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Summer 2014


L
ocal students are
getting the
opportunity to receive
a first-class vocational
education in Harlow, thanks
to The Sir Charles Kao
University Technical
College, which opens its
doors this month.

This follows a lengthy campaign
by local MP Robert Halfon who
joined forces with Harlow
College and Anglia Ruskin
University to secure up to 10
million of government funding,
which was needed to get the
project off the ground.

The University Technical College
(UTC) will offer free, first class,
vocational training to young
people from Harlow aged 14-19.
Students will be able to study
new technologies in science,
computing and medicine, as well
as gain valuable work
experience. They will follow
GCSE and A-level courses
alongside technical
qualifications in Smart
Environments or Medical
Technology.

The Prime Minister visited the
UTC site earlier in the year,
saying, It will be a major
addition to Harlows educational
landscape, and a really positive
one for young people, parents,
and local employers.
The opening of the UTC confirms
the Governments commitment
to vocational education. Evidence
shows that qualified apprentices
are 25% more employable than
university graduates and, on
average, earn over 100,000
more than other employees
throughout their lifetime.

Since 2010, this Government has
created a record 1.7 million
apprenticeships, which have
increased by 83% in Harlow
alone.

For more information about the
Harlow UTC, please contact:
enquiries@sircharleskaoutc.com.
Im very keen to support
Robert and the work that he
is doing locally...hes pushed
really hard to get this
University Technical College
here

- David Cameron

From the beginning, Rob
has worked tirelessly to
make this happen. He is
passionate about
apprenticeships - and even
employs a Harlow College
apprentice in his office

- Colin Hindmarch,
Former Harlow College
Principal

Robert Halfon meeting local students with Prime Minister
David Cameron and Harlow College Principal Karen Spencer
HARLOW SEES
RECORD FALL IN
UNEMPLOYMENT

GET IN TOUCH
t: 01279 311 451
e: halfon4harlow@roberthalfon.com
w: www.roberthalfonblog.com
w: www.roberthalfon.com
www.twitter.com/halfon4harlowMP
www.facebook.com/RobertHalfon
R
obert Halfon MP has
called for Essex Police
to use their powers
quicker and with more
consistency to deal with the
problem of illegal traveller
sites.

Since October last year, there have
been multiple cases of illegal
traveller sites springing up around
Harlow. Figures up until August
show that dealing with this has cost
local taxpayers over 41,000.

Following a visit by Local
Government and Communities
Minister Brandon Lewis, who spent
a morning in Harlow looking at the
sites affected and advising senior
members of the Council and Essex
Police on what powers are available,
Robert said that he was furious
about the sites.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4...
Promoted by Simon Carter on behalf of Harlow Conservatives, all of Kao Hockham House, Edinburgh Way, Harlow CM20 2NQ Printed by Mortons Media Group Ltd, of Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6JR
Page 3
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
AGAINST RIP-OFF
PARKING FEES
Page 4
2 | Harlow Sun
Community News
O
ld Harlow Councillors Joel Charles
and Sue Livings have successfully
lobbied Essex County Council to hold
special meetings with local residents to
discuss the link to a new M11 junction.
OLD HARLOW
COUNCILLORS
SECURE J7A
COMMISSION
(Left to Right) Former Cllr Mike Garnett with
Cllrs Joel Charles, Sue Livings and
Muriel Jolles
Joel Charles said, I am pleased that Cllr
Rodney Bass at Essex County Council has
agreed to attend two public meetings. This will
be an opportunity for local residents to have
their say and explore the alternatives.

It is essential that we have better roads in
Harlow to ensure that we have the right
infrastructure to deliver more housing and the
Enterprise Zone which will create jobs and boost
the local economy.
H
arlow Conservatives forced Labour
into a retreat over their shambolic
budget consultation by getting the
Council to speed up publication of the
results.

Labour planned to keep the results secret until
they produced their budget in early 2015.
Harlow Conservatives questioned why there was
such a delay with Cllr Andrew Johnson, leader
of Harlow Conservatives, calling for the results
to be made available sooner in order to spark a
public debate.

