Harlow Times Autumn 2022

Harlow

In

pages 4-5

Queen Elizabeth II

the town paid its respects.

pages 6-7

boom!

light for further 18

homes.

page 19

Harlow census results

Find out what the census tells us about Harlow.

Times is published quarterly by Harlow Council to keep you informed.

This magazine is distributed by Royal Mail. In some areas where postcodes overlap the boundaries of Harlow and other councils, a small number of residents outside Harlow will also receive this magazine.

We hope our residents will appreciate that this system of delivery is one of the most efficient and that our extra readers on the borders of the town will enjoy their complimentary copies and news about their nearest important town.

Copyright for most images owned by Brian Thomas Photography (www.btphotography.co.uk) unless stated. Printed by Swan Print Ltd.

Harlow Council 2022. You may re-use this information (excluding logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence v2.0. View this licence: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/opengovernment-licence/version/2/ or email psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

Where we have identified any third-party copyright information, you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

regarding this publication should be sent to Communications, Harlow Council, Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow, Essex CM20 1WG or email communications@harlow.gov.uk

Please recycle this magazine

you have finished reading it. Harlow Times is printed on 100% recycled paper, made from waste paper and old delivery boxes. This not only saves money, but is better for the environment.

Delivering what matters to you

Dear resident,

In September, the town joined the nation in saying goodbye to our beloved Queen. She was a remarkable person and leader and it’s still hard to imagine our country without her gentle majesty. On 11 September I joined other community leaders to witness our new sovereign King Charles III being officially proclaimed in Harlow.

The council is undergoing its own period of transformation and change as we continue our journey to make Harlow one of the best towns to live, to work and to raise a family. We’ve begun our search to find a new Chief Executive who will help us to deliver our vision. Rob Tinlin, an experienced former Chief Executive in Essex, has joined us to help with that recruitment. While Rob is here, he will also help us to improve the way the council works.

We also remain focussed on improving Harlow and the local economy through investment and regeneration.

In July we submitted our bid for £20m of government funding for the Harlow arts and cultural quarter to support our work to regenerate your town centre

Our plans to build new council homes for Harlow families are making good progress. Plans for a further 18 council homes have recently been agreed in Staple Tye and Tye Green and we’ve purchased derelict land in Staple Tye where we plan to build a further 7 council houses.

We are also committed to continuing our work to restore pride in our town. The maintenance of the environment is not to the standard I expect nor what the town deserves, so earlier this year I asked for a review to be commissioned. The report has highlighted matters that need close attention and action. Early work is underway and more will be addressed once we receive the results of further reviews of HTS which includes a review of governance.

In this edition of Harlow Times you can read more about our work and what else we are doing.

Councillor Russell Perrin, Leader of Harlow Council

“The council is undergoing its own period of transformation and change as we continue our journey to make Harlow one of the best towns to live, to work and to raise a family.”

Are you ready to vote?

The next scheduled local council elections will be on Thursday 4 May 2023.

You need to be on the electoral register to vote in elections and it may also be helpful when you want to get credit for things such as a mortgage or loan.

Please note that paying Council Tax does not automatically add you to the electoral register.

We are nearly finished with our annual canvass for 2022 and the new electoral register will be published on 1 December 2022. To ensure your name is included you need to respond by 22 November 2022

You can register to vote online at any time at: www.gov.uk/registertovote

Further information can be found by visiting our website www.harlow.gov.uk/votingand-elections or visit www. electoralcommission.org. uk/i-am-a/voter/

You can contact us on 01279 446042 or email: registration@harlow.gov.uk

New joint approach to tackling ASB and crime

In a marked step change from the past, a new approach to engagement will be established to make sure victims of antisocial behaviour have increased confidence in the council’s approach. At the heart of the strategy is a commitment to:

Existing partnership work is to be strengthened as a tougher approach is taken to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) and crime in the town.

A new community safety strategy has been agreed, which will drive how the council responds to residents and businesses affected by antisocial behaviour.

• Strengthen engagement with residents.

• Implement a renewed and more proactive approach to community safety

• Adopt a zero-tolerance approach to crime and ASB.

Reporting faulty streetlights

A pilot project which aims to make reporting faulty streetlights quicker and easier has been launched.

Following engagement with residents by Essex County Council’s Safety Advisory Group, concerns were raised, by women in particular, about faulty streetlights and how this contributed to making them feel unsafe.

In response, the current reporting website for Essex County Council owned streetlights now includes those owned by Harlow Council too. This means that residents can easily see who owns the light they are reporting.

In Harlow there are around 10,300 public streetlights with Harlow Council owning around 10% of the lights. Residents are urged to report faulty streetlights online at www.esseshighways.org

Public-backed town centre bid submitted

The bid for £20m to transform Playhouse Square and College Square in Harlow town centre has been submitted.

Plans to turn the area into a vibrant arts and cultural quarter featured in the summer edition of Harlow Times.

The bid was submitted by the council in June to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and aims to support the town centre’s regeneration.

