Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning says that as great as the area is as a new town, he will not support Ed Miliband’s call to create lots more of them.

The New Labour leader has pledged to have the UK building 200,000 homes a year by 2020 to meet growing demand if he’s elected.

Mr Miliband said he would do this partly by creating new towns and garden cities in sustainable locations in order to ease the pressure on London.

But Conservative MP Mr Penning said: “It’s frankly pie in the sky. This town was planned as a London overspill after the Second World War to house people who had been bombed out of their homes.

“It’s a very different situation now and we need to protect the green belt.”

He agrees that new homes have to be built, but in specially designated areas such as between east Hemel Hempstead and the M1.

That area is technically in the green belt, but has been assigned as an area of it where ‘new town’ homes would be appropriate, Mr Penning said.

He said: “If you ask me whether Hemel Hempstead as a new town is a success, I think it’s one of the most successful towns in the country.”

He said the area has high employment and town centre redevelopment plans will soon make Hemel Hempstead even better.

He said New Labour leader Ed Miliband, who detailed his plans in the London Evening Standard, had only written the article because an election is coming up.

He said: “They were in government for 13 years and what did they do? Why did he not do that during the boom years when they was in power?”

Since the downpours that caused flooding havoc across Herts earlier this month there has been another 42mm of rainfall in Hemel Hempstead.

That’s according to weather buff Steve Wilson, who monitors rainfall from his Warners End garden, and reports that the total in February so far is 108mm.

“The monthly average for February is around 60mm, so we’re approaching twice the average in the first two weeks,” said the former geography teacher.

Steve’s latest figures were taken from his garden gadgets at the start of the week.

He said: “The River Gade level was just below bank full for most of last week although some flooding of the northern end of Gadebridge Park did occur.

“The level in the gauging station peaked at around 65cm during the week compared with 69cms when flooding occurred the week before.”

He said the high river level means any extra heavy rain could cause more flooding.

Kings Langley got back to action at long last with a 2-0 win at Winslow United after four frustrating weeks of postponements.

Kings were understandably rusty and United’s long ball tactics were more suited to a predictably heavy pitch.

The meanest defence in the division had to be at its best against the strike pairing of Seanla and Shrieves, and Ant Ladyman pulled a superb reflex save from the former in the 10th minute and again a minute later when Seanla was booked for unsporting behaviour.

Having to forsake their usual interpassing game, Kings were over-hitting the long passes, but were beginning to create their own opportunities when Winslow’s Ash Farmer was shown a straight red for kicking a prone Lee Burgoyne on the half hour mark.

The visitors immediately turned the screw, a superb strike by Dean Hitchcock being met by an equally brilliant Ben Grasso tip-over.

The keeper knew little about a Paul Insley point blank flick that cannoned off him, but as the second half ground on to the background of constant verbal complaints from the home team and its management, Kings’ pressure floundered on a solid defence or its own use of the final ball.

Then, just 15 minutes to go, the deadlock was finally broken.

Jack Johnson had found himself on the bench after traffic delayed his arrival and had been introduced 18 minutes earlier as part of the front three.

An Alex Campana precision cross was blocked by Grasso at the feet of Adam Hallissey, the ball ran free, and Johnson jubilantly lashed it into the net from around the penalty spot.

Kings then turned up the possession rate and when another Johnson run across the box was ended with a crude tackle, Danny Hutchins, making a welcome return from Dunstable Town, latched onto the ball to unleash a 25-yard guided missile into the top far corner of the net.

Overall, a cool display from Kings, who kept their heads when others lost theirs, and reaped the benefits.

The latest high culture live screening at Hemel Hempstead’s Empire cinema brings modern opera to the Jarman Park multiplex.

Feted composer Benjamin Britten, whose work was given a fresh spell in the spotlight by celebrations to mark the centenary of his birth last year, is probably best known for his sweeping operas.

A thrilling story of suspense and tragedy, Peter Grimes is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

The hero of the title is a fisherman held responsible by villagers for the death of a young apprentice, and spiralling into dark crisis despite being cleared of any blame.

The English National Opera production is a five star sellout in London, but you can see it in the comfort of your local cinema on Sunday evening.

To find out more and to book tickets, visit www.EmpireCinemas.co.uk or call 08 714 714 714.

A woman died from a form of asbestos poisoning despite having had no noteable contact with the material in her memory, an inquest heard this afternoon.

Joyce Davis, 76, of Chiltern Park Avenue, Berkhamsted, had metastatic mesothelioma, meaning the disease spread around her body before her death on October 24.

