David Hart - Hart of the Matter

Chalkstone plan - joined-up thinking or railroading?

If the economic catastrophes of the last couple of years are going to produce anything positive, you would think it would be in the way they teach us to pay a bit more attention to what we spend money on.

Skeletal remains of a giant Haverhill institution

Anyone writing or filming a social history of Britain could do a lot worse than focus their attention on little old Haverhill.

Groups need people, not cash, to deal with bureaucracy 19/02/10

There have been all sorts of ideas put forward for a share in the Haverhill Community Partnership pot, and next week decisions will be made about which ones will get something – in fact you may get a chance to vote on it.

Relieved at Bury council's survival? Amazing! 12/02/10

It is a tribute to the work of councillors and officers of St Edmundsbury Borough Council in recent years that Haverhill people will probably be rather relieved to hear that the council is to continue...

Economic recovery never seems to apply to lost services

I suppose it is a natural result of the economic catastrophes of the last year or two that there will be cuts in services and rises in taxes, whether they be paid to local or national tiers of government.

We should talk about council tax more before it hits us 29/01/10

It’s that time of year again when the minds of councillors and officers turns to budgets and council tax (yawn).

Haverhill should not have to be afraid of car parking charges 22/01/10

There was the inevitable whimpering this week as car parking charges were raised in St Edmundsbury, including Haverhill.

Exhibition shows how much Haverhill has lost 15/01/10

If you get a chance over the next few weeks, pop in and take a look at Haverhill Local History Group’s exhibition about the lost commercial buildings of Haverhill.

Gurteen site could be the key to elusive 'civic pride' 08/01/10

The development brief for the Gurteen site in Haverhill is likely to provoke a good deal of interest, argument and controversy over the next however many years it is until a scheme finally comes to fruition.

One decade of progress needs to usher in another 31/12/09

So we have come to the end of another year – indeed, another decade, which always makes it seem more significant – but the most astonishing thing to me is that it is now ten years since the Millennium.

Change is at hand, but is it the right amount? 24/12/09

After nearly a week of slithering around on the white stuff, one might be forgiven for thinking we have suddenly been transported to eastern Europe or Alaska.

It really is time to enforce the law in High Street 19/12/09

I can’t say I’m sorry to see the police being persuaded to crack down on driving and parking illegally in Haverhill High Street.

Flagging up only the best puts us all in a spin 12/12/09

I wish I’d had my own personal spin doctor when I was young.

Local roads are likely to be a bumpy ride for Santa 04/12/09

As Christmas comes galloping towards us again I notice I can tick off one of the items on my list to Santa before I’ve even sent it.

Flood defences have left us an ugly legacy 27/11/09

After the horrendous experiences of the residents of Workington and Cockermouth last week, it is not surprising if people are beginning to get a bit twitchy about global warming.

Enjoy the countryside around us while it's still here 20/11/09

When Haverhill’s business exhibition was on last month, as well as showing the wide variety of products which the town has a hand in creating or manufacturing, it was also an opportunity for people li...

Lessons from the past show no sign of fading 13/11/09

Standing in the afternoon sunshine up at Haverhill Cemetery on Sunday and looking around at a good crowd of people who had come out to support the parade, I was encouraged that this Remembrance thing...

What is Haverhill really like? 06/11/09

All right, own up! Who has sat there in our new(ish) Prezzo, taking in the pleasant ambience, the enjoyable environment and agreeable conversation of friends or family, and has either leant back and s...

Increasing signs of activity for lorry-spotters 30/10/09

You could tell it was getting close to the official opening of the refurbished Queen Street when the last bit of Lordscroft Lane finally started getting resurfaced this week.

Tesco is a starting point, not a solution 23/10/09

You may have seen recently the surprisingly dramatic call by the chairman of business group Haverhill Enterprise for the demolition of Queen’s Square and the north side of Queen Street.

Bus station may be a warning for the future 16/10/09

Anyone who has been down to Jubilee Walk and seen elderly people with shopping trolleys or mums with pushchairs struggling through or round the new Meccano assault course which council engineers have...

Change really can be for the better – 09/10/09

There comes a time in life when viewing a documentary is no longer a history lesson but is now just a trip down memory lane.

Hart of the Matter 02/10/09

I can’t quite recall who it was – some long-forgotten minor British prime minister, I think – who came up with the phrase about feeling the ‘hand of history’ on his shoulder.

David Hart is Back

Well, hello again. It’s not quite a year since I disappeared from view in another place, and here I am again, thanks to the wonders of modern technology. Firstly, let me apologise to those dinosaurs...

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