07 September 2009 Closure of vital parts of the QE2 Hospital. As you know Welwyn Hatfield residents have been fighting the planned closure for many years. During this time we've enjoyed the support of the entire community.
So it's with great sadness that I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that what I regard as a 'tipping point' has been reached in the process designed to lead to the closure of A&E, Maternity, Elderly Care, Paediatrics and the withdrawal of all Surgery from our QE2 Hospital.
Essentially, planning permission has recently been granted for the expansion of the Lister Hospital in Stevenage and building work has begun up there. Sadly this means that, even if there is a change of government next year, the closure programme will have been stitched up by ensuring that hundreds-of-millions-of-pounds will have been committed and spent building up the Lister Hospital, in order to justify closing large parts of our QE2.
Now I don't think any of this is acceptable and I have therefore invited the Shadow Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley MP to visit Welwyn Hatfield to join me in a meeting with the local health officials who - it seems to me - are doing this government's dirty work by driving through their closure programme with undue hast.
Assuming an election doesn't come until May 2010 I believe we'll be too late because the money will have been committed and largely spent up in Stevenage, but I still want to investigate whether some form of midwife-led maternity unit, as well as a proper A&E could be maintained at the QE2.
I honestly believe that it is completely insane to be rapidly expanding our population and yet closing major parts of our hospital at the same time.
Anyway, I thought you'd appreciate the update and will of course keep you posted on all of this.
Kind regards, Grant Shapps, MP Welwyn Hatfield.

04 September 2009 Welwyn Garden City Football Club is now open during the week. The Football Club that is staffed by volunteers is now open from 4pm until 11pm Monday to Friday. The club that was forced to lay off all it's staff on Sunday 22nd March 2009 and open only at the weekend is now open 7 days every week. All thanks to the hard work of it's volunteer staff. The volunteers have also made many improvements to the club house and grounds. The future of the Herns Way club is now looking bright.

15 June 2009 The former Suchard and Polycell factories in Broadwater Road have been demolished. The food store Tesco has purchased this site, as well as the former Shredded Wheat factory. Initial plans are to build a Tesco Store and swimming pool on the site with a new footbridge over the railway line to link it to the town centre.

31 May 2009 Forces Day The event to commemorate the anniversary of D Day was held by The Lagoon, Mundells. For photos click here

-30 March 2009 Welwyn Garden City Football Club has reopened. The Herns Way club has reopened it's doors and is being run by many of it's former staff, who are now working without pay, as volunteers. Plans are being made to tidy the club and it's grounds. It is hoped that this action will entice back to this fine venue many more club members and their families.

- 21 March 2009 Welwyn Garden City Football Club In Financial Difficulties. The bar and club will soon be run by volunteers as the club claws itself out of it's difficult financial situation. All bar staff will lose their jobs tomorrow, Sunday 22nd March when the Herns Way club temporarily closes the doors to the bar and lounge bar. The closure will take place on Sunday evening after last orders are called. It is not known how long the club will remain closed, but already many have volunteered to assist, including the current bar staff

- 5th November 08 explosion in Mundells under-construction warehouse kills one worker and injures others.

- September 2008 Local musician Paul Griggs has published a book covering his life as a musician.
Paul, was a member of The Cortinas, Octopus and Guys N Dolls. He currently works as a solo musician. His book, "Diary Of A Musician", is available online from http://www.p.griggsy.btinternet.co.uk/Untitled/Diary_of_a_Musician.html. You can also purchase a copy of the book from Paul if you attend one of his gigs.

- The Hop 50's, 60's & 70's concert raises £700 for the NSPCC.

- The well know local tailor Dennis Barber has died.
The former owner of Denbar Tailors passed away at the QE 2 hospital on the 12th April 2008 aged 84 after a short battle with cancer. He is greatly missed.