#Stevenage December 2019

# STEVENAGE Text

The unique digital magazine for Stevenage promoted by social media

December 2019

Clair e Au st in (lef t ) w it h Lou ise Yexley

(through) OK, it 's our fest ive edit ion but we're already fed up wit h t he gloom and t he dark.

So at #St evenage we t hought t he best gift we could give t o you t his Christ mas was a t ast e of summer and an exclusive reader offer of 10% off t icket s for Todd in t he Hole next year. So book up t hese fest ival t icket s for great pressies now and make your plans court esy of us.

(plans)

Scroll t o page four for full det ails. Happy Christ mas!

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What's on in

#Stevenage And so with Christmasnow well and truly in our sights there are plenty of things to plan for in the month ahead and for next year.

ARE YOU GOING TO TODD IN THE HOLE 2020?

Sn ap u p ou r am azin g exclu sive 10% discou n t f or Todd in t h e Hole t ick et s ju st f or #St even age r eader s.

Tu r n t o page 4 f or f u ll det ails on h ow you can get you r discou n t an d book you r place or bu y a special Ch r ist m as pr esen t , f or THE big #St even age even t of 2020.

The are some great eventstaking place on the Leisure Park with Mr Mulligans, 360 play and Cineworld all ready to entertain over the festive period.

Take a look at the amazing Hotel Cromwell calendar and all the great things coming up in the year ahead, and check out what The Forum hasto offer.

And of course take a look on page four and our amazing 10% Todd Festival ticket offer - exclusive to #Stevenage.

If you have a story you think that we should tell then don't forget to contact usat the addresses below.

And of course if you are a business which islooking to really get your name out there through the powerful medium of digital and social media then make sure that you advertise with usand see uspromote your products and services to the people of #Stevenage. Digital allows people to read about you on the go - on their mobiles for instance, and it means they are just a click away. #STEVENAGE - THE UNIQUE DIGITAL M AGAZINE GOT A STORY TO TELL US? St or ies an d f eat u r es: dar r en @spit f irText epr .com WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS OR EVENT?

Text Sales: h dm digit alsales@gm ail.com FIND OUT M ORE ABOUT HASHTAG DIGITAL M EDIA w w w.h ash t agdigit alm edia.co.u k Text Tw it t er @h t agst even age Facebook @st even agem agazin e

EXCLUSIVE 10% discount for Todd in the Hole tickets 'As the sunset on theTodd in the Hole Festival this year the Todd Team were already casting their minds to Todd 2020.

'We knew we'd created something really special this year, an event that brought the local community, businesses and most importantly families together.

The response to Todd in the Hole 2019 had been overwhelming so we know we need to deliver a bigger and better festival next year,' said Mark Watts Co-Founder.

Well, they haven't disappointed if last week's band announcements are anything to go by. Gracing the Todd Main Stage for the first time next year will be 'The Killerz', 'Mused', 'Wrong Jovi', 'The UB40 Experience', 'Petty Criminals' and 'Who Are You UK'.

Most excitingly the booking team have worked tirelessly to secure a deal to bring 'The Killer Queen Experience' over from Australia. The Brisbane-based band pay homage to Britain?s regal rock quartet QUEEN. Fine-tuning the show since 2003 with their fully costumed, superb musicianship coupled with accurate instruments and with all the cast resembling original members of Queen, you will be forgiven for thinking you are in the presence of the real band.

Prepare to be wowed with Queen's Greatest Hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Somebody to Love, Radio Ga Ga and Another One Bites the Dust.

With plenty more band announcements to come and a fifth stage added to the festival we think you'll agree that this is one weekend (Friday July 17-Sunday July 19) you won't want to miss.

If you're still struggling to think of Christmas present ideas for your nearest and dearest why not buy them a weekend ticket to the Festival.

As a t hank you t o #St evenage readers for t heir cont inued support of t he fest ival t he Todd Team would like t o offer you a 10% discount on any Weekend / Weekend wit h Camping / VIP t icket s purchased from 1st December - Midnight on 24t h December. Just ent er t his unique code when you get t o t he check out #STEV10 For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.toddinthehole.co.uk'

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Read, en joy an d sh ar e

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PAUL FRY on # St evenage

Hard to forget my first real soccer hero We all have heroes. And you don't forget your first proper football match.

Mine was at Tottenham in March 1968, an FA Cup Fifth-round tie against Liverpool.

I went with a friend and his dad, both Spurs fans.

I remember the sights and sounds ? and the crush on the terrace behind the goal ? more than the match itself; the strange northern voices from the Scouse contingent who at least shouted a good game, and the excited anticipation of the walk to the stadium itself.

White Hart Lane was heaving, and some kindly souls allowed my short, slight frame, a better if stunted view of my big hero, Jimmy Greaves.

He obliged with a goal, to underscore my choice of football deity. The tie ended 1-1 and Spurs lost a controversial replay at Anfield, but my love affair with Spurs, with football ? and Greavesie ? were cemented.

I was gutted when the great man was let go, to West Ham, as a 'makeweight' in a deal that

brought World Cup winner Martin Peters to Spurs a few years later. I learned to appreciate the subtlety of Peters, a man once described by Sir Alf Ramsey as being '10 years ahead of his time'.

were on. It was dark, a chill winter's evening and there was no game on. I knocked at the door to be greeted by a conspiratorial bunch that included Jim Briscoe, the club's assistant manager.

But it was only with the passage of time, of reading Greaves's superb autobiography and the odd candid confession on TV, that it became clear his descent into depression and alcoholism began with that transfer, for he felt he still had so much to offer. It was arguably at least as big a blow for him personally as missing out on glory in the 1966 World Cup.

I said I was worried it might have been burglars and Jim thanked me for checking, then said: 'I think I might have a story for you'.

Years later, I was a trainee reporter on the Gazette in Stevenage when another Spurs legend, Alan Gilzean, was manager of Stevenage Athletic. The club was in dire straits, struggling in the lower reaches of the Southern League and on its uppers financially.

They needed a bold, radical plan ? and I stumbled across it quite by chance one Friday evening.

Walking past the ground on my way home in Broadwater from town, I saw the boardroom lights

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He said the idea was that Gilzean would try to get Greavesie out of retirement and the pair of them would team up again, for Athletic.

That would fill the ground for sure and help bale the club out financially.

He said he was just about to call Gilly and I could chat to him to confirm it all. He put me on the line and it all stacked up.

I bubbled with excitement at having this news to myself until Monday when I was next in the office. I had no colleagues' phone numbers or any idea where they lived.

I realised what a huge story this was ? the biggest of my young career and one that would surely be picked up by the national press.

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But I was also thrilled at the prospect of two of my biggest heroes potentially being back in harness, in the red of Stevenage, just a couple of hundred yards from my home.

I can still remember the sense of professionally cynical disbelief in the office when I spouted all this on the Monday morning, trying to keep my excitement in check.

I still recall the words 'don't balls this up', which I was repeating to myself in my head over and over as I bashed the story out on the old, black Triumph typewriter. The words flowed because I had had almost two days to fashion it in my mind before committing it to paper.

And I am certain a few more senior colleagues, especially sports editor John Sellers, who covered Athletic, quietly put in a few calls to some key figures just to make sure I had not just made all this up in some drink-fuelled dream.

The story ran front and back page, with a big EXCLUSIVE line and my name on it. A hugely proud day. I have no idea if we sold any more papers because of it, but I seemed to make a silent transition from cub reporter to one more trusted with bigger stuff.

In the event, it never happened. I heard years later that it was because poor Jim, one of the greatest England goalscorers of all time ? 44 goals in just 57 games was recovering from the alcoholism that for a time cost him his marriage. It was very sad but he would recover to beat his demons, just as he had shaken off

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the toughest, most unforgiving defenders he faced in his playing days.

In 1998, when Stevenage Borough were drawn to play Newcastle in the FA Cup, Jimmy came to the Broadhall Way ground to meet Paul Fairclough, the Boro boss.

Jimmy at the time was a columnist for The Sun, who were sponsoring the game, which would be shown live on Sky TV. Paul invited me along as I was the club's match programme editor.

They say never to meet your heroes as you will only be disappointed. Not in this case. He was Gentleman Jim. We met in the clubhouse and drink was off the menu. He was charming, so knowledgeable and supportive of Boro's forthcoming task in tackling the Premier League giants with a newly-fit Alan Shearer set to lead their line.

Jimmy gave me enough to write a column for the programme ? and I even got to ask him about that time he almost became a Stevenage player himself.

He said he had no recollection of it at all but that it was something he might have considered, as he had played non-League football, mostly for Chelmsford. More importantly, he said he would do anything for his old pal Alan Gilzean, for whom he said he had a great fondness and was his greatest strike partner in his career.

Jimmy is not in the best of health these days, having suffered a stroke, and is now largely confined to a wheelchair. He was

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

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devastated when Gilzean, the enigmatic Scot who features in a Hall of Fame at Hampden Park, died in July 2018 from a brain tumour.

Greaves is still Tottenham's highest goalscorer, with 266.

Harry Kane (175 and counting) may yet overtake him but unlike his Young Pretender, he performed his magic at a time when no ball ran true on muddy, rain-sodden pitches, often with barely any grass, no undersoil heating and lush, billiard-table flat turf.

