Hatfield Has Already Lost So Much

I have been reading with growing concern our MP’s latest campaign to do away with Hatfield Town Council. 

Although I have no doubt Mr Shapps intentions are honourable and for the good of Hatfield residents, I certainly 

don’t believe that doing away with the Town Council is the right option. Surely there are other ways of saving 

money. I moved to Hatfield almost 50 years ago – it really was a nice place to live. We had the best of both worlds – the 

medieval Old Town still existed and, in contrast the New Town grew beside it. We also had a thriving historic 

aircraft industry. Working together with Welwyn Hatfield Council, was the town council, with all the amenities it had to offer. 

My daughter had her wedding reception in The Memorial Hall – she was married in the lovely St Luke’s Church. 

My husband had his 70th birthday celebration in Roe Hill Hall. My grandson learned his first footballing skills on the astro-courts at Birchwood Leisure and he also attended the play scheme there, run so efficiently by the staff during the school holidays – 

a godsend for working parents. The town council also owns and maintains Howe Dell Community hall; Oxlease House; Lemsford Hall and the many children’s play areas. My husband attends the gym at Birchwood and I attend several of the fitness classes that Birchwood runs during the week – all at reasonable prices, even taking into account the 

£50pa extra in our council tax. My great concern is that, if we lose the town council, these excellent facilities will gradually disappear. Even if they still carry on, will the rices increase to such an extent that a lot of people will be unable to afford 

them? 

Can Mr Shapps assure me that this will not happen? Hatfield has lost so much over the years.