11 Sep 2026
Residents and allotment users have questioned whether a footpath providing access to a new country park actually puts them at risk from crime and anti-social behaviour.
The path links Sopwell Mill and Cottonmill Cycling and Community Centre, and is being built by rail freight developers SEGRO as part of their planning commitment to creating a new country park.
But it has exposed the lack of a secure boundary along the long eastern edge of Sopwell Mill allotments, which includes the new Inclusive Community Allotment financed and run by community interest company LeeAnna’s Wish.
The allotments and houses in Cottonmill Lane backing on to the site are now vulnerable to incursion, vandalism and other security concerns, as the path links up to the Alban Way, recognised by local police as a drug route between Dellfield and Cottonmill.
Shelley Hayles, founder and CEO of LeeAnna’s Wish CIC, explained: “We are not against the country park. We want people to enjoy green space and benefit from it. We are concerned about proposals that could change how people access and move through this area without properly considering the impact on those of us who already use it.
“Over the last two years LeeAnna’s Wish fundraised over £20K to create from scratch an inclusive allotment space for people of different ages and abilities to come together safely, grow food, access outside space, and feel connected to their community. The impact on this space has been unexpected, with no warning and soul destroying for all those involved. An inclusive space only works if people actually feel safe accessing and using it.
“I have concerns as a person who is a registered social worker, a specialist in offending behaviour, as a member of the VAWG panel, as a member of Sopwell Residents Association, as the CEO of LeeAnna’s Wish and also as a local resident.
“When trying to raise my concerns I have been shut down in meetings by councillors backing the project. There has been no opportunity for the views of the community impacted to be heard. Only a select group of people are privy to the information.
“The decisions are being made by people who will gain politically and financially from this scheme, not local taxpaying residents. There are already concerns about anti-social behaviour around the Alban Way and the surrounding area. We should not be expected to simply accept the possibility of increased risks or changes to access because a new development is being described as a community benefit.
“Cottonmill is recognised as a priority policing area, which in itself highlights that there are existing concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour and community safety. This is not simply a theoretical risk that residents have imagined. It’s entirely reasonable to ask why additional routes and connections associated with a new public country park are being considered without first properly understanding what impact they could have on an area that already requires additional policing attention.
“The benefits of a new public space should not come at the expense of the safety and security of existing residents and community users.
“There has been no proper consultation with the people who live here and use these spaces, it seems as though we have been actively kept out of the consultation process. We should be looking at how the country park can benefit the community without creating new problems for the community that is already here.”
Gail Jackson, chair of Sopwell Residents Association, said: “Sopwell Residents Association is pleased to see that the pedestrian and cycle route, which will give off-road access to the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre from the Alban Way, is finally being built. This is something that our sub-group the Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub campaign (CaSH), envisaged early on when they were working to get the Cottonmill Centre built.
“An accessible, safe, off-road route into the centre, for cyclists and pedestrians, had always been on the agenda to help increase footfall, and business, to the café at the centre. We believed it would become a popular leisure stop for families using the Alban Way and St Albans Green Ring especially at weekends.
“However, we didn’t anticipate that it would be SEGRO building the path, as the rail freight proposal and their country park idea came much later.
“As chair of Sopwell Residents Association, I attend community meetings with SEGRO, other community representatives, and local councillors. However, more recently, separate meetings about the country park have been taking place, and unfortunately, I have been missed off the email invitations, so have not been kept in the loop about the developments. SEGRO have now rectified this, and I will be attending the next meeting on September 15.
“SEGRO did not consult directly with the Sopwell Residents Association, nor any other local community groups, regarding their plans for the new path.
“All we have ever seen – and have shared widely, including on social media and at our AGMs – was the map which SEGRO produced several years ago, which shows the general route of the pathway – but without any final detail of exact location or any information about what the construction and environmental impact would be on the local area.
“We feel that this was a missed opportunity, given that the centre has so much community engagement, and many people would have happily contributed to discussions on planning.
“While we are pleased that the pathway is finally seeing the light of day, we share concerns about the detail of the path, including issues around safety for people walking and cycling in an area surrounded by woodland and the impact the construction has caused to local residents and wildlife. We are aware of concerns that in some part the pathway runs adjacent to the allotments and hope that a solution can be found to allay security worries.
“SEGRO have agreed to take members of the Sopwell Residents’ Association on a walk around the new path, later this month, in order that we can see more clearly any issues arising.”
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper responded to the concerns: “Anti-social behaviour is an extremely serious issue, and I’d strongly encourage any residents who witness it to report this to the police. From regular engagement with our local police force I know that this is something they’re working hard to tackle in our area, including through putting extra resources towards this where possible.
“I’m also receiving updates on this project from the relevant Liberal Democrat councillors including Sandy Walkington, who I know has held discussions with residents about their concerns, visited the site, and is in regular contact with the allotments team.
“It’s worrying to hear that construction has caused access issues for the community allotment. I’ll be writing to SEGRO to ask what steps they are taking to prevent any such disruption going forwards, as part of my work campaigning for local residents’ interests in light of continuing rail freight terminal construction.”
A spokesperson for SEGRO added: “SEGRO is delivering the approved works in accordance with the planning permission granted for the project. The route of the footpath forms part of the consented scheme and was decided alongside the council at the time of planning.
“Hertfordshire County Council has agreed temporary use of part of the allotment car park by our contractor during the works. SEGRO continues to work closely with local councillors, council officers and other relevant stakeholders throughout the delivery of the scheme.
“While crime and anti-social behaviour are matters for the police and local authorities, we take residents’ concerns seriously and maintain regular contact with Hertfordshire Police and other stakeholders as part of our ongoing engagement with the community.”
