Harlow Community Update

A very busy Friday, as the morning started off with a meeting for local residents about the Waste Transfer Station.
We were there to meet Essex Council Leader Peter Martin and Cllr Kevin Bentley to raise objections to the proposed Waste Transfer Station in Templefields. Some progress was made in that the Councillors agreed to examine other sites for the WTS. The strength of feeling against the site as proposed was also made clear.
After, I went to Harlow College for a meeting about the proposed University Technical School (Apprentice School). Harlow is in the second round, and the bid is being backed by Harlow College, Anglia Ruskin University and local businesses. The UTC bid is focused around healthcare and we hope to involve the local NHS and other Healthcare providers.
Then to Latton Bush Centre to speak to Harlow Homestart AGM. I am proud to be a patron of Homestart - as it is an amazing organisation. Through volunteers, Homestart provides support and mentoring to parents facing difficulties. The enthusiasm of the volunteers is immense and the transformational effect on the parents profound. I heard an inspirational speech from a parent, Lizzie, who described what the charity had done for her. I felt really pleased to be there.
Every few months I have a meeting with Harlow church leaders. This afternoon we discussed the Freedom Bill and how it affects Christians. We also talked about other issues and a new organisation called Faith Matters.
Then to Berecroft to celebrate the finishing of the roofing of all the Houses by Circle Anglia and Kia Harlow. A great party event at the Community Centre, crowded with local residents. After a huge amount of anxiety after the fire last April, the community has been brought closer together. Well done to Circle Anglia for finishing on time, to the Berecroft Residents Association and local for the community work they have done.
Finally, the evening was spent in the company of Harlow Conservative Ladies Annual Churchillian dinner (Churchill was the MP for Epping (including Harlow) between 1924 and 1945). The guest speaker was Graham Brady MP, Chairman of the 1922 Committee, which is the Backbench Cttee of the Conservative Party. He spoke about enduring Conservative values and the need to renegotiate our relationship with the European Union. It was a wonderful evening at Canons Brook Golf Club, packed with Harlow, Epping and Saffron Walden Conservative members.

P.S. the pictures show me at the Homestart AGM and with Berecroft residents.

Rebuilding trust at Berecroft as new roofs begin to be installed

Given the difficulties faced by Berecroft residents, following the recent fires, I was pleased to meet again with residents, police and Circle/South Anglia Staff last Friday at St James School.   The meeting was to discuss progress on the re-roofing of the Berecroft Houses.  After initial delays and a few problems, it was good to see that the re-roofing has gathered apace.  The Residents Association, and the Steering Group seemed to be happy with the progress that Circle/South Anglia had made.  After, I went to see the contractors site, met with some more residents and knocked on a few doors.  All the Berecroft residents I spoke to were pleased at how things were going - even with the inconvenience of all the roofing replacements and building works.

I left feeling heartened both with the efforts the contractors were making in communicating with residents, (including talking to residents daily - door to door), and a feeling that Circle/South Anglia - despite a problematic start and some delays - were doing what they could to rebuild trust with Berecroft residents.    Much of this is also due to the excellent work and commitment of the Berecroft Residents Association, led by Z. Cheema,  alongside the support of local Councillors.

Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Sunday Update

Well, you have seen what I have been up to in Parliament this week, so I thought I would give you a brief update as to my Harlow activities over the past few days.

Overseas Aid: Following my speech in the House of Commons on World Poverty, it was good to meet with local representatives from RESULTS (the overseas development charity group), to discuss supporting the disabled in the developing world.

Harlow College: I visited a catering course for special needs pupils. It was great to be in the kitchen, chatting to all the students. My only regret was not being able to be able to be there at lunchtime, when I could have tasted all the delicious burgers that everyone was making. I also gave out a second round of award certificates to students who had completed the B.A. Hons with journalism.

Essex Police: In Chelmsford I had an important meeting with the Chief Constable of Essex. I wanted to discuss a range of issues including police resources, high crime rates in Harlow, Special Constables and Government plans for elected police commissioners. It was a productive conversation.

