Multi-million-pound investment into Harlow's road network to be welcomed

It is welcome news that Harlow’s road network is to receive a multi-million-pound overhaul.

A £3.5m project has been given the go-ahead by the Local Enterprise Partnership, meaning various stretches of roads in the town will see much-needed upgrades. The work will be carried out as Harlow prepares to become a new Enterprise Zone.

I am a long-time campaigner for better roads and transport links in Harlow – and have run the Fed Up With Harlow Traffic campaign.

Harlow is officially the most enterprising town in Britain - and I am delighted that my campaign for Harlow small firms has now been backed by everyone from the Prime Minister, to Amy Childs from The Only Way is Essex.

Our town's Enterprise Zone is set to attract up to 5,000 new jobs, and so we must ensure that the road network both into and through the town is able to cope with the additional traffic that the additional businesses will attract.

As part of the programme of work, a stretch of the A414 along Edinburgh Way will be upgraded along with new access routes into the London Road and Templefields industrial areas.

The new Enterprise Zone will be looking to attract medical technology, advanced manufacturing and ICT industries to the town.

Many big name businesses are already based in Harlow and this investment will clearly show others considering moving to Harlow that the town really does mean business when it comes to providing an ideal, easily accessible base for their companies. 

Low carbon buses for Essex is good news

It is great news that the Government is investing almost £2 million in low-carbon buses in Essex.

A total of £1,879,712 will be awarded to First Essex Buses Ltd, which runs the 347 Hatfield Broad Oak to Harlow service (via Hatfield Heath, Lower Sheering and Sawbridgeworth), to cover the cost of 23 buses.

Many people rely on public transport to get around. With the high cost of fuel – something I have been long campaigning against – and the need to protect our environment, eco-friendly buses are certainly the future and it is great news that funding is being made available to provide them in our county.

Through my Fed Up With Harlow Traffic campaign I am well aware of the issues we have with the amount of traffic using our roads, and so it is great that people have the option of using public transport, and using vehicles that do not pollute our environment.

The investment has been announced by Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with the Department for Transport.

Some £100m is being allocated through the Better Bus Fund and Green Bus Fund. He said: 

“At the heart of our plans is the need to get more people on buses. Buses are already very popular but we believe they could play an even more significant role in creating growth and cutting carbon.”

The low carbon green bus emits at least a third less carbon than its conventional diesel counterparts.

FULL SPEECH : an extra junction on the M11

Click on HERE for the full speech I made yesterday, arguing for an extra junction 7a on the M11. You can also read the response of Norman Baker, Minister for Transport.

UPDATE: view the video here.

An Extra Junction (7a) on the M11

Today I spoke in the House of Commons, in a special debate about an extra junction on the M11, north of Harlow.

We desperately need an extra junction, because:

1. Harlow has just one motorway entrance. Basildon has four.
2. Recent roadworks have NOT solved the problem.
3. Congestion causes a huge cost to the local economy.
4. An extra junction (7a) would massively boost jobs in Harlow.
5. The cost of an extra junction is very modest, compared to other schemes.

I was very encouraged by the Government’s reply, because they hinted there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

It was a small step towards victory for local residents, when they said: “Harlow is well placed to benefit from available investment, when the current financial position eases.”

The Government acknowledged the serious congestion in our town, saying: “traffic in and out of Harlow has to traverse a series of mainly single-lane carriageways to reach key destinations such as the town centre and areas of employment.”

They agreed that: 'Frequent congestion is the result. Congestion is seen as a barrier to achieving the town's regeneration and economic growth ambitions.”

I have been campaigning for a new junction since 2007. See http://www.fedupwithharlowtraffic.net/ for more information, or look at the question I asked the Transport Minister a few weeks ago HERE.

UPDATE : view the video HERE.


by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Pledge from Essex County Council re A414 Improvements

I have continued call on the Government for action on a northern relief road (an extra bypass on the M11), having secured the promise of support from Essex County Council.

I have been campaigning for a northern relief road for many years
(see my website www.fedupwithharlowtraffic.com) but the situation is reaching breaking point. We've waited ten years for Labour to do something, but we're still waiting for the substance.

