Parliament is on Recess at the moment and I am using the time to visit a wide range of community organisations across Harlow and the villages - as well as holding surgeries for local residents. I thought you might like a few highlights:
Harlow College: In a previous Blog, you can see a vide of a speech I made at the Ground-breaking ceremony for the new on-site Anglia Ruskin University. It was a great event and a proud moment for Harlow. The picture above shows me with Harlow Chairman Cllr Sue Livings, Principal Colin Hindmarch and Vice Chancellor Mike Thorne.
Olympics for Harlow: I was pleased to chair a meeting at Harlow Council about the Olympics. Our aim is t encourage residents of Harlow to volunteer for the Olympic programmes - and join the volunteer programmes that are available. We also want to ensure that Harlow celebrates the Olympics - ideally holding a number of Olympic events - and Showings - across the Town during 2012.
Battle Of Britain. Last weekend was the Battle of Britain anniversary. There was a special anniversary commemoration in Chelmsford Cathedral. It was great to meet some Harlow RAFA Standard Bearers on this very special day.
Construction Training Partnership (CTP). Regular blog readers will know that I am a strong supporter of CTP. I went to visit CTP to discuss funding streams - and see if there is any financial support available for the work they do to train young kids in construction and electricals.
Churchgate Residents Association (CRA). CRA is a very active residents association, and I was asked to speak on a a range of issues, particularly traffic, planning and green spaces. During the meeting I also had the chance to set out the Government plans for the Big Society. I particularly enjoyed a pint of Kronenbourg with some of the residents - in the Queen's Head Pub afterwards!
Health Day. Last Thursday was 'Health Day'. I met with the North Essex Health Trust to discuss mental health provision in Harlow. This is an incredibly difficult area and it is good that some capital funds will be invested to refurbish the Derwent Centre. I also had a meeting with the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) to discuss a range of issues - particularly dementia training for staff and the NHS Walk-In Centre. After I attended the PAH AGM to hear about the hospital plans to become a Foundation and also understand the financial difficulties facing the Trust over coming months.
Harlow Regeneration. Two important meetings here: With Harlow Renaissance (HR) and John Curry from Harlow Civic Society. HR set out their plans up to March 2011. It is hoped that new developers will be chosen by then to carry through Harlow's much needed rebuilding of the Town Centre. John Curry set out to me the concerns of the Civic Society - particularly regarding the future of the Market Square.
Parndon Mill. Another visit to Parndon Mill to see a wonderful glass exhibition. Well worth seeing.
Hare Street Pub. After some correspondence from nearby constituents, I went to meet the Landlord and Landlady, as well as the regional manager. I was impressed with the new dining area extension. I am confident that the management of the Pub are doing all they could to be in harmony with local people as well as deal with anti-social behaviour. The Landlady is also Chairman of the local Pub Watch.
Downs School. I have regular talks with Head David Yeld. This time at the school we discussed way of helping pupils get special bursaries to schools of outstanding academic excellence.
Hastingwood and Matching Farmers. Matching and Hastingwood are a new part of the constituency following Boundary changes introduced at the last election. Friday at 07:30, saw me with local farmers, police and a crime prevention officer to discuss crime issues. It seems that our farms are frequent victims of crime, yet due to the work of the police and the farmers neighbourhood action panel, much work has been done to ensure that crime is reduced. It was an important meeting for me and a good education too.
School Home Support. This charity is very active in Harlow, providing academic and mentoring support to school children across a wide range of schools. I will be working closely with them in the future helping to raise relevant issues in Parliament. Every child SHS is involved with improves academically by up to 70+ percent.
Harlow Macmillan Cancer. Friday was broken up quite nicely with a visit to Macmillan Cancer Coffee morning in the Park Inn Hotel. The charity was holding coffee morning fund-raisers up and down the country. I was glad to support - and enjoy a muffin at our local one.
Harlow Fields School. The most special visit of the week was to visit staff, pupils and governors at Harlow Fields Special Needs School. This truly is a remarkable and inspirational place. The school has had a refurbishment and looks magnificent. The staff and pupils had such passion and feeling that I was so moved by my time there. I look forward to going again very soon.
The History of Harlow Council. A wonderful history of Harlow Council has been published by local historian Ron Bill (and former senior Council official). The story stops at 1985 and is an incredible chronology on all that was dine to build Harlow new town. Ron had kindly asked me to do a speech about his book and had given me an advanced copy. I had read the book and in my speech noted the speed, passion and community spirit of all those who had built Harlow - especially in the early days. I noted some other observations too, including that smoking had been allowed in the Council Chamber until 1971 and pictures of the Stow, before the shopping area had become pedestrianised. I also said that Harlow history repeated itself in that arguments about expansion, the M11 junction and housing were just as strong in 2010 as in the fifties, sixties and seventies.
by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com
