[H1]HITCHIN: It's the controversial story that refuses to go away, even if local politicians remain tight-lipped in the hope that it will.[H1]

Hitchin Nub News has been investigating the mysterious £1.2m sale of the Lord Lister Hotel that saw the Grade II listed building turned into a hostel for individuals who have a history of rough sleeping or are at risk of rough sleeping.

Since the property changed hands last year, Herts Police have confirmed to Nub News that there has been a spike in anti-social behaviour in and around the Park Street site, near to the town centre.

In the most recent figures available, it is understood that the police have received 90+ specific calls and complaints from fearful residents relating to anti-social behaviour coming from the Lister - a figure that is growing by the day.

Nub News has been told that local residents have been threatened by people living at the Lord Lister, while others have said that they have been urinated upon by people in the hostel from first floor windows.

The building that dates back to the 18th century (read our latest Hitchin Nub News Rewind feature on the history of the building here) now houses former convicts who have recently been in prison, or are engaging with probation services, and have a formal mental health diagnosis and/or have a history of substance and/or alcohol misuse.

Campaigners have alleged that the £1.2m sale deal between Keystage, the Lord Lister and NHC that took place last August was made behind closed doors with due process being ignored.

While NHC tell Nub News that it met the criteria to be decided under the delegated decision-making procedure, a large number of questions remain.

[H1]Unfortunately, North Herts Council leader Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg has point blank, emphatically refused to talk to Hitchin Nub News about the situation, prompting far more questions than answers about her involvement in the controversial deal.[H1]

While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing from Ms Dennis-Harburg, the lack of transparency relating to such an opaque deal - and the fact she batted away media requests for an in-depth interview - has disappointed residents, and campaigners alike.

With Hitchin MP Bim Afolami telling Nub News that never in his Parliamentary career has he received such a large postbag full of complaints on a subject, with residents concerns rising by the day, clarity is required on the subject - not least from the local politician who rubber-stamped such an unpopular deal.

No wonder campaigner Jess Princeton told Hitchin Nub News: "It's unacceptable to refuse to answer questions from the press.

"This is a disturbing anti-democratic development, certainly in light of such an unpopular property deal."

Over to you Ms Dennis-Harburg...

[H1]Read Hitchin Nub News soon for the five crucial questions that we'd like to put to Ms Dennis-Harburg.[H1]