HARLOW Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and the Garden Town, Cllr Alastair Gunn, has responded to residents’ clear opposition to plans to close a section of London Road, calling the idea “dead in the water”.

Planning permission to install a bus gate on London Road was granted in 2017 (HW/FUL/00130) and the road was due to close following the opening of the M11’s Junction 7a.

However, it has been repeatedly delayed in the face of waves of opposition from residents of Church Langley and Newhall.

A new planning application (HM/FUL/00333) to vary which section of London Road would close to allow the bus gate has recently been submitted, receiving over 600 objections. It is currently being considered by Harlow Council.

In September 2024, in a debate on the proposed East of Harlow strategic site, Cllr Gunn expressed his and Harlow Council’s opposition to the bus gate, saying the scheme should not be introduced in the face of clear opposition from residents.

Today, he went further, commenting, “Church Langley and New Hall residents have consistently said that the bus gate is a bad idea. They were right to do so when it was approved in 2017, and they are right today.

“For eight years, residents have repeatedly had to make clear how strongly they oppose the closure of London Road, and I am frustrated that they have had to do so again.

“In reality, the scheme no longer has any meaningful support. Whilst the original planning permission remains in place, it is effectively dead in the water.

“Under this administration, Harlow Council listens to its residents. Since I took on the Planning portfolio, we have worked closely with Essex County Council on this and other issues. We will continue to work with them to find another approach, one that respects Harlow’s residents and with a view to finally putting an end to this issue.”

ENDS