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Letter to Editor: Harlow Alliance Party thank the voters

Elections / Mon 8th May 2023 at 09:21am

Dear Editor,

AS leader of the Harlow Alliance Party, I would like to thank the hundreds of residents who voted for the Alliance Party last Thursday. This despite the limited resources available to the Party when compared to the two main Parties.

It is quite clear that voters in many Districts across the South and East of England share our concerns about the loss of the Green Belt to developers. This manifested itself in the loss of 16 Conserative seats on East Herts District Council, giving residents hope that the development at Gilston will be stopped in its tracks.

Prior to last weeks election, the Conservative Party in Harlow again made the claim that only a vote for Conservative candidates could stop development to the south west of Harlow. This would have seduced many residents to vote for them. The fact is of course that Councillors in Epping voted through their Local Plan on 6 February, allowing building to take place on hundreds of acres of the Green Belt around Harlow. As development begins residents will come to realise that they were duped, adding to the number who already feel they can no longer trust politicians.

It will also become evident just how little of the Town Centre the Council can regenerate. Land such as the former Square site, Kitson Way car park, Gate House and Market House will still be lying empty.

The Harlow Alliance Party has learnt a lot from this years election campaign and will continue to scrutinise the Conservative Party at the Council’s Cabinet and Full Council meetings.

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3 Comments for Letter to Editor: Harlow Alliance Party thank the voters:

James Leppard
2023-05-08 12:10:26

HAP clearly has no understanding of the ambition and scale of the planned regeneration of the Town Centre. They should read the plans instead of pontificating and speculating.

Nicholas Taylor
2023-05-08 13:11:55

It is interesting to note James that you have not addressed the third paragraph of our statement. Perhaps you would clarify how the Conservatives will stop development on Harlow's boundary? The regeneration of much of the Town Centre still lies in the hands of property developers despite the Council's purchase of the Harvey Centre and Occasia House, hence the FACT that the sites mentioned in the article are still lying empty years since they have been demolished or been standing empty. In the meantime Council policy is encouraging developers to seek Planning Permission to build high rise flat blocks, with little or no affordable housing. To date not a hole has been dug and not a brick laid on any project to regenerate the Town Centre.

Kim Oconnor
2023-05-09 09:58:04

That's all conservatives talk about, regeneration regeneration, at what cost, and at what cost to what people actually need and want. Listening to what people actually want, is crucial, after all its us that keep you there. I would not get to complacent on this, you conservatives done very badly up and down this country. And what Nicholas has said is spot on. Saying and doing are two very different things. The destruction of our River stort valley is not going away, and a step to far for many who live here, infact thousands of us. Kim Oconnor green party candidate.

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