POTTER Street residents are determined to fight for a health hub after Harlow Council told them that the derelict former GP Surgery Osler House would be too expensive to refurbish.

Harlow Council bosses sat down with community leaders and explained to them their position.

In a letter seen by YH, the portfolio holder for regeneration, cllr Dan Swords told the group: “I am afraid to say that the Council will not be proceeding with the refurbishment of Osler House.

“The works required on the property and the cost of such works cannot be justified.

“That is why we will seek to find an alternative venue in Potter Street for your project that does
not require such levels of investment. I am confident that this can be done in short order.

“The Council has explored all avenues with regard to the refurbishment of Osler House building and
therefore, this decision is final.

“I appreciate that this is not the decision you wanted, but it is not possible for the Council to spend this
amount of money given the findings from this review. I hope that you will also be reassured that we
believe this will allow us to deliver the wellbeing hub faster and more effectively through the use of an
alternative premises.

“We are committed to the regeneration of the Potter Street neighbourhood, which is why plans are
being developed for the former neighbourhood offices and the Council will take action to end the
blight of the former Osler House building on the area. These plans will be published shortly and
consulted on with the local community”.

YH understands that attention may now turn to the empty neighbourhood office just across the way but also the community centre that appears to be almost solely used by dance company Makin’ Steps

On Friday afternoon, YH spoke to the chair of Potter Street Residents Forum Colin Thorp and Harlow Common councillor, Mark Wilkinson (Lab).

They were joined on Prentice Place by members of the Potter Street community.