The pinball around establishing responsibilities in the shadow of the latest Hitchin fire (Friday 8th) continued today with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) pushing back against the statement released by Hitchin District Councillors.

Hitchin NHDC Councillors had requested the Environment Agency and Herts County Council "as the appropriate authorities, to urgently take whatever remedial action that lies within their powers, and to work with North Herts Council to resolve this situation".

In response a Herts County Council spokesperson told Hitchin Nub News that - "we recognise the concerns of residents and are engaging with local community representatives on this issue to provide reassurance".

"The Environment Agency are the primary regulator for this type of facility and we will continue to work with them, our local government partners in the county and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure they are all as safe as possible".

"We also join others in local government and industry bodies in seeking further legislative and regulatory support to help reduce the risk of fires in the waste industry."

HCC also made clear as background that they have no contractual relationship with Global Ardour Ltd in Wallace Way, Hitchin, and do not process waste from their Recycling Centres. there.

Meanwhile the Environment Agency has been to scene and assessed the need for Air Quality Monitoring and this has reportedly not been advised. 

This latest news may lead to residents asking who and how will address the issue going forward.

See the Environment Agency response here