CONSERVATIVE Councillor for Staple Tye, Alastair Gunn has welcomed news that from next year, Stewards will be back on Harlow’s political map.

This follows the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s confirmation of Harlow’s new ward boundaries, due to come in from 2024. Changes are being made following a review, to take into account the significant growth of the town and to ensure its eleven wards are of roughly equal size.

One of the new wards will be called Latton Bush & Stewards. Taking in most of the existing Staple Tye and around half of the Harlow Common wards, it will cover the town south of Southern Way from the Long Banks and Berecroft estates through to the A414.

Until the last boundary review in 2002, there was for several decades a dedicated ward for Stewards. The area takes its name from the Grade-II listed 15^th century farmhouse off Commonside Road.

Cllr Gunn said, “Having played a part in the cross-party work to help create Harlow’s new wards, I welcome that the suggestion the Council made to rename the new ward to include Stewards has been adopted by the Boundary Commission.

“The Stewards neighbourhood is fully included within the new ward and it’s right that the residents of the area will once again have a ward that refers to them as a community – something I and others pushed for during the consultation phase of the process.

“It has been a real privilege to represent Staple Tye these past two years on Harlow Council and I’m excited at what can be achieved for the area in the year ahead. 

“With Staple Tye largely moving into the new Latton Bush & Stewards ward, I hope to be able to stand for the area next year on a record of delivering regeneration and new social housing in the south of Harlow, keeping Harlow Council tax low and supporting the Conservative’s mission of improving the services residents receive from the Council.”