PLANS to create a county-wide community network for Polish people living in Hertfordshire are being spearheaded by Welwyn Hatfield migrants.

Following the success of the Welwyn Hatfield Polish Forum – set up three years ago by Polish-born Michal Siewniak and based at Hatfield fire station – similar projects have sprung up in neighbouring boroughs and counties, prompting calls for the groups to form better links in order to enable further integration into their respective communities.

Earlier this month, East of England Labour MEP Richard Howitt visited the Welwyn Hatfield Polish Forum headquarters, and was the first person to sign his name on a declaration committing the forum to join with Polish groups across the region.

“I know that the Polish community in Welwyn Hatfield is keen to get involved across the local community and that’s why the Welwyn Hatfield Polish Forum is so important,” Mr Howitt said.

“After three years the Welwyn Hatfield Polish are ready to go forward with newer groups and I am delighted to support this initiative to get their contribution better recognised.”

Mr Howitt was the second politician in as many weeks to throw his support behind the work of Welwyn Hatfield’s migrant population to better integrate with the rest of the community.

Last month, Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps was a guest speaker at the Kaleidoscope Culture Club, an ethnic diversity social group organised by the Welwyn Hatfield Ethnic Minority Group (WHEMG).

Moreen Pascal, strategic manager for WHEMG said: “Kaleidoscope Culture Club is an important factor in creating awareness around the importance of local Black and Minority Ethnic infrastructure groups like WHEMG which are playing a very important role in terms of building inclusive communities.”