The Playhouse Theatre and St. Paul’s Church will remain at the heart of the new quarter.

The proposals have been subject to extensive public consultation.

The consultation findings have shown that there is strong public support for the scheme and key organisations, businesses and stakeholders have backed the proposals.

Council interim Chief Executive appointed

Rob Tinlin has been appointed the interim Chief Executive of Harlow Council.

Rob’s appointment is for up to six months while the council seeks a permanent appointment to the role of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

Rob was Chief Executive of Southend-On-Sea Borough Council for 12 years before retiring in 2017 after more than 40 years’ service in local government.

More recently Rob has worked in interim Chief Executive roles at Castle Point and Uttlesford councils.

Town centre PSPOs extended

In July Harlow Council approved the extension of the town centre Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) for a further three years.

The council’s Community Safety team conducts joint patrols with the police to educate and enforce the PSPOs, which prohibit cycling, ball games and drinking alcohol outdoors throughout the town centre. Failure to comply can result in a fine.

The PSPOs have been in place since 2019. They enable the council to take more rapid action with the police to curb antisocial behaviour and help the council to continue keeping Harlow a safe place to live, work and visit.

Read more and stay updated

Visit our latest news section at www.harlow.gov.uk/news to read more about these featured stories and other news from the council.

How our town paid its respects to our Queen

On 8 September 2022, it was announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had sadly passed away. Harlow joined towns and cities across the country to mourn the loss of our Queen. We look back here at how Harlow paid its tributes and respects.

The Chair of Harlow Council, Councillor Andrew Johnson, wrote a letter on behalf of the town to King Charles expressing the town’s condolences.

Floral tributes were laid at The Obelisk in Harlow town centre and the balcony of the Civic Centre was lit up purple at night throughout the period of mourning.

The Union Flag outside the Civic Centre flew at half-mast from the day of the death until the day after the funeral. It was raised to full mast briefly when the new King was proclaimed.

Books of condolence were opened at the Civic Centre and Latton Bush Centre. Not everyone was able to travel to sign the book or go online, so books were taken directly to Supported Housing schemes and local care homes.

More than 850 tributes were left in books which have been archived at the Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens.

Proclamation of the new King declared Proclamation events for King Charles III were held in every town and city with Harlow’s event taking place on 11 September at 2pm. The Royal proclamation is a tradition going back centuries.

The announcement of the new King started in London earlier in the day. Harlow’s proclamation was read out from the balcony of the Civic Centre by the Chair of Harlow Council, Councillor Andrew Johnson. He was joined by local community and faith leaders as history was made in Harlow.

HM The Queen remembered

Services and businesses closed on 19 September as a mark of respect as the town’s residents joined people from around the country to watch the State Funeral. A national moment of reflection was held at 8pm the night before, and on the day of the funeral a national two-minute silence was observed at 11.55am.

Council housebuilding

Green light for new council bungalows and apartments

Plans to build 18 new council bungalows and apartments have been approved as part of the first phase of the council’s housebuilding programme which aims to build 99 council homes between 2022 and 2024.

The first plan approved for The Yorkes, Tye Green will see 6 brand new bungalows built exclusively for over55s. The development will be in keeping with the area and built on vacant land adjacent to a care home.

The second plan approved for Perry Road is the regeneration of the former Lister House site which will see a development comprising of 12 brand new apartments and space for retail and office units. All 18 homes will be owned by Harlow Council and rented out to Harlow families on the Harlow Housing Needs Register.

Councillor Dan Swords, Deputy Leader of the Council, said:

“Our housebuilding programme will see hundreds of new houses, apartments, and bungalows built for Harlow families. We will build the right homes in the right places to the highest standards so that we can truly improve the lives of Harlow families.

“Both of these schemes will not only mean that the council has more high-quality homes for Harlow families, but that sites which have long been derelict are regenerated to meet the local housing need. This is a crucial part of our agenda to regenerate our neighbourhoods and restore pride in our town.”

The council hopes to be on site starting to build both developments in early 2023.

Artist impression of new council apartments on Perry Road

Artist impression of bungalows at The Yorkes

More council homes planned in Staple Tye

Derelict land has been purchased on Parnall Road to use as part of the council housebuilding programme. The council plans to use the land to build seven 3storey, 3-bedroom town houses. All houses would be council-owned and for Harlow families on the Housing Needs Register.

The land opposite Stewards Academy, was formerly a builder’s merchant and offices but has been vacant since 2006. It is now overgrown and a fly-tipping hotspot.

The purchase has been made without borrowing any money as it was funded using section 106 funds received from the development on the former Churchgate Hotel site. This money was secured specifically for the provision of new affordable housing in the town.

Work is now taking place to confirm the plans for the development ahead of a planning application being submitted.

Green flags again for Harlow Museum, Parndon Wood and the Town Park

Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, Harlow Town Park and Harlow Museum Walled Gardens have all once again received Green Flag Awards, placing them among the best green spaces in the world.

