Harlow and District Chamber of Commerce

After much consideration it’s with regret we announce that our planned main house annual pantomime production “Cinderella” will be postponed until 2021 along with our brand new theatre 2 interactive production of “The Great Christmas Snow Patrol”

However at Harlow Playhouse we believe although Cinderella can’t get to the ball this year -The Show Must Go On ! We have therefore designed an alternative Christmas season* that will be safer for audiences and more viable for Harlow Playhouse to produce with the current social distancing measures in place!

Our planned Theatre 1 production of “Cinderella” will now become “Treasure Island” - A Family Christmas adventure starring Harlow Favourites Jimmy Burton – IIes and Ben Parsley! This production will be brought to you by the same team that have made the magic over the past few years!

For our younger audiences our planned Theatre 2 production of “The Great Christmas Snow Patrol” will become “The Great Christmas Sleigh Ride” written by Kevin James! The Great Christmas Sleigh Ride was commissioned by Harlow Playhouse for its 2018/19 season and we are delighted to be able to bring it back!

Our Hosts will be in contact with those that have booked for the original programme to ask how you would like your booking dealt with either by transfer, donation, credit note or refund.

Councillor Chris Vince, Harlow Council’s portfolio holder for community wellbeing, said: “It has been a challenging time for theatres across the country so I am delighted that our brilliant playhouse team have managed to find an alternative way for the show to safely go on. This means a change in plans, but there will be Christmas productions at Harlow Playhouse this year, helping to keep an annual tradition going. I look forward to our playhouse once again bringing joy to local families.

“Clearly we will be mindful that at any point both locally and nationally the coronavirus situation could change and we will continue to follow public health guidance very closely. The health and safety of all remains our number one priority.”

Rory Davies, Artistic Director, said: “Our decision to postpone this year’s season and deliver an alternative provision is one that has been extremely difficult for all those involved.

We must make the right decision based on the safety of our audiences, financial viability and long term sustainability of Harlow’s wonderful venue.

To put on our planned productions would not be viable with social distancing measures in place, providing this alternative is a viable, safe and sensible option.

Capacity to our alternative programme will be limited and I strongly encourage customers wishing to book to do so early.

On behalf of my wonderful team here at Harlow Playhouse we would like to thank all of those providing partners that have been affected by this decision and thank them all for their ongoing support.

To our audiences, you keep Harlow Playhouse alive, we are immensely grateful for your ongoing support, and the team and I look forward to welcoming you back to the venue either for our alternative programme or when you safely can.

Please bear with my team whilst they work tirelessly to deal with your bookings.

Harlow - YOU MAKE THE MAGIC !”

*Performances could be subject to late change, postponement or cancellation if there are local lockdown restrictions or national restrictions imposed by the government. In this event usual transfer, donation, credit note and refund procedures will apply. 

HTS are really pleased to have received delivery of their new JCB.

Out with the old and in with the new…HTS continues to invest in its plant and machinery as part of its on-going drive to maintain and develop its service delivery levels in partnership with Harlow Council.  

Mark Ingall, Leader of Harlow Council with Chris Vince – Harlow Councillor, John Phillips, Managing Director and Eugene Crowley one of our Waste Station Operatives/JCB driver with the new HTS JCB.

Bottom Centre – Leader of Harlow Council, Mark Ingall, trying the cab out for size.

Dated 12 August 2020

Harlow Council has entered into a year’s trial with National Enforcement Solutions (NES) to provide environmental enforcement services in the town giving them responsibility for enforcing legislation around fly-tipping, dog fouling, littering, as well as domestic and commercial waste.

A team of environmental crime officers from NES are now out and about targeting those antisocial people who don’t dispose of their litter in a responsible way or fail to pick up after their dogs and dump waste.  The new team will increase enforcement activity across the town working with the public to identify and target hot spot areas where these offences continue to happen. The officers are paid an hourly rate and do not receive any bonuses or performance pay whatsoever for the number of notices issued.

Anyone caught fly-tipping can be issued with a £200 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or if they are observed littering, they will be issued with an on the spot £80 FPN.  Dog fouling carries a £50 FPN.

Keeping the town clean and tidy remains a priority for the council and fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling continue to be an issue in the town particularly during the recent lockdown. The new partnership will give the council extra enforcement capacity to deal with these issues.  

Councillor Danny Purton, portfolio holder for environment, said: “I know from the feedback we get whenever we conduct public consultations, as well as more informal conversations I’ve had with local residents, that cleaning up our public spaces is a real priority for our residents. Fly-tipping, littering and dog mess is a real frustration for our residents.

“At the heart of this issue is a need to tackle that minority of people who still believe it is okay to just drop their rubbish wherever they fancy. It can’t just be about education or awareness-raising, nor can we afford to just throw more money into street cleaning – there has to be a realistic deterrent and we believe hitting these irresponsible people in the pocket is the way to go.