Cllr Johnson said, Harlow Conservatives
welcome the fact that Labour have changed
their mind and now agree with us. However, the
consultation is taking place during the summer
holidays, when people may be away, denying
some residents the chance to have their say.
Labour said they wanted to be a council that
listens, but their big test of listening has failed at
the first hurdle.
Harlow Conservative Cllrs Simon Carter (left)
and Joel Charles (right)
HARLOW COUNCIL FAILS TO
PROVIDE VALUE FOR MONEY
C
ouncil figures show
that only 30% of
residents felt the Labour-
run authority provided
value for money.

When challenged by Harlow
Conservatives, Labour failed to
answer basic questions on why
Harlow Council is performing so
badly since they came to power.

Performance indicators on the
street scene, volumes of
residents complaints and
satisfaction levels across all
council services are all heading
in the wrong direction.

Cllr Andrew Johnson, leader of
Harlow Conservatives, said It is
a real sign of failure by Labour
that one person in four calling
Contact Harlow hangs up before
they get through and they
have no plan to improve it.

It was also revealed that the
discretionary fund, the
Big Society Fund we created,
which funds Pets Corner and
the Playhouse will only be able
to fund them until March 2016.

Labour are creating uncertainty
for staff and residents, and
should urgently resume talks
with private and voluntary



sector groups in order to
identify long-term solutions.

Only a Conservative
Administration would freeze
Council Tax, save money by
sharing services with other
authorities and set out a
long-term plan to keep our
community services open.
A
Conservative move
to take down the EU
flag at Harlow Council
and replace it with the
Cross of St George was
defeated by Labour at a
recent Council meeting.

Labour Councillors claimed
that residents had not raised
concerns about the European
Union on the doorstep during
the European election
campaign in May.

Councillor Joel Charles,
Deputy Leader of Harlow
Conservatives, said, Only a
Conservative Government
promises to renegotiate
Britains relationship in
Europe and offer Harlow the
final say with an In/Out
referendum.

Labour Councillors proved
they are not interested in
what residents have to say on
the European Union. By
taking down the EU flag and
replacing it with the Cross of
St George we would have sent
a message to residents that
the Council is listening to
them.
It is also important that we
re-capture the Cross of St
George from groups who use
our national flag for the wrong
reasons. We should not be
afraid of celebrating our
national identity.

There is no longer any legal
reason why we have to fly the
EU flag, so why do we do it?

Harlow MP Robert Halfon has
long campaigned for an In/Out
EU referendum in Parliament.

He voted in favour of the EU
Sovereignty Bill, which
guarantees a referendum
before the UK signs up to any
more European treaties and
strongly supported the
Conservatives Referendum Bill
in 2013.
Harlow Conservatives with the Taxpayers Alliance,
who came to Harlow to campaign against
Council waste
Harlow Sun | 3 ..
Robert Halfon at the Potter Street War Memorial
O
n the 4th August, Harlows
MP joined local residents
to mark the centenary of
World War I.

Robert Halfon was among the
hundreds of Harlow residents who
came together at the newly
refurbished Potter Street Memorial
to remember those who lost their
lives during the four year conflict.

Robert said, The mark of a civilised
society is how it remembers the
past, and how it commemorates
those who sacrificed their lives, so
that future generations could live in
freedom.

It was a very memorable service
and it was good to see many family
descendants of WWI soldiers in
attendance.

Later that day, the Royal British
Legion held a candlelight service at
the Netteswell Memorial, where
Robert was privileged to read
Wilfred Owens moving poem, 1914.

By 1918 its estimated that the Allies
had lost around 6 million
servicemen and over 120 of them
came from Harlow.

This was a proud day for Harlow
and one that should rightfully be in
our towns history. Quite simply,
Im honoured that I was able to be a
part of it remarked Robert.
S
ince July 2013, the
number of Harlow
residents reliant on Job
Seekers Allowance has fallen
by 710, a drop of 30%.

