Robert Halfon campaigns to keep Netteswellbury Farm common room open for residents

RECENTLY, Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, visited Netteswellbury Farm to speak to residents concerned about the future use of the common room.

Residents have used the room for over 20 years and hold community events, celebrations and meetings there, as well as using it as a day room. They initially contacted Robert to express their shock and sadness following news that access to the facility could be curtailed or lost altogether.

Harlow Education Consortium (HEC) is in talks with Harlow Council to include the common room into their lease, making HEC the gatekeeper of common room use. The Manager of HEC has stated that this would allow “some degree of continued access” for residents.

Robert Halfon said: “The residents are anxious and stressed about this situation. I believe it is completely unacceptable to take this facility away from the residents.

I am very concerned that a group of elderly residents seem to be being pressured into giving up their communal facility. It seems clear to me that the proposed use would be incompatible with the lives of the residents. More importantly, the loss of the communal area could very well isolate some of the more vulnerable locals.

I have written to the Managing Director of Harlow Council and I will continue to campaign against the changes.”