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Local Plans – How do they affect FoFC ? |
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Since our last Newsletter we have been made aware of two local plans which have potential ramifications for FoFC. These are the St Nicholas/Rectory Lane Conservation Area Management Plan and the North Herts District Coucil Local Development Framework Core Strategy 
The former of these sets out a range of measures to conserve a large part of Forster Country in its present state as a primarily rural area of charm and character. We feel that this plan is very supportive of our objectives and have written to Stevenage Borough Council with some comments which we hope will enhance the plan. This includes views, use of footpaths, support for literature explaining the history of the area and possibly placing one or two benches if agreed by the landowners to allow people to relax and enjoy the view. 
The latter document is more worrying. By the time of the publication of this newsletter a preliminary response to that will have gone back to NHDC. This core strategy is based significantly on the old East of England Plan which was formulated by the East of England Regional assembly and which was scrapped as an unnecessary QUANGO when the Coalition Government came to power. The strategy discusses the need for between 2,500 and 15,800 new homes to be built in North Hertfordshire. The favoured number is 7,000. There is a direct comparison of options between building development around Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Royston & the villages and building around Stevenage. This needs more study. It would need development of greenfield and greenbelt land. The document says – “whilst this option could be met without any development on the edge of Stevenage we believe that some sites on the edge of Stevenage would be preferable to some of the least desirable sites on the edges of Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Royston & the villages”. We will need to be very vigilant. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 30 March 2012 )
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John Hepworth, co-founder and then patron of The Friends of The Forster Country, died on 15th January, 2012. He was 92 years old and had remained involved as co-convenor until 2008. A D-Day veteran with a distinguished career in Geology, he had spent many years travelling and living overseas and was not overjoyed at the prospect of living in Stevenage. However, he made his home in the town in1975 and created a fulfilling life for himself after his retirement from paid work in 1983. He became a familiar figure in the Old Town as he rode around the streets, initially on a bicycle and in the last couple of years in a mobility scooter. 
Besides FOFC, he took a great interest in the Stevenage and Knebworth branch of the WEA (now SKAG – Stevenage and Knebworth Arts Group) and was for many years an active committee member. He also regularly attended meetings of the Stevenage Society and maintained close links with St Nicholas Church, despite maintaining to the last that he was an atheist. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 30 March 2012 )
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The Friends of the Forster Country (FoFC) are holding a competition for the best photographs taken within Forster Country. The Rules including the area comprising Forster Country for the purposes of the competition and the Entry Form can be seen by opening the links below. - Competition Rules - - Entry form (word doc) - - Entry form (pdf) - It is hoped this will stimulate further interest in this part of the countryside and its literary and musical heritage. The area was much loved by E M Forster, author of “Howards End” (for which the setting was Rooks Nest House in Weston Road), “Room with a View” and “A Passage to India”. E M Forster lived in Rooks Nest House during his formative years, as did the composer Elizabeth Poston up until 1987 and former Master of the Queen’s music, Dr. Malcolm Williamson. The mission of The Friends of Forster Country is to keep this countryside open for all time.The competition is open to all. - Competition Flyer - |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 December 2011 )
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