And he had to face defenders who would carve their name in the backs of your legs, given the chance, whereas today's hard men at the back need merely brush against or breathe on an attacker to be booked or concede a penalty.

There is relatively little footage of Jimmy in his pomp, as he did his stuff largely in an era before Match of the Day, multiple cameras at every game and endless slow-motion, frame-by-frame replays.

But to mark Greavesie's 80th birthday on February 20, Stevenage FC is hosting a star-studded premiere of a BT-made film that will reflect on Jimmy's life and football career. It will feature comments from former team-mates such as Pat Jennings, actors and celebs such as Sir Michael Caine, Ray Winstone and Sir Michael Parkinson.

It is a charity night. A previous one at the Gordon Craig Theatre in 2016 raised ÂŁ25,000 towards

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Jimmy's medical care. It was not a sell-out, and Jimmy was too ill to attend himself - but it is hoped the presence of Spurs legends such as Jennings, Ossie Ardiles, Paul Hazard and others on February 20 will help fill Boro's entertainment suite for a night of homage on nostalgia.

Jimmy Greaves was a huge talent and a big star in an age when wages were not astronomical ? he was a young married man, playing for Chelsea when the top pay was just £20 a week during the season and £15 off season.

Even as part of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad, he like all the others, earned just £1,000.

A few years after Jimmy left Spurs, Hunter Davies penned the groundbreaking, behind-the-scenes, warts-and-all diary of the club's season, the Glory Game. Truly, like so many players of that era, it really was all about the glory, not the riches of today's cosseted stars.

And nor did those players get the kind of support they should have had and so richly deserved from the players' union, the PFA. I intend to be at Boro to savour Jimmy's big night. In fact I wouldn't miss it for the world.

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The battle to halt Gresley Park development

Hard work in the battle to block Gresley Park development

Stephen Sypula reflects on the work of the Gresley Park Interest Group: What's been achieved?

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With its tight focus, objective and politically balanced commentary, thousands of residents on both sides of Gresley Way, as well as its 16,000 motorists and others, are now more aware of the potential impact of Gresley Park, and wider issues of developing to the East of Stevenage.

Our growing membership of 1,100 or so includes elected Councillors and three of the

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four parliamentary candidates for the Stevenage constituency.

Stevenage's MP, now a parliamentary candidate, Stephen McPartland continues vociferously to lend support and challenge EHDC. Member and local SBC Councillor Tom Wren petitioned Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) to listen to residents' concerns. This produced a record response (1,086) on the SBC Petitions site. It helped prompt a statement from the Leader of the Council Sharon Taylor. A 14 page response was sent

The battle to halt Gresley Park development

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to EHDC by the Council.

PACE petitioned East Hertfordshire District Council (EHDC) asking that the planning application be refused and that the developer resubmit proposals that would create less harm to existing residents and road users.

This petition also enjoys a record response (590) at East Herts.

Darren Isted, another member and past Editor at the Comet, wrote a piece in March's ISSUU #Stevenage entitled 'Can't talk, won't talk' following his abortive attempt to interview the Leader of EHDC on Gresley Park.

1,285 residents, many of whom are members here, commented to EHDC on the current planning application. Over 1,272 objected.

A cadre of our members volunteered a huge amount of time, energy and expertise to suggests more sympathetic and less harmful engineering solutions to replace those currently on offer. Our thanks to them.

Dozens of members helped distribute over 5,000 awareness leaflets through Poplars to Great Ashby, from Chells Manor to Aston and Walkern.

A helicopter pilot, member Steve John produced great aerial video - again pro-bono.

Thanks Steve.

Pigeon Land's highway focussed planning

application, scheduled for determination by EHDC in May is still under consideration!

So why are we not celebrating?

The EHDC Local Plan was adopted in October 2018 without modification to exclude the 'Gresley Park' proposal. We remain of the view that its inclusion was unnecessary for reasons outlined in PACE's paper Why Gresley Park was, isbut should not have been included in the East HertsDistrict Plan - read bit.ly/2K4ebAE. Nevertheless we encourage all to move on and constructively engage in the planning application process. Sadly it seems to many residents, particularly those living on the Stevenage side of Gresley Way, the authorities are not listening.

It has, become clear, for example, that inclusion of the site, with its illustrative layout, both within EHDC's adopted Local Plan and its then, hastily adopted 'Illustrative' Master Plan, coupled with a failure by the developer Pigeon Land Ltd. to listen to residents' comments, has meant that no alternative engineering solution can be considered by the Highway Authority ? thus dismissing legitimate public interest, comment and concern.

We trust that the Planning Authority (EHDC) will demonstrate it has listened when it determines Pigeon Land's planning application.

Get your Stevenage 10K entry in now The St evenage 10K is back and St evenage Magazine publisher Hasht ag Digit al Media is proud once again t he sponsor t he event .

ÂŁ18 for all ot her runners. Finishers receive a t shirt , medal and can enjoy t he free cake! Ent ries are available at :

The St evenage 10K for 2020 will be held on 20/ 9/ 2020. The race will st art at 10:30am wit h t he st art and finish in Hampson Park.

ht t ps:// www.racesonline.uk/race-ent ry/ st evenage10k/ index.php?id=1

Ent ries for t he St evenage 10K are now open! The ent ry fee is st ill ÂŁ16 for affiliat ed running club members and

ht t ps:// www.racesonline.uk/race-ent ry/ st evenage10k ht t ps:// www.racesonline.uk/race-ent ry/st evenage10k/

Charity group joy as Alzheimer's Research raise £3,000 St evenage and Nort h Hert fordshire fundraising group for Alzheimer's Research Uk are celebrat ing raising over £3,000.

Set up in March 2019, t he group came t oget her wit h a shared purpose. To help raise money for t he charit y t o fund research int o fight ing Dement ia and Alzheimer's.

The charit y Alzheimer's Research UK have support ed t he group t o set up and gave t hem t he t arget of raising £3,000 in t heir first year. Event s including race night s, quiz night s, raffles and bake sales have meant in just eight mont h's t his t arget was smashed. But t hat 's only

t he beginning, t here is plent y more planned for t he fut ure. St art ing wit h a Christ mas pudding making event on Sat urday 14t h December at St anmore Hall in St evenage. It 's an opport unit y t o make a family sized pudding from scrat ch, st irring wishes in wit h your kids.

For more informat ion on t his and ot her event s follow t he group on t heir face book page @ARUKSTEVENAGE. Or if you are a local business who might like t o support t he group by donat ing a raffle prize or help run an event please call Nicola Price on 07894495220.

#Stevenage magazine

The fight is on to save Forster country as developers loom Campaign organiser John Spiers is calling on all those interested in green issues and saving our heritage to support the campaign to save Forster Country from development.

He says: "Please help to stop building on Forster Country which lies in the northern part of Stevenage and which is both Green Belt and a heritage asset. Lobby MPs, councillors and raise awareness."

W hy is t his import ant ?

Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) intend is to sanction building of housing in an area north of St Nicholas Church up to the Stevenage boundary.

An outline planning application has been lodged with SBC for 800 homes. This land is dear to the hearts of hundreds of people both locally and much further afield as the land which the 20th century author E M Forster described as the loveliest in England. It is adjacent to his childhood home and is entirely Green belt.

Building of these homes will mean a huge loss of amenity for ALL of Stevenage. North Hertfodshire have also proposed building on the adjacent area to the north.

Apart from the heritage aspect many residents use this land for walking, running, exercising their dogs and horse riding. It is virtually the only remaining green lung in the north of Stevenage.

W hat is Forst er Count ry?

Forster Country is the last remaining farmland within the Borough of Stevenage.

Famous throughout the world for its connections with the novelist E.M. Forster, this little piece of England provides vital breathing space, both physical and spiritual, for the people of Stevenage.

From the north end of Stevenage High Street you can walk from the Bowling Green, up the tree-lined Avenue to St. Nicholas Church.

Wandering through the church yard is a path, follow the path until you find the modern sculpture inscribed "Only Connect". Past the sculpture the path emerges into a vista of gently undulating fields and hedges. The view is of the last remaining farmland within the borough of Stevenage. This is the Forster Country.

Support ers say...

This green amenit y and farmland would be lost forever. St evenage Borough can develop exist ing brown field sit es t o meet t heir t arget s.

The exist ing road net work and infrast ruct ure doesn't exist t o cope wit h t he increase in t raffic et c. There will be a large increase in pollut ion.

Already I've had huge const ruct ion lorries parking dangerously out side our house on yellow lines and t his is just t he st art !!!

Anne S.

#Stevenage magazine

This count ry is t he green lung of t he area comprising green belt and farm land and if built it will be an amenit y lost forever. Congest ion on t he surrounding roads is overloading t he capacit y and t he Junct ion 8 A1 ( M ) get s so jammed t hat it is dangerous. Yest erday evening I t ried t o go round it but had t o divert off before reaching my t urn and previously t he car in front of me was run off t he road due t o overcrowding and worn out lane markings!!!!

Michael S.