Patient-line: An interview with Heart FM, also in Chelmsford to discuss and push forward my campaign against the high cost of patient lines.

PACT: Travelling back to Harlow, I was really pleased to meet with PACT, to talk about their plans to increase educational provision in Harlow. I hope to work with the parents to help on their ideas of setting up a local school for autistic children.

Berecroft: A meeting with the Berecroft Steering Group, to discuss implementation of the new roofs - to be built by Circle Anglia. There are some difficult issues here, although there is some progress. I will be contacting residents over the next few days to set out details.

Essex Council Transport Team: In my campaign for an extra junction on the M11, I met with a senior officer from Essex Council and Councillor Norman Hume - in advance of my Adjournment Debate on this subject later.

Michael Roberts Charitable Trust: Attended this remarkable charity's AGM and gave a speech. It was good to be at Harefield Church for the event, with so many of the charity's supporters, clients and volunteers.

Harlow Civic Service: This was the third year of a very special service, based on the theme of thanksgiving. I was pleased to have the chance to give an Address, alongside Council Leader Andrew Johnson, Chief Executive Malcolm Morley and Industrial Chaplain, Reverend Robert Findlay. I will post my address on a later blog.

Harlowbury School: This was really great fun. Vanda and I were invited to open their music festival in the school grounds. Surrounded by parents, children, picnics, barbecues, a beer tent, tea stands, and superb bands (all performing free of charge) , it was a superb way to spend an afternoon. I was so touched as I received a wonderful picture from some of the children, which will go proudly on my office wall in the House of Commons.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Progress at Berecroft

After a year of waiting and a third fire, some progress was made this evening at a public meeting held for Berecroft residents. Organised by local Councillors and the Berecroft Residents Association, South Anglia set out a definitive set of pledges.

I have held a number of meetings with Anglia, the Police and Fire Officers in recent weeks in order to get a fuller picture, and also to help expedite measures. I was glad that I was able to bring Grant Shapps, Housing Minister, to Berecroft, just after the latest fire.

Tonight we heard the following from Anglia:

• Better Communication between residents and the Housing Association;
• An open consultation to begin and published for all residents to see;
• Work to begin replacing the roofs from July 2010;
• All the roofs to be replaced by the Summer of 2010;
• The guttering problems to be fixed.
  

Although the building works will take up to ten months - after a year of delays - at least something is now happening. As I said to residents at the meeting, I and the Steering Group will be watching like hawks to ensure that South Anglia deliver on their promises.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Great Speech makers at St Marks

To the Jack Petchey Young Speaker awards this evening to help judge a young speaker's tournament. Some of the best student speech makers in West Essex were assembled in St Marks school giving speeches that electrified those present.

The standard was high and there were exceptional speeches from students from St Marks and Passmores. A young girl from a school in Romford - who won on the night - spoke movingly about 'fear'.

I have never been a judge before and felt really involved with the contest. It was particularly enjoyable, as this was my very first engagement as MP for Harlow. I have promised to take the winner to tea in the House of Commons. She thoroughly deserved it.

Apart from this event, it was an active day in Harlow. I went to see a debt counselling service in the morning (based in Old Harlow), which helps hundreds of people with financial difficulties. Later, I had an important and constructive meeting with Harlow Fire Officers to discuss the Berecroft fire. This was in advance of my surgery at Berecroft tomorrow evening.

A further visit to Berecroft with Conservative Housing Spokesman Grant Shapps

Given that Berecroft residents have endured their third fire in recent times, I thought it important to bring the Conservative Housing Spokesman Grant Shapps today to meet local residents

Mr Shapps was accompanied by prospective Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon, Harlow Conservative local councillor and housing committee chairman Lee Dangerfield and Berecroft Residents Association chairman Zulqar Cheema when he visited the estate this morning

The second major fire in the terraced properties in ten months has led to renewed calls for South Anglia - the housing association which owns the properties - to carry out major work to make the homes safer.