Ms Davis’ husband had been a carpenter during his working life and there is a chance she may have come into contact with asbestos through his clothing, although he died earlier of a cancer unrelated to the industrial disease.

Questions were also raised about the replacement of former Tesco store assistant Ms Davis’ garage roof and whether this could have caused the asbestos contamination, but this took place within the last eight years and was therefore ruled out by coroner Edward Thomas.

According to family present at Herts coroner’s court Ms Davis, who was born in Darlington and spent some of her childhood being brought up in orphanages, knew she was terminally ill, and was receiving palliative care.

She died at home. Mr Thomas recorded a narrative verdict, saying: “It is a very sad case, because it is such a dreadful disease. It’s a shame not to be able to link it to an exposure, but that is not unusual.”

Here’s something you don’t hear every day – a trombone-led jazz trio backed by Hammond organ and drums.

Dennis Rollins is the titan of the trombone – recently named Player Of The Year by the British Trombone Society to confirm his credentials – who leads the line at the Herts Jazz presentation this weekend and joining him on the stand are Ross Stanley and Pedro Segundo.

His Velocity Trio will be at Welwyn Garden City’s Hawthorne Theatre from 7.30pm on Sunday. Advance tickets are £11 (£10 concessions, £8 members, £3 students) – visit www.hertsjazz.co.uk for details.

New details have been released about the housing estate where the Hemel Hempstead sinkhole appeared on Saturday.

The land on which it was built was acquired by owner Hightown Praetorian & Churches Housing Association between 2005 and 2007.

The seven homes that were then on the site, off Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead, were demolished in 2008 to create the current Oatridge Gardens development of 48 properties.

Dacorum Borough Council spokesman Luisa Clarke said the original seven homes had been on the site since the late 1960s and were privately owned. She said that none of them had collapsed.

She said: “A ground investigation survey report of the site was done in 2005 for Hightown, and this accompanied the planning application which was made to Dacorum Borough Council in 2006.

“The report covered a range of ground conditions and referred to the area being used in the past for clay extraction, and the ground having been made up.

“The report made recommendations about construction methods for the new homes, including piled foundations.

“These recommendations were carried out during construction.”

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD MP: ‘EVERY DAY I TRY TO HELP SINKHOLE EVACUEES’

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning says he is talking to the evacuees and the organisations investigating the cause of the sinkhole every day.

People who have been displaced from their homes have been put up in hotels or are staying with family or friends.

But Mr Penning said it is important that longer-term accommodation be found for them unless they can get back into their own homes soon.

The sinkhole is 20 feet deep and 35 feet wide and stretches underneath a house and large stretches of road.

The highway has now begun to collapse into it, but so far the property is still stable.

Mr Penning said: “It was no surprise that gravity has taken over and the road has started to collapse into it.

“What they are still trying to find out is what has caused the sinkhole.”

Early reports suggest the sinkhole may be connected to former clay pits and chalk mines used by a former brickworks that operated on the site in the 1870s.

Another theory suggests subsidence problems may have been caused by a water leak near one of the homes.

SINKHOLE NEIGHBOURS GIVEN 30 MINUTES TO COLLECT ALL THEIR BELONGINGS

Neighbours of the sinkhole were given just 30 minutes to collect all of their belongings on Monday.

Among them was plasterer Mark Borman, who has still not been allowed to collect his van – which is now in the expanded danger zone around the site.

Justin Yates, a relative of his and a director of boxing and removals firm the Jam Group, rushed out to help him.

Fellow director Matt Williams said: “Three of us went out and started loading the van with his relative’s belongings.

“We found lots of other people in the same position and gave them free boxes.”

The firm sent out a second van – and is now keeping the belongings of two of Mark’s neighbours in storage at its Boxted Farm base in Potten End.

Some of the people who live near the sinkhole have still not been allowed to collect their belongings.

The HertSavers League progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Inter-League Cup for the first time with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Worthing and District League.

The pitch at Bushey Sports Club beat the recent wet weather and was in fine condition for a cup tie played in blustery conditions.

Lee Inch was a constant thorn in the side of the visitors, using the wind that was at the backs of the home side to fire in a series of efforts that tested the keeper in the opening exchanges.

Jamie Arthur provided the muscle as the HSCL dominated both possession and territorial advantage, hitting the far post with one effort.

It was Gavin Chatterpaul who opened the scoring after 16 minutes following a corner, and the advantage was doubled midway through the half when Arthur claimed a deserved goal to put HSCL 2-0 up at half-time

The question was whether Worthing could exploit the conditions from the restart, and they quickly set about applying some pressure on Sam Styles’ goal.

