Fidgety Fingers say no to speeding

At the end of last year, with the help of some local residents, I organised a Public Meeting in Hastingwood Village Hall to to discuss speeding on Hastingwood Road. Over 100 people attended and, the anguish and anger from so many residents, about speeding cars,was palpable for all to see. I have since been making the case to Essex County Council and have been promised by Transport Cabinet Member, Cllr. Norman Hume, that a survey will be done and E.C.C. will seriously look at the situation.

This is a good starting point, but the campaign from Hastingwood villagers does not let up. Today I went to see a Fidgety Fingers, a successful nursery pre-school at Willow Place. This nursery has been started by Jackie Neagle who against the odds and through appeals against initial planning decisions, has established a nursery school that is loved by parents and children alike. Unsurprisingly, the speeding cars and lorries, severely impacts on the nursery, as parents fear not only turning out of the pre-school on the main road, but there is also significant danger from automobiles if the children are taken across the road to visit the farm opposite.

I will continue working with the residents on this campaign. It does seem incredible that Hastingwood Road does not have a lower speed limit. This beautiful village is being wrecked by lorries and cars, who sadly treat Hastingwood Road as a practice run for Formula One.

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

Its amazing what you can do with Six Pounds

I was at Harlow Tennis Club at the Latton Bush Centre this afternoon for the official opening of their state of the art indoor tennis courts. Greg Rusedski was on hand for the offical ceremony, to take autographs and play tennis with some of the youngsters. It was a really a special occasion as the Club Committee, led by Will and Karen, have worked for many years to transform the Club into what it is today. As Karen said to me: "to think that the whole thing was started with just £6 pounds in the bank!"

As well as the new indoor court, there is a great Club House and some first rate outdoor courts. I was particulalry pleased to be at the ceremony, because a few years ago, the Club faced incredible opposition to erecting the indoor court from Liberal and Labour Local Councillors. We brought the then Shadow Sports Minister, Lord Moynihan down to support the Club's plans - and he subsequently brought up the Tennis Club issue in the House of Lords. Former Tory Leader, Iain Duncan Smith also came to the Club in 2004, in order to support the expansion plans. The support from Conservative Parliamentarians and Conservative Councillors was incredibly helpful (it was good to see so many there today), and this was acknowledged by the Tennis Club Committee in their speech. Former Councillor John Paul Goddard, was also instrumental in the campaign.

Having said that, nothing would have happened without the determination, enthusiasm and love for the Club from all those involved - and that includes the many members. The passion for the Club is felt the moment you walk through the doors. Absolutely everything - from the tennis coaching, to the catering in the Club House, is done with the utmost care. There is even a beautiful new patio area, surounded by flowers, which members can sit in the sunshine and watch the outdoor tennis players play.

Congratulations to everyone involved for ensuring that there is yet another reason to be proud of Harlow.

P.S. Lord Moynihan's questions in the House of Lords in 2004, are below:

House of Lords Questions 12 November 2004:

Harlow Tennis Club

Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they and Sport England have made to Harlow District Council regarding the proposed expansion plans for Harlow tennis club to establish indoor tennis courts for after school programmes in the Harlow area as well as for community use and the provision of tennis coaching for disabled children. [HL4775]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There has been no direct representation to Harlow District Council by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or Sport England. However, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is one of four national governing bodies given responsibility by government and Sport England for the initial identification, project development and progress monitoring of Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) projects. Harlow lawn tennis club community tennis project has been awarded a £898,949 CCDP grant.
The LTA, on behalf of government and Sport England, is working closely with Harlow lawn tennis club to offer advice and guidance in support of its discussions with Harlow District Council about the project. The LTA also has plans to meet representatives from the council by the end of November 2004 to discuss the project's future development.

Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have met Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association to discuss the proposed expansion plans for the Harlow tennis club to support the Government's school sport and local club link programme. [HL4776]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: We have not met the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) about Harlow lawn tennis club. However, the LTA has recommended the Harlow lawn tennis club community tennis project to 12 Nov 2004 : Column WA104 the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) project board to receive a grant of £898,949. The CCDP project board is chaired by Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is represented on the board.

We and Sport England are aware of Harlow tennis club's plans and, through the LTA, are working with the club to deliver its developmental objectives for the project and to enhance the provision of tennis facilities in the Harlow area.

Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which principal tennis projects in the Harlow area have Sport England and Lawn Tennis Association approval for new tennis courts to meet the target to extend the provision of tennis facilities to local schools and the wider community. [HL4777]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Harlow lawn tennis club has been awarded a community club development fund (CCDP) grant of £898,949 for new indoor facilities and additional floodlit courts. Harlow lawn tennis club has previously received a loan of £30,000 from the Lawn Tennis Association and a grant of £52,200 from the Sport England Lottery Fund towards a new clubhouse.

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

Now Gordon Brown causes a collapse in housing sales in Harlow and Epping

I have found figures which show a collapse in housing sales across the Harlow and Epping Forest districts. This comes as new Government red tape will push up the cost of moving home in the middle of a recession.

Parliamentary Questions have revealed that across the country the number of housing sales in 2008 halved compared to 2006 levels. The latest national figures so far for 2009 show even sharper falls have happened this year. In Harlow there were 924 housing sales in 2008, compared to 1,929 in 2006 a fall of 52 per cent. In the neighbouring Epping Forest district - which includes the Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering which forms part of the Harlow parliamentary constituency.

There were 1,410 housing sales in 2008 compared to 3,230 in 2006 - a fall of 56 per cent.Yet new Whitehall rules will make it even harder for home buyers and sellers. The Governments Land Registry is hiking fees in July to register a new home or to buy an official property search.

