2009

Stuart Kenny is to retire as Director General of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation at the end of June 2010, after 15 years at the helm.

“The Foundation’s Chairman, Colin Chatfield, said: “Stuart has been at the forefront of many key developments over the past 15 years that have transformed the town and community. His ability, dedication and energy will be a huge loss to Letchworth Garden City.”

The First Garden City Heritage Museum is showcasing an array of online features to get you in the festive mood this Christmas.

Check out www.gardencitymuseum.org to see last years’ ‘A Garden City Christmas’ exhibition, complimented by a special Christmas quiz. While there, don’t forget to sign up for e-news to be among the first to hear about events, exhibitions and new web content.

The Arcade announces Sunday opening for Christmas

Following on from the recent refurbment and re-opening celebrations, The Acade retailers are in the mood for Christmas.

From now until Christmas the Arcade will be open seven days a week with Sunday opening between 10am and 4pm. With a great mix of shops The Arcade is the perfect destination for Christmas shopping.

A new tenant has joined the ranks at the Business Centre West, Letchworth Garden City. Amazon Office Supplies, a locally based online office supply company looking to expand, has taken a three year lease on a 923 sq ft storage unit. The letting has been completed by Tomlinson Quin (part of the Aitchison Raffety Group) acting on behalf of The Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation. The rental agreed was on a rising basis close to the quoting rental of £5,000 per annum.

As preparations continue for the major redevelopment of The Wynd in 2011, the opportunity has arisen to welcome a number of new retailers to the area.

With long-term tenants now relocated to other premises in the town, new 'short-term' space has been made available. This space is perfect for 'business start-ups' looking to test the market without the pressure of a long term commitment.

Introducing...

AMT Tools & Discount Store (The Hardware Shop), 2 The Wynd 
A DIY and hardware store.

Working againt the economic downturn, the Heritage Foundation makes further investment in the industrial area and secures three significant new lettings.

The £500,000 makeover of this special landmark in the world’s first Garden City’s has been declared open.

A large number of people gathered to mark the occasion in this popular indoor shopping precinct, on Friday, November 20.

Stuart Kenny, Director General of the Heritage Foundation, along with Hugh Harper, until recently the Chairman of Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Partnership, unveiled a commemorative plaque on the entrance from Leys Avenue.

A special landmark in the world’s first Garden City has just received a £500,000 makeover!

In 1996, the Heritage Foundation bought the popular indoor shopping precinct The Arcade in the heart of the town centre and undertook a major refurbishment the following year, which included a new roof, repainting, a new entrance out to The Wynd and improved signage.

Now, some 13 years on and with The Arcade having a direct link to the proposed new Wynd re-development, the facelift was completed this week.

Eight Friends, One SongPod, 2,000 tracks, 10 fun-packed minutes of song

The SongPod has landed in the centre of Letchworth Garden City, perfect for a sing song and a laugh with your friends.

The SongPod is a state of the art Karaoke room with LCD screens, wireless microphones and comfortable seating.

Budding vocalists can choose from 2,000 titles featuring all the latest songs from artists such as Alexandra Burke, Black Eyed Peas and Cheryl Cole, plus all time classics from Abba, Michael Jackson and many more.

A major cash injection by Natural England – one of the largest ever made under its Environmental Stewardship Scheme – will give another boost to the environmental credentials of the world’s first Garden City.

Pick up that perfect Garden City gift for your friends and relatives. From calendars to coasters; books to prints; mugs to tea towels; the Tourist Information Centre has got that special present you're looking for.

Around 600 visitors attended the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation’s ‘Get Involved’ North Hertfordshire Volunteers Fair at the Spirella Building last weekend.

Letter to the Editor of The Comet Newspaper, published 8 October 2009.

At a time when The Comet is running its admirable ‘Buy Local’ campaign, which the Foundation supports, I am disappointed that Louise McEvoy chooses to speculate that Letchworth residents who wish to retain the four trees in Leys Square might boycott local shops.

Letter to editor of The Comet newspaper, published 8th October 2009.

Dear Sir

I think it is disgraceful that the Heritage Foundation’s Director General Stuart Kenny should be singled out for attack through graffiti and in the columns of your newspaper.

North Hertfordshire’s Volunteers Fair returns on Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 October at The Spirella Building, Letchworth Garden City.

