Blog 6    Seasonal Greetings

By Bush Fair councillor Kay Morrison

THIS month, I’ve a few updates for you. First: anti-social behaviour, namely shouting, swearing, barking in a residential area at very anti-social hours. It has taken some time, necessitating a multi-agency case conference and a lot of determination, but we’ve achieved a quieter environment in which all participants understand the rules governing decent behaviour and everybody benefits. Calm prevails, as a result of much effort …. but if that changes, I’m ready, again. If you need help, let me know.

We held a candlelit vigil at the Obelisk on 25 November to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. As last year, we read aloud the names of women killed by their partners, numbering well over a hundred in the UK alone this year. I reminded those present that the victims were aged from 16 to 80s, that most of the murders took place in the women’s homes and that we’ll probably have to repeat the event next year, though I’d love it to be otherwise. I want Harlow Council to become more engaged in the issue, to go beyond the White Ribbon Campaign; I’ve asked for more involvement and I’ll ask again at Thursday’s Council meeting.

At last full Council meeting, we debated a motion on the availability of Warm Banks in Harlow, in these straitened times, to help Harlow people heat up a bit. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury and actor Michael Sheen have spoken out, praising community spaces for offering the chance to relax a bit, ease the chill, maybe have a hot drink. We have the Playhouse which, while a wonderfully versatile building, may not tick all the boxes (including the travel accessibility box) so we can encourage other organisations and services to open their doors similarly. We’ve made progress on this and we’ll make more.

Some regeneration funding was allocated to Bush Fair shopping centre by the previous Administration. I’ve been assured that the improvements will take place in February/March 2023. What improvements? Good question: it seems we’re promised waste bins, bollards, benches, jet-washing and step painting ….. but no real face-lift and no sign of signage! I’m pursuing this, of course, as you would expect. (We also need a proper lighting junction box!!) Traders and customers badly need a fillip, after all the doom and gloom. We’re planning a June fair; discussions with Bush Fair businesses, Council officers and Councillor Jodi Dunne have already started the process. It’ll be great.

Since I was elected in June, I’ve been encouraged by your support and your warm words, even by those awful cracker jokes. I appreciate all of it. Have as good a Christmas as you can manage. Take plenty of care.

My best wishes.

Kay