Hitchin residents concerned about air quality, lorry traffic and recent scrap metal fires are invited to a public meeting later this month as work begins on an independent Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the town's industrial estate and Grove Road area.

The meeting will take place on Thursday 27 November, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, in the Hitchin Boys' School Sixth Form Centre.

Cllr Ian Albert and Hitchin MP Alistair Strathern have been pushing Hertfordshire County Council and North Herts Council to commission an external assessment following a series of scrap metal fires and long-standing concerns about heavy vehicle movements in the area.

The newly commissioned HIA, to be carried out by RPS, will examine air quality, vehicle numbers — with a particular focus on lorry traffic — and the wider impact on community health. The findings are expected to help guide future policy decisions affecting the industrial estate and nearby residential streets.

Next week's meeting will give residents the chance to hear directly from RPS about how the assessment will work, share their experiences of fires, noise and traffic, and highlight any issues they feel should be included.

Those unable to attend will still be able to provide input online.

Information on parking and directions to the Sixth Form Centre can be found on the Hitchin Boys' School website under Visiting the School.