Our end of year newsletter has arrived with articles on Charnwood House (the old Hitchin Museum building), Luton Airport and its noise, carbon footprint and future plans (which mostly ignore the former issues). And there is some more ‘Nature on our Doorstep’. Newsletter 165 Nov – Dec 2021. Have a read and let us know your thoughts – to newsletter@hitchinforum.org.uk
Churchgate and its future.
The sale of the lease by Hammersmatch is reported in the Comet. There can be rounds of bidding and so far the Council’s attempt to buy the lease appear to be thwarted, but that may change. Who else is bidding is not known to us. However we hope that the ideas brought together by Churchgate Resurgence PB (their website is here) may influence any future development.
Hitchin Forum’s Big Autumn Clean-up 
With the relaxation of COVID restrictions, we were able to run a near- normal Hitchin-wide clean-up this year.Whilst we still cleared the sites we always clear, such as Windmill Hill and Butts Close, people were keen to suggest new hotspots and we have supported that where possible. As a result, we had about 120 volunteers of all ages working in about 15 different places, 
some on the Saturday but most on Sunday morning. Over 100 bags of waste were collected, and a number of volunteers took recycling home. Holy Saviour Guides did their usual thorough job on the Dell. This year’s ‘finds’ included a large tent, a watering can and a pushchair. Our twice yearly events are timed for maximum impact. In the autumn, vegetation is dying back to reveal rubbish concealed during the summer months. In the spring, our event in late March is timed so that hedgerows can be cleared before new growth starts. If you would like to take part in our event in March 2022, please email hflitterpick@gmail.com.
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. More about the impact here 
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 London 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 then 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.
The North Herts Local Plan deliberations are continuing. A Consultation was held and closed in June. The Inspectors final verdict is awaited -to quote NHDC – “The Inspector is currently reviewing the responses to the consultation on the Main Modifications, and depending on the points raised in the representations, it is anticipated that his Final Report will be issued during November 2021.”
We have also 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 – with the outcome still be decided.
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.
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 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. R
Read more about Hitchin, its history and the changes here.M
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