'm very pleased to have secured a pledge from Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, to underwrite a comprehensive feasibility study for delivering the road. He has also recently stepped up the pressure on the government, by asking written questions in Parliament about the scheme on my behalf.

After discussing the issue with him, I am also very grateful for the support of the leader of Harlow District Council, Cllr. Andrew Johnson, who has pledged support in developing the plans.

In addition, I am lobbying him to seek extra investment into highways monitoring to make a strong case to the government.

Theresa Villiers, Shadow Transport Secretary, has also campaigned with me against Harlow congestion at a national level, and has confirmed that she is absolutely clear on the need for a bypass in Harlow.

I welcome Lord Hanningfield's comments:

"It is time that the Government listened to the people of Harlow and Robert Halfon's campaign".

P.S. The picture shows me with Senior Conservative Transport Spokeswoman Theresa Villiers MP

P.P.S. For further details see HERE

The Final Frontier

I had a fascinating afternoon in Stevenage today, as I was invited to the Headquarters of Astrium Ltd. The Company is Europe's leading specialist in satellite communications, and at the forefront of the UK Space Industry. I had known before that the Company was responsible for putting up satellites around the Earth's orbit, but until today, I had no idea as to the extent of Astrium's activities in Space.

Astrium not only uses its satellites to monitor climate change as well as examining significant problems in the developing world (notably Central Africa), it is also building a robot to ride around Mars, to check for signs of life. Even more astonishingly, they are developing a satellite/camera that is set to go close to the sun, to examine the sun's particles. The ambition is to develop a machine that can withstand 600 degrees on the outside but retain average room temperature on the inside. Another satellite programme is being developed to make a detailed catalogue of millions of stars.

What is even better, is that so much of this technological genius is being designed and built in England - much of it in Stevenage. Moreover, Astrium makes every effort to be deeply involved in the local community, working with numerous universities and schools to bring space science, first hand to students - in fact I learned that Astrium has been active in Stewards School in Harlow, working with students on a balloon rocket programme to support the school's space day.

Normally, when I think of Space, Nasa and the United States comes to mind. Yet, Britain is a Space power house in its own right. The British Space sector contibutes £6 billlion and 70,000 to UK GDP and has a 7% share in the world space sector.

It was good to go to Astrium today - it felt like going to a scientific discovery park, more than a commercial business Yet Astrium is very much a business and employs thousands of people all over the UK, a number of whom come from Harlow. I was also pleased to see that Astrium spent £81,297 in Harlow last year, by working closely with a number of local businesses.

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

Chutzpah! Labour isn't working in Harlow

Have you ever heard of the word 'Chutzpah'? It is an old yiddish word for 'bare faced cheek' and is usually used to describe someone's action's in the face of difficulty. Well, I thought of this expression, when I read my Harlow Star this week about the high unemployment levels in Harlow. In essence, the newspaper highlighted a report, funded by the East of England Development Agency, showing that Harlow had one of the highest unemployment levels in the East of England. Harlow has had a 2.5% increase in unemployment claims. The town has sadly suffered the worst of of the Government's mishandling of the economy - repossessions are high, taxes are high and now we have the dreadful unemployment figures.

So where does 'Chutzpah' come in. Well, astonishingly, the Labour MP for Harlow, seeks to blame the ever increasing unemployment, on the Conservatives, despite his party having been in power since 1997. He claims that the Conservatives oppose a '£5 billion unemployment package' to help the unemployed.

Well, I am mystified by this claim. It would be interesting to know from which mythical set of figures he chose to use. You always know when someone is flaying at the edges, the bigger the porky pies that are told.

The truth is rather different: People simply don't believe Labour's dishonest scaremongering about what the Conservatives will do. Far from being inactive on unemployment, we have been calling on the Government for years to introduce welfare reform, to develop a network of back to work centres that can offer people personalised support, advice and training to help them back into employment.

During this recession Conservatives have led the way on policies to respond to the unemployment crisis, such as subsidies to employers to help create new jobs and encourage companies to take on the unemployed, which Labour belatedly took up. The reality is that Labours reckless approach to the public finances means that they will be raising taxes on jobs just as the economy will be trying to recover.

