ENGLAND’S 11 million private renters were granted the most significant increase to their rights in a generation when the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill received Royal Assent today at 7.40pm. The Renters’ Rights Act delivers on the government’s Plan for Change manifesto commitment to rebalance the…

ESSEX County Council has confirmed it will sign funding agreements with the Department for Education (DfE) to recover around £6.5 million for its work supporting schools affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). In August 2023, changes to DfE policy required urgent action at school…

A PLANNING application has been submitted for a children’s home in Harlow. This application is for a Proposed Full Planning Application for Change of Use for the use of 37 Upper Stoneyfield, Harlow as a children’s home for a duo placement for children aged 8-18…

A HARLOW Labour councillor is pressing Harlow Council to place a blue plaque on the council building in memory of the late MP Stan Newens. Mr Newens represented Harlow in Westminster from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1983. He was also a…

HARLOW Council has successfully defended its decision to refuse a private hire driver licence, following serious safeguarding allegations. In 2022, the council took immediate action to revoke the licence of Mr Kazi Haque. When Mr Haque later submitted a fresh application, Harlow Council’s Regulatory Sub-Committee…

NET Academies Trust is a family of six academies: Latton Green Primary Academy, Katherines Primary Academy, Longwood Primary Academy and Nursery, Jerounds Primary Academy, Abbotsweld Primary Academy and Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy. They have now announced that Harlowbury Primary, Fawbert and Barnard and Tanys…

IN the past few weeks, we have encountered scammers trying to rent rooms in houses that do not exist, warns Streets2Homes and Reverend Jokey Poyntz. “With fifty people going to each viewing just for a room, scammers are exploiting people’s desperation and demanding deposits for…

A HARLOW Alliance Party member has expressed his concerns over temporary parking in the town centre whilst improvements are being made. Alan Leverett asked council leader Dan Swords a number of questions at a recent council meeting. Alan Leverett to Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of…

THE Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex is inviting all residents, businesses and people who study or travel in Essex to share their views on future funding for Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service for the 2026/27 financial year. Your feedback…

HARLOW Council has reached a major milestone in its ambitious plan to rebuild the iconic Town Park Bandstand, with the appointment of a contractor to carry out the reconstruction. This marks the fourth step in the council’s detailed eight-step plan to restore the bandstand following…

LAST week, I said how hard it is to focus this column on just one thing, given the sheer amount of positive change happening across Harlow. And it’s true – every week there seems to be another major step forward. But this week, I want…

COUNCILLORS in East Herts have agreed a compromise that will see their allowances rise – but by less than the amount recommended by an independent panel reports the Local Democracy Reporter. Instead of increasing their £5,679 a year allowances by the recommended £821, they will…

THE LEADER OF the Harlow Alliance Party has urged the council to consult more residents on the sale of garages across town. Nicholas Taylor to Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the Council): I note that the issue of how residents and garage tenants were advised…

A POPULAR Essex market could be losing as many as 100 stalls after a major land deal between Google and the local council to build a new data centre at the airfield where it is based. The hugely popular North Weald Market, which operates every…