It is Parndon Wood’s 14th consecutive award, the Town Park’s seventh in a row and the museum garden’s third.

In addition to these three fantastic sites, the town has further cause to celebrate this year. Previously, Harlow Mill has enjoyed Green Flag status – this year, the award has been extended to encompass the entire Stort Navigation area, which covers 22km.

Over 2,200 UK parks and green spaces have received the prestigious Green Flag Award this year from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. The awards recognise and reward well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

The Town Park and Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens are maintained by council staff, HTS and volunteers. Parndon Wood Nature Reserve is maintained by council staff, volunteers and ECCO. Harlow Mill is maintained by the Canal & River Trust and local volunteers.

Green Flag awards

Councillor Nicky Purse, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment, said:

“This is brilliant news for our town. I am so proud to see the council’s Town Park, Museum and Walled Gardens, and Parndon Wood retaining their Green Flag Awards keeping their places as one of our best-kept green spaces.

“These areas are all vital green space for our community here in Harlow. These awards are testament to all the teamwork between volunteers and paid staff, who do so much to ensure that the highest possible standards demanded by the Green Flag Award are maintained. My sincere thanks to everyone involved in achieving these awards – it’s because of you that we have reason to be so proud of our green spaces.”

Parndon Wood Nature Reserve Harlow Town Park Town Park volunteers

Parndon Wood volunteers

Museum Garden volunteers

Harlow Spring

The community has once again come together to clean up our town in the Harlow Big Spring Clean.

Back in May, a team of Harlow councillors, council staff and HTS officially launched this year’s event, picking up litter in the housing estates and green spaces around the Latton Bush Centre and filling up 30 bags of rubbish.

Harlow’s Big Spring Clean ran until 25 June with more than 1,000 residents from 60 different groups taking part. The council supplied them with the necessary equipment and arranged collection of all the bags they filled.

This event brings together individuals, organisations, businesses and schools to make a difference to their local environment, and takes place alongside HTS’ and The Wombles daily work to clean up the town.

Clean 2022

Here are some photos of the groups who took part in the spring clean. Thank you to everyone who signed up and did their bit!

What’s on in Harlow

Harlow’s free fireworks and bonfire display

Harlow Council’s annual fireworks and bonfire night will be held in Harlow Town Park on Sunday 6 November 2022.

Admission to this event is free. The bonfire will be lit at 6.45pm with the fireworks display from 7pm. This year’s event will be extra special as it is Harlow’s 75th birthday.

For the safety of those attending, Fifth Avenue, Park Lane, School Lane and some roads serving these roads will be closed between 5.15pm and 8.30pm.

There will be limited parking available for Blue Badge holders only at the Showground car park before 6:15pm (people parked in this

car park will not be able to leave until Fifth Avenue has been reopened at 8.30pm).

Free parking from 6pm to 8pm is available in the Altham Grove, Post Office Road, School Lane, Water Gardens and Wych Elm car parks.

For the latest information visit www.harlow.gov.uk

Gibberd Gallery

Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow, CM20 1WG www.gibberdgallery.co.uk

Tel: 01279 594343

Pram Town Revisited FREE

5 November to 3 December 2022

11am to 4pm

Gibberd Gallery presents Pram Town Revisited, an audio-visual exhibition by video artist and award-winning filmmaker Damilola Lemomu. Suitable for all ages. For more information visit: https://sculpturetown.uk/

This exhibition is made possible by the Essex County Council Arts and Cultural Fund.

Samuel Padfield: Drive Time FREE

8 October to 23 October 2022

The Harvey Centre, Harvey Centre Approach, Harlow, CM20 1XR 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm Sunday

In Harlow’s Harvey Centre, two cars seem to have taken a wrong turn. This surprising installation by Samuel Padfield confronts visitors with big questions about where we are and where we’re going. Listen out for the Drive Time radio show! Suitable for all ages. Visit https://sculpturetown.uk/

Harlow Rock School FREE South Central, Katherines Common Room, Harlow, CM19 5NP

Aged between 11-18? Harlow Rock School is a youth music project, established to support, motivate and empower young local people through a combination of music and personal development activities.

For more information please visit www.harlowrockschool.com or email info@harlowrock.school

Event and activity information

Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens Muskham Road, Harlow www.harlowmuseum.com 01279 446222

Harlow Museum is hosting a series of talks throughout autumn, each showcasing Harlow’s history while also having a strong emphasis on the present. Please check our website: www.harlowmuseum.com

Nature Printing FREE

Tuesday 25 October 10am to 3pm, drop-in sessions

Make your own carrier bag, decorating them with autumn leaves.

Woodland Creature Masks FREE Thursday 27 October 10am to 3pm, drop-in sessions

Come along and create a mask inspired by our autumn woodland creatures using lots of craft materials.

The White Room Gallery, Gibberd House

The Gibberd Garden, Marsh Lane, Harlow, CM17 0NA

New Build: Jim Brown

4 September to 23 October, open Sundays 2.30pm to 5pm

An exhibition of prints, drawings and sculptures exploring narratives developed through interactions between groups of abstract forms.

