TO help ensure that the Gilston area becomes a high-quality place for people to live and work, East Herts Council is working to produce a charter and you’re invited to take part.

The charter will set out commitments about how the developers and the council will work together and involve the community in preparing future masterplans for the area.

Masterplans bring together contributions from the various councils, local interest groups, the community and developers to ensure the Gilston area becomes a great place that is sensitively designed to fit in with the existing villages and the Stort Valley.

You’re invited to take part in a workshop where your contributions will help to shape the charter. The first workshop is on Saturday October 6 between 9am-1pm in the council chamber at Harlow Council, Civic Centre, The Watergardens Harlow, Essex CM20 1WG.

If you’d like to attend, please register by emailing [email protected] with your details by Thursday October 4 to receive your invite. Please note that participants are asked to stay for the whole workshop.

This will be one of several workshops so please also email if you’re not able to attend but would like to be contacted when other events are arranged and receive updates on the charter. You can also keep updated at www.eastherts.gov.uk/gilston

The council will be inviting the parish councils of Gilston & Eastwick, Hunsdon, Widford and High Wych to join landowners and other key organisations to take part in the process as well as set out a plan for future engagement throughout the life of the development.

When finished, the council will consult on the draft charter so there will be further opportunity for you to comment at a later date.

The Secretary of State has placed a holding direction that presently prevents the council from adopting the District Plan. Further details at https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/statement-district-plan
The council remains confident in the soundness of the Plan and therefore will continue to take an active approach to the preparation of this Charter.