Harlow Council

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🙌 We have exciting plans for our museum 🙌 Plans have been approved for a new café and the future extension of education provision and exhibition space at Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens. The extension is part of a long-term plan for enhancing the museum service. The approved plans include new exhibition space, new reception, washroom, along with a café, teaching space and community space as part of an extension to the former scouts building on First Avenue. Works will also take place to enhance the landscaping around the museum site. The plans are designed to bring more schools into the museum, increase exhibition space for more displays and artefacts, enhance visitor experience and provide new pedestrian routes into the museum. The designs were developed using funding secured by the council from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The approved plans will begin the journey towards the first major refurbishment of the museum since it opened in March 2002 when two former museums – the Mark Hall Cycle Museum and Harlow Museum at Passmores House become one new museum for the town. We will need to secure external grant funding to help deliver the plans and the work on applying for funding will start shortly. Councillor Danielle Brown, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing, said: “We have listened to the feedback we received on the original proposals and have revised the plans which are exciting for the future enhancement of the museum service. The plans will improve educational provision by providing a much-needed teaching space. The proposals will also enhance visitor experience and bring new income into the council with a café on site to help support the services the council provides. “It is an exciting time for the museum with works taking place to restore the garden walls and major upgrades have just been completed to the facility’s indoor lighting and other internal improvements, and there is more to come! This is all part of our mission to deliver high performing services by providing more activities and events and investing in our much-loved community services like the museum. “The museum does such a fantastic job in telling the town’s story and we want to do what we can to enable staff and volunteers to tell that story to even more people including our children and young people.” Images courtesy of McBains.

🙌Council Economic Development boss welcomes Stansted Airport major investment boost🚀 Our new cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Michael Hardware, has welcome the news that £1.1 billion will be invested in Stansted Airport.   The announcement was made yesterday (14 October) by the government. More than 5,000 jobs will be created as a result of a 5-year, £1.1 billion investment in the airport.   The funding will expand the existing terminal by a third, securing new air routes to key business and holiday destinations and boosting local supply chains.   💬 Councillor Hardware said that the investment is both good for business in Harlow but also good for residents. He said:   “Stansted Airport is on Harlow’s doorstep and we will work hard to ensure that our town benefits from this investment. Not only will residents benefit from new air routes to new destinations but there will be new jobs on offer and opportunities for local businesses to supply the airport.   People who work at the airport get discounted public transport travel which makes it a great option for Harlow residents. We work closely with the airport to promote job opportunities and there is a jobs fair coming up this month on 23 October – full details are here https://lnkd.in/eZdy9C6A   “With Harlow being so close to the airport that also attracts businesses who want to relocate to the town so more investment in the airport is all in all very good news for Harlow. As part of our mission to secure investment into Harlow’s future we will actively work with the owners to be a part of the exciting new chapter for the airport.”

We're asking residents and businesses for their views on protecting the look of shopfronts across the town, including the historic area of Old Harlow. We are now consulting on the Shopfront Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which sets out the rules that must be followed when designing or altering shopfronts, both modern and historic. This document will be used by developers and planning agents when submitting planning applications, and for planning officers who are involved in the determination and enforcement of applications. The SPD has been developed to address a gap in design guidance on shopfronts, to ensure that they positively contribute to the character of the town centre, neighbourhood centres and hatches (both newly built in the future and existing). The aim is to provide support for the development of attractive and welcoming shopfronts that will enhance the look of the town’s shopping centres. This document will work in line with the wider Harlow Local Development Plan (HLDP), which sets out a long-term planning vision for the district and guides future development across Harlow until 2033. The document will be available for consultation from 11 October until 8 November and residents can have their say at https://shorturl.at/dF3zb. After the consultation period, the council will use responses received to amend the draft SPD and produce a final version ready for adoption at a future Cabinet meeting. Once adopted the SPD will become a material consideration when determining planning applications.

A fantastic opportunity for anyone thinking about #workexperience for next year!