It is time for Labour, and for the Government MPs to get real and face up to their responsibilities. Rather than trying to blame the Conservatives for everything, they should apologise to the electorate for the economic mess we are all in after 12 years of Labour rule. Instead of accusing the Tories of exaggerated cuts, they should set out their own spending plans and what they are going to do to reduce the £804 billion deficit they have caused - with over £16.5 billion borrowing this month alone.

P.S. Apologies for not having blogged for a few days, I was away, for four days on a work trip, of which I hope to blog about later.

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

Labour Cuts

It is interesting that Labour is so quick to denounce Tory proposed 'cuts' (often mythical) to public services, yet remain so quiet when genuine, Government cut-backs hit vital public services.

For example, only a week or so ago, Harlow Learning Shops, closed due to lack of funding. Learning Direct, was an excelllent service because it enabled many young people across Harlow to be given special skills in key areas like computers, maths and English. Other Harlow Residents were given IT training and help with CVs.

For Government cuts in Harlow, read national. Chancellor Alistair Darling, has admitted that big cuts are on the way. This is inevitable because of the mismanagement of the economy and the huge 175 billion pounds public borrowing this year alone. According to the BBC, Mr Darling has said the Government will have to"cut costs and shift resources".

For years, Labour has thrived on the politics of fear, claiming that Conservative policy was to cut public expenditure. Now, when Mr Brown is in a deep economic hole - a mess of his own making - he acknowledges that the Government will have to rein back spending, thereby adopting the very economic policy that he has been denouncing for years. Only a few weeks ago in the House of Commons, Mr Brown falsly attacked the Conservatives for proposing ten percent cuts in public services. At the time his statements were greeted with incredulity by journalists and commentators. He has been found out; as the wolf who cried once too often.

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

Delaying Election Counts : No, No, No....

I see from yesterday's posting by Iain Dale and the Sunday Times, that following the Norwich North By-Election where the election count was held on a Friday, other Councils are thinking of following suit. This would mean that election Counts would be held late on a Friday morning, rather than from Thursday night from 22:00, when the polling stations close.

Sadly, we in Harlow have great experience of later voting Counts. At my first General Election as Harlow Conservative Parliamentary Candidate in 2001 - if my ailing memory serves me correctly -the result wasn't announced until 05:00 or 06:00 on Friday.

In 2005, the final result wasn't announced until late on Saturday morning, when it was revealed that I had lost by just a handful of votes to Mr Rammell - a day which is indelibly etched on my memory!

The reason for the Count taking place on Saturday was that there had been two counts on the Thursday night/Friday morning. Due to a number of discrepancies over the count, the closeness of the result, and because it was past 06:30am, it was decided that a third recount would take place on Saturday morning.

As you can imagine, I hardly got any sleep during this period and lived mainly on adrenalin - I hoped against hope that I might have won by a whisker. But, it was not to be. The final result indicated that the incumbent had held on by ninety seven votes (down from a Labour majority of over 10,500 in 1997).

Because Harlow was the last constituency in the country to declare, it seemed like the whole world turned up to hear the result. All the major news channels had arrived and I remember, as I left the building, somewhat battered and bruised by events, being asked what it was like to lose by such a small number of votes. I said that it felt like watching your favourite team (in my case, Chelsea), playing in the the FA Cup Final and being level - ready for extra time. Suddenly the opposing team scored the winning goal in the last minute of the game.

So, as you can see, from bitter experience, the idea of having a delayed Count fills me with dread! Although given current opinion polls and the reaction I get in Harlow Constituency this time around, I am very much hoping that the result in 2010 will not be like the close shave it was in 2005. Nevertheless, when you lose by just under one hundred votes, it teaches you never to take anything for granted. I know I have much more work to do in the weeks and months ahead until the election.

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

An open letter to Bob Crow

Dear Mr Crow

For the second successive week our local commuters have been made to pay the price of the very unreasonable demands of some extremist union members with political agendas. At a time of economic decline those people in the Harlow and Epping Forest areas who rely on National Express East Anglia to get to work are being held to ransom thanks to the behaviour of the unions. Sadly many people are feeling the affects of the recession and credit crunch. Many people have lost their jobs. Such is the current situation that the bulk of our workforces are just grateful to be employed. But here we have rail union members taking industrial action which is making life a misery for those people who have to use the mainline service to go about their daily lives.

