www.harlowherald 24.co.uk ThursdayAugust52010 Herald CALLING ALL CLUBS, SOCIETIES, MUSIC, DRAMA, DANCE & ARTS GROUPS Do you need a unique and adaptable venue to hold a regular activity, serve as a base for your group or a special one-off event? HARLOW STUDY CENTRE MAY BE YOUR ANSWER! Netteswellbury Farm, Harlow CM18 6BW • Central town location • 3 spaces to hire including an enormous 15th century barn with concert standard grand piano and even a 12th century church (deconsecrated) • Equipped with 21st century facilities • Offering catering and conference facilities • Can accommodate groups/activity from 15 to 150 • Flexible times • Available evenings, weekends, as well as daytime all year round • Special rates negotiable for regular users INTERESTED? CALL US ON 01279 446725 OR EMAIL [email protected] C ALLING ALL CLUBS, SOCIETIES, CHARIT ABLE GROUPS, MUSIC, DRA MA, D ANC E & AR T S GR OUP S • Central town location • 3 spaces to hire including an enormous 15th century barn with concert standard grand piano • Equipped with 21st century facilities • Offering conference facilities • Can accommodate groups/activity from 15 to 150 • Flexible times • Available evenings, weekends, as well as daytime all year round • Special rates negotiable for regular users HARLOW COUNCIL HARLOW showcased its community foundations and thriving voluntary sector when the Minister for Civic Society, Nick Hurd MP, visited last Thursday. Mr Hurd was in the town by invitation of Harlow MP Rob Halfon who believes Harlow is in good shape to help local people get involved with the Government’s new Big Society plan. The Big Society aims to give citizens, communities and local government the power and information they need to work together to solve the problems they face locally and to help build the Britain they want. During his four-hour visit, Mr Hurd met with a number of organisations, including Rainbow Services, Harlow Voluntary Sector Forum, Café Youth and the Youth Council to witness the community work taking place around the town. He also met with Harlow Council’s Big Society team at the Civic Centre to launch a new website (www. harlow.gov.uk/bigsociety). Mr Hurd said: “I’m really impressed with the people I’ve met today and the community activity I’ve seen. There are some great examples in Harlow of Big Society in action – local people being empowered to give their time and energy to make positive changes in their community. “Harlow Council’s new Big Society team and web page are excellent resources for the community and I hope it will encourage the people of Harlow to get involved in local Big Society projects.” Cllr Eddie Johnson, deputy leader of Harlow Council, said: “When Harlow was created, the foundations for a strong community were provided and this strong community still exists today. Now we have the opportunity to use this and deliver the Big Society programme.” l WHAT do you think? E-mail [email protected] BIG SOCIETY: Community groups talk with Minister Drop your old batteries off at the Civic Cen tre AS PART of Harlow Council’s drive to increase recycling, you can now recycle your old batteries at the Civic Centre reception. According to Wrap (Waste and Resources Action Programme) around 600 million UK household batteries (22,000 tonnes) – the equivalent weight of 110 Jumbo Jets – are sent to landfill unnecessarily every year. The average household uses 21 batteries a year, all of which could be recycled. Cllr Tony Hall, Executive Committee member and chairman of the council’s Environment Policy Working Group, said: “Hundreds of batteries that could be recycled are going to waste every year so we are keen to give residents the opportunity to recycle as many of them as possible. “Houses and low-rise properties can also recycle batteries through the quarterly kerbside collection through ECCO. This new service offers residents the opportunity to bring them to the Civic Centre who may not have access to the kerbside service.” For more information telephone Contact Harlow on 01279 446655. What do you think? E-mail [email protected] Coun ting the cost of r ubbish HARLOW Council is backing a campaign to clean up England’s streets in a bid t o reduce some of the £800,000 it spends each year on keeping the town tidy. Keep Britain Tidy is calling on everyone to help save the country more than £4 billion a year. Every year, it costs £858 mill ion to pick up the litter that doesn’t make it into a bin, that’s £2.3 mill ion every day . In Harlow, the council spen ds £80 0,000 each year on cleaning the streets. Cllr Tony Hall, Executive Committee member and chairman of the council’s Environment Policy Working Group, said: “Every piece of litter dropped in the street and open spaces costs Harlow Council taxpayers money to pick up. Litterbugs might as well throw their money on the floor! “There is no excuse not to put litter in the bin and litterbugs need to be aware of the huge cost of t heir actions. In Harlow we put lots of effort into keeping the streets clean, we also take action against people seen spoiling the town but we need residents to do more and take pride in Harlow. “Now is the time for everyone to get behind us and put their litter in the bin.” Residents can help with the council’s crusade to clean up the town by reporting litterbugs and fly-tippers to Contact Harlow on 01279 446655 or by e-mail contact@ harlow.gov.uk Back:Councillors JoelCharlesand EddieJohnson. Front:Robert HalfonandNick Hurdlaunchthe BigSociety website Get the latest news first at www.harlowherald24.co.uk