As part of Harlow Council’s work to restore pride in the town, the council is focussing on improving assets within housing estates belonging to Essex County Council.
Harlow Council has access to Essex Highway Ranger Service funding, which is a budget given to the council from Essex Highways, to deal with county council-owned assets on public highways in the town. The council has been looking at how best to use this funding and has been carrying out inspections across Harlow to identify works. The Highway Ranger funding can only be used for small items such as cleaning and minor repairs to road signs and bollards, removal of graffiti, painting of street furniture, landscape maintenance and clearing footway drainage channels.
As part of the programme the Leader of the Council, Councillor Russell Perrin, recently visited the Fennells housing estate along with council officers to flag up anything needing attention in that area. There were a number of knee-rail fences that need painting that were picked up, along with some areas of the footpaths which are raised and need fixing. These issues are now in the process of being fixed along with other works that have been identified in other areas across the town.
Works have so far taken place in:
Altham Grove
Carters Mead
Fennells
Latton Street
Work has also taken place to paint the railings on the underpass on First Avenue near Mark Hall Park and install bollards in the Bus Station. A gallery of before and after photos is on the council’s website https://www.harlow.gov.uk/news/work-continues-restore-pride-focus-improving-housing-estates
Harlow Council has been carrying out many improvements to landscape maintenance across the town to help restore pride and the Ranger Service funded programme is complementing that work.
Councillor Russell Perrin, Leader of Harlow Council, said: “We are working hard to restore pride in the town and that work does not just cover areas that we own and are responsible for, but also assets that Essex Highways own. There are small issues like the ones we found in Fennels in areas across Harlow. They are mostly little things, but fixing those little things can make a huge difference to the overall look of our town’s estates and neighbourhoods. We have this scheme from Essex Highways which we are fully utilising as part of a package of measures to help restore pride in our town. I would like to thank Councillor Colleen Morrison who helped with this programme.”
“I know when you talk about improving public highways you cannot ignore talking about potholes. Although potholes cannot be funded as part of the Highway Ranger scheme, I have met the Highways Cabinet Member at Essex County Council, Councillor Lee Scott, recently to talk about potholes and the ongoing concerns of motorists and cyclists in the town. I have pressed the need for Harlow’s roads to be prioritised for urgent repairs and my conversations with Councillor Scott will continue.”
