By Bush Fair Councillor Kay Morrison: COVID caught up with me last month, just when I’d thought I’d escaped. It was no picnic. Those who claim it is just like ‘flu have got off lightly …. or their experience of ‘flu has been horrendous.

Since then, life has been eventful. We took a motion to full Council, requesting more support for Warm Places in Harlow, to help people struggling to pay heating bills. If we’d succeeded, more organisations and building would have been enabled to provide a bit of comfort to those in need right now. The current administration feel that enough is already being done, unfortunately.

I’m now on the Scrutiny sub-committee which delves into a variety of challenging issues. This week, we’ll tackle the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Harlow’s notice boards. On the agenda for future investigation must be Harlow Council’s roof repairs and track record on major repairs. To be continued ….

At 1.40am on 5 October 2012, a mother and five children were killed in a house fire, set deliberately. The perpetrator hasn’t been found but that could still happen, even now. To mark the atrocity’s tenth anniversary, a commemorative event was held in the Islamic Education Centre. Present were survivor Dr Shakoor, fire service officers, police officers, teachers, school friends of the Shakoor children and community members. If you have information which could bring closure, please call 101 or Crimestoppers 0800555111. 

A dementia-friendly bowls club project was established in North Weald four years ago. As an Alzheimer’s Society volunteer, working with Alzheimer’s staff and bowls club members, I helped it find its feet. It has been a huge success, benefiting carers and people with dementia: it’s become a supportive family, one intent on making sure its members are enjoying life. If you’d like to volunteer or find out more, just let me know.

Did you enjoy the recent fireworks display in the Town Park? Lots of people love them , delighting in the colourful explosions. On the other hand, some small children find fireworks too loud and rather frightening. Many dogs and cats are terrified; horses have been known to injure themselves severely and wild animals certainly don’t enjoy the experience. According to Combat Stress, veterans who have PTSD relive their wartime trauma. Noiseless alternatives exist now, some of them very imaginative and beautiful. Let’s take a look at them.