...while it's still there

It seems nothing short of a tragedy that during 2010, the year when we all want to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Howards End we may instead be faced with a decision being announced which will spell the end of Forster Country as we know (and love) it. This stark possibility looms very large because of the East of England Plan which will determine where literally thousands of houses are to be built across our region. This scenario is not generated simply by the land greed of local, regional or even national builders and developers (what a horrid word!) but by unelected members in the European Community who are trying to decree where future 'homes' need to be built.

It might bring a wry grin to your face that in1946, when Stevenage was designated to be the first New Town, our inspiration, E M Forster himself, successfully combined with Elizabeth Poston, whom he had met during World War II to campaign vigorously against the immediate development of land around Rooks Nest House. Fourteen years later the name Forster Country was coined by The Guardian newspaper and by 1976 the title was in common usage. The fact that it is now used in official documents and that to date there has been no development there is the achievement of Margaret Ashby and John Hepworth and the Friends of the Forster Country.