The HertSavers League shot-stopper made a couple of smart saves in the opening 10 minutes of the half, but the home side were quickly back on the front foot.

Neat passing released Darren Turner, who retained possession on the dead-ball line before slipping the ball back to Inch, but his first-time shot flew over the bar.

The visitors never gave up and were creating the odd chance – Jack Brown made a timely header from a corner – but HSCL substitute Drew Tyler wrapped up the win when he picked the ball off the toes of a Worthing defender, charged into the area and slipped a neat finish in at the near post.

The win secures Herts a home semi-final spot against the Dorset Premier League, which will be played at Colney Heath FC on Saturday, March 22, kick-off 3pm.

The final will be played at the home of the winners of the semi-final between Isle of Man League and the Humber Premier League.

Visit Flaunden this weekend for a chance to see snowdrops at their best.

Between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday – dubbed Snowdrop Saturday – the church of St Mary Magdalene on Flaunden Hill will be open for guided tours among the grounds.

Any donations will be gratefully accepted the Barnabus Fund, which is sending aid to war-torn Syria. During the afternoon there will be talks inside the church about the work of the fund.

After the tours, tea and cake will be served at Clonmel – opposite The Green Dragon pub on Flaunden Hill.

A Hemel Hempstead teen died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning when he decided to sleep in his car following a Halloween party, an inquest heard this morning.

Karl Daniel Phillips of Longlands parked his light blue Peugeot 206 in Berkhamsted’s Sportspace car park in Douglas Gardens, after the gathering at a friend’s in the town.

It is thought the 19-year-old wanted to sleep off the alcohol he had drunk before driving back to his Hemel Hempstead home, and had turned the heating on to keep himself warm in the early hours of November 1.

It was not until around 6am that morning that he was discovered by regular car park user Mark Goodman, who said the vehicle was making a lot of noise, and used a wheel brace to smash a window when the young man failed to respond to him.

Mr Goodman alerted police and paramedics who pronounced Mr Phillips dead at the scene. Scene of crime officers described his death as non-suspicious as there were no signs of any struggle.

A toxicology report showed Mr Phillips to have 89 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and 186 in the same amount of urine – suggesting he was over the legal drink-drive limit but had had his last drink a number of hours before his death. He had been described by friends at the Halloween celebration as being ‘quite drunk’.

The teen also had a fatal level of carbon monoxide poisoning at 67.5 per cent.

It is believed a fault in his car’s exhaust caused noxious fumes to enter the heating system, which would have caused him to die while he slept.

A woman who was driving her friends home at around 2.50am is thought to have been the last person to see Mr Phillips. Witness Hannah Suckling said she noticed the car driving into the sports centre car park and that the lights appeared to be faulty.

Coroner Edward Thomas said: “Karl decided to park his car and rest for the night, probably because he was over the limit. He died an accidental death, as this was an unintentional consequence of what happened. It is dangerous to sleep in a car, especially with the engine running.

“He would not have known what was happening. It is tragic, and I express my deepest sympathies to his family.”

Vandals who have been causing a nuisance at Apsley’s Frogmore Road industrial estate are on the radar of police, who have released CCTV images of the suspects.

The series of incidents – which took place between January 3 and February 11 – include breaking the windows of business properties, stealing metal containers and waste bins and damaging industrial bins and pallets.

Safer Neighbourhood Sgt Adele Hopkin said: “We would like to identify the people pictured as we believe they may have information that could assist the investigation.

“The clothing worn and the bike pictured are quite distinctive and I would ask that anyone who believes they know the identity of the people pictured to contact me or my team.”

Call police on 101 quoting the crime reference number D1/14/922 with information.

The police summary of the crimes is as follows:

> At around 10.45pm on Tuesday, February 11 three offenders caused damage to an industrial bin and pallets.

> Between 6pm on Tuesday, February 11 and 6am on Wednesday, February 12 a number of windows at a business were broken.

> Between 5.30pm on Wednesday, January 15 and 11.45am on Thursday, January 16 two metal containers were stolen.

> Around 4.45am on Thursday, January 16 a metal container and plastic bin were stolen.

> Between 5pm on Friday, January 3 and 8am on Saturday, January 4 two waste bins were stolen.

A promising youngster from Berkhamsted Squash Club saw off some of the best junior players in the country to win the U15 Silver Squash Tournament in Wimbledon.

Hasnaat Farooqi, who attends Buckingham College School in Harrow, came out on top against the top-32 ranked players in the UK in his age group to lift the trophy.

