HITCHIN: With a rise in violent behaviour and drug dealing as well as threats of violence to law abiding residents of our town including families, women and children, it's safe to say the controversial Lord Lister property deal is one of the most unpopular decisions ever taken by the council.

The Grade II listed building has turned into a hostel prompting a disturbing rise in anti-social behaviour in the town centre that has left many people and businesses fearful.

Hitchin Nub News understood that the police have now received more than 100 specific calls and complaints from fearful residents relating to anti-social behaviour coming from the Lister - a figure that, unfortunately still grows on a daily basis.

Campaigners allege 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 North Herts Council insist that they met the criteria to be decided under the delegated decision-making procedure, it is a claim hotly disputed by campaigners.

The matter was called in by councillor Keith Hoskins in the wider public interest as it was generating considerable public interest.

This means it will be determined by the Planning Control Committee.

However, despite the fact there are so many unanswered questions remaining, the person responsible for the deal, NHC leader Elizabeth Harburg-Dennis, is refusing to answer specific Nub News questions relating to the deal.

We feel that as a responsible news website operating in a democracy, here are five questions in total that Nub News believes the people of Hitchin require an answer for from Ms Dennis.

1) Why was this deal pushed through by a single person behind closed doors with no committee involvement?

2) Can NHC explain exactly why they believed the Lord Lister property deal would be a good arrangement that benefitted Hitchin town centre and the people and businesses that live and work there?

3) Is it true that the deal was pushed through because government money for the enterprise was about to be withdrawn?

4) How many trained/qualified professionals are employed in the Lord Lister halfway house to help its residents to cope with their complex needs including drug and alcohol addictions, in a bid to prevent reoffending?

And one from a Nub News reader and campaigner, Jess Princeton.

5) The council will not let anyone so much as cut down a tree without permission and yet the council can hand over hundreds of thousands of pounds to a property developer behind closed doors, in order to move unsupported former prisoners and other people with severe drug and alcohol problems into a property with no planning application and change of use, turning it from a hotel into a halfway house, and give no warning to other councillors and to the general public. Is this not a prime example of 'one rule for them, and everyone else another?'

See Hitchin Nub News for more on this subject this week

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