It is a regrettable situation but there have been many job losses in the country, and much closer to home, and I am sure many of the losses were the result of compulsory redundancies.

That, I am afraid, is the state we find our country in at the moment but there must be better ways, Mr Crow, of managing the situation instead of causing unnecessary suffering to the many people who when able to get to work are helping to pay the wages of union members through ever-increasing ticket prices.

The rail union members whose jobs may be under threat are not a special case. Other professions and trades have seen job losses in recent months, and there could well be more to come.

Any job loss is regrettable but the ongoing industrial action by the rail members will not earn the rail unions any sort of public support.

In fact if people find alternative ways to get to work - with many last week and the week before opting for the car and London Underground instead - there could be another reason soon why rail jobs are being lost.

Yours sincerely

Robert Halfon

Harlow Constituency Conservative Prospective MP

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

Coming back to bad news: The Berecroft fire

I haven't blogged for a week, as I have been taking a short break having just returned, somewhat exhausted, but fulfilled, from teaching in Rwanda. My regular postings will resume shortly and I hope to add all the Rwanda pictures to the blog articles

I was horrified to come back to Harlow and learn of the tragic news of the Berecroft fire. I know that Staple Tye Councillor Lee Dangerfield (and Berecroft resident) has been working over-time to help local residents. Lee's commitment to Berecroft and Staple Tye is virtually unsurpassed and he cares deeply about his local community. Visiting the site with him, I am all too aware of the need for more CCTV on the Estate - something which Lee and residents have been urging for some time. Thank goodness for the emergency services - the Council response, and the actions of the fire and the police.

I feel deeply for local residents affected by fire and hope that they have new suitable accommodation as soon as possible. I hope to be meeting Berecroft inhabitants with Lee Dangerfield,to discuss the fire and related issues, over the next few days.


-- by Robert Halfon Post From My iPhone

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

The Expenses scandal hits Harlow

As you will see from the Herald and the Star, the MPs expenses scandal has hit Harlow this week, with the local MP, Bill Rammell, coming under the spotlight. His claims for home decoration, kitchen sinks, food, council tax and TV licence fee are claims that most seem to have irked local residents in Harlow.

My own view, was published in the Star, and I reproduce it below:

"As far as the individual items Bill has claimed for, I think it should be left to his constituents to decide whether or not they feel each purchase was an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money.

One of the most disappointing things to have come out of the recent revelations is that he classes his London house as his main residence. It is a bit rich for him to criticise me for living in Roydon instead of Harlow while at the same time deeming his main home to be in London. It’s all very well for him to say he has stopped claiming the ACA and welcomes a shake-up of the expenses system, but it’'s like shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted.”

I feel aggrieved that the MP chose to attack me for living in Roydon - an essential part of the Harlow Constituency (as is Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing & Sheering) - when it has now emerged that he describes his 'main home' as being in London (probably also funded by the taxpayer). Harlow is deemed his 'second home' allowing him to make all the claims - as outlined in the local papers. Contrary, to what has been suggested, there is no 'requirement' on Ministers to make London their 'main home', and many Ministers have 'main homes' in their Constituencies.

As a Parliamentary candidate/Prospective MP, I dont get any expenses or funds from the taxpayer, or even any kind of wage, and I entirely fund my home, by myself (like most people). I live in Roydon for a few reasons, the most important being that I was able to live in a ground floor flat - at reasonable cost. My walking disability makes stairs very difficult, and this ground floor dwelling is an absolute blessing.

In previous columns on my blog, I have been at pains to mention that this expenses problem has afflicted all parties and some Conservatives have found themselves - like Mr Rammell - in very hot water. However, it is very disappointing that the Harlow MP has seemingly taken advantage of the expenses and allowances available, for all they are worth, whilst giving out an image that is somewhat 'holier than thou'.

Even a Labour Party member (Pat Roberts), has been moved to make a public statement to the Harlow Star:

"I have known Bill for many years.........what he has done may be within the law, but as an MP having been brought up in a working class town with huge social problems, he should be more aware that he should not have claimed expenses such as those for a partial makeover on his own home. MPs take a lot of credit for their success stories, they must also face up to and take the consequences when they have failed us".