In junior squash in England there are a total seven Silver events which are contested by the top players in the country – with three of these competed jointly and the other four split between the north and south sections.

The Wimbledon Lakeside competition was the first of the three joint Silver events in England, meaning the standard of competition was extremely high throughout

After taking out the UK’s talented number one seed Tom Walsh 3-2 in a gruelling 70-minute battle in the semis, Farooqi again had to dig deep to win the final in another mammoth 85-minute 3-2 win over Elliot Ridge from Yorkshire.

A thrilled Farooqi received the Silver Event Trophy from Wimbledon Lakeside Club tournament director Stacey Ross, and the teenager looks set for plenty more silverware in the near future.

He is trained by Adam Fuller at Berkhamsted, and the club are expecting big things from their young charge.

When young people aged under 18 are arrested, they are usually accompanied to the police station by a parent or carer to make sure they are supported and treated fairly.

But sometimes when this cannot be done an ‘appropriate adult’ is needed, by law, to look after their rights and welfare while they are there.

Hertfordshire’s Youth Justice Service, which works in partnership with Herts Police, wants more adults to step into this voluntary role, which requires two days of training.

The next training event will run from 7pm to 10pm on Tuesday next week and the Tuesday after that at Hatfield Police Station in Comet Way.

To book a place on the training, email Jennie Jenner at Jennie.Jenner@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire David Lloyd said: “Appropriate adults are an essential part of the criminal justice system – they make sure young people are supported and treated fairly.

“This is an important role and one of many ways that people can volunteer and make a difference in the community. The more of us who are involved in policing, community safety and the criminal justice system, the better protected we all are.”

Keeping an anxious eye on the weekend weather forecast are the members of folk outfit Kara.

That’s because they are planning to add a musical dimension to Kings Langley’s short-term transformation to Kings Landing.

The village’s temporary name change is linked to the latest box set DVD release of cult fantasy drama Game Of Thrones – King’s Landing is a key location in the sweeping series.

Kara, fronted by Kings Langley-based Daria Kulesh, will be dressing up as characters from the series when they play a lively lunchtime set outside wine merchants Dalling & Co in the High Street.

Diehard fans of the series might like to reflect that Kara means ‘black’ in Turkish and ‘crow’ in Japanese and their set list includes ballads about weddings gone horribly wrong which will strike a chord with anyone familiar with the Game Of Thrones storyline.

There’s one cheerful little number about a treacherous demon killing a bridegroom on his wedding day and then seducing the innocent young bride.

The subject matter may be grim but the band’s sound is spirited and rich, with theatrical, quirky delivery.

Award-winning singer songwriter Daria, whose roots are in Russia, is a self-confessed Game Of Thrones fan and loves both the books and the TV adaptation.

She said: “I like the soundtrack, and the books feature a lot of songs, some of which have already been included in the show while others are still crying out for folky arrangements.

“I think that our music has a dark, sexy and dynamic edge to it as well as a unique medieval tint which goes with the spirit of the show quite well.

“In fact, when I wrote a few of my songs, based on old legends or true stories, I set them in a medieval world similar to Westeros where morals and attitudes are somewhat different to our day and age.”

Daria hosts the regular Acoustic Cafe sessions at the Rose & Crown pub in Hemel Hempstead, the latest of which is tomorrow night.

The High Street will also see more acoustic excellence on Saturday night, when the Old Town Hall presents another Acoustic Showcase evening.

The bill includes Terry Emm – dubbed England’s new pastoral-folk prince by those in the know – as well as Cambridge-based feelgood folk pop outfit Fred’s House and alternative folk/rock favourites Nick And The Sun Machine from St Albans.

Tickets are only £5, call 01442 228091 or visit the website at oldtownhall.co.uk

If there are three words that turn me away from a film faster than the prospect of sitting in front of someone chowing down on a binful of popcorn, ‘enchanting romantic fantasy’ is only beaten by a short head by overall champion ‘starring Adam Sandler.’

A New York Winter’s Tale is packed with the distressing warning signs of a date movie which might appear to have something to offer but falls flat on its face.

It’s adapted from an acclaimed novel, there are lots of star names wearing elegant period costumes, but there is a baffling storyline which struggles to convince.

And it’s also first time out as director for Akiva Goldsman, who may have an impressive pedigree as a writer and a producer but has never called the shots before.

So what’s it all about? We’re in New York half way through the First World War – oh, sorry, we were half way through but the Yanks had yet to rock up on the front line – and burglar Colin Farrell breaks into a posh pad.

