LABOUR have had some twitchy moments in this ward. In 2012, they won by 265 votes. In 2014, they only beat off UKIP by 26 votes. In 2015, it was even closer when they held the Tories off by just 16 votes. All sides gave it everything in 2016 but Labour took it by 135. That may be because the UKIP vote had waned.

With the UKIP vote now fallen off a cliff, Labour will be confident that they can retain a seat where they do work hard.

The incumbent Maggie Hulcoop is the stalwart traditional councillor who quietly, in the background, works hard for her residents. However, she has been pushed into the limelight by the controversy over Osler House Surgery.

Osler House symbolises the challenge to Harlow’s infrastructure. Whilst there are great plans for the Science Park, M11, Public Health England, the roads are full of potholes, crime rates increasing and surgeries closing.

The Conservatives will want to get close and if they can get within 100 of Labour, it should be a step in the right direction.

It will also be interesting to see if the HAP can pick up a few votes, They may well have got traction when they mention developments such as Latton Priory etc.

YH Prediction: Lab Hold

Candidates

Mike Carr Harlow Alliance Party
Maggie Hulcoop Labour
Anita Long UK Independence Party (UKIP)
Tom Reynolds Conservative