Call 01279 442112 or email: enquiries@thegibberdgarden.co.uk

Parndon Mill Gallery

Parndon Mill Lane, Harlow, CM20 2HP www.parndonmill.co.uk

Tel: 01279 426042

GLASSHAUS + Exhibition FREE

Until 30 October

Harlow 75: Party Like Its 1947! FREE Saturday 29 October 2pm in the Walled Gardens See the play run by Matipo Arts.

Kids Take Over the Museum FREE Saturday 12 November from 10am to 3pm, drop-in sessions

Help build your museum of the future. Show us what you would want to capture for 2047.

Winter Warm-Up FREE

Saturday 19 November 12 noon to 4pm

Come for festive fun at our Winter Warm-Up. There will be craft activities, stalls selling locally homemade gifts, refreshments, and live music.

The Gallery at Parndon Mill presents its annual glass exhibition. The theme, Glasshaus+, demonstrates how other materials can be incorporated with glass to form an artwork. It is sometimes surprising what the artists choose. Distinguished artists include the best in show award winner at the British Glass Biennale as well as two winners of the Glass Sellers Arts and Crafts awards.

Present Arts Exhibition FREE

4 November - 23 December

Artists who have studios at the Mill, along with regular exhibitors and some who are new to The Gallery, showing paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, and cards.

This exhibition is a feast for the eyes and is a great opportunity to acquire a unique and special present, something new for the home, individual cards, and even hand-made decorations for the Christmas tree.

All aboardlocal bus services

Looking to get from Harlow to Epping and back?

DaRT87 is a demand responsive bus service provided by Epping Forest & Harlow Community Transport and operates Monday to Saturday (not bank holidays or public holidays) from 6.30am to 6pm.

It serves both Harlow and Epping Forest and includes destinations such as Princess Alexandra Hospital, St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, Epping tube station and Debden tube station.

A demand responsive service is a flexible bus service that can take multiple passengers all heading in the same direction. The service must be booked, and you can use existing bus stops within Harlow and Epping Forest for pick up and drop off.

Fares are a £2 flat fare up to 7 miles. Concessionary bus passes are accepted.

You can book your journey by calling the community transport office on 01992 579556 between 9.30am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday.

You will shortly be able to book the service using the 365 Flexible Passenger App which can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store.

For full details on the service visit www.efcommunitytransport.co.uk

Changes to Arriva services

Arriva have made some changes to bus routes in the town. The changes came into effect on 24 July 2022.

An extended route 86 which now includes Edinburgh Way are part of the changes. The full details on the changes are:

Route 1 and 4 Changes to improve punctuality.

Route 6 Re-routed around Little Parndon.

Route 86

Extended to Edinburgh Way, Tesco.

Route 508/509/510

Revised timetable to improve reliability.

Route 309

Revised timetable.

Route 724

Early and late journeys to be funded. Additional early mornings and evening journeys will operate in partnership with Heathrow Airport.

Full details and an updated route map can be found on the Arriva website www.arrivabus.co.uk Alternatively phone 0344 800 44 11

*Bus service details in this article were correct at time of print and are subject to change by the operators. Always check with the operators for the latest information.

Join the journey

Read that vision in full here: www.hggt.co.uk/our-vision

“And Paris will gain 112 miles of new permanent segregated bike lanes by 2026.

Harlow & Gilston Garden Director, Naisha Polaine, on travel plans for the local area

“Our plans for travel across Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) are now published online and we want residents to be inspired and excited about what is proposed for the local area.

“HGGT’s five council partners are united behind a common goal of delivering healthy travel locally and this ambition has already been recognised with our transport vision making the finals of the Essex Housing Awards next month.

“The big aim is to have 50% of all trips starting and/or ending in existing Harlow by active or sustainable travel modes like cycling, walking and public bus services.

“And we’re looking to bump that target to 60% in the proposed new Garden Town communities.

“It is an ambitious target and it will not be achieved overnight but we are seeing this kind of change across the globe with major cities changing up their transport infrastructure since the pandemic.

“To combat air pollution, Milan are committed to making cycling the first and easiest choice for getting around the city with a full bike network costing almost 300m Euros, up and running by 2035.

“Connecting people to the places they want to go, providing independence and mobility to those who need it most, while reducing air pollution and congestion is hugely important for Harlow & Gilston and public transport will play a big part in this.

“A series of new public travel routes will not only accommodate all types of active travel, but become the main route for Bus Rapid Transit, a fast, high-quality, integrated service that provides more direct, frequent and integrated public transport services between key locations within and beyond Harlow & Gilston.

“So, join us on the journey as we head towards an exciting future for travel in Harlow & Gilston.”

Allowing us access to your council home

Council tenants must allow us or our contractors access to their home (including any accompanying land), provided we give reasonable notice (usually 24 hours).

This is a condition of your tenancy and may be necessary:

• To carry out repairs, alterations, improvements or maintenance work to your home or a neighbouring property.

