Harlow Community Update

Harlow Hospital Radio (HHR). As regular readers will know, I am a great supporter of HHR and make regular visits to this amazing radio station. Well, I was there on Saturday for the HHR Open Day and had some great fun with Presenter Ian Jackson. We played a wide variety of tracks from the Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll by Bob Dylan, to beautiful by Christina Aguilera!

Harlow Fire Service: You will remember that not so long ago I visited Old Harlow Fire Station. This time it was to the Town Centre for a special Fire Service Disability Day, where I was asked to give a short speech. All Disability groups from Halrow and Essex were there. The Fire Officers are progressive and forward looking - and very much community minded.

Metwest Chemists: Last week, I visited
Metwest Chemists in Staple Tye, to meet staff and the owners. We discussed the NHS reforms - particularly the role of pharmacies under the new GP Commissioning roles.

Separately, I have had meetings with the Canal Boat Project to look at Fund Raising ideas and with PC Chipchase to examine ways of combating knife crime in Harlow.

I also went to see the Head Teacher of Burnt Mill School to talk over education in Harlow and literacy. The school is doing some great things on improving standards and I wanted to find out what is being done. There is a rigorous programme on advancing Maths and English skills which is producing some remarkable results. The stats show a remarkable level of improvement in the last couple of years.

Burnt Mill, alongside Passmores and Stewards are applying to become an Academies, a positive move that will improve standards - giving schools much greater freedom over their own affairs.

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