Welcoming a strengthened final report into Hitchin industrial health impacts

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

WEDNESDAY 20^th MAY

Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, has welcomed the publishing of a Health Impact Assessment into the of Hitchin’s Industrial Centre.

The Assessment was instigated following calls by Strathern and Hertfordshire County Councillor Ian Albert for more coordinated and robust action following a number of fires at recycling centres on the industrial estate.

Issued jointly by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC), the report examines the health impacts of Hitchin’s large industrial estate, including the impact of fires, heavy goods vehicles and other affects.

In its now final draft, Councillor Albert and Strathern secured key changes for residents, strengthening recommendations to improve safety on Grove Road and the surrounding area.

The councils will now consider a full 20mph Grove Road, including Wilbury Way, Cadwell Lane and the roads that run off them, to reduce the speed of large industrial HGV traffic.

The report calls for the site’s industrial companies to ensure trucks meet legal netting requirements, and have the police on standby to enforce this. Further measures included examining the case for more pedestrian crossings along Grove Road, new speed roundels on Grove Road and reviewing whether to place 20mph limits in school-drop-off times.

Strathern and Albert have previously held a public meeting on the review and took the feedback they heard back to HCC and NHDC.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“With such a significant industrial centre within our town, neighbouring homes and schools, a review into the health impact of the site was long overdue.

“I’m glad that following my calls with Cllr Albert for action, concrete steps are now being taken.

“This detailed report is a crucial step in examining the range of challenges for residents locally, building out an evidence base for action, and recommending key next steps that are in both council’s gifts to deliver.

“Cllr Ian Albert and I, following earlier drafts, have secured key recommendations to make the roads around the site safer for residents and pedestrians.

“As this report is now considered and developed across our local authorities, we will be working to make sure we go as far as we can to offset the site’s impact for residents.”

Notes for Editors

You can see attached a copy of the report here.