see Shakespeare performed in this oddly magical, bucolic setting, but also to visit one of the new, radical communities being built in England that people from all over the world were talking about – the garden city.

This year marks the centenary of Welwyn Garden City, one of England’s two official garden cities , a concept pioneered by Ebenezer Howard in his visionary book, To-Morrow – A Peaceful Path to Real Reform , published in 1898. Disheartened by the squalor and overcrowding in England’s Victorian cities, Howard boldly promised “a new hope, a new life, a new civilisation”, and, thankfully, attached the plans to create it. His vision of a garden city married the best aspects of town and country to create a new, healthier, happier way for people to exist. And while garden cities today are usually noted for their peaceful, tree-lined suburban streets and carefully maintained Arts and Crafts cottages, there was much more to Howard’s plan than design.

Influenced by utopian thinkers such as William Morris, Edward Bellamy and Thomas More, Howard created a philosophy of place. “The design and architecture was underpinned by a financial model and system of participative democracy, which meant residents had a real stake in what was built,” says Katy Lock, director of communities at the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA). “That’s what made it different. It really was about a new society.”

When Letchworth Garden City was opened in 1903 it drew worldwide attention. The TCPA, which founded both Welwyn and Letchworth, was inundated with requests for its experts to speak internationally.

Drawn by its promise of a “new civilisation”, progressive, liberal-minded free thinkers began to settle in the garden cities. Mervyn Miller, in his book English Garden Cities: An Introduction , speaks of “unconventional citizens, promenading around their utopia in smocks and sandals, womenfolk resplendent in flowing robes, hatless and gloveless”.

George Orwell commented on such activity with untapped disdain. In The Road To Wigan Pier , he wrote: “It would help enormously if the smell of crankishness which still clings to the Socialist movement could be dispelled. If only sandals and the pistachio-coloured shirts could be put in a pile and burnt, and every vegetarian, teetotaller, and creeping Jesus sent home to Welwyn Garden City to do his yoga exercises quietly!” Garden city life was lampooned, too, by high society, bringing a degree of notoriety to Letchworth and Welwyn. This annoyed Howard and his followers, who needed the movement to be taken seriously in order to persuade the government to build more throughout the country. Yet after the first world war, campaigns such as Homes Fit For Heroes saw David Lloyd George’s Liberal government commit to building social housing that reflected only some aspects of the garden city.

“This worried the garden city purists, because everywhere seemed to be calling itself a garden suburb,” says Lock. “They were leafy green places inspired by its art and architecture that led to these sprawling garden suburbs in the interwar period.” The definition of a garden city was beginning to shift in people’s minds. According to Lock, “the label was used and abused”. Communities like Bournville and Moor Pool near Birmingham, Port Sunlight on Merseyside, and Wythenshawe, near Manchester, are still often referred to as garden cities but these were either philanthropic endeavours or social housing projects. “The garden suburbs but had nothing to do with Howard’s ideas,” explains Lock, “and this mirrors what is happening today.”

In 2014 the then chancellor George Osborne announced that a brand new garden city was to be built in Ebbsfleet, Kent. In fact, the government proposed a whole series of garden towns to combat the growing housing crisis.

Six years later, planning consultancy Lichfields says there are 49 schemes in the works with plans to deliver 403,000 homes for up to one million residents. But so far just 3% have been completed.

“Garden communities are coming forward principally as vehicles for meeting housing needs rather than out of any philanthropic or public health motivation,” says Matthew Spry, senior director at Lichfields. As a result, residents’ groups have formed all over the country to object to garden community plans which, as Spry says, “have no uniform sense of place or design in the way that makes Letchworth or Welwyn Garden City so distinctive”. Indeed there are no requirements for private developers and local councils to implement any of the garden city principles.

“North Essex went garden community mad from 2015 to 2020,” says campaigner Rosie Pearson. She has been lobbying for changes to the existing proposals in her area since their inception. “When we analysed the evidence assembled by the authorities, and developer viability appraisals, it was clear that there was an enormous gap between the pretty pictures, the talk of infrastructure first, and the reality.” In the last year, six schemes for garden communities in Essex have either been scrapped or considered unsound by planning inspectors.

