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Charnwood - Hitchin's neglected building

The future of Charnwood was first raised with North Herts District Council (NHDC) some ten years ago. NHDC had decided to relocate the museum to new premises adjacent to Hitchin Town Hall and it was clear that the building would become vacant. Charnwood was donated to the people of Hitchin for use by the public and so a future community use was required.

The building has remained closed to the public for most of the past ten years.

Nothing happened in 2012 and so in 2014 concerned residents formed Charnwood Community Management Association (CCMA) with the aim of ensuring that this iconic building remained for use by the residents of Hitchin.

CCMA was registered as a charity and registered Charnwood as an asset of community value.

The then Conservative administration at NHDC refused to discuss the future of the building, would not allow CCMA access to carry out a detailed survey of the building and to determine what modifications would be required to make the building into a vibrant community hub for Hitchin.

With a change in administration at NHDC, CCMA were finally allowed access to the building in 2019.

CCMA at its own expense carried out a detailed and professional survey of the building and also engaged an architect to draw up plans to make the building suitable for use as a community hub.

CCMA submitted a detailed costed proposal to NHDC in autumn 2020 which included an outline business plan.

This plan showed that the building could be run by the community for community use without need for day to day funding by NHDC but would require NHDC to repair and refurbish the building after decades of neglect.

NHDC agreed in autumn 2020 that the building should be retained and used as a community hub but wished to carry out a public consultation on potential community uses.

CCMA supported this decision. However NHDC did not allocate any funding for the refurbishment and it took until September 2021 to finally carry out the consultation. The consultation confirmed strong public support for Charnwood to be used as a community hub.

However at a Hitchin Committee meeting in October 2021 instead of agreeing to get on with the project NHDC decided to consider a further 'options' review.

Since that time nothing has happened, there is still only TBC funds in the NHDC future capital budget (when TBC is confirmed will it be sufficient for the refurbishment?) and the 'options' review has not materialised.

So after 10 years the building remains empty and its fabric deteriorating.

CCMA and Hitchin residents want to see this iconic building returned to public use.

Will it take another 10 years for anything to happen?

This really is a disgrace.

Bernard Eddleston

Charnwood Community Management association

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