Breaking: Police seal off derelict area of Harlow Town Centre

Crime / Thu 19th Dec 2024 at 10:48am

Update: 2000 hrs: Apologies for no update. We contacted Essex Police press office this morning. They indicated a statement would be coming but none as yet. We asked again at 1700 hrs. Will update when we get something.

ESSEX Police has sealed off an area of the town centre in Harlow.

YH understands that they have been there since the early hours of the morning.

The area in question is the derelict quadrant that spreads across the East Gate part of the town.

Police officers have sealed off the entrance close to the old Little Walk.

An officer is guarding the front of a derelict shop opposite the Market Square.

YH has contacted all the relevant emergency services press offices for more information.

More follows.

7 Comments for Breaking: Police seal off derelict area of Harlow Town Centre:

Buster

2024-12-19 12:01:02

Early houses of the morning???? Lol

ekb

2024-12-19 13:16:18

The council really need to do something about this abandoned development - compulsory purchase order (at the reduced value of an abandoned site). And send a message to developers who have left half the town centre derelict.

Harlow lifer

2024-12-19 13:19:23

So whats going on!!??

Dave

2024-12-19 13:40:27

At least it's getting used for something

Dm

2024-12-19 14:55:03

Ekb. I don't think it's this particular area but the site opposite wouldn't have been left like that if the council hadn't persecuted every business that the owner started all over the town. Deep pockets and long memories.

Frank

2024-12-19 22:11:30

If the council had the guts they would have compulsory purchased the derelict cinema that’s left for a pigeon nesting building causing a nuisance. The council is always blowing its trumpet but turning a blind eye to the eyesore town center

Liam

2024-12-20 13:56:25

It’s a bit of a joke now. It started with the odeon cinema about 20 years ago, followed by the office blocks next to it in and little walk in the late 2010s, and since 2020 the businesses have been leaving the remaining block one by one until the state we’re in today with only Specsaves left out of the entire block. From primark on the high street to all the way round to the OTHER entrance to primark (Harvey centre, where domino’s used to be) is entirely abandoned. Constantly being vandalised, set on fire, used for squatters… just constant crime. The whole area of the town is almost entirely derelict and horrendously dark and dangerous. Knock the whole thing down and plant some grass. Plant some trees. Light it up well, throw some CCTV in and make some town centre green space - it not only opens the whole town up more, but would tidy it right up, bringing it in line with the notoriously well-maintained and welcoming Water Gardens. There’s plenty of space in the other abandoned parts of town for new shops or businesses should the need ever arise.