By Jo O’Reilly

Tory councillor Andrew Johnson, who proposed an amendment to the motion, suggested that this was not a case of ‘blue versus red, but a case of Harlow versus the rest of the county’ and that party politics should be put aside for an issue that would have such an impact on the young people of Harlow, ‘I’ve got to fight for Harlow, I’ve got to fight for Harlow’s young people.’

Happy with the amendment made and with the unanimous decision, Toal summed up the debate by saying that,’Harlow council is in a place tonight, to send a very clear message to Essex County Council.’