Develop on brownfield sit es must be complet ed first before any development on greenfield. There is enough brownfield t o sat isfy government numbers wit hout desecrat ing t he last farmland in St evenage. The infrast ruct ure is also inadequat e for t he planned numbers and access only t o Nort h Road is t rying t o fit a quart int o a pint pot .

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How can we contemplate building on the land so loved by Forster?

By Mervyn Terret t My family and I have been proud to live in this town for over 45 years, proud of its vibrancy, proud of its achievements, proud of its first class industries (Glaxo, MBDA, Astrium, Lister Hospital etc), proud of its facilities (especially Fairlands Valley) AND proud of its past strong associations with Oliver Cromwell, Samuel Pepys and especially E.M Forster. So how can anyone contemplate allowing building on the land he loved so much and so eloquently described?

In the very recent history and immediate future of the town so much has been done to bring life into our dreary and lifeless Town Centre and so very many former places of employment and commerce have become / will become residential so there is no need whatsoever to desecrate (THE right word) the area known as Forster Country. Even the dear old much maligned BBC decided to feature it as a special place in English literature with a major piece on the One Show a few years ago. So let?s not do away with a relatively small area of English countryside in the pursuit of urban

aggrandisement which is unneeded (they would all come from elsewhere anyway, so we?re not helping other local people. Don?t be fooled by that!)

Let?s keep our heritage alongside all the amazing benefits and achievements that our Town can boast about. Come on Stevenage Borough Council do the brave thing for once and say NO! In addtion to this I?m not ignoring all the other arguments against this desecration e.g traffic, pollution, environmental concerns etc.

Jill Borcherds Parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party in Stevenage I moved to Stevenage 30 years ago, working in a supermarket before training as a teacher, and have now taught maths to Stevenage children over a 25-year career. However, over the last decade I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of school cuts, rising class-sizes and children living in poverty; malnourished and living in inadequate housing. I want to be the MP for Stevenage to reverse this last decade of neglect that is only worsening.

Labour have now published our fully costed manifesto, promising Real Change. We will give people the Final Say on Brexit, between a credible Deal and Remain; the only way we can bring our country together and move forward.

Labour will get our economy working again: investment in infrastructure; from housing, to transport and energy, and investment in people; creating thousands of sustainable jobs and apprenticeships to tackle climate change.

In Stevenage and our villages I have three priorities: improve education, increase housing and protect our environment.

A Green New Deal locally will bring in necessary

changes to address the reality of climate change.

Investment in sustainable travel will renovate our cycleway network and improve local bus and rail services, connecting our town and villages alike.

Young people are forced to move out of Stevenage due to spiralling house prices and insufficient affordable homes to rent. I will support accelerated council home building, along with increased rights and rent-caps for private renters.

With academisation and free schools, education locally is being fragmented.

Labour?s National Education Service will bring back collaboration between Stevenage schools, and address serious problems in teacher recruitment.

Over 3 decades, I have worked with integrity in local classrooms to provide the best life chances to thousands of Stevenage children. As MP, I would proudly continue this in Westminster on behalf of everyone locally.

Stephen McPartland Parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party in Stevenage I am proud to have served as the Member of Parliament for Stevenage from 2010 and live in Stevenage with my wife Emma, a local primary school teacher. I have helped thousands of local families and I have always worked hard to deliver the improvements you want: - Our local hospitals and GP surgeries have had massive investment, but there is more to be done. Back my campaign for a Satellite Radiotherapy Unit.

- Many of our schools have been rebuilt, modernised or extended. More money for every child, but we have to get it to the frontline. Into classrooms to help teachers and improve access to Special Educational Needs (SEN).

- Widening the A1(M). Construction starts in March 2020, despite opposition from our local Stevenage Labour Council.

- Delivered 50% more trains, 100% more seats, trebled the capacity and direct links to Gatwick and Brighton. Platform 5 is being built with new fleets of trains on the Thameslink, Great Northern, Hertford Loop and East Coast mainline all coming on stream.

We need to focus on improving reliability and resilience of services for commuters.

- Protecting our local environment, by campaigning to make Luton Airport a more considerate neighbour. Reducing noise and emissions, instead of trebling in size. Also working alongside local campaign groups to stop over-development at Gresley Park and Forster Country.

Minister.

The choice at this election is between a majority Conservative government that will end the paralysis and confusion in Parliament, get Brexit done, and let the country move on OR a hung Parliament bringing more confusion and Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.

We have to get Brexit done, but the election is about more than Brexit, it is about the economy we will have over the next four or five years. Without a strong economy, we cannot have great public services. The massive investments we have had in our local hospitals, GP surgeries, schools, transport and housing. Lots more investment is planned and it can only be paid for by a strong economy.

Just take a moment to imagine the impact on your family finances of Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime

I do hope you will vote for me at this election and help continue delivering real improvements for local people.

Lisa Nash Parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Stevenage Lisa Nash Parliament ary Candidat e for t he Liberal Democrat s in t he St evenage Const it uency I?m Lisa Nash and I am standing as the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Stevenage. I?m a North Herts District Councillor in Knebworth, where I live, and am popular with and respected by my constituents for my hard work and approachability.

I?m a midwife and midwifery lecturer; I?m a single mum to a school-age child with special needs.

This gives me a real understanding of the experiences and frustrations of constituents across both rural and town areas of Stevenage in trying to access underfunded and overstretched public services.

The first t hree t hings I?d do for St evenage if elect ed as MP would be t o: 1. Fight t o get more funding and st aff for our local hospit als and more GPs in St evenage t o ensure we never again suffer short ages of nurses, doct ors and ot her healt h professionals.

2. Make sure t hat St evenage get s it s fair share of educat ion spending - and t hat every child get s a fair st art in life.

3. Build a relat ionship wit h t he local councils so t hat I can influence a more holist ic approach t o planning affordable and social housing, t aking account of proper infrast ruct ure and balancing t he need t o ret ain our green spaces.

I would also campaign to remain in the EU and resolve the issues that are important to people in this constituency, many of whose jobs rely on EU membership.

I want to be a voice for us in Stevenage, standing up for what is important to us, speaking out and voting in Parliament for our best interests.

Victoria Snelling Parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Stevenage Climate change is a reality we have to deal with in the very near future and I will support all measures for putting combatting the effects of climate change at the centre of everything we do. Without rebalancing our communities and lives, our future will not be bright or hopeful.

Local energy companies owned by the community and distributing energy from renewable sources provide jobs and affordable energy, and I want to see Stevenage leading the way by setting up a local energy scheme.

New housing developments should be safe, energy efficient and wildlife friendly. There are many ways we can create a place that people love to live and that minimises our impact on the environment. The Green Party is the only Party with an achievable plan for tackling the climate crisis.

We cannot create a better world by excluding some people from our vision of the future. I support human rights for all and believe firmly that all people are equal.

Our laws and culture should reflect that. Our environments, whether public spaces, or workplaces, or societies, or civic institutions, should be inclusive and accessible.

The Green Party understands that the threats to economic, social and environmental wellbeing are part of the same problem and recognises that solving one of

these crises cannot be achieved without solving the others.

Transforming our communities requires the bravery to be radical and the generosity of spirit to work together. I believe we can make a sustainable future based on respect for the environment, justice and fairness for all.

As Green MP for Stevenage I would work to protect our green spaces and support wildlife-friendly housing. We want people to live in harmony with our environment.

This election is a chance to take a stand, to unleash the power of fresh thinking and communities to make lives better - to vote Green.

Stevenage churches' Christmas services

St evenage Churches Christ mas Services

High St reet Met hodist Church: All Age Nativity Service, 10.30am Sunday 15th December Carol service, 6pm Sunday 15th December Christmas Morning Family Service 10am - 10.45am Longmeadow Evangelical Church:

stevenageconcerttickets@gmail.com or phone 07770 168828.

The Salvat ion Army, Bedwell: Christingle service to be held on Sunday 22nd December at 5.00 pm.

St . Pet er?s Church:

22nd December, 10:30 All-age Carol Service

15th December, 6pm Carols by Candlelight with refreshments

22nd December, 5pm Traditional Carol Service

17th December, 3.30pm Christmas Messy Church

25th December, 10:30 All-age Christmas Day Celebration

24th December, 4pm Fun Children?s Carol Service with children?s tea 11pm Midnight Communion Service

Grace Communit y Church: Carol Service on Sunday 15th December at 4.30pm.

Refreshments will follow.

St . Mary?s Shephall: 15th December, 10.00am Christingle - within the morning communion service

25th December, 10.30am Christmas Day Communion Service Oak Church (All services t o be held at t he High St reet Met hodist Church): 15th December, 5.30pm - Christmas Carol Service

24th December, 3.00pm Crib Service

22nd December, 5.30pm - Crib Service

7.30pm Carol Service by candlelight

24th December, 4.30pm - Christmas Eve Service

11.30pm Midnight Mass 25th December, 10.00am Family Communion Service

All Saint s Church 15th December, 6:30pm - Candlelit Carol Service

St Nicholas St evenage and St Mary's Graveley: 15th December, 7 pm ? Community Carol service in the pavilion at St Nicholas Park 19th December, 7pm - Carol Singing at St Nicholas shops followed by a Christmas Quiz in the St Nicks Tavern 22nd December, 6.30pm - Carol service at St Mary's Graveley 24th December, 4.30pm - All Age Event with Children's Carols at the St Nicholas shops 24th December, 11pm - Late Night Christmas Eve Communion at St Mary's Graveley 25th December at 9 am and 10.30am - Christmas Communion services at St Mary's Graveley 29th December, 10.30am - Communion service at St Mary?s Graveley St evenage Unit ed Reform Church: 15th December, Candle Light Carol service 4pm - there will be a collection for the Stevenage 'Feed Up Warm Up' drop in centre.