In Ebbsfleet, where a genuine garden city was supposed to be created, a huge chunk of land has been bought by Paramount to build a giant film and TV-inspired theme park that promises to rival Disneyland and attract 40,000 people to the area everyday. Apologies, Mr Howard.

And what of Welwyn today? What does a garden city look like in 2020? Of the two garden cities, Welwyn has had the tougher ride. After the second world war there was a clear opportunity to expand which the government took under the New Towns Act 1946. In 1948, Welwyn was designated a new town, in addition to its status as a garden city. Whereas Howard’s insistence that profits from the land be repaid into the community continues to exist in Letchworth, this is no longer the case in Welwyn.

A heritage fund allows Letchworth to maintain its look and unique garden city features. It’s not so easy for Welwyn. “All of those assets that had been generated through the garden city model which originally would have been reinvested in the community were just sold off,” says Lock. “So Welwyn became just like any other new town in that it had no money to look after its resources.”

Businesses have closed, most noticeably Welwyn’s famous Shredded Wheat factory, an art deco building whose sleek white silos still loom over the town. It has been empty since 2008 after 73 years feeding both homes and the local economy.

“The fundamental lesson for the garden cities and the new towns is this issue about stewardship,” says Lock. “If you have the right financial model for the benefit of the community you can actually look after places in the long term.”

The centenary raises many questions about Welwyn’s past and its future. A Garden Cities Symposium , put back until next year, will explore the influence and challenges for garden cities in the 21st century.

Excellent transport links to London from Welwyn and Letchworth attract families priced out of the London housing market. While this creates demand, it also brings concerns that the garden cities will become little more than dormitory towns, not self contained, community-minded spaces.

The garden cities always had strong roots in the arts. While Welwyn’s Dell theatre has long gone, there are plans to turn the Shredded Wheat factory into an arts space with galleries and events that, it’s hoped, will bring visitors to Welwyn – just as they did 100 years ago.

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Live updates after Welwyn Garden City sports centre evacuated as fire service rush to blaze

The emergency services have rushed to the scene

• Updated 10:08, 22 AUG 2023

A fire has struck a Welwyn Garden City sports centre, causing major disruption this afternoon. The incident occurred today (Friday, August 18) at around 2.36pm at Gosling Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City.

The incident has led to the emergency services to rush to the scene, including Herts Police, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service. A road closure was put in place to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident.

The incident has caused disruption for many residents in the area, and they have been advised to avoid the area. HertsLive can confirm that a number of fire engines are at the scene to deal with the blaze and the sports centre has been evacuated.

However, it is currently unknown if anyone has been affected by the fire. A spokesperson for Herts Police said: "I can confirm that the fire service alerted us to a fire at Gosling Stadium at 2.36pm today however the call was just for awareness and no police attendance was required."

READ MORE: London mayor urges opposing councils to let TfL erect ULEZ signs

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance have been approached for comment.

Follow our live updates below:

• Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service statement 10:08
• Gosling Sports Park statement 10:07
• Herts Police statement 15:21

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service statement

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at 2:32pm on Friday 18 August to reports of smoke in the building at Gosling Sports Park, Welwyn Garden City.

"Two fire engines, from Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield fire stations were sent to the scene, where firefighters located an electrical fire in a unit on site. Firefighters isolated the unit and extinguished the fire with dry powder."

Gosling Sports Park statement

A spokesperson for Gosling Sports Park said: "We apologise to customers for any inconvenience following yesterday afternoon's closure of the gym, studios and spa at Gosling Sports Park following a small electrical fire in the gym plant room.

"Our incident response and evacuation procedures were put into place and there were no injuries reported. The Fire Brigade attended and dealt with the incident and advised the Centre could reopen today (Saturday)."

"Tennis, golf, soft play, trampoline park and skiing were unaffected. Customers will be refunded for booked sessions."

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Firefighters spotted at sports centre

Several firefighters have been spotted at the Gosling Sports Centre.

Herts Police statement

A spokesperson for Herts Police said: "I can confirm that the fire service alerted us to a fire at Gosling Stadium at 2.36pm today however the call was just for awareness and no police attendance was required."

Photos show fire engines at sports centre

A number of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service fire engines have rushed to the scene to deal with the incident.

