Eyesore outside St Albans’ oldest pub “needs care”

Years after York stone slabs were stolen from outside the city’s oldest pub, the area is still cordoned off by metal fencing.

The eyesore is behind Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub where the Mill Stream flows and is part of the Riverside Walk designated as a Millennium Project at the turn of the new century.

But St Albans Civic Society said the area was now a mess which badly needed some tender loving care.

Eric Roberts of the Civic Society said that he was pretty certain that it was between four and five years ago that the York stone slabs were stolen from outside the pub. Subsequently tarmac was put down in its place and then one of the edging stones fell into the Mill Stream. As a result the metal cordon was put up - and has remained ever since.

He pointed out that it was the sight which greeted the thousands of visitors to the city centre who went down to the Fighting Cocks during their stay.

Eric added: “If there had been ongoing maintance it would not be so bad but now it is all so sad.”

The Millenium Project plaque was unveiled in 1999 by the then Mayor Cllr Sheila Burton.

St Albans council’s head of community services, Richard Shwe, said: “We are looking at ways to improve and enhance the paved area near to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks and are working on a design for this. We know it doesn’t look good at the moment.

“The matter is complicated by the theft of York stone down there. We need to find a way to minimise the risk of this happening again. The recent flooding has also been a problem.”