Luton Airport Expansion Plans: Should Luton Airport expand its passenger throughput from 18 million to 32 million each year? The plans are here. The consultation continues until December 16th. Hitchin Forum’s response is here – Luton Airport Consultation letter.
Increased noise and increased local traffic, quite impart from the climate issues, make this wholly undesirable (It has thought about the climate emergency – the buildings will be heat-proofed and resistant to flooding…..) . Herts County Council have produced an interim comment, and BBC news carried this report. Do respond to the consultation!
The Hitchin Big
Autumn Litter Pick was held on Sunday October 20th. 215 heroes turned out to clear up, working on 15 sites and collected 105 bags of rubbish and 59 bags of recyclables. Hitchin Forum, Clean Up Hitchin, Less Waste Hitchin, Hitchin Initiative and North Herts District Council joined forces to make it a great success. Well done to all (including the Ploggers – jogging and litter picking!!).
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. we produce reports for Herts County Council via Countryside Management Services – see them here
Churchgate Regeneration – see the latest in our recent newsletter (under ‘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 – latest newsletter here and more about the Friends of this valued green space 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 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.