Number of fire engines rushed to scene

A road closure was put in place to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident. The incident has caused disruption for many residents in the area, and they have been advised to avoid the area.

HertsLive can confirm that a number of fire engines are at the scene to deal with the blaze and the sports centre has been evacuated.

Hello and welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to this live blog after a fire has struck a Welwyn Garden City sports centre, causing major disruption this afternoon.

The incident occurred today (Friday, August 18) at around 2.36pm at Gosling Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City. The incident has led to the emergency services to rush to the scene, including Herts Police, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service.

More updates to follow.

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Road and active travel improvements in Welwyn Garden City town centre close to completion

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Welwyn Garden City is poised to land a Christmas bonus with the majority of work completed and finishing touches being made to some town centre improvements.

Being led by Hertfordshire County Council, in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Welwyn Garden City Business Improvement District (BID), the work to reimagine Stonehills began in July with the main priorities being to reduce movement of traffic, to make the roads safer and the environment better for those travelling on foot or by bike.

As part of the scheme, a new public space at Stonehills’ northern end has been created, with added seating, planting and new trees now in place, while the road section of Stonehills has been designed with wider footways, made with recycled paving, and enhancements to on-street parking which all mean it is safer for people.

The majority of work at Stonebank, Stonehills Square and Sir Theodores Way has also been completed, with some minor tasks likely to be finished early in the new year and minimal disruption expected to residents, shoppers or businesses.

Also, in the new year, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council will be carrying out redevelopment and improvement work to Anniversary Gardens, which is the location of the site compound, with this work anticipated to be completed in the spring.

Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at Hertfordshire County Council, said:

“These improvements are fantastic to see, and are vital in making sure that Welwyn Garden City’s town centre will be an attractive, modern and adaptable place for residents and visitors, and for businesses to locate themselves, for many years to come.

“Creating much-improved places for people walking or cycling are among our highest priorities, and these improvements are a great example of that as we continue to do all we can to encourage healthier travel, reduce pollution and create community spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone.”

Stephen Boulton, Executive Member for Environment, Planning, Estates and Development at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said:

“We’re delighted with the results of this work which has transformed Stonehills into a pleasant place to shop and socialise. This bright, attractive public space will benefit residents and local businesses, and encourage more visitors to the town centre.

“The next stage of this exciting project will see work begin on enhancing the popular Anniversary Gardens site.”

For full details of all of the work in Welwyn Garden City town centre, please go to  www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/wgctowncentre , email  [email protected]  or call 0300 123 4047.

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Traffic Welwyn Garden City

•   Welwyn Garden City
• Nearby: Welwyn Garden City Hertford Saint Albans Stevenage Potters Bar Cheshunt

Current traffic around Welwyn Garden City

The following traffic incidents and congestion for Welwyn Garden City have been reported by Highways England, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales or Transport for London (TfL) in the last two hours:

Traffic in Nearby Villages

• Sherrardspark (0.62mi)
• Panshanger (0.62mi)
• Peartree (0.62mi)
• Haldens (0.62mi)
• Digswell Water (0.88mi)
• Handside (0.88mi)
• Digswell Park (0.88mi)
• Hatfield Hyde (1.24mi)
• Woodhall (1.24mi)
• The Frythe (1.39mi)
• Digswell (1.39mi)
• Hall Grove (1.39mi)
• Stanborough (1.75mi)
• Tewin (1.96mi)
• Ayot Green (1.96mi)
• Harmer Green (1.96mi)
• Danesbury (1.96mi)
• Ayot St Peter (2.24mi)
• Lemsford (2.24mi)
• Burnham Green (2.24mi)
• Welwyn (2.24mi)
• Waterend (2.48mi)
• Mill Green (2.48mi)
• Oaklands (2.48mi)

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Travelodge Welwyn Garden City

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Directions and parking, how to get to your hotel.

Please note, the pedestrian entrance to the hotel is located within Gate House, on Fretherne Road. Please look out for the black Gate House signage and use the intercom system to contact the hotel’s reception. The hotel car drop off zone and accessible parking spaces are located at the end of the passage that runs between Iceland and Johnsons dry cleaners, also on Fretherne Road. Please use the intercom system on arrival to speak to reception.