With 49 organisations exhibiting, there’s plenty of opportunities for you to Get Involved. Organisations exhibiting include sports and leisure clubs, local and national charities, voluntary groups, plus clubs for children and teenagers.

Heritage Open Days 2009

Two former Spirella models met up for the first time after 53 years at the former corset and swimwear factory on Saturday in the world’s first Garden City.

The Spirella Building – under the ownership of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation – was the starting point for the town’s comprehensive involvement in the national Heritage Open Days, where 20 venues in the Garden City opened their doors to the public last weekend.

The second phase in the world’s first Garden City’s regeneration of its town centre has taken a major step forward.

This summer's Letchworth Garden City Festival attracted hundreds of visitors from far and wide for a fantastic activity-packed week of fun.

Beginning the programme on 25 July, the Letchworth and Baldock Lions raised record funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association through various fun activities, charity stalls and a raffle.

Letchworth Garden City Festival 2009 promises an action packed week of entertainment for the whole family.

Whether you're a fan of live music, history, walks, fashion, cars or a good old quiz there is bound to be something that will keep you entertained.

The 70,000sq ft food superstore, Morrisons 97th store and one of the first located in the south of England, opened its doors on 5 July 1999.

Plinstonkids is the perfect way to keep your child entertained during the summer break.

Treat your kids to an exciting and varied programme of creative activities – arts, crafts, team games and trips.

From theme park thrills to farm visits; ball-pools and inflatables to quizzes and theme-days – they've got what it takes to keep your child amused.

The Garden City Heritage Awards 2009 ceremony, a celebration of architectural excellence in the Garden City, was organised recently by the Heritage Foundation at the Goldsmith Centre for Business, and presided over by Paul Palmer, Chairman of the Judges and Chairman of the Architectural Heritage Advisory Group.

From the new Town Centre re-development to Design Standards and ‘green’ sustainable issues etc.. – many subjects on life in the world’s first Garden City were discussed at the Annual Garden City Meeting, in the Spirella Ballroom last Thursday.

Around 170 people heard two keynote speeches on a review of the last 12 months and the Foundation’s plans for the future– one from Stuart Kenny, Director General of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and the other by Foundation Chairman Alan Scouller.

Work is underway on vital ‘Street Scene’ improvements for Letchworth Garden City’s two main shopping streets.

Major changes on Eastcheap and Leys Avenue will transform their ‘look and feel’.

Leys Square is being extended with new landscaped seating areas, attractive water features and sculptures between the ‘square’ and The Colonnade, opposite Letchworth Garden City railway station.

Using high quality materials and finishes, the improvements will also redefine the relationship between the pavements and the roadways.

At a time when many town centre redevelopment plans are, at best, being ‘put on ice’, Letchworth Garden City, in Hertfordshire, is ‘bucking the trend’.

The first phase of a three phase development – Street Scene Improvement Works – is due to start on site on May 5. The works will transform the look and feel of the town’s two main shopping streets – Eastcheap and Leys Avenue – with the addition of convenient ‘nose-in’ on-street parking, new landscaped seating areas, water features and major sculptures. Top quality materials will be used throughout.

A town’s largest Landlord and the County’s University have teamed-up in a ‘green’ business initiative which has been financially backed by Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).

The Garden City Meeting - Thursday 14 May 2009
The Spirella Ballroom - 7pm for 7.30pm start

Presented by Stuart Kenny, Director General and Alan Scouller, Chairman, this meeting is your chance to learn about the Heritage Foundation’s latest plans for the Garden City and to find out what’s been happening over the last year.

Shoppers in Letchworth Garden City Town Centre are now able to enjoy the First Garden City Heritage Museum’s exhibitions in the heart of the Town Centre.

Do you have fond memories of your education? Recall your favourite lessons, playground games and school dinners with a visit to the First Garden City Heritage Museum’s latest temporary exhibition, ‘School Days’.

Spring time on the Garden City Greenway offers many reasons to get out and about. For fitness fans, the 13.6 mile (21.8km) circular route is perfect for mild jogging or long distance running, or just a slow walk with the family.

For those who share an interest in nature, the sights and sounds of the bird nesting season will delight you, or why not take advantage of the BBQ facilities at Radwell Meadows.