Harlow’s Conservative Councillors have agreed the Planning Application for the new Stort river crossing. It’s ironic that politicians in this country will often decry those in other countries for not protecting the environment and yet, when it comes to the same issue here, they take a very different approach.
The creation of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town in 2017 saw plans to develop Green Belt land on the Northern boundary of Harlow being brought forward. A development of some 10,000 homes in so called 7 villages, schools, shops and leisure facilities will feature on the site, none of it in Harlow or indeed even Essex.
To try and mitigate the huge increase in traffic that this development will bring a new ‘Eastern’ river crossing will be built across the Stort Valley from close to Pye Corner to Riverway. The existing central crossing will see dedicated bus lanes, a cycle track and footpath being built from Harlow to the new development. They will have a huge effect on the peace and tranquility of the area and of course untold damage to the environment and wildlife in and round the river.
The Harlow Alliance Party objected to these proposals, viable alternatives have been put forward, what is really needed is a Northern by-pass for the town, indeed a good case can be made for a Southern by-pass. It should also be noted that there will be no roads heading North from the Development, all the traffic will have to enter and exit from the development via the A414.