Most Recent Stories in News

Oil paintings from the collections of Hitchin and Letchworth Museums can now be seen online. The UK holds in its public galleries and civic buildings more than 200,000 oil paintings spanning 600 years of art history – arguably the greatest national collection of its kind in the world. But a staggering 80% of these works are in storage or held behind closed doors, hidden from the very people who own them – the UK public. ...

Peter Lilley MP has renewed his call for a link road to be built in Hitchin to divert several hundred lorry loads of scrap every day away from residential areas. The road would join Stotfield Road to the back of the Hitchin Industrial Estate. He said: "At present the only route into the industrial estate is through a residential area, which subjects the residents to unacceptable levels of traffic, noise and air pollution. ...

MP Peter Lilley has welcomed news that Hitchin saw a record number of new businesses start up at the end of last year. Some 179 new companies were formed during that the third quarter of 2012, an unprecedented figure that also gave rise to a record level of net company growth over the same period, with the company register increasing by 117. Following the Duport Business Confidence Report for Hitchin, Mr Lilley said: "I am...

If you have unwanted electrical equipment cluttering up your home, go dump the stuff at a WEEE event (Waste Electricals and Electronic Equipment). The next WEEE event in Hitchin will be on February 2 at Woodside Car Park. Disposing of items in this way prevents tonnes of unwanted electrical items from ending up in grey bins and being sent to landfill. Instead it is all sent for recycling. Cllr Peter Burt, NHDC's portfolio holder for...

The Hitchin & Letchworth Health Walks is part of a countywide programme of free, volunteer - led walks, which aims to help people get outdoors, get more active and reap the benefits. The walks are all sociable and you don't need any special equipment to join in, just comfortable shoes. To register to walk either sign up online on or just turn up a few minutes early for your first walk. This year's walks start on Friday at 10.30am...

If you are having a good sort out and have any unwanted spectacles these are collected as a part of an international Lions scheme; they are cleaned, boxed up and dispatched to various parts of the world that are not so fortunate in the provision of eye care. Hitchin Initiative acts as a collection point for the Lions so please drop off any unwanted glasses to 27 Churchyard, Hitchin.

Peter Lilley MP planted a Mulberry tree on Friday to mark World Aids Day. The "Tree of Life" ceremony took place at the Triangle Community Garden, Hitchin to raise awareness of World Aids Day across the county and was led by people living with HIV in Hitchin. Peter was joined at the ceremony Cllr Joan Kirby, Chairman of North Herts District Council as well as service users from Herts Aid, the Triangle Community Garden's...

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue will be staging a car-crash rescue demonstration in Hitchin town centre on December 7 as part of a winter drive-safe themed community safety event. The dramatic scenes will take centre stage in Market Place between 12pm and 2pm, alongside other community services aimed at helping people keep safe and secure, particularly over the winter months and the festive season. As well as watching the fire service...

Gearing up for the Christmas season, localPeople.co.uk is on a special festive mission to find the nation's Christmas glitterati whether that is house, street, garden, window, tree or even pet. Do you tip your postman/bin man/milkman at Christmas time? Have you ever tipped your postman/bin man/milkman without it being Christmas time? Has the recession had an effect on whether or not you tip? Do you feel like the recession is...

The first Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election will take place on Thursday, November 15. The result of the election will be declared the next day. The candidate elected will take responsibility for policing in Hertfordshire and serve until May 2016. The four candidates who will contest the election are Ms Sherma Batson (Labour Party Candidate), Mr David Edward Lloyd (The Conservative Party Candidate), Ms Marion...