Mr Rammell should publish all his expenses online, since he was an MP (as many other Parliamentarians are now doing). He should also call a Public Meeting for all his constituents, so they can question him on his expense claims, so he can justify all the decisions he has made, in the way he has spent hard-earned taxpayer's money.

P.P.S. More details of Mr Rammell's expenses can be found HERE and HERE.

P.P.S. The Liberal Democrats' statement about the MP's expenses (also in the Star), was as follows:

“Bill owes his constituents a sincere apology for the way he has spent their money over the years and I think he should pay it all back. The fact he has made these claims according to the rules is neither here nor there; he should have realised his actions were immoral and unnecessary. Why should the taxpayer foot the bill every time he decides to redecorate his home or goes to the supermarket? It’s difficult to have any faith in him as an MP when you see the way he has exploited this privileged position for his own benefit."

P.P.P.S. I have written a number of articles about the fallout from the expenses saga, and what can be done to make a difference. You can read them HERE and HERE.

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

Parking Angels helped us get to Jerusalem

Yet another St George's Festivity today - and definitely the last - at least for this year. Vanda and I were invited to the Royal Albert Hall, for a St George's Day Gala concert. All the concert pieces - played by the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, were English favourites such as Jerusalem and 'We'll meet again'. The Royal Albert Hall is a beautiful venue and was absolutely packed for the occasion. Everyone was waving St George's Day flags and singing heartily, including Andrew Rosindell, Romford MP, who we were sitting with. Andrew is well known for his love of all things English and is a campaigner for all proud Englishmen and women in the House of Commons. I showed Andrew, our St George's Day Cards, which we have sent to every house in Harlow and he was mightily impressed.

By amazing coincidence, I bumped into a lady from Potter Street, Mrs Betty Smith (see the picture above), on one floor and then, Don and Hilda Gillespie, from Copse Hill on another. Extraordinary. Clearly Harlow residents were out in force to watch the concert - in fact, Mrs Smith told me that she had come with a whole coach full of locals!

We had a nightmare journey to London as the roads were blocked because of the London Marathon (which, being a noodle head, I had completely forgotten about). Yet, with a fair wind, we still got to the Royal Albert Hall, just in time. Thanks to a kind hearted Parking Angel, we managed to put the car exactly outside the entrance we needed to go in.

Anyway, it was a special way to spend our Sunday, and I can say that I could not have had a better St George's week. Starting last Saturday, giving out cards, in Broadwalk, to the Rainbow and Dove on Friday, watching the Essex Yeomanry yesterday, and today at the Royal Albert Hall, it feels good to be an Englishman, born and bred.

Goodnight for now.

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

Keeping Calm

Yesterday, as part of my community visits, in and around Harlow, which I undertake every Friday, I visited a special charity, based at the Latton Bush Centre. Formerly the Harlow Well Woman Centre, it is now known as the The Calm Centre. Its purpose is to provide valued counselling and support those in need. From all accounts, the charity does some wonderful work. All its counsellors are volunteers, who undergo special training and supervision. Calm, is so successful that up to eighty people are on the waiting list.

I was able to have a long discussion with Liz Fineran, a Trustee and Treasurer. Liz is another volunteer, who is dedicated to making sure that Calm succeeds at every level. She told me about the complexities of applying for grants, but added that Calm had been fortunate in securing some much needed funding from the National Lottery and a special Foundation. Shortly, Calm is to appoint an Executive Director, which will enable the charity to do even more and reach deeper into the community.

It is good that Harlow has such an organisation, that can provide counselling to those in need, and alleviate so many of the problems that people suffer at one time or another. I know that if I was undergoing personal difficulties, Calm would be one of the first places I would want to to turn.

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

ASB

For some reason Harlow gets a bad press when it comes to anti-social behaviour and crime. Yet Harlow is at the front of some ground breaking preventative on anti-social behaviour. Led by the remarkable Marysa Rudgely and others, Harlow is at the forefront of anti-social behaviour and is doing some ground breaking working on getting young people off the conveyer belt to crime.

I was pleased to make another visit yesterday to Marysia and the team, especially as I bought with me, Caroline Spelman MP(Shadow. Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities. Caroline, who also visited the amazing Crucial Crew told Marysia that she would like to try and replicate her work in her own area in the Midlands.

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.