There he comes across frail young beauty Jessica Brown Findlay, her off Downton Abbey, and they begin to hit it off. Hold on, she’s suffering from TB and not long for this world.

But Colin, who at the same time is being pursued by sinister gangster Russell Crowe, then discovers that he is able to hop through time and is determined to use his gift to both dodge Russell’s attentions and save the love of his life.

Sounds absolutely ludicrous, doesn’t it? It’s possible to be carried away by flights of fancy, but not when they are as heavy-handed as this. Catch it while you can, it won’t be around for long.

Another big budget release laden with stars which has failed to convince the critics is Monuments Men.

George Clooney directs and takes a lead role, along with the likes of John Goodman, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray in this sort of true tale about a hand-picked group of arty warriors tasked with rescuing priceless paintings and the like before the retreating Nazis torched them in the dying days of the Second World War.

Watch the video to see what the stars had to say in advance of the London premiere.

New images from above show that the Hemel Hempstead sinkhole has grown since it first appeared in Oatridge Gardens on Saturday.

A police cordon now surrounds the area so that nobody can get in and out.

The only way to photograph the sinkhole is from above - which is exactly what Stuart Marsh, who works at SKM Studio in The Nokes, Gadebridge, did today.

He said: “I flew one of our radio-controlled camera helicopters up there, and it’s huge.”

{http://www.skmstudio.co.uk/en/top/hertfordshire-photography-studio/|To see more of his firm’s aerial photographs of the area, click here}

SKM studios covers Herts, Beds and Bucks, London and the south east.

Anyone would think Berkhamsted Castle’s moat had been filled with water once more to fend off potential invaders.

But – centuries after it fell out of use – it is in fact torrents of rain that has filled the area around the historic landmark.

This website understands the castle has now been closed due to ‘high water levels’.

Simon Ragoonanan posted a photo of the castle’s moat on the social networking website Twitter.

He said: “Record UK rainfall means the Berkhamsted Castle moat is back up to 1066 levels.”

Adoption chiefs are considering the prospect of activity days in a bid to match people with children needing homes.

Herts County Council already hosts successful children’s evenings every four weeks.

There no children present at these sessions, but potential adopters are able to view videos and pictures of children in need of a loving family and are also able to speak to the social workers who know them.

And approved adopters are already given support and encouragement to attend adoption activity days being held nationally if they wish.

Now the authority is considering a trial activity day where approved adopters have the opportunity to meet children who need homes.

County council spokesman Dee DeBruin said: “Hertfordshire continues to successfully match and place children for adoption and this has resulted in 69 placements made over the year up until December 2013.

“The majority of children in our care – 75 per cent – are in happy foster placements with the remaining 25 per cent in care homes and other provision.

“However, a significant number of the children in foster care continue to need the chance to live with an adoptive family.

“Hertfordshire is always looking for adopters from all walks of life who can give children a loving and permanent family in which they can thrive.”

People can find out more about adopting a child by calling 0800 917 0925 or by visiting www.hertsdirect.org/adoption.

Dee said: “Please do not discount yourself because of age, marital status or sexual orientation. If you feel you have something to offer a child, please get in touch.”

An alumna of Tring Park School will star on the silver screen alongside Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe this week.

Jessica Brown Findlay – perhaps best known for her role as the tragic Sybil Crawley in Downton Abbey – stars as terminally-ill Beverley Penn, the love interest of co-star Colin Farrell’s Irish rogue character Peter Lake.

The supernatural drama is already out in the US under the title of Winter’s Tale, and is based on Mark Helprin’s 1938 novel.

Tring Park Principal Stefan Anderson said: “There is a lot of hard work, passion and dedication which goes before success and Jessica really deserves to be reaping the rewards from her hard work now.” A New York Winter’s Tale is in UK cinemas this Friday.

Berkhamsted have been spared from having to play more than one midweek game in any one week after some impressive calendar juggling by the SSML fixture secretary.

Berko have seen four fixtures postponed in succession, leaving the SSML Premier Division title challengers with a backlog of matches.

However, the revised fixture list shows that they will not have to cram in too many matches in one go – which should benefit them in the title run-in.

The Comrades’ vital promotion clash against Hanwell Town is now scheduled to take place next Tuesday, February 25, with a 7.45pm kick-off at Broadwater.

The other revised fixtures, with their new dates, are listed below:

Tuesday, March 4 - Home to either Hanwell Town or St Margaretsbury, Challenge Trophy

Tuesday, March 18 - Home to London Colney, Premier Division Cup semi-final.

Tuesday, April 8 - Away to Leverstock Green, SSML Premier Division