“Working with NES and having new dedicated environmental crime officers out there seven days a week issuing on the spot fines to those who are caught in the act should soon get the message out there that we mean business. Dropping litter and dumping waste is antisocial behaviour and impacts on our environment. There is never an excuse to mess up our town and I would think the majority of local people believe we are right to be targeting offenders in this way. If you are responsible with your litter and rubbish and care about our town or are a responsible dog owner who picks up after their dog you have nothing to worry about.”

Street cleaning currently costs Harlow Council over £2m per year and every year tonnes of litter and dumped waste is collected from street cleaning rounds.

National Enforcement Solutions are a specialist supplier of environmental crime services to councils across the UK and also work in partnership with Basildon Council and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

John Dunne, Strategic Director of National Enforcement Solutions (NES) said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Harlow Council.

“NES deliver a wide range of environmental investigations and enforcement services on a national basis and have consequently contributed to a reduction in street litter and the associated cost of street cleaning as a result of our efforts.”

“Our aim is to reduce environmental crime for the long term and patrol the town in an ‘intelligence led’ manner focusing our controls on identified hotspots received from the complaints and feedback of the general public.”

“We will operate a robust but always proportionate methodology to tackle environmental crime, using a wide range of technical support including wireless body worn cameras and a handheld computer which will confirm the identity of an alleged offender before issuing a fixed penalty notice.  Our officers have been instructed to communicate openly with the community with the overall aim of inclusivity for the Harlow community to play their part in the task ahead.”

Litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling can be reported to the council at www.harlow.gov.uk/safety-and-crime/report-street-problem

Is this programme right for you?

• Is your heritage organisation at risk of failure due to COVID-19?
• Do you need help with costs to help you adapt and re-open?
• Are you either a private or non-profit organisation?
• Do you require grants from £10,000 to £3million?
• Is your organisation based in England?

If you answered yes to these questions, then the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage is for you.

Consult the detailed guidance below for further details. If in doubt, apply!

Apply before midday on 17 August 2020

Over the last few months Rainbow Services (Harlow) on behalf of the network of local infrastructure organisations across Essex, has been working with the national VCS Emergency Partnership to assist with establishing, developing and managing the 'Request Help as a Local Organisation' service across Essex. Rainbow Services (Harlow) is working as a Local Liaison Lead for parts of Essex, including Harlow.
The service has now launched and organisations can use an online form to request support when local support organisations are unable to find the solutions required.
What is the 'Request Help as a Local Organsiation' service?
If you are a Harlow organisation and you need extra support, we recommend that you firstly approach Rainbow Services ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  ) for support and we will work with partners to see if we can find local solutions.  However, we know there are times when there is not enough local capacity to provide the support required. At this point, local organisations can make a request for support from the new Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership ‘Request help as a local organisation’ service. We will escalate the need on your behalf to see if any organisation in the regional network can help. Needs that still cannot be met are escalated to a national level, where trends inform requirements for improved local resource and infrastructure supply. For example, more personal protective equipment (PPE) in care homes or priority delivery slots for high risk citizens. The data will help understand and anticipate unmet needs across the country, and help match supply with demand. For more information go to www.vcsep.org.uk .Types of support available could include:

• Transportation or delivery including medicine
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Financial support and advice
• Specialist training
• Guidance
• Mental health support and wellbeing
• Volunteers

Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership

Mind in West Essex’s Mental Health Support Team working with Children, Young People and Families is offering a free 4-week course for parents/carers of primary aged children with anxiety.
The course will consist of four 45 minute Zoom sessions taking place over four weeks starting on Thursday 3rd September at 1pm. This is timed to coincide with the return to school which many children and their caregivers will be feeling anxious about. Returning to school may also bring up existing anxieties such as separation anxiety and social anxiety for some children.If you would like to book on the course, or would like any further information, please contact Munaza via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Harlow Council supporting hidden disabilities

Harlow Civic Centre reception is now part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme.

Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower discreetly tells staff that you need additional support, help or a little more time.

Not all disabilities are visible – some are not immediately obvious, such as autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety, visual or hearing impairment.

Living with a hidden disability can make daily life more demanding for many people but it can be difficult for others to recognise, acknowledge or understand the challenges they face.

Councillor Frances Mason, portfolio holder for governance, equality and diversity, said:  “Harlow Council prides itself on treating everyone fairly and equally. When visiting the Civic Centre we want people to feel confident that they will be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their physical or mental capabilities.

“The Sunflower scheme will help our reception staff to better recognise and assist those with hidden disabilities and will ensure we continue to provide accessible and inclusive services for our residents.”

Harlow Council will be supporting the scheme and introducing it at more of their facilities. More details on the scheme will be issued in due course.

Government announce major investment into Harlow, creating 1,600 new jobs to reboot local economy

THE Government has announced that Harlow will receive a major investment as part of the new “Getting Building Fund”, helping to reboot the local economy. £6 million will fund four important projects and create 1,600 local jobs:

£1.5 million remodelling of Harlow College to boost skills and opportunities for Harlow’s young people

Harlow College will be able to remodel two of its aging buildings to support new T-Level qualifications in construction, digital, education and childcare, and health and science. The project will create local 1,095 new jobs.