This is reflected nationally, where
unemployment has fallen more in
the past year than it has in any of
the previous twenty five.

Since 2010, two million new
private sector jobs have been
created, 84% of which in the last
year have been full time.

Local MP Robert Halfon has
welcomed these figures, saying;
Its excellent news that there has
been such a significant drop in
unemployment in Harlow since
2010. If more people are getting
into work, this means more local
residents are getting the security
of a regular pay packet.

The news is even better for young
people, as youth unemployment in

Harlow has dropped by 55% since
its peak.

For the third year in a row, Robert
Halfon is organising a Jobs Fair in
Harlow on the 12 September. Last
year, 2000 Harlow residents
attended to pick up useful tips,
meet prospective employers and
consider the hundreds of job
vacancies that were on offer.

This good news shows that the
Governments long term economic
plan is working. It is keeping the
economy growing, and helping
businesses create more jobs by
scrapping employers National
Insurance contributions for
employees under the age of 21,
and cutting all business National
Insurance bills by up to 2000.

This means that half a million
small businesses wont pay any NI
contributions at all, and these
savings will help them expand and
hire more people.
Organised by Robert Halfon MP
Vacancies
Employers will be actively recruiting
people for jobs and immediate
vacancies!
Apprenticeships
Learn more about training opportunities and
apprenticeships that are available in
and around Harlow.
Skills
FREE advice sessions:

- How to start your own business
- Interview practice
- Career advice
- CV Skills
10.00am - 3.30pm
Harlow Leisurezone, Second Ave, Harlow, Essex, CM20 3DT
Robert Halfon (centre) with Frank Bruno and Pop Up
Talent at the Second Harlow Jobs Fair
O
ver the last four years,
Robert Halfon has been
on a tireless crusade to help
Harlow motorists by
campaigning for cheaper
petrol and diesel prices.

The previous Labour Government
planned yearly hikes in fuel duty,
to help them reduce the deficit the
only way they knew how: by taxing
and spending.

Alongside organisations such as
FairFuelUK, Robert was able to
stop the fuel duty increases from
going ahead and even achieved a
cut in 2011.
In total, fuel duty will have been
frozen for nearly four and a half
years, saving the average Harlow
family 20p per litre - 680 per
year.
However, more needs to be done.
Oil companies are still quick to
raise petrol prices whenever the
international cost of fuel goes up,
but they are slow to bring it down.

This is why Robert has also called
for an official investigation into the
oil market and stood up for
independent petrol retailers, who
are penalised by an unfair tax
scheme.

If smaller independent retailers
weren't being forced out of
business it would mean better
competition and better value for
local Harlow motorists.
After pressure from Robert Halfon, a planned fuel duty hike was
AXED. Thanks to Robert Halfon your petrol is a tiny bit cheaper
4 | Harlow Sun
I
n 2012, the BBC found
that Harlow had the
highest business growth in
the whole of England, and
its not hard to see why.

Our town has a thriving
network of small businesses,
independent retailers, shops,
bars and restaurants, all run by
hard-working local residents.

To help celebrate this, Robert
Halfon is holding a competition
to find the best small
businesses that Harlow has to
offer.

This is all about thanking local
business owners and helping
them promote themselves to
new customers Robert has
said.
These awards give residents
the opportunity to recommend
their favourite business and I
really look forward to seeing
who gets nominated.

Rob Halfons Business Awards
has five separate categories:

Best Retailer / Shop
Best Caf / Restaurant
Best Hairdresser / Salon
Best Pub / Bar
Best Other

The winner in each category
will receive a custom-made
trophy and anyone who
nominates a business will be
entered into a prize draw, with
the chance to win a 50
shopping voucher or a
collectable wristwatch.
If you would like to nominate a
business for one of the
categories, please email Rob at
halfon4harlow@roberthalfon
.com. Alternatively, you can call
him on 0207 219 7223.

Please provide the name of the
business, its address, the
category and the reason for the
nomination, as well as your
own name and address. Your
details are required to ensure a
fair nomination process, which
closes on the 6th November.