Christmas Day service 10:45am - there will be a collection for the Garden House Hospice St . Andrew and St . George Church: Christmas concert on 7th December at 7pm. Featuring the Almond Hill School, Stevenage Male Voice Choir and Letchworth Salvation Army Band. Entry ÂŁ8, Advance tickets ÂŁ7. To obtain tickets email

Christmas Eve, 4pm - Crib Service and 11:30 pm Midnight Mass Christmas Day, 10:30am - Christmas Morning Communion Service Bunyan Bapt ist Church: 15th December, 9.30am &11.15am - Christingle Services. Come and enjoy a Christingle Service specially designed for families.

20th December, 7pm - Missing Christmas. A short reflective service, for those whose Christmas might have a tinge of sadness following a bereavement or other absent loved ones.

21st December, 10am - Christmas Saturday Church.

Come for games, a picnic, songs, crafts and the Christmas Story! All free!

22nd December at 9.30am & 11.15am - All-age Nativity.

Dress up as your favourite Nativity character and join in with the Christmas Story!

22nd December, 6.30pm - Carols by Candlelight. A chance to engage with the wonder of Christmas!

25th December, 10.30am - Christmas Day Service.

Wear your best Christmas jumper and sing your Christmas socks off!

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spnsor event

Time for Todd tickets now!

The superb Todd In The Hole Fest ival will be back on July 17-19 2020.

Tier 1 t icket s are now on sale, wit h individual day t icket s available as well as weekend t icket s.

And t he road t o #Todd2020 just got t hat bit easier. The new payment plan means you can secure your weekend t icket s t oday and spread t he cost over a 3 mont h period.

Find out more about t he payment plan prices here: ht t ps://t oddint hehole.t icket line.co.uk Don't forget for all t he lat est news of act s performing and ot her offers you can get updat es online and sign up for updat es.

Save t he dat e for next year and st ay in t ouch at ht t ps://t oddint hehole.t icket line.co.uk Read, en joy an d sh ar e

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Festive 360 for schools Calling all schools! We have a fant ast ic Christ mas celebrat ion package t hat ?s ideal for some end of t erm weekday fun. If you are a school, nursery, or preschool t his could be t he ideal Christ mas out ing for you!

Our 2 hour package includes: -

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Ent ry t o 360 play and use of our great at t ract ions Reserved seat ing for you and your part y Christ mas part y games including parachut e/musical st at ues/dancing et c (15mins if required) A served boxed meal from our menu for t he children Visit by Christ mas Twizzle and Twirl and a sweet t reat for each child.

This package is available t o book bet ween 9.30 ? 11.30 and 12.30 ?

2.30 Monday t o Friday(flexible) From Monday 2nd December t o Friday 20t h December 2019.

£7.95 per child wit h free ent ry for accompanying t eachers and helpers. For more informat ion, please cont act our bookings t eam bookings@dpleisure.uk.com or call 01908 670160 A fun Christ mas craft act ivit y can be included for £2 This is bookable wit h a £25 deposit . Min 10 children, Max 35 children.

Meet up Groups If you are a parent and t oddler group or just a group of friends wit h lit t le ones and are looking for a great fun venue t o have your Christ mas meet up, we have a great package for you. (To qualify for t his offer you must pre book your event , pay as one group on t he day for your final numbers and be booked in before t he 1st of December. Don?t wast e any t ime and book now t his could be t he Christ mas out ing for you!)

Our 2 hour package includes:

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Ent ry t o 360 play and all our great at t ract ions Reserved Table for you and your part y Unlimit ed hot drinks (t ea and st andard filt er coffee) supplied t o your t able, sugar free squash for t he children, a range of fest ive cakes for adult s and biscuit s for t he children This package is available t o book bet ween 9.30am-11.30 and 12.30-2.30pm £5.50 Per Child £4.50 adult s This is bookable wit h a £25 deposit .

Min 20 children, and 20 Adult s For more informat ion, please cont act our bookings t eam bookings@dpleisure.uk.comor call 01908 670160

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A meal at Mr Mulligan's At Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf you celebrat e any special occasion by playing a round.

And along wit h a great game, you can also have a great meal t hanks t o a new cafĂŠ upgrade.

They are now serving hot dogs, paninis, wraps, sharing plat es and kids meals.

You can also creat e your own sundae and creat e your milkshake. W het her it 's our 11 Thursday night Dat e Night s or a family day out for big and lit t le kids of all ages, you know t he answer, make it Mr Mulligans!

For full updat ed informat ion on t his and all event s which are coming up at Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf head t o our Facebook page ht t ps:// www.facebook.com/

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Why it is crucial to keep full working time records Keeping records of working t ime ? why is t his import ant ? By Rebecca List Since the introduction of the Working Time Regulations in 1998, UK employers have been required to maintain records to enable them to show that working time limits are being complied with. More specific regulations govern working time for young workers, for those doing night shifts, and for work involving special hazards or heavy mental strain.

On the advice of the Health & Safety Executive, there was no need for specific records to be kept of actual daily working time and instead, existing records that were maintained for other purposes (such as pay) may be relied upon to ensure that limits on working time were being adhered to.

A recent case brought before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has called that advice into question. Is it possible that the UK?s Working Time Regulations do not comply with EU law after all? The ECJ were asked to determine whether employers were required to record actual hoursworked each day, in order to ascertain compliance with working time limits, and the answer was a definitive yes. It considered that the only way to guarantee workers? fundamental rights to maximum working hours and rest breaks was for employers to have an ?objective, reliable and accessible?system of keeping adequate records of the actual hours worked by those workers who had not opted out of the 48-hour weekly working time. It is also the responsibility of Member States to ensure that this is implemented, and employers cannot cite expense in sidestepping their obligations.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are yet to update their guidance, but what can employers do in the meantime to mitigate the risk of claims?

Look at whether your system is capable to recording actual working hours, especially if you have staff who work regular and unpaid overtime or nightshift, or young workers, since they may

Rebecca List - Head of Empl oyment Law at Tol l ers

become subject to greater scrutiny by the tribunals and the HSE. Remind your workers to declare any second jobs, and where there is any doubt, ask them to opt out of the 48-hour limit. Keep adequate records of those who have opted out together and copies of their signed opt-out agreements. Remember also that those records must also be kept for two years. The Government has consistently maintained that ECJ decisions made before the UK?s departure from the EU will continue to bind domestic courts post-Brexit, although whether we will see a formal amendment to the Working Time Regulations to properly implement the EU?s Directive, remains to be seen.

To find out more regarding t his complex area ?Talk t o Tollers?Employment Team on 01438 901095.

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On the final journey Funeral t ransport : Making your last journey personal There are many sayings in life about journeys and travel. A journey is a common metaphor for life itself and they form the basis of numerous inspirational quotes.

But we?re also a generation of physical globetrotters. We plot where we want to go, what we want to do; we have scratch maps to complete, bucket lists to fulfil.

So the final journey we make after we?ve passed away is, surely, just as significant. By choosing a mode of transport and a route to take to the final resting place, which are personal to the deceased, a funeral can feel more about their life than their death. It?s not about going into the dark and unknown, but celebrating life and creating more memories.

Our blog on personalising funerals [link to personalising funerals blog] touched on transport, but here we?ll look at it in more depth.

Why is funeral transport so significant?

There are two aspects to personalising funeral transport.

Firstly, it allows the deceased to travel in a way that is very personal to them, whether this is

by their own planning before they pass away, or down to friends and family fulfilling their wishes on their behalf. This might be in a vehicle they owned themselves, something they loved going in, or perhaps even always wanted to experience!

There was a story in the news recently of a man who?s dying wish it was to have his coffin transported in the bucket of the JCB he drove for 30 years. There are some beautiful pictures online of the JCB taking him on the short journey from his home to the funeral, followed by his family and friends on foot. (https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/24/ granddad-taken-funeralbucket-jcb-9294632/) The second aspect is about those left behind. Depending on the transport chosen, they can walk alongside, drive, or, in the case of a hand pulled bier, even carry their loved one themselves and be beside them right until the end. In some cases, following a traditional black hearse in a funeral car may feel quite distant and unfamiliar for the bereaved, perhaps even a bit stressful. It?s important to see how something as seemingly insignificant as the transport can

help our stress and mental attitude at such a difficult time. [link to funeral stress blog] A study by the Co-op revealed that more and more people want their funerals to be personal and celebratory affairs with Land Rovers and rainbow-hued vehicles to take them to their final resting places ? and companies are responding to these wishes up and down the country!

W hat t ypes of t ransport are available?

At Austin?s, we can arrange various modes of transport and always do our best to make your wishes happen. Aside from our traditional black hearses and limousines, we can offer?

