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The Board of Directors of Harlow Renaissance Ltd met on 1st Sept 2010. The directors noted the probability of much reduced funding from Members and Government, which can only be confirmed after the Comprehensive Spending Review is complete in October, and also the indication that no significant funding will be available from other sources. Accordingly the Directors have agreed that the company should work towards a cessation of activities by 31st March 2011.

We very much regret that we have to take this step, however, it is inevitable in the current funding climate and the known loss of 80% of the company’s operating budget at the end of this year. We have sought to take an early decision on this to enable the orderly handover of project activity and to provide the maximum opportunity for the company’s staff to secure alternative employment.

At the September Board meeting, Members of the company recognised the significance of the contribution made by Harlow Renaissance Ltd over the last four years and that significant progress had been made in many areas. We will therefore be working closely with our partners over the coming months to maintain this momentum and to ensure that the most important work streams are continued for the benefit of Harlow and the wider sub region. Recent achievements and current priorities include:
• work towards the appointment of a new developer for Harlow Town Centre North in 2011;
• liaison with Anglia Ruskin University as they move towards opening of their new facility in a year’s time;
• the delivery of local neighbourhood regeneration schemes in Old Harlow, Prentice Place and Clifton Hatch;
• the opening of a new artist studio complex in West Square and other town centre improvement measures such as tree planting;
• completion of infrastructure feasibility studies notably for a new M11 junction and link road;
• specific schemes to achieve the upgrading of Harlow’s housing stock;
• the production of a Design Guide that will ensure high quality of design in all future developments;
• developing a solution to enable the continuation of Harlow’s successful Town Centre Partnership which has been under the management of Harlow Renaissance;
• continuing the work to improve the image of Harlow to attract increased numbers of visitors and business investment in the town.

We have agreed with our members that the means will be found to ensure the continuation of these, and other, key priorities and we expect to say more in this regard in the coming months.

Although the trading activities of Harlow Renaissance Ltd will cease by March of next year due to the shortage of funding, the Members and Directors have agreed that the company will continue to exist as a shell structure. The intention will be to reactivate the company as future financial circumstances allow, demonstrating the commitment of Harlow Council and Essex County Council to the ongoing regeneration of the town.

Harlow Town station has celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special event to mark the completion of a major upgrade of the station. The station has been transformed through a £390k investment by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) and Essex County Council, who were brought together by Harlow Renaissance as a result of continued lobbying to renew and improve the station environment and accessibility. As a gateway into Harlow, the station presents the first image many visitors will have of Harlow therefore its appearance has always been of the upmost importance to help deliver a positive and welcoming impression of the town.

The station refurbishment was officially opened by Robert Halfon MP with around a hundred guests enjoying the opportunity to see the work for the first time and to enjoy performances by Harlow Steelband. The original Burnt Mill railway station was enlarged and renamed as Harlow Town Station in 1960 and is now a Grade II listed structure. Every effort was therefore taken to retain the unique features of the building whilst renewing customer facilities to modern-day standards. Work has taken place to open up and refurbish the station over-bridge which previously housed a small waiting area and the former parcel depot. The area has been renewed with new floor tiles, panelled and re-decorated walls and ceiling, and new lighting, with the colour scheme being chosen to reflect the station’s original paintwork. There are two new waiting areas, timetable boards and a display of station memorabilia from Harlow Museum’s archives. The original mosaic tiles have been retained and their appearance refreshed. In keeping with its history, display boards will be kept to a minimum to reflect the clean sharp lines of the refurbishment. The new works will provide improved access to the station platforms via passenger lifts. The external canopies and fascia boards at the front of the station have been replaced and renewed, and new parking bays for disabled passengers have been provided adjacent to the station forecourt.

To complete the transformation of Harlow Town station, NXEA has also completed a separate £3m investment in a new multi-storey car park, constructed by Bourne Parking which has increased car park capacity at Harlow by 300 spaces to 700. NXEA is also intent on delivering new trains with an increased number of carriages on the Stansted Airport and Cambridge – Liverpool Street services later this year.

Twenty one affordable artists’ studios and a new community arts space in the heart of Harlow has now opened. Gatehouse Arts, a partnership project between Harlow Renaissance, Essex County Council, Harlow Town Centre Partnership, Harlow Council and ACAVA is an exciting opportunity providing studio space for artists as well as supporting their professional development. The studios, which make use of previously empty shop and office premises in the town centre will also offer open studio events, workshops and gallery shows.

Gatehouse Arts has attracted artists from across the region. Twenty artists are now resident in the initial sixteen units, with additional space being developed to create a further five studios. The artists will have the space to develop their own work as well as undertaking educational and community engagement roles. Hung Voong, one of the artists to receive a studio space at Gatehouse said “Growing up in Harlow, we’ve never had an opportunity like this before, it gives real hope that someone out there cares. It feels like we’re part of a movement. It’s made me more passionate about what I do as an artist.”

The project is part of an on-going programme to revitalise the town centre with a series of interim works. Other projects have included the very successful Window Works project; the Harlow Sheep Trail and the planting of 14 new trees, with further projects will be taken forward over the next few months. Delivery of the Gatehouse Studios was made possible from a successful grant application to Arts Council England and funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government, Harlow Renaissance, Essex County Council and Harlow Council.

Hundreds of highly decorated lambs, distributed to Harlow school children and library visitors prior to the summer break, are now on display at the front of the Civic Centre as part of the Town Centre Partnership’s Summertime Sheep Trail.

The Trail links the town’s newest arts studio and gallery, Gatehouse Arts, with the Gibberd Gallery in the Civic Centre, where an exhibition of Henry Moore sheep etchings, related sculptures, drawings and found objects will be on display until the end of October.

They join 29 life-sized fibreglass sheep which were transformed into works of art by artists under the guidance of ACAVA, the organisation commissioned to create Gatehouse Arts. Two of the sheep were decorated by local children in a workshop on the lawn of The Water Gardens led by Sarah Bracey and Noriko Matsubara, both of whom have now taken space in Gatehouse Arts.

The fourth Craft Fair organised by the Town Centre Partnership in the Harvey Centre takes place on Saturday 16 October. The event will include woodworkers, weavers, lace makers, spinners, lace makers, quilters, rag doll makers and tapestry workers.

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