THOUSANDS of highways repairs have been carried out on top of normal maintenance since April through the Members’ Highways Initiative (MHI). The MHI gives every Essex County Councillor a dedicated Essex Highways crew to carry out repairs every few weeks. Councillors can use the programme…

HARLOW Council is rolling a programme to restore ponds, boost biodiversity and enhance access for residents to the neighbourhood ponds across the town as part of its mission to ‘renew our neighbourhoods’. Restoration has already taken place at Church End and Sibneys Green ponds which…

A HIGHLY critical report into the finances of Harlow Council has exposed a number of failings as well as “£139 million cash flow deficit” in relation to controversial purchase of Millbrook House (Burnt Mill Towers). The report was discussed at a meeting of the Harlow…

Dear Editor, After the recent Endeavour-House-for-asylum-seekers fiasco, it’s likely that Leader of the Council, Cllr Dan Swords, is breathing a sigh of relief after the furore he ignited showed signs of settling down.  To recap, we saw Labour’s leader hysterically calling for his resignation and…

THE Southend, Essex & Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) has launched a new five-year strategy to help people live free from domestic abuse. The strategy focuses on, making it easier for people to get help when they need it, supporting children and adults to build…

Huge upgrades to Junction 28 of the M25 aim to improve journey times and create smoother journeys for thousands of motorists in Essex and surrounding areas. Improved connectivity will help boost economic growth, creating and improving access to jobs, as part of the Government’s Plan for…

HARLOW Council secures landmark deal to “finally transform” neglected Strawberry Star site – with work starting before Christmas claims Harlow Council. A spokesperson said: “For too long, one of the most prominent parts of Harlow town centre – from the old Little Walk, next to…

ESSEX County Council, supported by Essex Police and the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP), has set up a temporary 40mph limit to protect crews working on the safety upgrade. The works will result in permanent speed limit changes from Widford roundabout to B181 Tylers Green,…

A statement from the Church Langley and Newhall councillors “Like thousands of residents in Newhall and Church Langley, we have always opposed Essex County Council’s proposed bus gate, which would have closed Old London Road. This scheme would have caused traffic chaos and unfairly punished…

HUNDREDS flocked to the Harlow Pride celebration held at Passmores Academy on Saturday afternoon. There was a whole host of things to do and celebrate. Among the many organisations there were: Parenthood of Harlow, Harlow Circle of Poetry, Harlow Steelband, Harlow Museum to name just…

CAMPAIGN group Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE), which fought successfully to stop proposed closures of two-thirds of libraries in Essex five years ago, has written to local government leaders with their concerns about the potential break up of Essex Library Service after local government in…

HARLOW Council is launching a Rapid Enhancement Action Plan to improve the cleanliness and appearance of estates across the town, starting with Longbanks on 27 October 2025. This targeted initiative will see teams from HTS, including their Priority Response Taskforce, carry out a range of…

ESSEX Police have seized thousands of pounds of illegal vapes and tobacco products hidden in businesses across Essex as part of our ongoing partnership work to prevent organised crime. We are working with Trading Standards, Border Force and HMRC as part of Operation Machinize, a…

DRIVERS in Essex have been promised road improvements following the announcement of a new £1 billion highways contract, the county council has said reports the Local Democracy Reporter. Essex County Council’s Cabinet has given the go-ahead for the start of a tendering process to choose…