Flying the flag

SIR, — I read with some surprise the letter from Beryl Cook (Herts Advertiser, March 5) criticising my pleasure that Harpenden Town Council were able to fly the Green Flag on Harpenden Common. The criticism was levelled at the state of Harpenden town and

SIR, - I read with some surprise the letter from Beryl Cook (Herts Advertiser, March 5) criticising my pleasure that Harpenden Town Council were able to fly the Green Flag on Harpenden Common. The criticism was levelled at the state of Harpenden town and the fact that it is getting more and more dirty.

As you will appreciate, I visit the town centre regularly and would be the first to criticise St Albans District Council if there were piles of rubbish cluttering our streets. As it is, I don't recognise this to be the case. The district council are responsible for the cleanliness of the streets and are required to ensure that they are litter free and in a good standard of cleanliness prior to 8.00am. The town council complement this by having the ground maintenance contractor litter-pick the areas of Common in the High Street and in Leyton Road in order to keep that area litter free and respectable.

The town council have regular volunteer days on the Common and are always looking for additional volunteers to assist with the Harpenden in Bloom volunteer days. In the case of the latter, flowerbeds are planted and litter is removed to enhance the appearance of Harpenden, which in 2008 achieved an Anglia in Bloom Silver Gilt Award, a standard that has been achieved for the last five years.

I can assure Ms Cook that I would be the first to take the district council to task if they didn't meet the high standards that are expected of them in our town. I support her in her campaign to maintain a focus on these high standards. However, please don't lose sight of the achievement of a Green Flag for the Common, which shows how well-kept and litter-free that facility is, and the Silver Gilt award which relies upon local residents volunteering and working with the town council to achieve the high standards required for such an accolade. My thanks go to those individuals who have supported the town council proactively, the visible evidence of which is for all to enjoy.

CLLR MRS PAT KENT,

Town Mayor, Harpenden.