Following numerous incidents in Hatfield Town Centre in recent months, the Labour group on Welwyn Hatfield Council have demanded answers, and received none.

At a full council meeting on 10th September, Councillor James Broach asked the Conservative leader of the Borough Council, John Dean – “Why is Hatfield Town Centre falling apart ?”

It is as simple yet important question, one that anyone would ask, if they had seen newly refurbished glass panes and store fascias fall without warning.

Cllr Dean’s response was not that as composed as the one he later provided to the Welwyn Hatfield Times.

To gasps from other Councillors present, he accused Cllr Broach of ‘scoring political points’ and ‘talking Hatfield down’. He went further to imply that members of the public were exaggerating, there was nothing wrong, the glass panes that fell were toughened so it hadn’t shattered (until impact), no one was hurt so it wasn’t a big deal.

Councillor Broach responded by asking if this did not give cause to examine the details of contracts and plans going forward to make sure no corners had been cut. Cllr Dean would not be drawn into giving an answer on this either.

Following this meeting, there have been reports of residents tripping on uneven paving in Hatfield Town Centre, causing injuries and highlighting that there are numerous significant hazards that appear to have emerged recently in areas of the town centre recently worked on.

Labour leader Councillor Kieran Thorpe has reported this to the Council and said

“Every time these issues are brought before Councillor Dean and his Conservatives, every time – they respond by attacking the person raising the concern and say they are talking Hatfield down.

 

The truth of it is this is a Conservative administration utterly out of ideas, in its fifteenth year they simply don’t care about Hatfield and we’re at the point that panes of glass falling and nearly hitting a child and mother don’t even get a proper explanation.

 

It’s the façade they care that’s again fallen down, and residents can see exactly what their safety and Hatfield mean to the Tories.”