Accessibility

The hotel car drop off zone and accessible parking spaces are located at the end of the passage that runs between Iceland and Johnsons dry cleaners, also on Fretherne Road. Please use the intercom system on arrival to speak to reception.

Accessible rooms at this hotel may be located above the first floor, however there is a lift. Please contact the hotel before your stay if you have any questions concerning accessibility.

Please note, this hotel has parking for Blue Badge Holders only . Customers will need to contact reception upon arrival to open the gates. Please register your vehicle with reception on arrival; failure to comply will result in a fine.

Alternative chargeable parking is available at the APCOA Welwyn Garden City car park - AL8 6TU.

Access is 24 hours and charges are as follows:

Monday to Friday Up to 3 Hours £2.50 Up to 12 Hours £5.00 Up to 24 Hours £6.00

Weekends 3 Hours £1.50 24 Hours £3.00 Bank Holiday: £3.00

About this hotel

Our Welwyn Garden City hotel is a stone's throw from the train station and just 20 minutes by rail to London Kings Cross. Ideally located adjacent to the Howard Centre, there's a wealth of high street shops and restaurants nearby.

It’s a great spot for sports fans with Welwyn Rugby Football Club Ground, Gosling Sports Park and Welwyn Garden City Golf Club all within 1.5 miles away. If you prefer something a little more relaxed, Hatfield House is steeped in history and a mere 12 minutes’ drive away. The New Maynard Gallery is just as easy to visit, less than half a mile from the hotel.

All standard double rooms feature a comfy king size Travelodge Dreamer™ bed complete with four plump pillows and a cosy duvet. Our on-site Bar Café serves breakfast and tasty evening meals.

View all hotels in Welwyn Garden City.

Useful information

Check-in & check-out.

Standard check-in time: from 3pm. Standard check-out time: until 12pm (noon). Early check-in and late check-out available as extras. 24-hour receptionist.

Food & drink

This hotel has an on-site restaurant and bar that serves breakfast and tasty evening meals. On weekdays (Mon-Fri) our unlimited all you can eat breakfast is served from 7am until 10am. At weekends and Bank Holidays breakfast is served between 8am and 11am.

Selected hotels offer extended serving times.

T&Cs apply.

Telephone charges

Please feel free to phone our hotel for further information, calls are charged at 13p per minute plus your phone company's access charge. Bookings made through our Central Reservations line are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of £2.50 per call.

This hotel has an on-site restaurant and bar that serves breakfast and tasty evening meals . On weekdays (Mon-Fri) our unlimited all you can eat breakfast is served from 7am until 10am. At weekends and Bank Holidays breakfast is served between 8am and 11am.*

*Selected hotels offer extended serving times.

Chargeable parking is available at a nearby car park. Further car parking details can be found under “Parking” on the hotel page.

This hotel is wholly or partly air-conditioned.

Chargeable parking nearby

Air cooling unit, travelodge superrooms™.

The perfect choice with added comforts:

• Lavazza A Modo Mio capsule coffee machine
• Hansgrohe Raindance 3jet adjustable power shower
• A choice of firm or soft hypoallergenic pillows
• In-room iron & ironing board for your convenience
• Spacious desk with multiple charging points, desk light and swivel chair
• 32” Samsung LED slimline Freeview TV

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Welwyn Garden City - train strike - England Forum

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I'm planning to go to Welwyn Garden City next week for an event but unfortunately GTR is on strike. I'm checking if I can get alternative transport to get there (for example, by taking buses from Potters Bar, or by circulating through Luton Airport), but Google can't get me useful results.

4 replies to this topic

Which day are you traveling? Not all operators are on strike on the same day.

Have a look here;- https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/ia-may-20240422/

which is a much better source than Google.

I’d forget the idea of a bus from Luton Airport, there aren’t any directly from there.

You can get to Welwyn via bus from the Luton Bus Interchange with several changes that should take about 1hr 20 minutes if all the connections fall in place correctly but there’s no guarantee of that.

7 May (GTR strike day)

It seems that Google data has been just updated and now it returns useful routes for me, for example, transfer through Stevenage or using the 614 express bus.