Viewing the fire-damaged properties, Mr Shapps observed:

"This is a shocking fire and it must be very frightening for the residents. The construction of these properties is obviously a real worry. I've seen a range of different problems here and concerns too because the housing association involved, South Anglia, has issued a statement saying they are actively working on the estate which turns out not to be true when you come here. I will be writing to the managing director today to find out what they really intend to do. It's quite clear there's not much going on at the moment.\What people want to know is what is going to happen about it."There's a small political point here, I don't think the regulation of the housing associations is anything near right.What should happen is the local authority should get to look after those housing associations and ask them to take action when the construction is as it is here.

At the moment there is some very bureaucratic process involving quangos and the rest of it . I think if we brought that control down to a local level we can help get these problems fixed and faster and that's one of the things we will do if we win on Thursday."

I'm glad that Grant Shapps came to Berecroft. I wanted him to see the terrible fire that took place a couple of days ago. It's wrong that the residents have suffered in this way. I'm going to be seeking an urgent meeting with South Anglia because something needs to be done to make sure this never happens again.

Harlow Conservative councillor and Housing Committee Chairman Lee Dangerfield said:

"I've called for an urgent meeting with local residents and South Anglia Housing. We must make sure these works are done as soon as possible."

Berecroft Residents Association chairman Zulqar Cheema stated : "We need to move a little bit quicker. With these organisations you have this sort of treacle-type movement whereas local residents and people want it done the following day and there should be something that gets it done fairly quickly. We need to push it and get it done."

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Twenty Six: Fire

Remember the fire at Berecroft last August?

Today there was further bad news as there was another fire on the same Estate, with the same misery for local residents including evacuation and loss of possessions.

About 18 homes were evacuated early today (Saturday) after a fire broke out in the bedroom of a mid-terrace house.

We must do all we can to help residents caught up in this latest incident - the cause of which is currently being treated as suspicious.My heart goes out to the many residents whose lives have been affected by this latest fire. I feel greatly for them all at this time and will endeavour to do everything I can to help and support them. I was pleased to meet with some of the evacuated residents today at the Latton Bush Centre and I will do all I can to assist those who need help.

I intend to meet with the emergency services once their investigations are complete and liase with Harlow Council over what we can do to help these families who face upheaval in their lives as their properties are repaired.

As Staple Tye Conservative Councillor Lee Dangerfield stated: "Once again residents of Berecroft have been affected by a major fire and once again we will be doing everything we can to support them and ensure that everything is done to get their lives back to normal as soon as practicably possible."

P.S. Pictures courtesy of www.everythingHarlow.co.uk and Cllr. Lee Dangerfield

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Vera the Brave - walking around Berecroft

I met a wonderful elderly Lady today. In fact I have written about her before on this blog. Her name is Vera and she lives in Berecroft - directly opposite the House burnt in the recent fire. Despite having been close to the fire, and incredibly close to danger, Vera was brave, and has taken all the difficulties on the chin. Vera had the same community spirit as many Berecroft residents.

As I knocked on Berecroft doors - with Staple Tye Cllr. Lee Dangerfield today - to hear residents' concerns, I was struck by how few complained, despite suffering enormous aggravation and inconvenience because of the fire. It was also good to see the respect in which Lee Dangerfield is held. He is a true example of a Councillor who really is there for his ward constituents -when they need him.

Most residents are anxiously awaiting the Fire Report. Some who have bought their homes, are concerned about the safety of their roofs, in the event of another fire taking place. I can only hope that the Report assuages their concerns and I look forward to attending the next residents meeting when the Report is discussed.

A number of 'Berecrofters', also showed me all the gutterage problems on the parts of the Estate. I was astonished to see raised paving stones, cracked paths, which are clearly a danger, particularly to the infirm. I even saw a raised-shed apparently caused by the drainage issue. Although there is apparently some kind of plan in the offing to deal with this, it has gone on for far too long. I will be writing to the Housing Association to find out exactly what the plans are, and when they are to be implemented. Residents should have not have had to suffer this unnecessary inconvenience for so many months.

P.S. The photos show the fire at Berecroft, Vera and I, and results caused by the gutterage problem.

Please excuse the video being lop-sided. I have a new Samsung Camcorder and haven't yet worked out how to rotate recordings. Any suggestions, welcome!