Services and useful Government Links for

This article explains some useful links to the organisations that provide services for the area, and to help you find where you can ask questions or find out more.

Just getting started with computers and the Internet?
If you are new to the Internet and you need to get to grips with the basics, The BBC have a great web site called Web Wise that can help you get started.  You can take their online course “The BBC's beginner's guide to the internet”:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/

Who provides which service in my area?
This page from Hertfordshire County Council’s “Herts Direct” website explains which organisations provide the public services in your area:
http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/localgovorg/

...and this page shows how to access all the public services offered by Hertfordshire County Council and Partner organisations:
http://www.hertsdirect.org/publicservs/

Who is responsible for road maintenance?  How do I report a problem?
A new Highways Partnership has been launched between Hertfordshire County Council and St. Albans City Council to take responsibility for St. Albans roads.  St Albans highway maintenance and inspection is explained at:
http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/transport/maintenance.htm

You can call St Albans Highways Enquiry Line on 01438-737320 or 01923-471320.
Faults can also be reported online via the Hertfordshire County Council website:
http://www.hertsdirect.org/roadtrans/hh/services/hwayfaults/

What is Hertfordshire Highways?
They are the organisation that actually does the work on the roads.  Hertfordshire County Council has joined forces with two private sector partners, Mouchel and AmeyLafarge, to create a new style of delivering highway services in Hertfordshire.  Hertfordshire Highways are responsible for all aspects of highways work, from day-to-day repairs and refurbishing worn out roads to investigating accident sites and enhancing the general road environment.
http://www.hertsdirect.org/roadtrans/hh/info/whatherts/

I’ve got some rubbish to get rid of
Find out where and how you can get rid of waste and refuse, check on street cleaning or recycling:
http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/living/waste/bulky.htm

Where can I find out about Public Transport in St. Albans?
Public Transport services in St Albans are listed at:
http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/transport/public.htm

Who’s my MP and how do I contact him?
Kerry Pollard is the local MP for the area.  You can find out more of what he does and where he holds his local surgeries on his website:
http://www.kerrypollardmp.co.uk/
You can contact him via e-mail using MP Exchange - a service run for all MPs by Advocacy Online Limited.  Go to the site below and follow the instructions (pick a topic, fill in your details, write your message and they get the e-mail to the correct MP):
http://www.mpexchange.co.uk/
 

Who’s my local police officer?
Who's my ward policeman?  Find out at this Hertfordshire constabulary web page:
http://www.herts.police.uk/contact_database/main.php?search_fd2=Sandridge

Who’s responsible for my Policing and where can I find out more?
Find out about Hertfordshire Police Authority at:
http://www.herts-police-authority.org.uk/
Find out about Hertfordshire constabulary at:
http://www.herts.police.uk/index.php

I see signs for PSDB in the area – what is that?
It is the Police Scientific Development Branch.  If you want to find out more about what it does, go to their site:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crimpol/police/scidev/index.html

I want to find out more about government and how it works?
UK Online is where the Government Information and Services are online:
http://www.ukonline.gov.uk/

The UK Parliament has its own website.  It tells you what's on in Parliament, provides the online version of Hansard, which is the record of everything said in Parliament.  It lists the Bills before Parliament, a Directory of MPs, Peers & their Offices, Publications and archives:
http://www.parliament.uk/

If you want to find out information on a variety of things, try the National office of statistics:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/

Do you want to petition Number 10?
Did you know Number 10 Downing street accepts electronic petitions?  Find out about how to submit an e-petition at:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page297.asp

Do you know about YoungGov? 
This is the youth section of UK Online, aimed at opening up government for 11 to 18 year olds.  Find out more here:
http://www.young.gov.uk/

Did you know the UK has a Youth Parliament?
Find out more about the UK Youth Parliament at:
http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/