• To carry out annual gas safety checks and servicing or other safety checks as required.

• To carry out compliance testing (this is a statutory requirement and is for your own safety).

• For other management purposes relating to your tenancy. This may include (but is not limited to) tenancy audits, investigating allegations of illegal occupation or dealing with complaints or neighbour disputes.

Failure to allow us access may result in legal action being taken against you and could leave you paying legal costs as a result. For more information please contact us on 01279 446655

Want to help improve your Housing service?

Direct Debits

It is easy to pay your council bills by Direct Debit.

We offer a number of choices of payment dates within the month: 1, 8, 15 and 25 for rent, 5, 15 and 25 for leaseholder service charges and 1, 8, 15 and 25 for Council Tax.

Direct Debit spreads your payments evenly throughout the year and once set up you won’t have to worry about getting behind with payments.

Our tenant and leaseholder representatives work closely with us to help provide a Housing service which strives to continuously improve.

However, we are always looking for more tenants and leaseholders to get involved, have their say and help us to improve services. If you are interested in playing a part in improving our services, you can:

• Join one of our housing standards panels and give up a couple of hours a month to discuss matters such as how your rent is spent, the repairs and maintenance service and ways to get tenants and leaseholders more involved.

• If you are a resident leaseholder, join the Leasehold Standards Panel and work with the council on issues relating to your service charge.

• Stay up to date on different housing events and have your say on various consultations and projects by giving Housing your contact details.

• Become a voluntary resident inspector and carry out regular site visits to the council’s housing and neighbourhood services (this is open to all residents).

• Attend our regular tenant or leaseholder forums and discuss the issues which matter most to tenants and leaseholders.

• Take part in ward inspections and provide suggestions to help improve your area. These are open to all residents and take place twice a year.

Using your experiences can make a big difference to the service you receive, as well as improve where you live.

You will be paid for any expenses you incur whilst taking part in any of these voluntary roles.

To find out more please visit www.harlow.gov.uk/housingand-garages or call Zulfi KianiMackintosh on 01279 446330

To set up a Direct Debit call Contact Harlow on 01279 446655 or visit our website www.harlow.gov.uk

Paying your rent

Many tenants facing difficulties continue to work with us, receiving advice and support, and making realistic arrangements to pay arrears.

If you are struggling to pay rent or service changes, please contact us on 01279 446655

There is help available to you and the sooner we know about any difficulties the sooner we can help you.

Past and present music marks Harlow’s 75th

In July, Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens hosted a weekend of events to celebrate the town’s 75th birthday.

On Saturday 23 July residents were able to reconnect with music from the past and celebrate new emerging talent with the Gig in the Garden event. It proved to be a great day for the multigenerational audience, with quotes such as, “I felt 14 listening to that set.”

The event was part of the 75 years of music in Harlow exhibition which ran until September. Gig in the Garden was organised by Black Wax.

On Sunday 24 July the gardens hosted a Fete in celebration of all the brilliant community groups available in Harlow. The gardens were packed with stalls offering a range of activities for all ages and there was live music from the Harlow Steel Band, Harlow Ukulele Group and Harlow Brass Band.

Both events will stay long in the museum’s memories and were enjoyed by over 1,000 people.

museum

special

Harlow census 2021 results

On 28 June 2022, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the first results from the 2021 census. The census is a survey that is carried out every ten years. It gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in Harlow.

You can find more information about the census at www.ons.gov.uk/census

As of 2021, Harlow is the eighth most densely populated of the East of England’s 45 local authority areas, with around 22 people living on each football pitch-sized area of land.

Harlow’s population size has increased by 13.9%, from around 81,900 in 2011 to 93,300 in 2021. This is higher than the overall increase for England (6.6%), where the population grew by nearly 3.5 million to 56,489,800.

in 2021

Harlow,

in 2011

has been an increase of 9.7%

aged 65 years and over, an increase

12.5% in people aged 15 to 64 years, and an increase of 21% in children aged under 15 years

“This population growth demonstrates that Harlow is a welcoming, friendly place in which to live and work, with many new residents moving to the town in recent years.

“There will be further releases of data later in the year. The census will not only provide updated population figures, but also important data about our town, our people, and their needs.

“The new data will support our plans to get the right investment and support from government and will help inform the decisions that we and other public services will make in future. From 2023 we will be starting our review of the Harlow Local Development Plan and this will set out future growth projections alongside the infrastructure that is required to sustain that.

“Part of our plan is that we have a long-term framework in place for the growth and the regeneration of the town and to ensure that this is sustainable, planned and integrated with the existing town and continue to be underpinned by Gibberd’s New Town principles.”

Councillor Michael Hardware, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth

Residents take on the challenge

In August we teamed up with Go Jauntly and Active Essex to create a special walking challenge for Harlow residents.

The challenge aimed to celebrate Harlow 75th birthday by encouraging participants to walk 75 minutes per week. There were also weekly prizes on offer and digital badges unlocked at certain milestones.

