3,500 people demand Hertfordshire 'County of Sanctuary' referendum

• More than 3,500 residents have backed a petition calling for a Hertfordshire-wide referendum on any move by the county council to seek county of sanctuary status.

Today in Hertfordshire

Conditions in your area this morning.

The local news that matters this morning

Here's the local news from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.

St Albans Times · Families · yesterday Harpenden school raises more than £30K for charities • Pupils, parents, and staff at St Hilda’s School in Harpenden have donated more than £30,000 to three charities. • Friend’s of St Hilda’s (FoSH), the parent-teacher association at the independent prep school raised £30,873.69 over three years, with £10,291.23 donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, Make-A-Wish UK and Tiggywinkles.

St Albans Times · Families · yesterday St Albans schoolboy races to victory at Silverstone • A 15-year-old St Albans student has celebrated his first circuit racing win at Silverstone – just months after he made the move from sim racing into real-world motorsport. • Barnaby Brewer, who lives in St Michael’s village and attends St Albans School, discovered his natural talent for the sport following struggles.

Watford Observer - News (Newsquest) · Families · yesterday Hemel company director's trial begins after woman killed by falling bricks • The trial of a Hemel Hempstead company director accused of manslaughter has begun after a court heard that a mother was crushed to death on the school run when a pile of bricks dropped on her head as she walked past a construction site.

The Comet - News (Newsquest) · Safety · yesterday Investigation after man 'asked girl for sex in exchange for money' shelved • An investigation launched after a girl was "asked for sex" in exchange for money by a man in Stevenage has been shelved after more than 15 weeks.

Herts Advertiser · Safety · yesterday Man, 70, arrested after police storm property in drugs raid • A man has been arrested after police raided a property on Scrubbitts Square in Radlett.

BBC News - Beds, Herts & Bucks (regional) · Planning · yesterday Need To Know Beds, Herts and Bucks • Herts has seen two incidents of travellers setting up sites without planning permission.

BBC News - Beds, Herts & Bucks (regional) · Local news · yesterday Work starts to demolish vandal-hit office block • Peter Taylor, the Liberal Democrat mayor of Watford, says he is glad it is being knocked down.

The Comet - News (Newsquest) · Local news · today Noise complaint against village wedding venue dismissed by council • North Herts Council dismisses a noise complaint against The Barn wedding venue in Tea Green near Luton after finding no licensing breaches on October 5.

Welwyn Hatfield Times · Local news · yesterday Village music festival raises £4,000 for Stevenage's Lister Hospital • A music festival in Woolmer Green has raised thousands of pounds to support cancer patients at Lister Hospital in Stevenage.

Herts Advertiser - things to do · Events · yesterday Just Go offers festive breaks with travel and accommodation from £229 • There is a lot of talk about Christmas right now and if you want to experience a trip away why not let someone else do the planning this Christmas?

Welwyn Hatfield Times · Local news · yesterday RSPCA makes urgent call for Hertfordshire adopters to help rescue animals • An urgent appeal has been launched by the RSPCA to help animals in need across Hertfordshire.

What's on: next 14 days

A quick-view of 52 priority public listings from 52 tracked events over the next 14 days. Tap any item for the source and full details.

14 Oct · Corn Exchange - HertfordALEX FRANCIS — THE REVIVAL TOUR WED 14TH OCT | HERTFORD

14 Oct · Hertford Corn ExchangeAlex Francis in East Hertfordshire

7 Oct · 39 Fore Street, SG14 1AL Hertford, United KingdomBattle of the Bands - Heat 5 | Hertford Corn Exchange

17 Oct · The Bengeo ClubBengeo Club

9 Oct · Brickendon Grange Golf ClubCharity Ball

10 Oct · Studio ((B)) - Boutique Fitness ClassesConnect & Flow, Mini Retreat Evening, Sober Rave, Deep Connection, Fun. Joy