👏 Huge Sport England investment secured for town 🙌 More than £265,000 has been secured for Harlow from Sport England as part of its Place Partnership Programme. The funding will be used in the town to raise physical activity levels and address inequalities that prevent people from being active.   The investment was secured following a joint application by Active Essex, Harlow Council, Rainbow Services (Harlow), and West Essex Health & Care Partnership. The application identified Harlow as an important area to revitalise local communities through physical activity, movement and sport. Organisations will work together to understand the issues and barriers facing people to get active and develop local solutions.   Funding will be invested into leadership and networking, evaluation and learning, and delivering projects. There will be a range of projects promoting active, healthy and inclusive lifestyles until the end of March 2025. Projects include the launch of Essex Pedal Power Harlow which will provide eligible residents with a free bicycle. Families will also be able to take part in Cycle. Create. Move. This will offer movement and creativity sessions, delivered from cargo bikes in Bishopsfield and The Stow starting in October half-term.   There will be more exciting opportunities for residents, community groups and stakeholders to get involved in as the work progresses. The Harlow Stakeholder Group is open to all organisations involved in physical activity or broader health and wellbeing delivery. By joining the group you will be informed of up-to-date news and available opportunities that your organisation could take part in, including participating in funded projects. To join the group please contact: danielle.warnes@essex.gov.uk.  

HTS and Harlow Council secure international environmental award 🌱 HTS Group Ltd. and Harlow Council have been named collectively as one of the winners of the International Green Apple Environment Awards 2024 🍏 The award recognises the work that both HTS and the Council have undertaken in partnership to improve the environment through the management of litter and engagement with the community 🤝 Both the council and HTS have also worked closely with the local ‘Wombles’, a group of volunteers who regularly carry out litter picks, as well as other community groups, to provide equipment, education and support to further reduce litter across Harlow, encourage recycling and protect the environment 🍃 Read the full story - https://lnkd.in/ezhcJUkH

🥇 Recognising outstanding public service🥇 📜 History has been made with us appointing three former councillors as the first Honorary Aldermen of our town in recognition of their remarkable public service The honorary titles were handed to Simon Carter, Eddie Johnson and Mark Wilkinson at a special ceremony held recently in our Council Chamber The ceremony was hosted by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Dan Swords, and Chair of the Council, Councillor Andrew Johnson Both Eddie and Mark attended the ceremony with their families to accept the honour. Simon was unfortunately unwell on the day so was represented by his family. All three retired as councillors in May. Between them they gave more than 75 years of public service to Harlow Simon, Eddie and Mark’s hard work and steadfast dedication to our community rightly needs to be celebrated and, as Aldermen of Harlow, we know that they will continue to represent and champion our town

🏡 Harlow’s young people are helping to build Harlow’s council homes of tomorrow 🧱 The first bricks have been laid in our housebuilding programme with local apprentices helping to build 44 brand new council homes for Harlow families across three sites in Staple Tye 💬Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of the Council, said: “Our housebuilding programme will deliver our missions to transform Harlow’s housing and rebuild our town and in places like Staple Tye also renew our neighbourhoods. “It was fantastic to see all the planning and behind-the-scenes work starting to really take shape. We are now on track to have 44 new council homes, built to the highest standard, ready for Harlow families to move into by the end of next year. “It was also really encouraging to meet Jack, a local apprentice who has the opportunity not only to go on and have a successful career in the construction industry, but to help build new homes in his own community. “This programme will not only transform the lives of people who need a place to live, but the lives of people who are helping to build the new homes for our town!”

🏗️ Can you help rebuild our town? We and the Hill Group is hosting a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event for the Harlow Regeneration Partnership on Tuesday 10 September from 8.30am to 12noon at the Civic Centre.   🤝The Harlow Regeneration Partnership is an equal partnership between Harlow Council and The Hill Group. The partnership was established in June 2023 to support the delivery of our mission to rebuild the town including delivering new homes as part of our housebuilding programme.   🤝The event is aimed at local companies interested in supporting the rebuilding of Harlow with potential contract opportunities of all trades available.   💬Councillor Dan Swords said: “We are rebuilding our town, and this is a call to action to all local businesses to be a part of building Harlow’s future.   “Whatever your trade and whatever you may be able to offer to our regeneration programme, please come along and see what opportunities are available to your business.”    📲 The event is free to attend. For more information and to book a free place visithttps://lnkd.in/e8_ckSTG