Fed up with Harlow Traffic

I have written before about traffic problems in Harlow and campaign hard for an extra bypass on the M11 (a junction 7a), to relieve traffic problems and create a second entry point into Harlow. Well, although the Government have not guaranteed any funding for this, thanks to strenuous efforts of Conservatives in Harlow, and in Essex County Council, there will be dualling of the A414 from the M11 roundabout entry point, up to Southern Way.

This morning, I went to an exhibition about the plans, held at the Park Inn Hotel. The good news is that the construction work has to be completed by March 2011, otherwise Essex Council will lose their grant allocation for the road.

It is hoped that the work starts at the beginning of next year. The proposals outlined at the exhibition, include dualling the existing carriageway, traffic signals replacing Southern Way roundabout, and improvements to the pedestrian/cycle crossing facilities.

It was good to see John Curry, stalwart of the Harlow Civic Society, at the exhibition, doing his best to ensure that the plans protect cycle tracks and checking through the environmental impact of the plans. As always, Harlow would be at a loss without John, as he cares so deeply and passionately about the town.

Although, during the construction, there will be a huge inconvenience to motorists and nearby residents (particularly at Priory Court off Southern Way), it will be worth it in the end, as the dualling will lighten traffic loads into Harlow considerably.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Very Good News for Harlow Motorists

Many of you will know that traffic is one of the main issues that I campaign on - particularly regarding the need for an extra bypass on the M11 .

I regularly lobby Norman Hume (Cabinet Portfolio holder for Transport on Essex County Council), hard on traffic problems in and around Harlow, so I was really pleased with the announcement that Harlow is to get two much-needed transport schemes costing £13.5m. This is really great news for commuters.

In essence, Motorists will benefit from the Community Infrastructure Fund which is set to bring to an end traffic tailbacks on two of the town's major roads. Part of the funding - £9.9m - will enable the A414 to become a dual carriageway along its entire length from the M11-A414 junction at Hastingwood to the A1169 Southern Way, with new traffic signals at the Southern Way junction.

The other £3.6m will be spent on the second phase of bus, cycle and walking improvements along First Avenue, between Howard Way and the A414.

This is long-awaited and much-needed. Everyone who drives into Harlow will have had to sit in traffic queues as they head down towards Southern Way from the M11.

I was pleased to highlight these issues (see previous post) with Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers to highlight the A414 bypass campaign when they visited the Hastingwood interchange and I believe that this funding will enable work to get underway asap.

It is a great day for Harlow and the thousands of motorists who drive into and out of the town every day.

Fed up with Harlow Traffic and a New Shell Garage on the A414

One of the best things about travelling back to Harlow late at night is that the roads are quiet and there is no traffic hold-up on Junction 7 the A414 or Southern Way. Everyone knows that traffic in Harlow at peak times is pretty unbearable.

That's why for the last two years I have been campaigning hard for an extra bypass on the M11 just past Junction 7, so that drivers would have another entry point into Harlow. I set up a website about it called http://www.fedupwithharlowtraffic.com/ and have been overwhelmed by the support from local residents. Even the Labour MP for Harlow has agreed to join the campaign and has held talks with other Ministers about it. Hopefully many of you reading this will receive a special card about the extra bypass, through your letter box over the next couple of weeks. Do fill it in and send it back.

That is why I am delighted that tomorrow, Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Teresa Villiers MP will be coming to Harlow. I hope to hear from the Shadow Minister whether or not a future Conservative Government would be able to support the bypass proposal - particularly after ten years of a Labour Government that has seen no real action at all on this major issue.

This is all the more astonishing as the Government are forcing the concreting of our countryside with thousands of extra buildings- so a new bypass will be needed more than ever.

On another front, I understand that Miss Villiers will be making a special announcement on tax and pensions on behalf of David Cameron, so it should be an interesting day.

Incidentally, it was nice to see, stop and fill up petrol at the shiny new Shell Garage on the A414. The rebuild makes the Garage look really smart. It now sells loads of food and has a decent coffee machine! Most importantly - unlike BP on the opposite side of the road - petrol is sold at reasonable prices, with diesel costing 96.9p a litre (it is over £1 at BP).

Anyway, off to bed now. I will fill you in on what happens with the Shadow Cabinet Minister's visit tomorrow afternoon.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Roads and Table Tennis

Yesterday was a really good day for my work in the Constituency. I first met with the David Smith , the mastermind behind The Best of Harlow website. He has set up an amazing site for businesses in Harlow, on the web. I then went to Harlow Renaissance to be briefed about the latest regeneration plans for Harlow. I think Renaissance are a tremendous organisation who have a determination to transform Harlow for the better. I also had a great meeting with Simon Price who is a technical long distance driver. Simon supports my campaign for an extra by pass on the M11 and was helping me out with some ideas. At McDonalds, we pored over maps to try and examine possible routes for the by-pass.

But the best part of my day was on Friday evening. With Cllr Muriel Jolles, I visited the Norman Booth Centre in Old Harlow. Thanks to the inspiration of Neil Brierley and others, Norman Booth has been transformed into one of the top Table Tennis Clubs in the country. It is also self financing as the Centre also has a range of other sporting activities and a great cafe and viewing area. This place should be in the top ten of one of Harlow’s proudest achievements in recent years and shows what can be done with leadership and determination. I enjoyed playing table-tennis with young Rhys Williams and got trounced of course!

Finally, for those who read my blog a few days ago, you will recall a Pigeon decided to do his business on my suit, in the Water-Gardens Car park. Well I had an email from a friend in Northern Ireland who said it is a sign of good luck! Well, he was completely right! My girlfriend who is Brazilian, got her Visa to study in the UK, so I was really happy. She will be back next week and I have to pick her up at the crack-of dawn on Thursday morning. So thank you Mr Pigeon, wherever you are.......

Concern over timescale for transport scheme

I am concerned that much-needed transport improvements in Harlow could be at least four years from even receiving the go-ahead for funding.

The East of England Regional Assembly has made what it describes as an "indicative recommendation" that a host of public transport improvements costing £8m are carried out in the town.
However its recommendation lists the potential scheme among those which could receive funding for the 2013-14 to 2016-17 period.

The improvements could include passenger transport interchanges at Harlow Mill Station, Harlow Town Station, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Harlow town centre bus station.
High quality passenger transport services from the new development areas east and north of the town are also proposed, according to the East of England Regional Assembly.

Whilst I welcome any support for vital funding of our infrastructure, we desperately need funding now. Moreover we need urgent funding for the much-needed by-pass on the M11 to relieve traffic in Harlow and the surrounding villages.

After 12 years of a Labour Government there are still no guarantees of funding for this much-needed road. We need more action on behalf of the Government and less talk.