Dear Editor,

THERE is a point where frustration turns into embarrassment. I have reached it.

Walking down Old Harlow High Street today does not feel like passing through a proud, historic community. It feels like stepping into a space that has been quietly abandoned by those who depend on it most. The litter, the smell, the visible neglect, it is no longer something you notice occasionally. It is constant. It is defining.

Your recent article on Shwe Beauty Salon highlighted the struggles of an independent business trying to survive. But the truth is difficult to ignore: how can any business succeed in an environment that actively repels people?

The rise in takeaway outlets has brought with it a surge in waste that is simply not being managed. Bins overflow. Food packaging spills out onto pavements. Half-eaten meals sit rotting in public view. The High Street is beginning to resemble the aftermath of neglect rather than a place of trade and community.

By evening, the situation becomes even more concerning. Rats are no longer a rare sight. They move freely through back alleys and behind businesses, drawn by the easy access to discarded food. This is not just unpleasant; it raises serious questions about hygiene, safety, and accountability.

While some of these areas may fall under private ownership, responsibility does not end at the edge of a lease. Businesses share this space. They share its reputation. And right now, that reputation is deteriorating.

Old Harlow has always carried a sense of identity, a village character within a growing town. It has been a place where independent businesses could thrive, where people chose to spend their time. That identity is being eroded, not by lack of opportunity, but by lack of care.

If I did not live here, I would not choose to visit. That is the reality.

And yet, there are businesses that are trying. Businesses that take pride in what they do, that want to welcome customers into a clean, inviting environment. They deserve better than to be overshadowed by widespread indifference.

This is not a complaint directed at the council. This is a call to the businesses themselves. Look around. Take ownership. Work together. Because no one benefits from a High Street that people avoid.

Old Harlow is not beyond saving. But it requires a collective shift from neglect to responsibility.

At the moment, the message being sent is clear. And it is driving people away.

Yours sincerely,
A concerned resident