Back to the Future

I went back to the Exhibition about the new development that will transform the Town Centre, mainly to gauge views of local residents and shop keepers. There seems to be a strong groundswell of support from everybody for the proposals - and no wonder, as I have written previously in my blog - they are exciting and visionary. It was good to see so many people at the exhibition. One elderly couple said to me the plans were 'ten years too late'. When I asked why, they said they might not be around to enjoy them. When I said to them that the main parts of the development would be completed by 2013, they seemed much relieved!

Understandably the shops around Adams House, are a little concerned as to how they will be relocated. They are also worried about the new rental costs and I have promised to find out from Stocklands (the developers), how this will be resolved. I regularly get my hair cut at the barber just by Adam's House, and the sandwich shop is one of my favourite haunts for really good coffee and sandwiches. I and many other customers, would be keen for these shops to have a proper home, when the new development is finally completed.

I did have a brief discussion with a Stocklands representative about the issue, and I have to say I am thus far impressed that they seem to be making great efforts to engage with the community. I understand from John Curry of the Harlow Civic Society, that they are having meetings with Stocklands as well, which is good news as it is vital that the plans reflect Harlow's rich history and heritage.

After the exhibition, Vanda and I went to watch a little of the Music Festival and have coffee and a burger (mine was without bread as I am keeping to my diet). The bands were excellent and I congratulate Richard, the Town Centre Development Manager from Harlow Council, for all the excellent work he does to make these sort of events possible.

I have put some more photos up of the proposed plans, in case you haven't seen them yet. If you have time, it is well worth a visit. I think that the last day of the exhibition is tomorrow.

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

One of the largest developments in England.....

.......is about to occur in Harlow, if everything goes as planned. This is what I heard tonight, when I attended the visionary and imaginative exhibition that set out proposals to regenerate Harlow's Town Centre. It is envisaged - through a strong partnership with Harlow Council, Harlow Renaissance and Stockland Development - that by 2013, the town centre will be rebuilt, transformed and will be unrecognisable from its current state. The aim, according to the tri-partite partnership is to:

"reintegrate Harlow Town Centre North with the rest of the town centre and include proposals for new shops, businesses and homes alongside transformed public spaces, a new bus interchange and new leisure facilities".

I am very excited about these plans. Not only will the Town Centre become a hub of cafes, major retail department stores, a new hotel and possibly a new theatre, but the image of Harlow will be enhanced. No longer will snobs and people who should know better, have any simplistic or ignorant excuse to criticise the Town, in the way they do at present. Harlow will be an even better and bigger place to come to, shop, and enjoy local facilities.

I was struck tonight, not just with the unity of all the major political parties, but also with the passionate and heartfelt speeches made by the representatives of the partners involved. Council Leader, Cllr. Andrew Johnson and senior Liberal, Cllr. Linda Pailing in particular set out what the regeneration would do for Harlow, and what it meant for them and the constituents they represented. For Labour, Cllr. Mark Wilkinson, read out a statement of support from the Labour MP, Bill Rammell, who was unable to attend. Stockland and Harlow Renaissance told the assembled audience, in no uncertain terms, their determination to make this vision as a reality.

The partnership team is encouraging as many people as possible to come to the Exhibition, which is open for the next few days and is opposite McDonalds in the former Dorothy Perkins Store (next to Vodafone). It is well worth going to see. They also want as many people as possible to set out their views on their website. It is essential, that the public comment and make their views known to the developers and the partners, so that the final plans, really do reflect local aspirations and desires. I left the event feeling inspired by what I had seen and heard. Roll on 2013.

For full details of the proposals you can click on HERE. To leave feedback, go on to HERE.

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