The issue of metal recycling plants in Hitchin’s industrial estate and HGV traffic through residential roads has been literally sparked off by five recent fires at those plants. 
In the early hours of Friday 8th November, fire fighters and appliances from as far away as Bedford were called to a large fire in one of the recycling plants on Hitchin industrial estate. The blaze was tackled with the aid of a powerful high volume water pump taking water from a main some distance from the fire. The fire broke out in a large pile of scrap metal, and is likely to have been caused by a hidden Lithium-ion battery, although that has not yet been confirmed. A plume of black smoke was visible for miles around, local residents were told to keep windows and doors closed, and local businesses remained closed. According to the BBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
was the 4th on the industrial estate within the last 12 months, and the 5th since 2019. There is more in The Comet.
Metal Recycling and HGVs
A Facebook group has now been formed with the objective of pressing for action on the issue of fires and the everyday problems caused by the heavy lorries travelling through Hitchin streets on their way to and from the estate – the address is https://m.facebook.com/
Councillors and our MP are urgently reviewing what can be done and the council recently resolved to review both the safety of the sites and the air pollution likely to effect local residents.