Over the course of a month, 519 people signed up and collectively walked an astonishing 42,000 kilometers. By walking instead of driving,

residents saved the equivalent of 10,500KG of CO2.

58% of participants agreed that the challenge encouraged them to be more active. One participant and winner said:

“I recently started using the app and have enjoyed discovering nearby walks and challenges. Go Jauntly has motivated me to make more journeys on foot and exercise more.”

Although the Harlow75 challenge has now ended, you can still take part in Go Jauntly walking challenges or discover nature filled walking routes.

Download Go Jauntly for free from the App Store and the Play Store or visit their website www.gojauntly.com

Funding available for local health and wellbeing projects

The Public Health Community Grant Fund offers funding of up to £1,500 for health and wellbeing projects.

The grant is open to community, voluntary and private sector organisations that provide services to the residents of Harlow.

Projects must:

• benefit Harlow residents

• improve resident’s health and wellbeing

• fit within the aims of one of the Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board’s 3 sub groups

There is no minimum funding amount you can apply for, but the maximum is £1,500.

For more information and to apply, visit: www.harlow. gov.uk/public-health-community-grant-fund

Improve your balance and mobility

A strength and balance service is available for Harlow residents who would like to improve their mobility.

Social.Active.Strong offers a free 12 week programme of activity to help you build strength, improve mobility and help sustain your day to day activity levels.

For information and to register for free classes call 07510 383146 or email sas@harlow.gov.uk

Help with the cost of living

Where to get further help and support

Harlow Citizens Advice Bureau 13-15 East Gate, Harlow 0808 278 7856 www.harlowcitizensadvice.org.uk

SMARTAdvice Plus

The SMARTAdvice service offers money and budgeting advice for those who live in Harlow.

The service provides one-toone confidential appointments, in person, by telephone or Zoom call. As well as drop-in sessions and workshops.

Harlow Community Hub

The Community Hub offers a range of services for Harlow residents affected by the cost of living crisis as well as information on community and physical activities and access to volunteering.

The Hub is a partnership between Rainbow Services, Citizens Advice Harlow, Mind in West Essex, Harlow Foodbank, Volunteer Centre Harlow and Integration Support Services.

You can contact the Community Hub Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm on 01279 927005, email harlowcommunityhub@ rainbowservices.org.uk or visit one of our outreach sessions.

You can visit SMARTAdvice on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11.30am to 2pm, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm, at Harlowsave Credit Union Office, Unit 66, The Harvey Centre, Harlow, CM20 1XS.

You can also contact the service by phone 01279 451234 or email smartadvice@ harlowsave.coop

To find out where the next outreach session will be, scan this QR code.

Harlow Foodbank 01279 724515 www.mrct.org.uk

Help with council bills

Please contact us straight away on 01279 446655 if you are having genuine difficulty in paying any of your council bills.

National money and debt advice

Money Helper www.moneyhelper.org.uk

National Debtline 0800 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.org

StepChange Debt Charity 0800 138 1111 www.stepchange.org.uk

Debt Advice Foundation 0800 622 6151 www.debtfoundation.org

For more help and support with the cost of living visit our website www.harlow.gov.uk

You can also find out what support you are eligible for at www.gov.uk/HelpForHouseholds

2022 www.harlow.gov.uk

We know it is a difficult time for everyone with the rise in the cost of living.

is local and national help and support available.

All present and correct

We often come across the same concerns when helping residents get the most out of their waste and recycling collections. To ensure your collections are as hassle free as possible, we’ve answered some of your most frequently asked questions.

Where should I put my bin?

You need to put your bins or boxes and bags on your property boundary by 7am on the morning of your collection day. They should be placed on your own property and not left on the public footpath or other public areas.

Bins and boxes should be returned to the storage location on your property as soon as possible following your collection.

What day is my bin collected?

You can find your scheduled collection days listed on our website. Scan the QR code below.

Why hasn’t my bin been emptied?

We will not collect your recycling and rubbish if you have:

• used the wrong bin, box or bag for your items

• put out the wrong waste for collection day

• not put out your waste by 7am

• overfilled your bin and the lid does not fully close

• put the wrong items in your bin, box or bag

You can check why your bins have been missed and report missed collections at https://selfserve.harlow.gov.uk/en

I’m not sure what I should do with my waste?

If you are new to the area or unsure what to do with a certain item, please see the waste guidance pages on our website www.harlow.gov.uk

What can I recycle?

Please recycle as much as possible, making sure the items you do recycle are empty, clean and dry. Squash plastic bottles and flatten cardboard to maximise space in your bin or box.

You can recycle:

Clean and empty plastic bottles

Clean and dry paper, card and cardboard

Clean and empty tins, cans and aerosols

Clean and empty glass bottles and jars

help and advice

What if I have more waste than I can fit in my bin?

We will collect extra recycling. You need to put the items in untied bags - clear or white liners are most suitable, and present these with your full recycling wheelie bin or box.

We do not collect extra non-recycling, only what is in the wheelie bin or up to 3 purple sacks if you don’t have bins. If you are struggling with your waste, please contact us for advice.

