OVER the past few months, there have been seven planning applications to convert houses into children’s homes.

They have all been approved.

Harlow is not alone. The same is happening over in Thurrock (where we have a sister paper) and many other places.

As you can see from our films, politicians of all colours have approved them. Conservative Mike Garnett and Labour’s Kay Morrison have very little in common (politically) but they both approved all six applications.

Then again, Conservative Matthew Saggers has approved three, abstained on one and voted against two (including this one).

There is no doubt that the applications bring out strong emotions. There were outbursts from Upper Stonyfield residents last week.

Here, residents were genuinely upset.

The thirty-minute film of the application is below.