Cash for kerbstones

And no-one, whichever political party they support, can avoid the stark truth that the reason they're in such a mess is that, year after year, the Tory-run county council has denied Harlow Council the money it needs to repair them.

However, while Harlow's Tories blame anyone they can think of except their county colleagues and local Liberal Democrats get cheap publicity by claiming credit for individual repairs, Harlow's five Labour county councillors are actually doing battle with the Conservatives at County Hall to get Harlow the extra money it needs.

For many months now, we and Bill Rammell MP have been pressing Ron Williams, the county's transport portfolio holder, for extra cash for kerbstone repairs and, following a recent visit to the town, he actually promised us an extra £1m over the next three years.

While this is of course a major victory, the new money on offer is still nothing like enough to get the job finished. That's why Bill and I have launched our Cash for Kerbstones petition, which we are hoping many thousands of Harlow residents will sign over the winter and early spring.

The petition calls on the county council to give Harlow Councl all the funding it needs to get the repairs backlog completed within three years at the outside.

Over the next few months Labour Party activists will be carrying copies of the petition with them wherever they go and we will be holding market stalls where people can sign up.

In addition, we are keen to involve lots of local shops, businesses and community groups in the campaign, and anyone wanting extra copies of the petition can ring 01279 431001.

When I hand the petition to the full county council meeting in the spring, I want us to be sending a resounding message to the Conservative administration that Harlow has had enough of being short-changed.

We deserve better and, if we all work together, we can ensure that we get it.

JENNY HOLLAND,

Netteswellbury ward

councillor,

Park Lane,

Harlow.

December 6, 2001 9:18