What should I do with food waste?

We collect food waste every week from houses only. To recycle food waste, you have a small kitchen caddy to use inside your home and a larger external caddy that we empty.

Plastic bags and food packaging will contaminate the food waste, so please do not put these in the caddy.

You can recycle:

Meat and bones

What is contamination?

Contamination is anything that is not accepted for recycling in our kerbside scheme. This includes black and purple bags, plastics that are not 1 or 2, sanitary products like nappies, or unwashed food containers.

What should I do if my recycling is contaminated?

You will need to remove any contamination from your recycling before we return on your next collection day. If you build up extra recycling put this in untied bags – clear or white liners are most suitable, and put these with your full recycling wheelie bin or box.

Fruit and vegetables

Cheese and dairy

Tea bags and coffee grounds Bread, cake and pastries

What else do you collect?

We also offer collections for garden waste, bulky and electrical items, batteries and textiles. Some of the services incur a charge.

For more information on all of our waste services, visit www.harlow.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling

#protectingandservingHarlow

Public Engagement

Community Safety Engagement events will continue throughout the year with officers going around different areas of Harlow.

If you would like us to be part of a local event that you are organising, please contact us via email HarlowCPT@Essex. Police.uk

Protecting and serving Harlow Gilden Way: You Said We Did:

two serious sexual offences including rape following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Look out for our Coffee with Cops and Street meets. For further details please look at and follow our Facebook and Twitter pages

Crime Prevention

Can you spot the empty house? So did the burglar

On darker evenings, houses are more likely to be burgled as it gets dark before you return home from work. Put lights on timers in the rooms you use the most to make it look like you’re in. For more advice, visit the crime prevention webpage at www.essex.police.uk

Ever lost a credit or debit card?

If you have, make sure you cancel it immediately and report it to your bank or credit card company. If your passport, driving licence or other personal information have been lost or stolen, immediately contact the organisation that issued it. For more advice on protecting yourself from fraud, visit www.essexpolice.uk

In response to concerns raised by residents, Roads Policing (Traffic) officers have been enforcing the no right turn on Gilden Way in the mornings during the school drop-off period.

Despite being very clearly displayed, numerous drivers chose to intentionally put others at risk and were reported for breaching the no right turn order which is in place.

Thank you for those residents who went out of their way to approach and thank officers. It was also nice to engage with a large group of children and teachers making their way on foot to Mark Hall Academy.

Enforcement will continue and not always be seen, using postal procedures to write to registered owners where appropriate.

Man sentenced for serious sexual offences Seya Mohammed, 19 of Basildon was found guilty of

His conviction and sentence concludes a complex investigation from our Child Abuse Investigation Team, who identified Mohammed as the main suspect using his phone data.

Mohammed was arrested on 28 November last year after a 15-year-old girl disclosed that she had been raped whilst walking home from school in Harlow two months prior. Mohammed had persistently harassed the victim, leading her to secluded area before subjecting her to a serious sexual assault.

Following his arrest, Seya Mohammed’s phone was seized and his messages indicated his involvement. He was charged with rape of a girl under the age of 16 and sexual assault on a girl 13 or over.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 16 September where he received a six-year custodial sentence in a Young Offenders Institute.

Hospital introduces new recruitment site

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is pleased to have introduced a new recruitment site, a hub of information about the fantastic opportunities available.

The site, hosted as part of the trust’s main website, includes features such as engaging video content with teams sharing more about their roles at PAHT, blogs with stories from colleagues on their development, and all of the information to support people to apply to work at PAHT.

It is designed to be the place to start for people looking for a role at PAHT across a wide range of professions, and to share with their friends and family.

Jamie Coates, head of recruitment and resourcing at PAHT, said:

“We know how important it is to have all of the information you need when you’re thinking about taking that next step in your career.

“Our people are the heart of our organisation and we couldn’t do what we do without them, our site is designed to showcase our people and encourage others to join us in a rewarding career at PAHT. We will be continually growing and developing the site to showcase our people and the roles we have within our organisation.”

Your voice in your town

Different areas of the town (wards) are represented in Harlow Council by councillors who serve four year terms after being elected. You can find details for your local councillors on the opposite page

Ward councillors can help you with services and issues such as bin collections, community safety, grass cutting and landscape maintenance, housing, parks and open spaces, regeneration, planning and parking. They can also raise issues for you with other service providers.

Your county councillors can help you with services run by Essex County Council like libraries, transport, maintenance of roads, pavements and cycle tracks, social care for adults and children, education and schools, gritting of the main roads and street lighting.

Council meetings and having your say Harlow Council holds meetings throughout the year, discussing important subjects and issues that affect the town. Most meetings are open to the public and held at the Civic Centre.

You can submit questions in advance to ask at these meetings. You can also submit petitions on any issue that affects the Harlow area.

Harlow Youth Council

Harlow Youth Council is an elected body of young people aged 13-19 who live or attend school or college in Harlow and who represent the views and voices of all local young people.

