Harlow Council leader uses new Discover Harlow hub to speak to residents about town centre
News / Thu 16th Nov 2023 at 11:34am
THE Harlow Council leader has used the opening of the Discover Harlow hub to invite residents to look at their plans for the town centre.
The Discover Harlow Hub is situated in The Harvey Centre and is being used as a showcase for all the plans for Harlow and the surrounding areas.
On Friday, Councillor Dan Swords spent a busy morning speaking to local residents about the plans.
YH caught up with him to find out more.
gary roberts
2023-11-16 13:21:41
Cllr. Swords, I have actually contacted you about the issues relating to the Potter Street area and was told any plans for the area would be consulted on. Then suddenly the former council neighbourhood office was highlighted without any consultation with residents. I have even suggested you have a site meeting with a concerned resident [me] about those plans without a response. What are you scared of? Embarrassment I suspect. The council has treated Potter Street with contempt for decades this is just another example. I suspect Cllr. Leppard will run to your defence again but then he has not produced any substantial benefit for the area. Osler House has been derelict since 2018 with no local doctors' surgery available. No local council services or local bus service either. All the bloated wind you produce does nothing for my area: Does it? Finally, this post may be considered rude but residents need vital local services not jam tomorrow promises that fail to appear.
David
2023-11-16 18:05:06
Dan swords is a man of many words but no action, he talks a good show but then brings nothing to the table, he's full of broken promises, but when he wants your vote he's full on.
Rena Bilsland
2023-11-16 19:25:12
There is bus services to Harlow epping loughton and ongar from potter street
Michael Hardware
2023-11-16 19:32:21
David, perhaps you would like to elaborate on your accusations? There are five priority areas which this administration is focusing on. They have been published so you can hold us accountable. They are all are being delivered upon
Michael Hardware
2023-11-16 19:37:35
Gary, Harlow Council is not in any way responsible for healthcare provision in the town, you need to speak to the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB (formerly the CCG). Similarly, Harlow council is not responsible for bus services, that is down to Essex County Council and the operators.
Nicholas Taylor
2023-11-16 20:38:37
No-one can of course argue that the Town Centre is in desperate need of regeneration. The simple fact is however that the two areas where work is to be undertaken, that is the Cultural Square and the Bus Terminus form only a small part of the Town Centre. The former Gate House site, Market House, the former Square site, a huge part of Broadwalk and the former Odeon site to name but a few remain in private ownership. The owners will not make any investment until it is in their financial interests to do so. The building industry is in the doldrums due to high interest rates and is likely to be so for a long time to come. In the meantime the public are being presented with vague sketches, one has to wonder just how far £20 million will go bearing in mind inflation in the building industry. Dan should go round to Market Square to look at the state of the shrub beds which no-one seems to be employed to look after. That does not bode well for the future upkeep of the regenerated areas.
Despairing
2023-11-16 21:05:38
We all knew the planters would be neglected. Everything that has been put in the market square has been neglected. I see similar monstrosities have been added to 'enhance' the raised area opposite the library. It looks terrible. We're always told it's someone else's fault. If it's not the local council why do we have you ?
David
2023-11-16 23:37:23
Why can't the odeon cinema site be bought on a compulsory purchase, I see that sadly mo has passed on but it's holding up so many land opportunities that this once thriving town is in need of some desperate new investment??
David
2023-11-16 23:40:42
Despairing, they just love wasting our money, so many other things that the money could be well spent on.
Emma
2023-11-17 02:54:30
David, there have been no reports of Mo's passing. What are you on about?
gary roberts
2023-11-17 07:54:27
Cllr. Hardware, do you know how hard the residents' of Potter Street had worked to get a Health and well-being hub working out of Osler House and for the return of council services to the area? I suspect not. Some of your council colleagues do and until February last year supported them in their efforts. Then the council just shut all the good work down. A disgusting act to go with many over decades. Jane Halpin of the new integrated NHS body met myself and Colin Thorpe on two occasions to discuss medical provision in the hub and was prepared to help provide some. All that went when your council removed all support for the hub including two cabinet members who allegedly represent the area. Indeed in respect of the return of the local bus service I am still waiting for them to update me on their proposed investigation of the matter. That was over a year ago. So where is Cllr. Swords? All ready for photo and video shoots but not ready to conduct a site visit in Potter Street with me. Has he been taught by Mr. Halfon? No wonder the residents' have little faith in their council.
Dan Swords
2023-11-17 08:57:58
Dear Gary, I'd be very happy to visit Potter Street with you. I will email you directly.
Kim Oconnor
2023-11-17 10:33:34
Dan swords, Let's hope you do, because Gary has been on about this for the longest of time.. This is what listening to public opinions is all about.. not sitting in a hub, you need to do more door knocking in different area's, and attending consultation s..
Michael Hardware
2023-11-17 19:10:41
Kim, all of the cabinet including the leader are out in Harlow listening to residents. We have carried out research with residents earlier this year. We consult on key decisions, the latest being the election cycle where over 700 responded. I have no doubt Dan will email and meet Gary but, as I said, the council is not responsible for healthcare or bus services!
Nicholas Taylor
2023-11-17 20:12:55
Well Michael, I would suggest that whilst you may be hearing, you are not listening, hence your Party ignoring the nearly 7000 people who objected to the River Crossings, the nearly 1000 who have objected to development to the South West of Harlow or the dozens of residents objecting to the demolition of Sherards House. A quick check shows that just 467 people responded to the consultation about changes to the election cycle of which 364 (0.57%) of the electorate wanted to see changes. Labour led Harlow Council have been followed by your Party, paying lip service to consultation, making very little effort to really engage with residents. No mention of this consultation was made in the Summer edition of Harlow Times, I wonder if the subject was sent to any of the Towns Resident Association, how about the U3A or for instance the Leisurezone, asking them to send an email to their thousands of members for information? As Councillors you are supposed to represent you constituents, I am afraid there is very little evidence of this.
David
2023-11-17 23:32:45
Emma, I had heard through common knowledge that mo had passed on some months ago, if I've been mislead I apologise who heatedly.
David
2023-11-17 23:55:39
Emma, yes I have been mislead, please accept my apologies for any upset this may have caused.
DEC HAN
2023-11-19 10:19:36
Harlow Council is run by the CONservative Party and so is and always has been is Essex County Council so BOTH are RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUS SERVICE OR LACK OF IN HARLOW SURELY 🤔🤔🙃
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