County councillors award community grants

Two county councillors have awarded community grants from their locality budgets to worthy organisations.

Councillor Ben Crystall (Hertford All Saints) has given £1000 to Kingsmead Residents’ Association to fund a Community DriveSafe Scheme. The scheme aims to raise awareness of safe, legal driving speeds and gather data for potential highway safety improvements on Ware Road, adjacent to Wheatcroft Primary School.

I’m delighted to support Kingsmead Resident's Association and their work to improve road safety in Kingsmead through the DriveSafe Scheme that they have established. With early data showing more than a quarter of drivers are speeding, this local scheme will help tackle the dangers of fast vehicles in an area with many families and young children who can be particularly vulnerable to speeding traffic.

:: Ben Crystall

Councillor Rachel Carter (Hertford St Andrew's) has given £375 to Hertfordshire Festival of Music to support the Hertfordshire Festival of Music 2026. Hertfordshire Festival of Music was set up in 2016 as the county's first large scale annual classical music festival bringing together world-class artists and local communities. This year marks the 10th anniversary with the theme ‘Made in Herts!’ celebrating Hertfordshire itself. Events will be taking place in and around Hertford from 30 May until 13 June.

The Hertfordshire Festival of Music has done a brilliant job of bringing world class live music to Hertfordshire. As well as featuring international artists, it has provided a showcase for our amazing local choirs and orchestras too. I am delighted to support this important cultural event.

:: Rachel Carter