Meetings are held in the Council Chamber every first Monday of each month.

Recent issues addressed on behalf of local young people include challenging hate crime and improving mental health awareness.

For more details on the Youth Council and its meetings email sandrine.munyakazi@harlow. gov.uk or call 01279 446365.

Upcoming Harlow Council meetings

All meetings held at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre

stated).

Council

October 2022

Management Committee

November 2022

Committee

November 2022

Committee

November 2022

and Standards

November 2022

December 2022

Council

December 2022

Bush Fair

Common

Harlow

Councillor Jodi Dunne

Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07378 879710

Email: jodi.dunne@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Dan Swords

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07568 193081

Email: dan.swords@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Kay Morrison

Labour

199A Hookfield, CM18 6QP

Tel: 07736 333105

Email: kay.morrison@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Mark Wilkinson Labour

56 Sakins Croft, CM18 7BP

Tel: 07718 696429

Email: mark.wilkinson@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor James Leppard

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07454 686809

Email: james.leppard@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Stacey Seales

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07541 141166

Email: stacey.seales@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Nancy Watson Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20

Tel: 07908

Email: nancy.watson@harlow.gov.uk

Church Langley

Little Parndon & Hare Street

Netteswell

Councillor Colleen Morrison Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07445 390675 (Text only)

Email: colleen.morrison@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor James Griggs Labour

129 Broadfield, CM20 3PY

Tel: 07877 424834

Email: james.griggs@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Clive Souter Conservative

227 Longbanks, CM18 7PB

Tel: 07850 667900

Email: clive.souter@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Russell Perrin Conservative c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Old Harlow

Councillor Andrew Johnson

Conservative

78 Mallards Rise, CM17 9PL

Tel: 865673

Email: andrew.johnson@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Simon Carter

Conservative

71 Mark Hall Moors, CM20 2NF

Tel: 429443

Email: simon.carter@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Nicky Purse

Conservative

Great Parndon

Councillor Jean Clark Labour

4 Rushmead Villas, CM20 2QE

Tel: 423474

Email: jean.clark@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Chris Vince Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07729 406011

Email: chris.vince@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Tony Durcan Labour

329 Rundells, CM18 7HN

Tel: 414357

Email: anthony.durcan@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Sue Livings

Conservative

15 Seeleys, CM17 0AD

Tel: 422339

Email: sue.livings@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Michael Garnett

Conservative

Brook House, Wyldwood Close, CM17 0JD

Tel: 437401

Email: michael.garnett@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Joel Charles Conservative

Jocelyns, CM17 0BU

Email: joel.charles@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Daniella Pritchard Labour

Centre, CM20

Mark Hall

Councillor David Carter

Conservative

23 Greygoose Park, CM19 4JL

Tel: 420340

Email: david.carter@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Eddie Johnson

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 312195

Email: eddie.johnson@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Stephen LeMay

Conservative

21 The Drive, CM20 3QD

Tel: 07840 852349

Email: stephen.lemay@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Bob Davis Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07749 393037

Email: bob.davis@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Matthew Saggers

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07305 777819

Email: matthew.saggers@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Lanie Shears Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07906 870935

Email: lanie.shears@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor John Strachan Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 323656 / 07941 829965

Email: john.strachan@harlow.gov.uk

Staple Tye

Councillor Alastair Gunn Conservative

11 Penshurst, CM17 0BP

Tel: 07850 261771

Email: alastair.gunn@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Michael Hardware Conservative

12a Hart Road, Harlow, CM17 0HL

Tel: 07775 925274

Email: michael.hardware@harlow.gov.uk

Essex County Councillors

&

Sumners

Email: russell.perrin@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Nick Churchill Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 621094

Email: nick.churchill@harlow.gov.uk

Toddbrook

Cabinet Members

Councillor Russell Perrin - Leader of Harlow Council

Councillor Simon Carter - Portfolio Holder for Housing

Councillor Ash Malik

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07761 780856

Email: ash.malik@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Tony Edwards Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

County councillors can help with services like libraries, transport, roads and highways, social care for adults and children, education and schools.

Harlow North

Councillor Michael Garnett Conservative Email: cllr.mike.garnett@essex.gov.uk

Harlow West

Councillor Michael Hardware Conservative Email: cllr.michael.hardware@essex.gov.uk

Harlow West

Councillor Joel Charles - Portfolio Holder for Business and Community Resilience

Councillor Alastair Gunn - Portfolio Holder for Governance

Councillor Michael Hardware - Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth

Councillor Stephen LeMay - Portfolio Holder for HTS, Properties and Facilities – with special responsibility for the roads

Councillor James Leppard - Portfolio Holder for Finance Councillor Nicky Purse - Portfolio Holder For Environment

Councillor Dan Swords - Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration

Councillor Clive Souter Conservative Email: cllr.clive.souter@essex.gov.uk

Harlow South East

Councillor Eddie Johnson Conservative Email: cllr.eddie.johnson@essex.gov.uk

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