Latest news with #ThreeRiversDistrictCouncil
Muscat Daily
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
Wands out, books open: Harry Potter reboot builds real school for cast
Hertfordshire – The magic is real again, at least for the young cast of the upcoming Harry Potter television reboot. In a move that sounds straight out of a J.K. Rowling chapter, the production studio behind the series has been granted permission to build an on-set school—yes, a real one—for its budding wizards-in-training. The Three Rivers District Council gave the green light to transform a set of portacabins into a fully functional educational facility. No enchanted staircases or floating candles just yet, but the temporary school is designed to teach up to 600 children a day, ensuring that while they might spend their afternoons dodging Dementors or duelling in dark corridors, their evenings are reserved for maths, science, and everything in between. Running until 2035, the on-site classes will cater to the unique rhythm of the shoot, with lessons held from 5:30pm to 8:30pm every weekday. Because when you're filming flying scenes and wand battles by day, when else are you going to squeeze in homework? Meanwhile, the buzz around the reboot is picking up speed. Auditions for the main roles have already begun, and HBO has confirmed that over 32,000 hopefuls are preparing to cast their names into the Goblet of Casting, with open calls set for September. And just like the avalanche of Hogwarts letters in The Philosopher's Stone, casting enquiries are flooding in—bringing a whole new generation of witches and wizards to Platform 9¾, this time armed with scripts instead of spellbooks.
Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Harry Potter TV series gets on-set school for child actors
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden has received official approval to build a temporary on-site school facility for young actors working on the new Harry Potter television series. The decision was granted by Three Rivers District Council. The studio, located near Watford, will use a series of portacabins as classrooms to accommodate child performers involved in the production. While designed to serve up to 600 pupils during crowd scenes, the school will typically host around 150 students at a time. The facility will operate weekdays between 5:30am and 8:30pm, allowing child actors to manage academic commitments alongside filming schedules that may include night shoots and location work. Planning documents describe the project as supporting a 'significant new TV series' expected to be based at the studio for the next 8 to 10 years. Although the documents do not mention Harry Potter directly, HBO confirmed earlier this week that filming on the reboot has begun in Leavesden. Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin has been cast as Harry Potter in the series. HBO reported that over 32,000 children auditioned for the leading roles following an open casting call in September. The school setup is approved for use for up to 10 years, with some construction elements noted as already underway at the time of the application.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
New children's playscheme launches at school for summer holidays
An "exciting" children's playscheme at a Croxley Green school is now open for bookings. Three Rivers District Council says its playscheme at Yorke Mead School offers fun and affordable activities for reception-age to year six children during the summer holidays. The Ofsted-registered scheme is set to run from July 28 to August 22, providing more than 1,000 spots for young participants. The scheme will run from July 28 to August 22. (Image: Three Rivers District Council) Councillor Chris Lloyd, the council's lead member for leisure, said: "The playscheme is a great opportunity for young people to make the most of the summer holidays. "A typical day will be a mix of indoor and outdoor games and activities, sports, arts and crafts. There will also be the opportunity for groups to mix and play team games. "Lunch will be taken together in the middle of the day. If you are interested, don't delay, book a place today." The playscheme provides a platform for children to make new friends, engage in games, and explore a variety of activities, with a promise of "new and exciting play opportunities". It operates on weekdays from 8.30am to 5pm, charging £30 per child per day for Three Rivers residents, or £35 for non-residents. Parents can secure a spot for their children by booking online via
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The Independent
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
£3million Oscar Wilde-linked mansion mysteriously burns down after huge drugs bust
Built over 100 years ago for Oscar Wilde's theatre producer, Grade II-listed grand country home The Court once stood proudly at the heart of Chorleywood. But the £3million eight-bedroom mansion was left a charred and smouldering ruin on Sunday morning after a mysterious fire ripped through it overnight. Six fire engines rushed to the 3.5-acre estate at 12.13am, where 24 firefighters tackled towering flames with nearby pond water for around five hours. The tragedy was just the latest development in the 'strange' and 'sad' destruction of the house, residents of the well-to-do civil parish told The Independent. Neighbour Phil Hayes, 57, said: 'The fire came as a complete shock. It was about 1 o'clock in the morning when we saw the flames. Were you affected by the fire? Contact 'It seems to be the last chapter in the building's sad demise. It has fallen into disrepair over the years.' The Court was built in 1911 for Sir George Alexander, an actor who produced Wilde's world-renowned play, The Importance of Being Earnest. The Irish-born playwright wrote a 16-page hand-written letter to Sir George in 1894 trying to sell him the play for £150, which is worth around £25k today. Around 60 years after this, Fay Caplin, a 'generous and welcoming' woman, moved in with her husband Robert Caplin shortly after marrying him in 1954. Mrs Caplin lived on the grounds, equipped with a swimming pool and summerhouse, until her death aged 92 in 2022. A village newsletter dubbed her the 'heart of the community' and said she would often 'throw open her beautiful home' to neighbours, hosting garden parties and dinners. Two years after she died, The Court sat empty and in disrepair when it was bought by 43-year-old property developer Tarun Agrawal after he 'fell in love' with it. Mr Argawal has never lived in the property. But only months afterwards, police helicopters and scores of officers busted and deported an elusive gang using the Tudor-style home as a cannabis farm. Miss Campbell, who lives in a row of former almshouses opposite the estate, said the blaze had left her searching for answers. 'It is all very strange,' she told The Independent. 'I heard something about a cannabis farm being set up there. And now it has just gone up in flames.' Mr Argawal never lived in the house and told The Independent he did not know the cannabis farmers and had tried to install a wall around his tree-lined garden to protect the estate. 'We live locally and loved the property. It had beautiful character and history. I fell in love with it,' he said. 'My friend said I should forget about my house and move in as soon as I could. We wanted to build the wall to protect it. But the council did not let us.' He applied to build a two-metre-high brick wall around his property in June 2024, but it was refused by Three Rivers District Council. The council said the proposed wall would have a 'negative impact' on mature trees surrounding the property, which backed on to Chorleywood Common. Chorleywood ward councillor Philip Hearn said he was 'shocked and upset' by the fire and called for the house to be rebuilt. 'I am shocked and upset by this. Will be working to ensure the cause of the fire is fully investigated,' he said. 'A fire does not automatically remove the listing of a property and while too early to know the exact cause, the starting point should be for the property to be fully restored.' A Hertfordshire Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 12.20am on Sunday 9 February by the fire service to reports of a fire at a derelict property on Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood. 'A number of road closures were put in place and emergency services remain at the scene. 'Investigations with colleagues in the fire service are taking place to establish the cause of the fire.' A Three Rivers Council spokesperson added: 'Officers at Three Rivers District Council are assisting Hertfordshire Constabulary in its ongoing investigation following a fire at a vacant property in Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, in the early hours of Sunday morning.'
