The Hitchin’s Big Green Litter Pick is on Sunday October 21st, organized by Hitchin Forum and Clean Up Hitchin. Volunteers welcome – email litter@hitchinforum.org.uk . Teams will be scouring the town from 10 til 12 – do join in! (12 teams, 93 volunteers of all ages and 149 bags of rubbish were the totals for the last effort!)
NHDC had agreed to support the principle of exploring a joint venture regeneration of the Churchgate Centre with Shearer Property Group. We were pleased that moves were being made to improve this area, but concerned about the consultation process. At the Hitchin Committee on September 11th new ideas were put forward by Hitchin Initiative and Hitchin Town Action Group, 
focussing more on an overall plan of the town centre, than on the buildings and retail options. Councillors expressed great interest in this and we look forward to more discussions in the coming weeks. More on the saga here. NHDC’s April survey results here and more information here. NHDC Cabinet will discuss their next step on September 25th.
Hitchin Town Hall
& the District Museum – hoping for progress, still, almost 2 months past the last deadline, but ever hopeful! Cabinet meeting on September 25th will continue discussing the options – a link to the Cabinet meeting is here. Click & read more from the Comet website.
Highover Farm Outline Planning Application is on the NHDC website, reference number 18/01154/OP – full details here. Hitchin Forum’s response to the developers’ initial proposal is here.
Friends of Butts Close – latest Newsletter here 
and more about the Friends of this valued green space here.
The District Local Plan & the Examination In Public – the details and our submissions, but we are still awaiting the Inspectors decisions.
Air Quality in Hitchin – what is happening?
Careful where you walk! all about footpaths.
What else do we do? 
The Forum exists to develop and channel energy and enthusiasm for the town. We work to highlight things that we think need to change and improve the environment, and challenge developments that we think will damage our heritage and future. Information on all of our current and recent campaigns, issues and concerns are available here.
We have working groups to look at the main issues which arise 
– the town centre, transport, open spaces and recreation, planning applications, planning policies and, lastly, how we get the information out – communications. More details here with info on the planning system.
Hitchin Forum was formed in 1992 as a non-political umbrella to bring together people and organizations who want to maintain and enhance Hitchin’s special character. It enables the views of people who live and work in Hitchin to be presented in a co-ordinated manner to relevant bodies – more history is here.
Read more about Hitchin, its history and the changes here, where to find local footpaths here. Members are regularly updated on issues and meetings, by occasional emails and a 2 monthly newsletter – present & previous ones are here. We hold several members’ meetings through the year.
Do join us! Anyone with an interest in Hitchin can join the Forum, either as an individual or as a nominated representative of an organization in the town. If you do want to be more involved then tell us – we often need an extra pair of hands! But – there is no obligation to do more than sign up – that is support enough. It is important that we have a wide membership base, partly so that we can hear a wide range of opinions, and also that we hear about issues in all corners of the town – membership details here.