Ironically, the Land Registry are blaming the recession for forcing them to put up prices as housing transactions have fallen so much, cutting their income. The increases in the costs of official searches will in turn increase the cost of the already expensive Home Information Packs (HIPs). This comes as new HIP rules came into effect in April which will further hinder sellers from putting their homes onto the market.

That is why, I am glad that Conservatives are calling on Government Ministers to use their emergency powers to suspend HIPs immediately, and then abolish them. They are also calling for the stamp duty threshold for first-time buyers to be raised to 250,000, taking nine out of ten first-time buyers out of stamp duty altogether, giving an important boost to housing market.

The new figures expose how Gordon Browns recession has sent the Harlow and Epping Forest housing market into freefall. It is incredibly short-sighted for Labour Ministers to increase red tape on the housing market in the middle of a recession and make it even worse. We need action to revive the market, by reducing moving costs for home owners and giving extra help to help first-time buyers get onto the housing ladder.

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

Congratulations Harlow Homeless Centre

On Saturday, it was so good to be in the sunshine watching the Rotary Club Abseiling event. This is where a number of very brave people, abseil off the Water Tower in Church Langley, for charity, an event which happens every year.

The event at the Water Tower is organised with military like efficiency, as volunteer stewards ensure that the event runs smoothly. Many local charities and voluntary groups take part, including Harlow Stroke Association, St Clare's Hospice, and Streets 2 Homes (of which I am proud to be Patron). There is also a lovely marquee in which wives and partners of Rotary Club members, sell tea, coffee, delicious sandwiches and cakes.

I was pleased to be able to support Harlow Homeless Centre and Ron Hetem, once homeless, now a volunteer for Streets 2 Homes. Ron works incredibly hard for the Homeless Centre, and does all he can to raise funds, including organising an annual golf day. You can read his story HERE. Ron was going to abseil but had a bad knee, so his place was taken by Geoff.

I am told that the Rotary raises around £500,000 for local charities from the abseiling event which is quite astonishing, particularly in these times of the credit crunch. Those volunteers who abseil, are very courageous. I watched pensioners aged 84 and 94 abseil off the Tower. I got giddy just looking at the people at the top!

Looking forward to next year.

P.S. You can see the video of Geoff's abseil HERE

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

Who says romance is dead? Not on the buses it isn't!

Here is a nice Bank Holiday Story for you!

I was at a Staple Tye community party on Saturday evening, in St James Church Hall, organised by local Conservatives. I met a couple madly in love, Vera and Paul (see picture). What is so lovely about their story is that they met on the bus - literally. Paul is a Bus driver for Arriva in Harlow, and Vera is a regular passenger. The romance started with Vera chatting to Paul on the bus and moved on to cups of tea and then some true romancing. Now a day never goes by, without Paul and Vera being together.

Vera, although a senior pensioner, is as fit as a fiddle, and often goes out delivering leaflets and for long walks. I hope that when I reach their mature age, I will not only be as sprightly, but will be as romantic as well! Now where is Vanda........

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

Some more pictures of the Canal Boat Project.

See some more pictures of the excellent Canal Boat Project, above as promised. Hope you like them. Apologies for posting a bit later than planned.

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

The Canal Boat Project

I have just visited, with my friend Anne Wafula Strike, the Canal Boat Project today in the glorious sunshine. The weather just added to the beauty of the view and the Canal boats gleamed against the river.

The Canal Boat Project, really is an extra-ordinary organisation. It has a small fleet of boats that are used to take disabled, or disadvantaged youngsters, down the river for a day or even night trip. What is really fantastic about the Project is that it is manned by over 100 volunteers, many of whom drive the boats, provide training and do a host of other duties. I was shown round by Doreen who looks after the Project and ensures things are running smoothly.

All of the boats are in immaculate condition and have sofas, kitchens and shower rooms inside. There are special lifts that ensure those in wheelchairs can get on and off with ease.

I am looking forward to visit the Canal Project again, especially as I have been promised a trip down the river by Doreen!

The best thing about the Project is that those who have set it up, run it, and help on a day to day basis, do it because they love what the Project does. From what I have seen today, I can understand why.

P.S. The picture shows Doreen, Para-olympian Ann Wafula Strike and myself, standing by one of the boats. I shall put some more pictures and add web-links on later, when I get home.

The longest day

A day is a long time in politics and today seemed to be the longest one ever as we were campaigning hard for the Staple Tye By-Election. Many party workers started work at 0600 as last minute leaflets went out to every home and final canvas cards prepared.

I spent part of the day telephoning voters and also giving lifts to a number of people who needed assistance going to the polling station. I was also doing various other duties to help try and help our excellent Candidate Lorraine Caldarella win the seat.

In the end, despite an excellent campaign and non-stop work on the doorstep by Lorraine and many others, we were not successful. The Liberal Democrats were elected, winning just 66 votes more than us, with Labour coming third.

Whilst I congratulate the newly elected Councillor John Strachan, we should not forget that Staple Tye has been a Liberal Ward for many years and only elected Conservatives in very recent local elections.

In Politics you have to take the downs as well as the ups, and there is no denying that we Conservatives had a difficult night. I have always believed that the best test of a Leader is not when he is winning, but how he recovers from adversity. So, the same is with our Party.

We will learn from our defeat and be better and stronger for the months ahead. I know that Cllr Lee Dangerfield, working together with Lorraine as Community Case-worker, will do all they can to help local residents and make Staple Tye an even better place to live.

At least we have the Bank Holiday weekend to recuperate...