HARLOW’S Conservative-run Council is delighted that an extra £20 million towards the rebuilding of the town centre is set to be released The huge funding boost comes on top of the £20 million Levelling Up Fund and the £23.7 million Towns Fund both awarded to Harlow over the past two years following successful lobbying by Harlow’s former MP, Robert Halfon, and Conservative-run Harlow Council.  

The investment had been announced in March by the then Conservative Government, but was suspended in July by the new Labour Government. 

A Conservative spokesperson said: “The suspension led to a heated council meeting in July as the Conservative Leader of the Council presented a motion for cross party support for the council to lobby the new Government about the funding. 

During the debate, speaker after speaker rose from the Harlow Labour benches saying the motion which cited the funding as “at risk” was “offensive”, “absolute nonsense”, “a false aunt sally” and that there was “no issue there” and made clear that they believed there was no chance of the funding being pulled.

They went on to say they would “vote against it and knock it down” because the council should “let the Government get on with its work rather than pester” and there was “no mass panic or worry” about the investment.

Yet two days after the meeting, the Government wrote to the council to say they had suspended the money. 

Nevertheless, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Dan Swords, lobbied the Government vigorously for the funding with a series of letters, meetings and regular engagement with the Government. 

Following yesterday’s Budget, the Government has now confirmed they will lift the suspension and the council will receive the money but at least a year later than planned. 

“Construction work in the town centre is now underway for the major rebuilding and the extra £20 million investment will be ringfenced towards further boosting the town centre regeneration schemes and improving safety and security in the town centre. It is not possible for the money to be used for anything other than rebuilding the town centre”. 

Commenting on the news, the Leader of Harlow Council, Cllr Dan Swords said: “This is very welcome news for our town. We promised to rebuild our town and secure investment into Harlow and this news is yet more proof that we are doing that.

“It has been extremely frustrating for the new Labour Government to have suspended the money only to confirm it a few months later, but with a delayed programme. They have simply reapproved what the previous Government had confirmed a few months later. 

“Nevertheless, when the Labour Government announced that they were suspending the money in July, we took immediate action and have worked hard every day to fight for our town. It has been sad that we have done this against the wishes of the Harlow Labour party who voted against us lobbying for the money, but we have secured this in spite of their best efforts. 

“I will continue to stand up in the interests of Harlow and fight for our town regardless of the Government’s political persuasion. 

“After decades of Harlow Labour letting our town down and allowing our once great town centre to decline, the Harlow Conservatives are completely rebuilding the town centre.

“This is a fantastic day for Harlow showing what happens when the Harlow Conservatives run the Council.”