The SRA Committee meets bi-monthly to discuss local news and events and to report back from any meetings attended. Committee members are actively involved in work to support local residents. Local ward councillors are invited to each meeting to give updates and stay involved.
All Sopwell residents are automatically members of Sopwell Residents Association, and welcome to join the Committee (up to a maximum of 15 members) and attend our meetings. Please email us see Contact page to find out when and where the next meeting is being held.
Sopwell Residents Association Committee Members 2024
- Chair: Gail Jackson (also Sopwell eco-stars/CNC rep)
- Vice-chair: Janet Audley-Charles (also Young Person’s Lead and Safeguarding Lead)
- Secretary: Karen Lilly
- Treasurers: Kate Swindells (also Sopwell eco-stars) & Teresa Frame
- Chris Blanch – Arts specialism
- Chantal Burns – Railway crossing campaign/Sopwell eco-stars
- Jo Cooney – Policy Lead
- Nelly Cronier-Mackie
- Mark James – Churches’ link
- Michelle Mackenzie – Chair of Cottonmill & Sopwell Hub campaign group
- Steve Peters – Sopwell History specialism
- Elaine Rainsford – SRA Events Group lead
- Adelle Stapleton – Legal specialism
- Rick Taylor -St Albans and District Neighbourhood Watch
Ex-officio – Sandy Norman – Sopwell Memories (website and book author)
Sub-Groups
Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub campaign group (CaSH) – This is the volunteer group responsible for 5 years + campaigning to get the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre (CCCC) built. Members continue to attend the council-led ‘Forum’ meetings to discuss CCCC business, in order to ensure community interests are at the heart of the CCCC.
SRA Events Group – organising events for the community and for fundraising- all year round. Led by Elaine Rainsford and Michelle Mackenzie. Open to all residents. Keep your eye open on the SRA Facebook group.
Sopwell eco-stars – growing environmental sustainability and community resilience on our patch. Leads: Kate Swindells, Chantal Burns, Gail Jackson – with additional volunteer support.
Additional Work
City Neighbourhoods Committee (CNC) – “The City Neighbourhoods Committee will lead, where relevant, the
implementation of localism in the unparished areas.” We have a representative at the St Albans District Council CNC – along with resident association reps from other non-parished wards.
City Centre Residents Associations (CCRA) – We also attend the City Centre Residents Associations meetings – which looks at current issues linking with council e.g. solar panels / travel and movement.
St Albans and District Neighbourhood Watch – We attend these meetings to get regular updates from police.
Community Litter Picks – SRA holds community litter-picking events. We hold litter-picking equipment and safety guidelines available for free loans to residents.
Social Media. SRA has a Facebook Group @sopwellresident with news and local information with 1,000+ residents. Please join! We also have an X account @SopwellResident see here.
Some of our committee members having fun at @leeannaswish Social Nights- and fixing stuff at Sopwell eco-stars’ Repair Fair – all at the Cottonmill Centre!
