Harlow Council leader welcomes “game-changing” levelling up funding
Entertainment / Sat 21st Jan 2023 at 07:00am
COUNCILLOR Russell Perrin, Leader of Harlow Council, has described the £20m Levelling Up funding for Harlow town centre as game-changing.
The funding from the government will support the council’s arts and cultural quarter regeneration scheme in Playhouse and College Square. The scheme is one of several planned for the regeneration of the town centre.
Councillor Perrin, said:
“This Levelling Up funding really is game-changing for Harlow’s town centre and the local economy and it will make a huge difference to creating opportunities in our town.
“I thank the government for both their support and backing of this scheme, which will improve the town centre’s arts and cultural offer including providing a new live music venue for the town. The much-loved Playhouse theatre and iconic St Paul’s Church will be at the heart of this redevelopment. I would also like to thank council officers, my colleague Cllr Swords and our MP Robert Halfon for everything they have done to ensure that our bid was successful.
“We are working hard to make Harlow a better place in which to live, work and visit which includes wasting no time in regenerating and restoring pride in the whole of the town centre, securing the investment and support needed.”
gary roberts
2023-01-21 07:41:42
Game changing: How, when and why? Over inflated nonsense that will be included in every Conservative election leaflet come May. Meanwhile in the real world many in this town still cannot afford to eat, heat or live in a safe home. Will people come to this town just to see a superficial facade with inflated prices attached. In my area people want health service provision and locally based council services not just an irrelevant empty soundbite of "levelling up" and warm words from a council leader.
Luke Burton
2023-01-21 09:23:20
No it isn't.
James
2023-01-21 09:32:56
Excellent news. Harlow Conservatives delivering on their manifesto pledge to restore the Town Centre from its current Third World appearance after a decade of Labour inertia, neglect and incompetence.
Daryl Chilcott
2023-01-21 12:07:17
Try levelling up the bomb cratered roads we pay to drive on.
Tony Durcan
2023-01-21 12:15:44
This is a step forward and something to celebrate.The initial concept was designed well over 10 years ago and delighted that the majority of the original plan has now been funded. This is not a game changer but part of a long term plan ambition around regeneration,rejuvenation and upgrading the town wide infrastructure.It plainly stupid to build something ,that no one can access because of the state of the roads and pavements.Safety and security to move freely and ensure suitable and affordable homes are maintained not just build new. For the last 2 years nothing new has been built by the council. So let not spin the truth.I welcome this opportunity but this is no game changer. It’s evolution and should be welcomed. A game changer would be the announcement of funding for PAH.
James
2023-01-21 14:33:42
Yes, Cllr Durcan, and how many new council homes were built and delivered and how many potholes were repaired during Labour’s 10 years in Administration? (Precise numbers, please). I won’t even trouble to ask about achievements regarding Town Centre regeneration under Labour as it is glaringly obvious that the answer is ZERO.
Tony Durcan
2023-01-21 15:53:22
James please refer back.we built council homes for the first time in 25 years due to all political government failures in the past. I accept not enough. You’re clearly not from Harlow as you would know we have built council home including Bushey Croft. Everyone knows road ,paths and cycle tracks are the responsibility of the Tory ECC not local councils and therefore not Labour. Let’s stick to the truth please.
Peter
2023-01-21 16:45:02
Sorry this money will make no difference it will be totally waited.. This is normal.
David Vincent
2023-01-22 01:40:11
It will hopefully create more jobs and cultural opportunities for Harlow. In office, Harlow Labour Party achieved nothing in relation to town centre regeneration. Indeed it's bids for government funding were judged to be "poor value for money".
James
2023-01-22 08:01:57
Cllr Durcan, I agree that the Bushey Croft development of 16 houses was initiated by the previous Labour administration and completed and delivered by the current Conservative administration, so is that the sum total of Labour’s efforts in almost a decade on administration? 16? The Conservative administration not only completed the Bishey Croft project, but the The Hill and has announced new social housing projects at Arkwrights, Tye Green and Staple Tye in just over 18 months. I agree, let’s stick to the facts.
Kim Oconnor
2023-01-22 10:57:07
None of you build enough council houses. Labour or Conservative. 5000 on waiting list. Yes the town needs uplifting, the bus station only needs maintenance. You carnt build things, and not maintain them. The same with Harlow mill station, if it was maintained , you could of left this peice of history. Your all about regeneration, and only regeneration, while everything else around us falls apart. Roads, cycle tracks, home repairs, the list goes on and on. Pour millions into regeneration, glorified unaffordable housing estates that most of us in Harlow carnt afford. Destroying our green belt in abundance. The people of this town first, and foremost.
Tony Durcan
2023-01-22 12:52:21
James you should really speak to officers or senior Tory councillors like Simon Carter who can explain other sites design and built by the council over the last 5 years. If not am happy to take you to them and show the differences they have made to peoples lives. I accept we should have built more. If you had the facts then you would recognise your comments are completely wrong. If you bother to check your facts all the other sites you quote were on the forward plan that we developed. Stop pretending the Harlow didn’t exist before you took office. If so ,it evidence that you believe your own MP and your own local and county councillor were completely useless. This would include your own leader who was your regeneration shadow cabinet member. For the record I meet with Russell every 2 months with an open agenda on projects that included senior officers. Please reflect
James
2023-01-22 13:07:52
Tony, I do mean to be unfair or inaccurate, but the results do tend to speak for themselves with regard to council house building and town centre regeneration.
Nicholas Taylor
2023-01-22 17:51:38
It has to be said that when those involved in politics come up with comments which residents know are patently untrue, then I am afraid that residents will no longer believe anything that is said by them. I can save you a journey Tony and James, the fact is, that despite the financial straight jacket placed on Councils by the Conservatives since 2010, the Labour group did succeed in building some Council houses, the residents occupying new houses in Fesants Croft, Riley Mews and Foster Court can testify to that. Not enough for the reason I have alluded to but credit where credit is due. To date not a brick has been laid for homes on the Conservative list of new builds.
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