Our bimonthly newsletter has arrived, and it has some interesting explanation of planning processes and the green belt, a description of one of our local nature reserves, and some words from our local MP. As with all of our content we welcome comments – to newsletter@hitchinforum.org.uk Newsletter 163 July August 2021
The North Herts Local Plan deliberations are continuing. A Consultation is currently under way with details on the NHDC website – click here. This closes on June 24th. We have been paying attention to the recent consultation by Stevenage Borough Council on a planning application for West of Stevenage. The date for comments on that has now closed, but the plans are still available on the Stevenage BC website, planning reference 21/00356/FPM.
The great Spring Clean of Litter 
changed this year – due to Covid restrictions. So, no large scale collections with community groups scouring the paths and open spaces. BUT following discussion with an officer from North Hertfordshire District Council’s Waste and Recycling Service, we agreed to spread the event over a period of 2 weeks to avoid the possibility that people would congregate in popular locations. And it was successful! Litter Gallery of heroes here!
Luton Airport and its (unsustainable) plans. 
London Luton Airport Limited is attempting to obtain permission to increase its passenger cap to 19 million passengers per year. This is its fourth attempt to relax noise conditions imposed when it achieved permission to increase passenger numbers to 18mppa, which have already been breached due to unrestrained demand-led expansion. Such expansion will impact on North Hertfordshire’s residents, is based on what Hitchin Forum believes to be an unsustainable business model. It also takes no account of the need to drive down carbon emissions. Hitchin Forum has submitted an objection to the airport’s application to Luton Borough Council letter of objection here.
Luton And District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN) has full details on its website, including links to Luton Borough Council’s Planning Portal where you can see all the associated documents; https://ladacan.org/luton-airport-19-million-time-to-say-no/
The Luton Luton Airport Town and Village Community Committee (LLATVCC) has also commented in their newsletter – LLATVCC Newsletter 63 Their latest newsletter is here LLATVCC Newsletter 65 and their latest newsletter about ‘Jet Zero’, a misnomer if ever there was one, is here LLATVCC Newsletter 66
Hitchin Footpaths – How You Can Help For some years, Hitchin Forum members have worked in coordination with Hertfordshire County Council’s
Countryside Access Officer for our area. Read more here about what we do and what can be done for the town’s 100+ footpaths and bridleways.
Highover Farm Development. There is an amended plan available on the NHDC website – if you have difficulty with that link the Application number is 18/01154/OP. The Forum has been involved in a meeting with the developers and others and the meeting minutes are here. Comments on the plans are included in our January newsletter.
Churchgate Regeneration
– see the latest in our newsletter (‘Town Centre Meeting’) – here. Much interest was stirred up by the Churchgate Resurgence PB last year – their website is here and their ideas were surfacing in the Town Centre meeting in September. NHDC seems to be working on options for the future and we look forward to good communications and consultations with the local residents.
Friends of Butts Close –
Butts Close is the oldest open space in Hitchin with a long history of use stretching back to late medieval times, when it was a sporting ground for archery. The Friends help take care of it, do some extra litter clearance and even some planting – Tony who coordinates the group is pictured here (photo Simon Maddison). The Friends latest newsletter is here and more about the Friends here.
Air Quality in Hitchin – what is happening?
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 town. Information on all of our current and recent campaigns, issues and concerns are available here. We have organized working groups to look at the main issues as they arise 
– eg. the town centre, transport, open spaces and recreation, planning applications and planning policies 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 to challenge developments that we think will damage our heritage and future- more history is here.
Read more about Hitchin, its history and the changes 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.
Contact the co-chairs at chair@hitchinforum.org.uk