9 Oct · Hailey Lane, HertfordCurry Night at The Galley Hall

10 Oct · 39 Fore Street, SG14 1AL Hertford, United KingdomGreen 182 | Corn Exchange, Hertford

7 Oct · BEAMGreen Onions Festival

16 Oct · Hartham Common ParkHertfordshire Oktoberfest 2026 - Friday Evening Session

17 Oct · Hartham Common ParkHertfordshire Oktoberfest 2026 - Saturday afternoon Session

17 Oct · Hartham Common ParkHertfordshire Oktoberfest 2026 - Saturday evening Session

8 Oct · The Hertford ClubJam Today! Hertford Jazz Jam at the Hertford Club

6 Oct · 117 Fore Street, HertfordJungle Jam

17 Oct · 39 Fore Street, SG14 1AL Hertford, United KingdomSimulation Muse / Runaway Killers | Corn Exchange, Hertford

11 Oct · The Book and BottleStorytime: Captain Frank’s First Voyage

14 Oct · BEAM HertfordWe Will Rock You

18 Oct · Polaris Wilderness AdventureWild Food & Forage Day Workshop

17 Oct · BEAMWild Tales & Creature Puppets: BEAM

10 Oct · Michael's FollyWomen's Sweat Lodge

7 OctTHE OLDEST BIKE, Bike Night

6 OctToddler Tuesday at Hertford Museum

8 Oct · The Pioneer ClubCheese & Beer Tasting with Ned Palmer at The Pioneer Club

17 Oct · The Alban ArenaDAYTIME Discos for Grown ups 70s80s90s party ALBAN ARENA ST ALBANS

10 Oct · The Horn, Victoria Street, AL1 3TE Saint Albans, United KingdomGuns 2 Roses | The Horn, St Albans

13 Oct · Gorhambury HouseHouse Tour

7 Oct · Saint and SinnerSt Albans - Small99's People, Planet, Pint™: Sustainability Meetup

17 Oct at 11:00 · Inn On The ParkSt Albans Clothes Swap

10 Oct · St Albans Museum + GallerySt Albans Flips into Wonder!

10 Oct · The Marlborough Science AcademySt Albans Freestyle - Saturday 10th October 2026

10 Oct · St Peter's Church St AlbansSwipe Vintage x St Albans Kilo Sale

6 Oct · Alban ArenaThe Bootleg Beatles

10 Oct · Meet at the entrance to the Verulamium MuseumVisit to Verulamium - Roman St Albans

16 Oct · Gorhambury HouseYoga & Sound Bath Day Retreat

17 Oct at 14:00Come n Try Waterskiing

10 Oct · Dunnings 280s 90s Over 30s Daytime Clubbing - WATFORD

13 Oct · Watford ColosseumAn Evening with Art Garfunkel

13 Oct · Watford ColosseumArt Garfunkel in Watford

13 Oct · Watford ColosseumArt Garfunkel What a wonderful world - celebration concerts Tour 2026

10 Oct · Dunnings IIBeyond 30 Presents... Daytime Clubbing | Watford

11 Oct · Watford ColosseumBogdan-Mihai Simion și Lăutarii de Mătase | WATFORD COLOSSEUM | 11.10.2026

17 Oct · O WatfordDollys country BRUNCH

17 Oct · Timmy's (Formerly Bar Bodega)It's Local End of Sumer Party

16 Oct · The Zoo WatfordFRIDAYS OUT OUT at The Zoo - Packages

10 Oct · Watford Palace TheatreGary Delaney: Gary on Laughing | Watford Palace Theatre

6 Oct · Hare Krishna TempleGuided Tours - Bhaktivedanta Manor

9 Oct · Watford ColosseumQueen of the Night - A Tribute to Whitney Houston

18 Oct · Hunton ParkThe Hunton Park Wedding Show - October 2026

10 Oct at 10:00Out of this World Nursery Open Day

18 Oct at 10:00Old Hatfield Farmers Market – 18th October

8 Oct–11 Oct at 13:30 · Hatfield HouseHatfield House Music Festival: Celebrations

16 Oct at 19:30 · The Old PalaceThe Tudor Songbook

Resident pulse

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Three Hertfordshire Amazon finds

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On this day in Hertfordshire

Sir Elton John, Watford FC's Honorary Life President, received the Freedom of the Borough of Watford on 6 October 1977.

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