A new report has found that noise, traffic and pollution linked to Hitchin industrial estate are negatively affecting residents in the area.

Tetra Tech were commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council and North Herts Council to provide a Health Impact Assessment on the industrial estate after multiple fires at metal recycling facilities in the area.

The report found that Hitchin's Bearton ward suffers a "moderate" negative effect on health from traffic and HGVs in the area, with "minor" negative effects related to noise, air quality and community safety.

A series of recommendations has been made in the report, including:

• Consider extending the 20mph zone further along Grove Road
• Review speed limits during school drop-off and pick-up hours
• Ensure metal haulier HGVs consistently use the required netting
• Repairs and levelling of footpaths
• Investigate the feasibility and funding of two new pedestrian crossing points on Grove Road
• Continue to monitor air quality in the area
• Consider banning HGVs from staying overnight on nearby residential roads

Cllr Ian Albert (Lab), who represents the area at both North Herts Council and Hertfordshire County Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the report is "extremely welcome" and a "great starting point".

He added: "We need to ensure we've got a strong action plan to deliver those recommendations, and look to see where we can find the funding for that and press the case for that."

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said their officers would be "carefully considering these recommendations and working out how best to address them", alongside officers from North Herts Council and the Environment Agency.

The county council spokesperson added: "We will continue to listen to the views of the community and we will keep them informed."

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The new report, which drew upon statistics and residents' views in putting together its findings, concluded that "fear and intimidation" linked to the number of HGVs on the roads and debris falling off the vehicles had reduced the number of people taking part in physical activity.

Among the evidence used in the report were a traffic survey on Wilbury Way in November 2025 that found 747 HGV movements within 12 hours, and speed monitoring that showed most vehicles were going faster than the 30mph speed limit.

The report also concluded that Grove Road was "the least safe" pedestrian route considered, given the number of HGVS, narrow footpaths, footpaths close to the road, and cars parked on one side of a two-lane road.

Eight fires have been reported at the industrial estate in the last three years, including five at scrap metal recycling facilities on Cadwell Lane and Wallace Way.

But none have been reported at the facilities since 2024, which the report said is "thought to be as a result of the Fire Prevention Plan developed in collaboration with the Environment Agency and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service".

Cllr Albert said: "I do not want this report to disappear onto a shelf somewhere. We need timelines … we need to see what's the art of the possible here in what we can achieve.

"We just can't carry on like we are, and there's a real opportunity here to make some differences, and I really hope we can do that."

He added: "The longer-term piece of work is around the planning permissions and the siting of scrap metal recycling in what is clearly an inappropriate area for that to happen."

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