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Trains to Welwyn Garden City

Welwyn garden city.

With open green spaces, art galleries and fun things for the kids, Welwyn Garden City offers the very best of both town and country.

Celebrating its centenary in 2020, Welwyn Garden City was founded by Sir Ebenezer Howard, making it the second garden city in the country, after Letchworth. Named a new town in 1948, this beautiful destination offers a mix of both urban and rural factors.

A mere 20 miles from central London, getting to Welwyn Garden City is as easy as A,B,C! Once you’re there you’ll find plenty of attractions worth visiting. The lush Stanborough Park – spread across a vast 126 acres with two lakes – is home to an outstanding activity centre, with fun for all the family. Not visiting with children? There are plenty more things to do in Welwyn Garden City. If you’re after a culture fix, the New Maynard Gallery and the Barn Theatre offer a full programme of exhibitions and theatre.

We’re here to help you make the most out of your trip, so read on for more great ideas on things to do, and how to save money on your train tickets.

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Getting to Welwyn Garden City

When you head for a day out it should be filled with fun and excitement, not stress or worry about your travel. That’s why we’re committed to delivering an excellent service, designed to get you there as smoothly as possible.

And, because we want to make sure you have enough cash left in your pockets to spend on all the fun things to do in Welwyn Garden City, there are a number of ways you can save. For example, if you’re spending the day with friends, you could take advantage of our GroupSave tickets – applicable to parties of 3-9 adults when travelling Off-Peak . Or, if it’s more of a family affair, why not consider our kids for £2 offer? You can take up to four children between the ages of 5 and 15, meaning getting to Welwyn Garden City with the little ones doesn’t have to cost the earth!

Things to do in Welwyn Garden City

For the thrill-seekers heading to this beautiful destination, Vertigo Adventures at Stanborough Park should be right at the top of your list. With everything from zip wires to trapeze walks, this fun-filled activity centre has it all.

Longing for a more cultural activity? Welwyn Garden City days out can be packed full of education and enlightenment. Why not take a trip to the New Maynard Gallery which boasts a host of fine work from local artists.

Whatever your reasons for visiting Welwyn Garden City, we’re here to make your trip as enjoyable and stress free as possible; starting with your train travel! So, book your tickets today throughout site and save on your booking fees.

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You can buy Great Northern tickets online and collect them from the ticket machine before you travel. You can also buy them from a ticket machine or ticket office at the station.

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Sunak braces for key mayoral results after huge council losses

Welwyn garden city: 'more police on the streets, please,' say hertfordshire town centre traders.

Welwyn Garden City business owners have said the next police and crime commissioner must put more officers on the streets. Hertfordshire Constabulary received more crime reports from the town's shopping streets than in any other area on its patch, according to UK police data.

Voters will elect a new county PCC on Thursday, May 2. The candidate who secures the £78,400-a-year role will set Hertfordshire Constabulary's priorities and balance the force's budget.

Incumbent Conservative PCC David Lloyd will stand down after 14 years in the role. Four candidates will appear on ballot papers: Jonathan Ash-Edwards (Con), Matt Fisher (G), Tom Plater (Lab), and Sean Prendergast (LD).

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Nicola Gibson, co-owner of Lambert's Flower Company in Howardsgate, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service : "I can't say I've witnessed anything horrendous, but has there been more petty crime? Yes."

Nicola said: "We've had some stuff stolen in recent times. The police were pretty good. They were straight on it."

She added: "It's like with most town centres - you just need more police on the beat. If there's no money in the budget for police on the beat, then what do you do? But if they were constantly patrolling around, it's going to deter all of that. It's just petty crime. They're taking a plant from us, what are they going to do with a plant? But that's just from us. We don't know what they're doing elsewhere."

Gercek Yasa, of Café Trio in Wigmores South, said public drug use and public nuisance have "damaged" Welwyn Garden City's reputation. He said: "I used to see a lot of Police Community Support Officers, but since the pandemic, I haven't seen them as much."

According to official figures, there were 1,213 crimes reported in the area known as 'Welwyn Hatfield 006C' in 2023. This data capture area includes The Campus, Howardsgate and The Howard Centre.