A motorbike hearse with a sidecar for the coffin A VW campervan, A variety of different model Land Rovers A 1950 vintage lorry A hand pulled coffin bier, which has been in the Austin?s family for generations A horse-drawn carriage with black or white horses

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Wedding and party package Can you af f ord t o miss t he Forum's wedding package?

As l ong as booking is made by t he end of t his year wit h deposit paid it can be used f or t he ent ire 2020.

For a remarkabl e ÂŁ3,000 you can have excl usive use of t he f ul l suit e upst airs incl uding Fairview suit e. Incl udes: -

Room f rom 10am-midnight Cat ers up t o 500 Ful l use of t he kit chen and abil it y t o bring in booze and f ood.

Incl ude securit y 1 hot el room Col our t heme upl ight ers and use of screens f or phot os

For part ies, weddings recept ions, birt hdays and charit y event s we are t he venue f or you.

Book by Sept ember 30 2019 and use t his t o t he end of 2019.

Part y package incl udes: -

Noon - Midnight Ext ended bar l icence on appl icat ion ÂŁ500 per room, accommodat e 200 peopl e.

Can increase capacit y by booking a second room f or a 50% discount .

Incl udes dance f l oor, securit y, t abl e l inen and bar st af f , upl ight er and screens.

Cal l us now on 01438 779955

And how about our amazing part y package?

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Book the best conference facilities for your business

Do you want t he very best f or your business?

The Forum Conf erence and Banquet ing Suit es in St evenage of f er t he f inest f acil it ies and t he best rat es - and we now have a special booking of f er which wil l al l ow you t o book f rom now unt il April 30 2020.

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Dail y Del egat e rat e - f rom just ÂŁ25 f or a minimum of 10 peopl e Every 10t h person is f ree and a bot t l e of f izz f or t he booker.

Ideal meet ing space f or 20 peopl e, af t ernoon t ea cof f ee and cakes and l unch

Arrival t ea cof f ee and f resh baked past ries avail abl e Take a break wit h mid-morning t ea, cof f ee and biscuit s Af t ernoon hot and col d working buf f et l unch avail abl e Af t ernoon t ea, cof f ee and a sweet t reat f or al l del egat es Al l bookings incl ude f ul l use of st at ionery, room hire and equipment hire

Quot e Code: Forumbiz19 Cal l 01438 779955 and book now

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Brilliant businesses in High Street need you After our amazingly successful piece in our last edition on Middle Row and the independent shops in that area, we have turned our focus on other shops in Stevenage High Street.

The shares and likes we have gained by putting these businesses in the spotlight has been amazing, so don't forget make sure if you need a product or a service which they offer head down to them and keep them in business in #Stevenage

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Phot ography by Brendan Fal vey

If you have enjoyed t hese images of #St evenage by Brendan Falvey and would like t o find out how t o order t hem cont act on t he det ails supplied here

Email: bjpfalvey@gmail.com Search for Bren's Phot o's on Facebook

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For r esult s t oday speak t o t he com m unicat ion exper t s at Spit f ir ePR Media rel at ions

Copy writ ing

Social media market ing

Media t raining

Market ing

Crisis management

Proud publ i sh er of #Herts @h ash tagh erts For al l your mark eti ng and soci al medi a needs: 07539 782979 w w w .spi tf i repr.com darren@spi tf i repr.com @DarrenI sted1 @h ash tagh erts

What 's on in # STEVENAGE INS: Every Friday afternoon, So Healthy, a gentle exercise class takes place from 1.30pm to 2.30pm at Bedwell Community Centre. Please contact the INS for more information on 01438 725400 or emailinfo@irishnetworkstevenage.org.ukor follow the group on Facebook or Twitter.

St evenage Fl oral Art Societ y: Call Margaret 01438 880086 for more details.

St evenage Liberal Synagogue: For further information phone 01438 300222 or visitstevenageliberalsynagogue@gmail.com St evenage Fibromyal gia Support Group:Meet on the second Wednesday evening, 7.30 to 9.30pm, and last Tuesday of the month, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, at Poplars Community Hall. A weekly coffee drop in from 1pm to 3pm takes place on Wednesdays at Encore Coffee House, in the foyer of the Gordon Craig Theatre. Call the helpline 0844 8872 373 or 355 for more info. All welcome.

St Andrew and St George:Parish Mass on Sunday at 10am. A toddler group takes place on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm. All welcome. For further details please email Kimcuttylanegroups@gmail.com.Morning Prayer Monday to Thursday at 9.30 am. Weekday Masses on Monday at 10am, Tuesday at 12.30pm and Thursday at 10am. Compline at 8:30 pm on Thursdays. For more information visitwww.stevenagechurch.org.

Debt ors Anonymous:Meetings are held every

Tuesday evening at 8pm at The Living Room, No 15 The Glebe, Chells Way. For more information visit:www.debtorsanonymous.org.uk St evenage Corey?s Mil l Lions Cl ub:Lion are part of the world's largest community based Service Organisation and are looking for more members to assist with the work in the community as volunteers. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month in Symonds Green starting at 7.45pm. Membership fee is nominal. To find out more call 01438 489247 or 07903 444052 or visit the group on Facebook.

St arl ight Dance Academy:Adult tap dance classes, for all ages, with a fully qualified teacher take place from 1.15pm every Friday at the Community and Arts Pavilion, Roaring Meg Retail Park, Stevenage.

Age Concern, St evenage:Pop in for a cuppa every Monday, 10am to 12pm, at Swingate House. Age Concerns provides bookings for Britannia Coaches,a hire service for mobility scooters and wheelchairs during opening hours. Free 20-minute appointments for benefits and legal advice, and a footcare clinic are held every Tuesday and Thursday (fee payable). Age Concern's offices are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm and Thursday 9.30am to 1.30pm, ground floor, Swingate House, Stevenage town centre.Call01438 314164 for more.

St evenage Museum:St George?s Way, Stevenage, hosts a wide range of events throughout the year for families, children and adults. Open 10am to 4.30pm Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday. Call 01438 218881 or emailmuseum@stevenage.gov.ukfor more.

Cycl e UK St evenage:Starter cycle rides will set off from Costello?s Cafe by the Sailing Centre in Fairlands Valley Park at 10.30am every Saturday.

Evening rides from the green by Springfield House Community Centre take place every Wednesday at 7.15pm. For more information go towww.stevenagectc.org.ukor call Jim on 07939 687509 or Jill on 07816 625901.

What 's on in # STEVENAGE St evenage Writ ers:Meet every Wednesday from 5.30pm to 7pm in The Snug Bar at The Dun Cow, Letchmore Road, Stevenage. Mutual support for writers at all levels, something for everyone. Next two months the group is working on getting their Annual together. For more details contact Tony Burtonponytailpoet@gmail.com.

Pl ay Go:Takes place every Tuesday from 7.30pm in Letchworth or Stevenage on alternate weeks.

Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For more information, visithttp:/ / www.letchworth-go.org.uk/ letchgo St Hugh and St John's Church: Blaze Youth Club for anyone aged 7 to 14 takes place every Thursday during term-time from 5.45pm to 7.15pm. Have fun playing games, sports, making crafts, baking, cooking, and art, The first Thursday of the month is family night where families are invited to come for a meal and a short service. ÂŁ1.50 per week.

Roundabout ers Count ry Dance Cl ub:English country dancing every Thursday, 8pm to 10pm, at Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane SG1 1UP. Newcomers are always welcome, both beginners and experienced dancers. To find out more call 01438 727239, visitwww.roundabouters.org.ukor just come along.

St evenage Bridge Cl ub:New players are needed at Stevenage Bridge Club and Springfield House Friday Bridge Club. Stevenage Bridge Club meets at 7.30pm to play Duplicate Bridge at the Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage. Contact Phil Cooper on 0795 7813434. Springfield House Friday Bridge Club meet on Friday afternoons at 1.30pm to play cut-in Chicago Bridge at Springfield House. Contact Richard Bean on 01438 221517.

Mol l y Vickers School of Dance:Lessons in Ballet, Tap, Freestyle and Contemporary at Bedwell Community Centre, Stevenage. For children (18 months+) and adults, first trial class is free! For more details call Lisa Holt on (01438) 723450 or Stacey Hurst on (01438) 315580.

Oval Communit y Circl e:Come along to a free social

group held on the first Thursday of the month anytime between 9:30am and 11am at the Oval Community Centre, Vardon Road. For more information contactenquiries@ovalcommunity.comor 01438 359404.

Love t o Dance:Fun and friendly sessions for anyone aged 50 and over take place every Friday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Hampson Park Community Centre, Webb Rise, Stevenage, SG1 5QU. Just ÂŁ5.50 per session. For more information call 0203 675 7215 or emailclarebellchambers@saracens.net St evenage Spirit ual Group:Meet every Sunday (except Bank Holidays) at Springfield House, Stevenage Old Town. Sunday meetings take place from 7.30pm till 9pm with a different Medium each week. All welcome.

Just Sing Communit y Choir:Come along and sing every Thursday during term time from 7pm to 9pm, at Grace Community Church. Hydean Way, Stevenage. First taster session free and no auditions are required. Contact 07785568463 or visit the websitewww.justsingcc.org.uk Pil at es:Sessions take place at Datchworth Village Hall on Thursdays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm/ Beginners are recommended to attend an introductory class. Call 07732897404 for more information.

