Town Centre businesses urge council to finish work on Broad Walk
News / Mon 24th Feb 2025 at 09:08am
HARLOW Town Centre businesses have called for the council to hurry up and finish improvements to the pavements in Broad Walk.
Waffle and More owner, Alan Wright wrote to YourHarlow frustrated at the lack of work going on.
Mr Wright said: Please can we have an update on the pavement works (Broad Walk, East Walk).
It appears the work here has stopped, for around the last two weeks with no contractors on site.
This really is not on as is affecting all businesses, (our trade is at least 30% down) as customers feel it a danger to come down our end, with all the temporary railing up etc and with the bus garage being redeveloped as well it’s not good for any business here.
Together with all the additional roadworks around the town dragging on, customers are reluctant to come into town.
Work on the bus garage appears to have only just been started, although has been a long time closed.
Many public transport are also reluctant to travel into town, as they feel the temporary garage is too far.
Although we appreciate the redevelopments, it’s really a bit of a mess in town right now.
Better management is needed immediately, and contractors back on site to get the job finished.
How can or can we claim compensation for the loss of business we are all suffering from at the moment?
A Harlow spokesperson said: As part of our mission to rebuild our town, we are delivering the biggest regeneration programme of any district council in the country.
One phase of that rebuilding is the transformation of Broad Walk with the first part of this scheme being the paving, lighting, landscaping and drainage.
Good progress is being made against the programme – however there is a slight pause as we await required utility works including capping and diverting pipeworks.
We have no control over these utility works and obviously it would not be sensible to lay new granite paving, only to take it back up a few days later when the utility companies deal with the pipework.
“The programme will continue at pace as soon as these works are done by the utility companies. In the meantime, Broadwalk remains entirely operational”.
David Forman
2025-02-24 09:20:30
Utility works causing delays. Utility companies privatized by Thatcher's Conservative governments, so a case of what goes around...
Nostradamus
2025-02-24 09:48:08
We have all seen how efficient our utility companies aren't. However, the laying of granite paving is as much use as the trees in giant flower pots once were in the Market Square. The town centre resembles bombsite and most people avoid going there.The town centre has been cut off from access by the unnecessary works at Burnt Mill Roundabout and in building the unsustainable "sustainable corridors" and it's choking off trade. People go elsewhere and avoid Harlow altogether. Other towns have achieved far more by redesigning routes and reassigning existing roads, the cost being roadpaint and good signage. Some commercial nowse is needed at the Council. For example: What with the thousands of pounds that's been wasted on rearranging the deck chairs in the Market Square the Council could have paid an upfront incentive to the Market traders to return. It would be a far more effective way of bringing the town centre back to life.
Karen Waite
2025-02-24 13:03:44
No matter what you do to the surrounding roads the 2 bridges in and out of harlow will always cause a bottle neck, until they are sort the town will remain grid locked
Jeannette Morley
2025-02-24 13:39:05
Even the most optimistic resident of Harlow must have realised that the Market Square and surrounding area will remain a wasteland forever; whatever the reason, public perception of the town sinks lower by the day.
David Forman
2025-02-24 14:51:40
The House of Lords Built Environment Committee published last November a report titled 'High Streets: Life Beyond Retail'. A couple of interesting points caught my eye. First, "Local authority witnesses told the committee that having to bid for multiple pots of funding was time consuming and a strain on already limited resources." Second, the Local Government Association said in their evidence:- "Removal of permitted development: Permitted development is an ad hoc, disconnected approach that undermines councils' and their communities' ability to make decisions that reflect local need and preserve and enhance the unique and distinctive character of an area, including their town centres and high streets." See paragraph 165 and reference 326 on page 58 of https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/ldbuiltenv/42/42.pdf
Sharon
2025-02-24 16:22:42
To the Harlow Spokesperson, your explanation for the delay is adequate, but why has this not been communicated to affected business owners. This is a massive regeneration programme and it requires a massive public relations effort. There should be a better communication system in place so that people would not feel the need to write into the local newspaper.
Guy Flegman
2025-02-24 19:07:04
On the bright side, Harlow town centre makes a great backdrop for soviet era movie makers
john
2025-02-24 20:12:39
no control hm wel who is paying them then noddy???
David
2025-02-25 11:18:39
How many times do you pave and repave Market Square and Broad Walk? The market will not return anytime soon, Harlow Council sold it 25 years ago.
Jacqueline
2025-02-25 18:54:56
It's a discrace the tiles they are laying are mismatched and look awful when you do have workmen there it's a case of one or two working and four looking on what a waste of our money
Tim
2025-02-25 18:55:20
I was up town today and I was embarrassed, why did harlow council not get everything in place before knocking everything down is it me or is there more to it surely planning application and builders demolition in place then knock down knowing you can build straight away
Harlow Monster
2025-03-03 11:50:36
There can only be one person to blame for all of the issues around these works. and that person is the scottsman they call Derek Kiman (AKA Mr McBean)
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