I have found it extremely difficult to try and compose my Journal contribution this month. The situation in the Ukraine is horrific beyond belief and makes anything else look completely trivial. We can only applaud the massive relief operations being run by many countries and individuals. Jeff Jones is planning a mercy mission to deliver aid parcels to Poland using the Buntingford Community Bus. We applaud him and wish him and his colleagues safe passage. Let us hope and pray that the ambitions of the megalomaniac Putin are quickly quashed. My thoughts and prayers are with the brave citizens of Ukraine.

The Civic Society AGM will take place at the Community Centre on 5th April, from 7pm for a 7.30 start. Wine and 'nibbles' will be available at the end for those who like to stay for a chat. The guest speaker will be Sarah Perry, a member of the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, who will talk about her involvement with the project to restore the River Rib through Buntingford.

The Dandara application to build a further 23 dwellings at Aspenden Bridge has finally been heard by EHDC Development Management Committee. Sad to say they saw fit to approve it by seven votes to three, despite many reservations from some Councillors. This will see traffic on Aspenden Road, which is already unfit for purpose, increase even more. As has been said before, this application brings nothing to Buntingford or Aspenden - all it does is feather the Dandara nest even more.

Graham Bonner, Chairman, Buntingford Civic Society

If you have any queries about Buntingford Civic Society or issues you would like to raise, you can email the Chairman direct at chairman@buntingfordcivic.org.uk.

The April issue of the Buntingford Journal will be available from the usual retailers from 25th March.

More information about the Buntingford Civic Society can be found here and membership forms can be found here.