The figures cover crime logs, including incidents where officers were unable to identify suspects or where "local resolutions" were found. Police recorded 364 shoplifting offences in the area, plus 331 antisocial behaviour offences.

Retail crime has hit headlines after a 31 per cent year-on-year rise in shoplifting across England and Wales, across the year to December 2023. Office for National Statistics shows a 32 per cent rise in shoplifting in Hertfordshire.

There were 7.1 shoplifting offences per 1,000 residents last year - more than anywhere else in the East of England and London. But Hertfordshire Constabulary has more officers than it had at the start of the last decade. According to Home Office figures, around 2,083 officers were employed in frontline roles across the county on March 31 last year, up from 1,891 in 2010 and 1,667 in 2015.

Paul Gerrard, campaign and public affairs chief at retail giant Co-op, has made a direct appeal to PCC candidates across the country. He said: "Retail crime impacts shop workers both physically and mentally, with many communities blighted by the unacceptable levels of persistent and prolific offending.

"Newly elected PCCs have the opportunity to crack down on this crime through the implementation of the Retail Crime Action Plan and by enforcing the new standalone offence of assaulting a shop worker - we are calling on the next PCCs to deliver the protection that those working in retail and, serving communities in towns, villages and cities across the region deserve."

Mr Gerrard added the cooperative has invested more than £200 million into staff and store safety, including new body-worn cameras.

Conservative and Labour candidates Jonathan Ash-Edwards and Councillor Tom Plater have signed a British Retail Consortium pledge to make retail crime a priority in their police and crime plans if they are elected. Mr Ash-Edwards has promised to "disrupt criminality and invest in 'hotspot' policing to tackle persistent offending" in his plan. Cllr Plater has said he would "put more bobbies on the beat, who know our local communities inside out, with their policing led by the intelligence they gather".

Lib Dem candidate Cllr Sean Prendergast has pledged to "develop and grow neighbourhood policing with an emphasis on finding long-term solutions to ongoing crime and anti-social behaviour, and will foster strong multi-agency partnerships to develop a coordinated approach to protect victims and prevent crime".

Green Party candidate Cllr Matt Fisher said policing "emanates" from the concept of community policing, and that "if you can do that, lots of crimes get prevented and you get people actually being proactive with their police force".

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Welwyn Garden City Clinic: Travel Vaccinations

The UK’s premier travel clinic network

CityDoc Welwyn Garden City is an in-pharmacy clinic located in Knightsfield Pharmacy. Our travel health experts will be able to provide tailored advice based on your medical needs, as well as the travel destination of your choice. Book an appointment online today.

About the Clinic

Our in-pharmacy clinic in Welwyn Garden City provides pre-travel advice, vaccinations and other travel medicines.

Travel Services

Visit our travel health experts at CityDoc Welwyn Garden City for advice, necessary vaccinations and other travel medicines. We will provide recommendations and health advice based on your destination(s) of choice. Appointments can be booked online, or you can visit us in person. Same-day or walk-in appointments are often available.

For destination specific information click here

Travel Vaccinations

Flu (influenza) vaccination, sexual health, find a clinic, welcome to citydoc.

Book an appointment

Patients are required to pay a base fee of £20 at their appointment (£10 for additional person), chargeable on your 1 st appointment visit. This fee covers your necessary face to face consultation, prior to any treatment being given and does not form part of your treatment cost.

Healthier Business Group Referrals

CityDoc is an exclusive partner to Healthier Business Group, providing both blood testing and vaccines to healthcare workers for over 15 years. Please select the service you have been recommended below.

All vaccines are subject to a medical consultation, stock availability and a travel risk assessment.

Helpful information about your travel

Which vaccinations do you require, sexual health services.

To book your appointment with our sexual health specialist in our private clinic, please select below.

There is a consultation fee applicable for all sexual health appointments.

Vaccinations

If you would like to book a travel vaccine or a general vaccine with our specialists, please continue below. No base fee is applied to Flu vaccinations.

Private GP Appointment (Wimpole St ONLY)

If you would like to book an appointment with one of our highly experienced private GP’s, please briefly describe what you would like to discuss in the box below. Please note, this is a private consultation and you will be charged.

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