Wou ld you lik e t o pr om ot e you r gr ou p or even t f or f r ee?

Do you w an t t o sh ow t h e people of #St even age you r gr ou p in act ion ?

Sen d you r copy an d pict u r es t o dar r en @spit f ir epr .com an d w e w ill do ou r best t o pu blish t h em in Wh at 's on in #St even age

Join the SportScene team There is a new radio show on the circuit that any sports fan in the area would be mad to miss.

SportScene started broadcasting their weekly show earlier in August on SG1 radio, the online radio station broadcasting live from their studio in Stevenage Town Centre.

Presented by Steve Watkins, Jay Drackford and Dean Thompson, there is a wealth of local sporting knowledge that has been tapped into, with the trio aiming to showcase any sport local to the area.

Steve Watkins said ?It was an idea that was dreamed up by Jay, who quickly shared his thoughts with myself and Dean, and we were hooked. We went to station owner Ray Medwynter and he loved the idea, and two weeks later we were live on air! ?In the first show we were honoured to have former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson as a guest, speaking about his charity, the Welwyn Garden City based

?Willow Foundation?, and his golf tournament recently held at Hanbury Manor. ?The response has been phenomenal in the early days. We have had local clubs represented, with sports including Football, Netball, Running, Iron-Man, Cricket Rugby and Cylcling, and have even included the great work being done with the Aqualina Synchronised Swimming club. ?It has so far been a case of building relationships with the clubs, so that we can follow their fortunes in the future. But we are also keen to get involved ourselves, with Jay already running the local Park Run, and Dean is lined up to have an evening of Synchronised Swimming, which of course will be covered on the show! ?We still need to hear from any new clubs with a story to tell, whether it be news, results, fixtures or events, and we are happy to speak on the phone, get guests into the studio , or simply

read out any news from a club. The aim is to cover ANY local sport, without prejudice or bias. Where at all possible of course!?

The show can be contacted at any time via email at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk, via twitter @sg1sportscene, or on the SG1 Radio Facebook Page.

The show is broadcast every Wednesday evening between 9-10pm, and can be accessed at www. sg1radio.co.uk, on mobile phones by downloading the SG1 Radio app, via tune-in radio on a smart device such as sonos or alexa, and is also now being broadcast live with video on Facebook, which has added an extra dimension, and encouraged interaction from the sportspeople of the area.

Previous shows can also be played again, with links on Facebook and Twitter.

For further details, contact the team at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk

Make the most of the Unlimited Card to enjoy Cineworld benefits ENJOY UNLIMITED FILMS Watch all the films you can handle at any Cineworld for just one monthly fee SAVE ON SNACKS AND DRINKS Get 10% off all in-cinema food and drink. Plus get 10% off at Cineworld Starbucks licensed stores.

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Unlimit ed: How t o apply in person

Unlimited members can get free months of membership when they recommend Unlimited to their friends!

Step 1

Unlimit ed: How t o apply online Step 1 Make sure you have your bank details and a recent passport photo Step 2 Complete the easy application process and use your temporary pass straight away Step 3 We will post your Unlimited card to you Step 4

Visit one of our Cineworld cinemas Step 2 Find a member of staff or use a sign up tablet in cinema Step 3 Complete the easy application process and use your temporary pass to start enjoying Unlimited movies Step 4 Start enjoying Unlimited and related offers We are delight ed t o t eam up wit h Cineworld St evenage t o offer you t he chance t o win five pairs of 2D t icket s t o any film (subject t o availabilit y).

To ent er simply follow and like our Facebook page @st evenage magazine and ent er our compet it ion when post ed asking who you would t ake wit h you.

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Ashr idge Est at e

# St evenage December 2019

PROPERTY

The unique guide to property news in #Stevenage

#STEVENAGE PROPERTY: THE INTERACTIVE WAY TO VIEW YOUR AGENT

DIRECT LINKS TO WEBSITES, EM AILS, VIDEO AND PROPERTY DETAILS

# PROPERTY STEVENAGE Let 's f ace it - w e live in a digit al w or ld - w h en

t h e agen t s w h o ar e act in g on beh alf of bu yer s,

w as t h e last t im e you u sed pr in t t o t r y an d bu y

seller s, lan dlor ds an d t h ose look in g t o r en t .

or sell a h ou se or t o look f or a pr oper t y t o r en t .

In t h ese pages you w ill f in d live lin k s st r aigh t

Th e on lin e w or ld allow s f or qu ick an d easy

t o t h e agen t s - so h it t h eir w ebsit es n ow , em ail

con n ect ion t o all h ou ses f or sale or r en t , w it h

t h em or ar r an ge a visit - all f r om t h e com f or t

f u ll f act s at you r f in ger t ips an d in st an t lin k s t o

of you r ow n ph on e.

101 High St r eet , St even age

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Tel 01438 231200 m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k

TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age

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Tel 01438 219282 let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k

61-63 High St r eet ,

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St even age Tel 01438 316846 w w w.pu t t er ills.co.u k

86 High St r eet ,

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St even age Tel 01438 728444 h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k

A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age

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Tel 01438 369173 con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k

# PROPERTY STEVENAGE 24 M ar k et Place St even age

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Tel 01438 720100 geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k

19 M ar k et Place,

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St even age Tel 01438 312312 st even age@w r igh t sof .com

Ow n Hom es, 2 M iddle Row , St even age

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Tel 01438 367753 sales@ow n -h om es.com

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Call 0800 0248 914

8 M ar k et Place, St even age

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Tel 01438 728444 st even age@con n ells.co.u k

74 High St r eet , St even age

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Tel 01438 870673 en qu ir ies@agen t h ybr id .co.u k

The independent local estate agent Text

2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753

w w w.ow n -h om es.com

St ephen Harris and Michael Not schild est ablished Own Homes in 2008, operat ing as a successful, independent local St evenage est at e agent .

Here at Own Homes, we understand that each property and sale is individual and therefore tailor our service to suit your specific requirements.

We have prominent offices ideally situated in the heart of Stevenage Old Town. One in Middle Row covering lettings and mortgages and one on the High Street to deal with sales.

Our recent expansion and our double fronted office allows us the scope and ability to serve Stevenage and the surrounding residential areas.

Passionate in all we do, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest level of service.

Selling and letting a property can be a stressful time, which is why we go the extra mile to make your involvement with us as enjoyable and professional as possible.

Working in Hertfordshire for the past 10 years has enabled Own Homes to develop a comprehensive understanding of residential property in the local areas of Stevenage, Hitchin and surrounds.

We have an established an experienced team, on hand to work with you throughout the selling and buying process, ensuring personal contact is maintained from start to finish.

We use a number of marketing styles to ensure your property, whether you are selling or letting, gains maximum exposure and a smooth efficient sale. This includes advertising in local newspapers and glossy magazines, as well as Internet marketing. Our double fronted office also allows people to see

our properties in both windows.

To arrange a free valuation, or to find out more about Own Homes and the services we provide, simply call 01438 367753 or email sales@own-homes.com. You can also visit our office.

Awards In recognition of our outstanding service, we've been awarded two gold winner awards by the British Property Awards, one for being the top Estate Agent in Stevenage and another for the top Estate Agent in the South East. We're very proud of these awards as the Own Homes team has worked tirelessly to provide industry leading property services in and around the area.

The independent local estate agent Text

2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753

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Award winners!

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2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753 w w w.ow n -h om es.com

Placing the focus our customers Text

Hom e an d M or t gages St even age, 86 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 728444

em ail st even age@h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k

Homes and Mortgages Estate Agents are ready and waiting to help the Stevenage community with all its property needs, be it buying, selling or renting, Homes and Mortgages are committed to providing great value customer service for all our clients.

Situated in the heart of the historic Old Town and set over three floors, each department provides a professional, welcoming and comfortable environment for all of our customers. We have a team of 9 full time, experienced Sales and Lettings staff on hand to deal with any property enquiry.

W hat 's new? The rebranded branch and heavy investment in IT has set Homes and Mortgages up to stand out in 2017 and for the future. Our experienced and dedicated staff all share the same view in providing a fantastic customer experience and are heavily focused on the importance of transparency between ourselves and our customers.

The IT software is excellent at allowing vendors and Landlords 24/7 access to information regarding their property. At the click of a button, vendors can see feedback, current interest from web portals and can track the progress of a sale online. Likewise, Landlords have the option to view property maintenance schedules and access statements. mailt o:st evenage@homesand mort gages.co.uk

Click on t h e im ages an d lin k dir ect ly t o t h eir det ails on lin e

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Agent Hybrid falls bet ween t radit ional and online est at e agency. Our aim is t o deliver a personal, one-t o-one est at e agency experience, whilst delivering a service of excellence.

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Click on t he image of our Monument Court propert y (above) and t ake a walk t hrough using t he lat est Agent Hybrid Technology

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Our marketing packages are inclusive of: - Professional photography - Extensive Online Advertisement - 3D Floor plans - Local High Street Office - Accompanied Viewings and Open House Agent Hybrid offer two fee options and both include a full estate agency service.

