20 Sep 2025
St Albans Civic Society’s campaign for a St Albans City Parish Council won the support of residents who attended its recent public meeting.
The event at Dagnall Street Baptist Church was aimed at helping people to better understand the implications of the coming local government restructure on the “unparished area” of central St Albans.
After SADC and HCC are replaced by new unitary authorities by 2028, the Civic Society wants to see the creation of a new parish council for this area, warning that otherwise around 85,000 residents will have no vote on local matters.
A panel session of local experts chaired by FT journalist and St Albans resident Andrew Hill, and including district councillor Nuala Webb, chair of St Stephen’s Parish Council David Hayes, and Civic Society chair Mary Conneely provided a clearer understanding of the realities of the move to a unitary authority structure.
They revealed that local awareness of the Community Governance Review (CGR) and its implications on central St Albans remains extremely low, even though the initial consultation closes on October 6.
Attendees voiced concern that the current SADC leadership and officers aren’t doing enough to ensure residents are informed about the coming restructure.
“They seem to be spending too much time focused on looking upwards, not downwards,” said one resident.
Specific discussion centered on the evident lack of local democratic representation after the change unless an appropriate entity is established which replaces SADC and the critical components of its scope that most affect local residents.
While there was discussion about exactly what that entity should be and look like, directional support behind the Civic Society’s lobbying for a parish council for the “unparished area” of the city centre was clear.
Attendees left with a clear impression of the importance of residents engaging with the CGR consultation and expressing their views to SADC before the October 6 deadline by emailing CGR@stalbans.gov.uk
Photos by Anna Marie Felice: https://www.instagram.com/livinghertfordshire?igsh=bDg4dHR2OGRmcWN5
