Letter to Editor: In these challenging times, let’s not allow fear or division to speak louder than compassion and truth
Communities / Fri 26th Sep 2025 at 07:09am
THE team that runs an organisation that supports migrants and refugees in Harlow has written an open letter to Harlow Council.
Integration Support is a charity and started its support services for vulnerable migrants and refugees in 2005.
A spokesperson said: “We’ve heard that Harlow Council say that their priority is — and will always remain — standing up for the people of Harlow.
We truly hope that when the local authority says “people of Harlow”, they mean all of us — regardless of our immigration status.
Harlow is home to a vibrant, diverse, and multicultural community made up of British citizens, migrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum.
Together, we are all people of Harlow — and together, we can build a thriving community where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported.
With the recent unrest and growing national debate, we’ve been asked many times:
“Are there people seeking asylum living in Harlow?”
Yes — and they are people of Harlow.
Their children attend our local nurseries and schools.
Some study at Harlow College.
They shop in our town, walk our streets, and contribute to the daily life of this community.
They are not outsiders — they are part of our community.
In these challenging times, let’s not allow fear or division to speak louder than compassion and truth.
Let’s remember: a strong Harlow is an inclusive Harlow.
mary
2025-09-26 07:41:48
We know they are part of the community ... we are reminded every time i attempt to find a dentist on the NHS or get a hospital appointment or drive around town freely instead of having to leave home an hour earlier to manoeuvre the traffic & road works .. its impossible to get any help .. too many people working harder & harder to support more & more people that get the same lifestyle for doing absolutely nothing ! all the blame sits with the government who failed to control or focus on the infrastructure in the town prior to allowing mass migration. if all humans are equal why do i feel like i have been sacrificed
David Forman
2025-09-26 08:12:23
As regards dentists, the Toothless in England campaign blames the government for the 2006 dental contract that didn't pay dentists enough for complex work and this has confirmed by the Local Government Association report. As for infrastructure, again that it is due to successive governments' not prioritizing projects. In the past canals, railways and roads were built with large numbers of migrant labour, particularly the Irish. See Toothless in England at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Go3799SWv/
Seamus
2025-09-26 11:30:50
Successful immigration has always relied on integration, without it it collapses. We should respect differences of course but it's like when you travel to other countries and you have to respect their country, their rules. However that seems to have been junked when it comes to the U.K. People have been told for far too long say anything and you are accused of being racist or islamophobe. There is no place for violence or abuse, non but at some point some, ngo's in particular need to accept they are part of the problem but they need to be part of the solution instead
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