Robert says, You can nominate
any business you want, so long
as its based in Harlow and
locally run. If you have any
questions about the
competition, please get in
touch.
U
nder Labour, immigration was out of
control with 2.5 million more people
coming into the country than those leaving
it. The Conservatives have a long-term
economic plan to secure a better future for
Britain and controlling immigration is a
vital part of it.
We need an
immigration system
that puts Britain first.
This can be achieved
by clamping down on
abuse, making sure
that the right people
come to Britain for the
right reasons, and
ensuring that
immigration is fair to
taxpayers.
Already, 750 bogus
colleges have been shut
down, immigration is
at its lowest level in a
decade (having been
cut by one-third), and
the Government have
adopted a deport first,
appeal later approach
when dealing with
serious criminals.
This Government has
also changed the rules
so that no one can
come to this country
and expect to get out-of
-work benefits
immediately.
Plus, in Harlow, you
now need to have had a
connection with the
area for five years or
more in order to be put
on the housing waiting
list.
www.RightToBuyHarlow.com
A free service provided by Robert Halfon MP
- Sign up for details about how to
buy your council house or flat

- Up to a 60% discount on a council
HOUSE

- Up to a 70% discount for a council
FLAT

- New top discount of 75,000
available!
www.RightToBuyHarlow.com
Promoted by Simon Carter on behalf of Harlow Conservatives, all of Kao Hockham House, Edinburgh Way, Harlow CM20 2NQ
Printed by Mortons Media Group Ltd, of Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6JR
Robert Halfon with local IT training business, Robust IT, at their Christmas
prize draw last year.
H
arlow MP Robert
Halfon has been
successful in bringing the
cost of parking in NHS
hospitals to the attention
of the Prime Minister.

Robert conducted research
across the country which
revealed that Harlows hospital,
the PAH, was one of the most
expensive places to park in the
country for patients and
visitors, charging 3 for 1 hour
of parking.

He also revealed that one
hospital in London charged
over 500 per week for
parking.

This comes on top of research
that reveals NHS nurses pay
nearly 200 a month on
average to park at their
workplace.

Robert has been running a
campaign in Parliament asking
the Government to look at
scrapping the fees. He has
raised the issue in the House of
Commons, secured a debate on
the subject, and got over 100
MPs to support his campaign.

He has argued that the NHS
could adopt a token system to
ensure that free car parks are
not abused, and has suggested
where savings can be made in
the NHS budget so that patient
care is not affected.


Mr Halfon said, These fees hit
the most vulnerable at a
difficult time in their lives and
stretch NHS worker pay
packets. Often, people have no
alternative but to drive to
hospital. For example, cancer
patients who have weakened
immune systems cannot use
public transport.

It is outrageous that many
hospitals expect people to pay
through the nose whilst they
receive life saving treatment.
Already, these fees have been
scrapped in Scotland and
Wales, and I believe that
hospital bosses need to stop
using vulnerable patients as
easy revenue.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The MP, who has raised this issue in the House of
Commons on a number of occasions, has been
advocating for the more regular use of Section 61,
a police power that allows illegal encampments to
be moved on almost immediately.

He went on to say, Whilst I welcome the work of
individual Harlow officers, it is clear that Essex
Police have been using the legislation
inconsistently, and it seems that Section 61s
were only used after an enormous amount of
public pressure.

In Harlow we currently have 4000 people on the
housing waiting list. Theyre not allowed to set up
illegal camps and live on other peoples property -
so why are the travellers?

I would also like to extend my thanks to Harlow
Councils Anti-Social Behaviour Team and our
Conservative Councillors, such as David Carter in
Great Parndon, who have worked extremely hard
on this issue.
Hospital parking fees are a stealth tax, and need to be
cut or abolished, says MP Rob Halfon
@halfon4harlowMP thank you so much for
supporting @HarlowFalconry, its great to know that
a politician actually cares about local business
Thanks @halfon4harlowMP for supporting
Lea Valley Growers in Parliament today
#buybritish #freshproduce