OPTION 1: £1150 upfront, nothing to pay on completion.

Add £150 for a walk through tour.

OPTION 2: 0.95% of the sale price, payable on sale completion, no sale no fee. Walk through tour included.

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74 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 870673 w w w.agen t h ybr id.co.u k

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Putterills Stevenage - talk to the professionals Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

Founded by Tony Putterill in 1992, with our first office in Welwyn Garden City, Putterills are now celebrating 26 years of serving the Hertfordshire community.

We have grown from our original branch in Welwyn Garden City to having offices in Knebworth, Hitchin, Stevenage Old Town and St Albans, as well as a partner office in London?s Mayfair. Each of our sales offices are overseen by a Director who is actively involved in the day to day running; this helps to ensure that we are providing the highest possible levels of advice and service. All of these offices are prominently located to ensure all properties receive the best possible exposure.

In addition to our network of sales offices, we have an award winning Land and New Homes department.

Our specialists help landowners maximise the development opportunities for usually previously

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used land known as Brownfield, as the country struggles for space for new homes. We have always believed that our task is to provide our clients with the best, up to the minute, expert advice when dealing with what is usually their greatest asset.

Our clients have a wide range of emotions and circumstances and we help guide less experienced first time buyers, provide yield information and advice to investment buyers, schooling information to families, hold the hands of those who have not moved for many years and deal sensitively and professionally with those. Over the last few years, we are proud to have won a number of national awards which we believe underline our philosophy of being Trusted Property Experts.

2017 saw Tony Putterill retire and hand the reins of the company over to Mark Shearing. Mark has been in agency in Hertfordshire since 1982

and joined Putterills in 1993. As the company moves into a new era with changing markets, advances in property marketing and the use of technology, our aim is simple - to keep at the absolute forefront of full service Estate Agency and to continue the exceptional levels of service and advice that our clients have been able to rely on over the last 26 years.

Our primary purpose has always been to provide an outstanding customer experience and our core values continue to represent this: EXCEPTIONAL ? we are passionate about delivering excellence.

RESPECT ? we respect and value those we work with, both our colleagues and our customers.

EXPERTISE ? we deliver outstanding skills and knowledge in all we do.

TRUST ? we act with honesty and integrity at all times.

Putterills see massive rise in sales on 2018 Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

Putterills are delighted to report that despite stories that the property market is sluggish, year to date they are a staggering 50% ahead in sales than this time last year!

Managing Director Mark Shearing says ?Many buyers and sellers believe that the property market is slow at the moment, but our results to date show this is clearly not the case. The market has indeed been tough over the last year or so, but there are always people that need to move. Having over 25 years?experience in Hertfordshire gives us a huge advantage in tougher markets and enables us to adapt to a good old fashioned estate agency service, like talking to people, finding out their real moving requirements and matching them with like-minded sellers, something many online agencies or even younger firms either cannot do, or seem to have forgotten how to do.

Prices have softened a little, so realistic pricing is essential, but equally you are likely to end up paying a little less for your next home, so it all balances out in the end.

We are also encouraged by the numbers of first-time buyers coming back into the market place, as low interest rates remain it is often cheaper to buy than to waste money

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renting.

Hertfordshire enjoys almost full employment with a wide diversity of employers, so whilst we are close enough to London to have many commuters living in the county, we are not dependant on London buyers.

Our sales of new homes have risen significantly this year, with our specialist New Homes Department now handling 20 sites offering over 200 homes for sale. Many new homes? buyers are using the Government?s Help to Buy Scheme, which, contrary to most people?s understanding, is NOT just for first-time buyers.

There have been some very notable performances from our branches. Our Hitchin sales office has just had its best sales month EVER! Outstanding results.

Our Welwyn Garden City office has sold more homes in excess of ÂŁ1 million this year than in all of last year, a clear sign of returning buyer confidence in the upper market.

Our Stevenage office has had a stunning month for listing new properties to sell and this improved choice has encouraged more buyers to commit.

St Albans office has had its best month this year for both sales and new instructions and we are actively looking for additional staff to meet

demand here.

In Knebworth, again, they are ahead of last year as many people want to take advantage of this thriving village?s excellent facilities - including its own station.

The conveyancing process remains painfully slow, with some chains taking many months to get to the point of exchange. Sales progression and dealing with issues during the conveyancing period is one of the most important and time-consuming jobs an estate agent carries out.

Having experience and being well-known by local surveyors and solicitors is paramount and something Putterills are professionals at.

Choosing an estate agent who does not offer this service, or has a remote centre dealing with all their cases, is a false economy and can cause considerable stress and frustration at what can be an already difficult time.

In summary, the market is fine, with a good level of buyers, but they need to be encouraged and looked after, so at this time, more than ever, choosing the right agent to handle your transaction is paramount and we hope that our selling success this year speaks for itself!!!

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Shepherding you home the life of an estate agent Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

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W ho'd Be An Est at e Agent ?

Duncan Price of Put t erills explains what being an est at e agent really means.

Some people t hink our job is easy. They t hink t hat propert y just sells it self. That a buyer appears from nowhere, loves a house or flat and agrees t o buy it - just like t hat . Some t hink t he sale t hen speeds effort lessly t o a sat isfact ory conclusion and wit hout any ot her assist ance. Let me t ell you it doesn't work like t hat well not for most of t he t ime anyway.

A 'proper' est at e agent 's job is not t o sell houses; rat her it is t o move people. Moving anyt hing is oft en complicat ed, can be fraught wit h difficult y and have unforeseen consequences. Just t hink about moving t win six-year-olds singlehandedly from home t o school every morning, or moving a cent ral heat ing boiler, or moving 250,000 t ons

of crude oil half way round t he world, or moving a herd of sheep from one hillside t o anot her. It all t akes planning, pat ience, knowhow, experience and resolve. It means expect ing t he unexpect ed, problem solving and, when ot her people are involved, t he highest level of t act and diplomacy.

I don't know about you, but if I want ed t o move a herd of sheep I would hire a shepherd.

And, in a way, t hat 's what est at e agent s are. We arrange for somet hing wit h lot s of moving part s - each wit h a mind of it s own - t o end up where it should be on t he dat e it is supposed t o be t here.

Est at e agent s shepherd people, cont ract s, surveys, mort gages, removals, wit hdrawals,

gazundering, false st art s, disappoint ment s, t he unforeseen and t riumphs from one place t o anot her.

Somet imes it 's a smoot h process. But all t oo oft en it isn't . You may not t hink it 's wort h paying for a shepherd at t he beginning. But believe me, at t he end, when it has been sheet ing down wit h rain all day, t he quad bike has broken down, a fox snat ched a lamb and a large group of unreasonable ewes made a long break for freedom you will t hink a shepherd is wort h every penny.

W hy are we est at e agent s? We do it because we enjoy being shepherds. Some may t hink t hat selling houses is not much of a job, and in many ways t hey might be correct . But moving people and families on t o t he next st age of t heir lives and making it as seamless and st ress-free as possible is a job we enjoy and t hink is well wort h doing.

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For a top service Text

rely on A-TOP A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age Tel 01438 369173

em ail con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k

If you are looking for a t eam t hat you can t rust t o deliver t ime aft er t ime t hen A-Top Propert y Let t ings in Drapers Way, St evenage is t he one for you.

A-Top, which is owned by founder Mervyn Terret t , has gained an impressive reput at ion as t he go-t o agent for all your propert y needs whet her you are looking t o rent or are a landlord seeking t enant s. W it h a combined market experience of more t han 60 years, t he st aff at A-Top are t he most knowledgeable in t he business and along wit h advice on t he rent al market , t hey can also provide informat ion which allows cust omers t o make t he most informed choice possible. Over t he past 33 years t he t eam lead by Mervyn has seen t he local market undergo a wide number of changes, but t hrough t hem all A-Top and it s experienced st aff have always given t he very best and most informed service.

There have been plent y of changes which have alt ered t he let t ings landscape in St evenage. Through t hem all however t he reliabilit y of A-Top Propert y Let t ings has remained a const ant and t heir port folio of excellent landlords has increased dramat ically.

Comment ing on t he t eam Mervyn said: ?W hat once was a rarit y in t he UK i.e. rent ing, is now so common as a source of income/ invest ment for landlords and of mobilit y for professional working t enant s.

We are delight ed t o be able t o use our expert ise t o help bot h t enant s and landlords.?

For furt her det ails cont act 01438 369173 or email cont act @a-t oplet t ing.co.uk

Portfolio - for serviced apartments in #Herts Text

Tel 0800 0248 914

Booking a holiday is possibly one of the greatest feelings and counting down the days when you?re having an awful day at work or are just desperate to get away from home can seem like a joy, but there can be a downside. Hotels. While some people may see staying in a hotel like a dream, it can actually be a nightmare if you?ll be staying there for a long time, especially if on a business trip or secondment. With that said, here are the top reasons to stop staying in hotels for your business travel trips.

Limit ed Wardrobe Space Packing for a holiday or for a business trip puts you on one of two teams, you?re either naturally gifted and find it a breeze or it?s the worst part of the trip for you, but one thing unites these two camps ? limited hotel space.

