The Hitchin Big Spring Clean – Sunday March 17th We are looking to build on the success of the Autumn 2018 Big Green Litter Pick with our next event, the Hitchin Big Spring Clean. This will take place on Sunday 17th March 10am – 12 noon.
The ongoing public support for cleaning up Hitchin is very encouraging and we recently had this email:
“After being part of the litter pick last year, my 7-year old daughter has taken it upon herself to continue to do this. We have bought some litterpickers and now take them everywhere we go to pick up litter. She has even made posters (one shown here) to tell everyone else to do the same.”
Our Hitchin Big Spring Clean promises to be a fun and satisfying event once again, so join the dozens of volunteers who have already signed up!
Email: litter@hitchinforum.org.uk 10am – 12 noon, Sunday 17 March. Treasures to be found for youngsters! Hitchin Forum and Clean Up Hitchin – working together for a cleaner, brighter town! Areas we hope to clear up are here
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.
Churchgate Regeneration. 
A new group – Churchgate Resurgence PB – have now done presentations to other Hitchin groups, Hitchin Committee and North Herts Cabinet and Council. Their website is here. They give an account of their ideas and concepts which have been very well thought out and very well received. In addition they mounted an exhibition and have conducted a survey and the results of the 640 online participants are on their website (paper responses still to be analysed). Their work is fully supported by Hitchin Initiative and Hitchin Forum, and was very well received by Hitchin Councillors. This is all for discussion at the Full Council Meeting on February 7th – link to this is here. The Council’s report for Nov 22nd is here (in item 8, Agenda reports pack)
Hitchin Town Hall
& the District Museum Hitchin Town Hall Ltd and Hitchin Town Hall Finance have finally been able to sign the documents for NHDC to have ownership of the whole Museum – Comet Report here. Well done to the Hitchin worthies who have worked so hard to get the right deal for the community.
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?
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.