If you love to pack an outfit for every possible occasion you will know how difficult it can be to cram your clothes into tiny hotel wardrobes, or even worse live out of a case. Staying in a serviced apartment fixes this and means you have a home away from home and all the storage you could need.

You feel like you?re t rapped Walking into a hotel room can at first glance feel wonderful, everything is conveniently within arm?s reach and for the first day you love it. Then the second day comes and the third day and by the fourth you feel like you almost can?t breathe.

Hotels just aren?t feasible for long periods of time or for anyone who likes a sense of space, after all, who wants to feel trapped by the same four walls for the entire of their trip?

Privacy? W hat privacy?

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Hotels may seem like a good idea for a romantic night away, but if you?re travelling with family or small children or even colleagues, then all sense of privacy goes straight out of the window when you?re all sharing a room just feet away from each other.

Forget staring dreamily into each other?s eyes when you wake up, you?ll probably be staring at a toddler who immediately wants to play or be woken by another family member?s snoring and that?s not even mentioning the housekeeper who always turns up at the most inconvenient times!

Serviced apartments let you have time to yourself no matter how many you have brought along for the trip, so you can sleep well and feel like you have privacy if you are all loved up.

Money money money!

Straight to the point hotels aren?t cheap.

Even for the savviest of spenders and the keenest bargin hunters, you may think booking your hotel means it?s all done, dusted and paid for but you will undoubtedly end up incurring extra fees.

Whether you give in to the lure of room-service with its extortionate service charges, or buy a film to keep energetic youngsters occupied, your bill when you check out can hit you like a smack in the face and leave you wanting a more affordable option.

Meals on wheels Speaking of room-service, while this may seem like a decadent treat on the first night, by the time you come back from a long day of exploring and are tired, it is so easy to have a burger brought straight to door along with its crazily hiked-up price and extra delivery charges. This can not only wreak havoc on your bank account,

but also on your waist-line and by the time you leave, the only thing that will be thinner is your wallet.

Serviced apartments absolutely win here, as having a fully equipped kitchen at your fingertips means it?s easy to rustle up something quick and delicious that will probably be healthier for you and will also save you money! If you want some tips on how to eat well when working away from home check out next weeks blog post, or check out our apartments to find out why it?s time to say goodbye to hotel hell and wake up to apartment heaven!

Though staying in a hotel may seem like the obvious option at first, there?s no denying that a serviced apartment brings with it a number of benefits that a hotel just can?t offer.

At Portfolio Serviced Apartments we specialise in providing luxury serviced apartments and temporary homes for corporate and business travellers. We offer a secure spacious base which can become a home from home for longer staying guests. Portfolio Apartments are located throughout all of Hertfordshire including Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, St. Albans and Hatfield, whilst through our partners we have access to over 90,000 luxury apartments across the globe.

So whether it?s a placement in St Albans or a secondment in San Francisco, Portfolio is consistently the favoured choice for travelling professionals.

For more information,get in touch. Our team at Portfolio looks forward to helping you soon.

Give our friendly team a call on 0800 024 8914 (Mon ? Fri 9-6pm) or visit our website to view our modern serviced apartments.

101 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 231200 w w w.m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k pr oper t y@m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k

Partners with vast knowledge of the local area Text

Mark Simon Estates is an established Estate Agency situated at: 101 High Street, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3HR. Here at MarkSimon Estates, we have over 40 years combined experience of Estate Agency within Stevenage and its surrounds.

Our Partners Mark Sollis & Simon Jacob both grew up in Stevenage and therefore have a vast knowledge of the area and its surrounds.

This in itself, is proving an invaluable asset to prospective Vendors and Purchasers seeking a property which meets both their needs and expectations in a home.

?To Mark, Many t hanks for all your hard work selling my house for us in Jessop Road. You went t he ext ra mile in so many ways. You always kept me well informed and I knew I could t rust you t o carry out everyt hing you promised.?

From H.

?To MarkSimon Est at es & your t eam, Thank you for being t here t o help us. ?

Mr K & Miss T

Click here for MarkSimon Twitter

?To Mike and everyone at MarkSimon Est at es, A Big t hank you for all your help selling our house, Best wishes.?

The W ?s

Click here for MarkSimon Facebook

The agent with more than 18 years experience Text

TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 219282

em ail let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k

TLC est at es is sit uat ed in t he delight ful set t ing of St evenage Old Town.

We pride ourselves on t he personal and professional services we offer t o all landlords and t enant s alike We offer very compet it ive rat es we are one of t he very few let t ing agent s only left in t he t own . W it h over 19 years of experience in t he St evenage market we are sure t o offer you t he best of services from under one roof.

Renowned for our open and honest approach ,TLC will give you t he full informat ion on t he market .

Many of our landlords and t enant s have been wit h us since we opened in 2000 and we are known for our close work wit h bot h.

Pop int o our Baker St reet off ice or give us a call and find out how TLC can help wit h your let t ings needs.

The Connells team that you can trust Text

8 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 318080

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Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are located in the Town Centre along Market Place, and within walking distance of the Train Station.

We would love to help you sell or rent your home or find a property to rent or buy in and around the Stevenage area, as well as the villiages Walkern, Knebworth, Little & Great Wymondley, Gravely & Aston.

Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are managed by Gary Young. Gary has had a successful estate agency career over the last 20 years. Gary is supported by Callum Souter who is the Sales Executive with four years experience behind him, Oz Ansari who is the branch valuer, and Melanie Retberg the Branch Administrator.

Our in-house Mortgage Consultant Juliet Twining, is fully trained and qualified to advise you on the right mortgage product to suit your needs.

Connells Lettings would love to help you rent your property.

Lettings Manager Patricia Bowden has 10 year's experience within the Lettings industry and is assisted by Trainee Lettings Negotiator Ben Brooks. With their combined experience and extensive knowledge of the area and rental market, are always happy to offer their assistance to new and experienced buy to let investors and first time landlords

alike.

Whether you are looking to sell or rent your property, we offer FREE market appraisals. Please feel free to pop into the branch or call 01438 318080 (Sales) or 01438 318258 (Lettings).

We offer a range of property related services all under one roof.

In house Mortgage Consultant.

Premium Marketing Packages available including Floorplans, Professional Photography, audio tours, and premium listings on Rightmove & Zoopla We have pioneered a dedicated service called The Property Finder

- You tell us what you are looking for and we will find it We know how the Stevenage market moves - our staff are local and extremely knowledgeable.

Their in-depth and up to date local experience.

Over 10 years?worth of experience and knowledge within the local market.

A professional team providing services to suit all your needs including property management, accounts and high quality administration.

We accompany all viewings, we believe it is really important, we?ve been trained to do it so you get really good feedback.

Making the Wrights choice

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19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312

Wrights is proud to be an independent estate agency with our own unique values and ethos.

We have been in business in Hertfordshire for over 30 years and our experience in helping our customers to buy, sell or rent their properties is second to none. Over the years we have built a professional and enthusiastic team and we now have three branches based in the towns of Hatfield, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City.

Wrights was founded in 1983 by Melvin Wright. Melvin was an experienced estate agent who began his career working for W.H.Lee based in the village of Ware and then moved on to their Stevenage office. As he progressed in his career Melvin was asked if he would open another branch of W.H.Lee in Harlow. Whilst pondering this decision Melvin happened to see that a shop unit in Hatfield was for sale and this made up his mind ? he would start his own estate agency! He picked up the phone to the agent and said he wanted to buy the unit, and so

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Wrights Estate Agency was born on the 15th August 1983.

Due to Melvin and his team?s hard work and determination Wrights Estate Agency really took off in Hatfield. Just 10 years after Wrights first opened its doors in Hatfield Melvin made the decision to open another branch in the lovely town of Welwyn Garden City. And so in 1993 Wrights of Welwyn Garden City was founded.

As the Wrights team had such a wealth of knowledge about the Hertfordshire housing market it made sense to open another branch, and because Melvin had previously worked in Stevenage he decided to based his next office in this lively town. Wrights were the first independent estate agents based in the town centre and where we led others followed - it soon became a prime location for a number of estate agencies.

Independent agency, independent values When asked just what makes Wrights so successful we tell

people that it is our independent values and experience. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, our knowledge and our honesty.

We really care about our customers and put them at the heart of everything we do.

Our success is also built on great teamwork and our family values extend to the whole of the Wrights team. We make our offices a welcoming place to work and this is evidenced by the fact that we have team members who have been with us for over 20 years!

So now you know our history let us help you plan your future in the property market. Whether you are looking to buy, sell or rent get in touch with any of our three branches and we will be happy to help you.

19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312 h t t ps:/ / w w w.w r igh t sof .com / br an ch / st even age/

Geoffrey Matthew property innovators Text

24 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 720100

w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k

Geoffrey Mat t hew Est at es are a propert y business wit h offices in Harlow, St evenage and Great Ashby t hat specialise in t he sales and let t ing of resident ial propert y.

Over 25 years of experience in propert y and finance give us an unparalleled insight t o t he needs and desires of sellers, purchasers, landlords and t enant s alike.

W it h a dedicat ed, hardworking, innovat ive forward-t hinking t eam t hat use modern met hods and good old-fashioned cust omer service, we offer a unique bespoke service t ailored t o you.

Tel 01438 720100 w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k