The Housing Information Centre will be open on
a limited basis and it is likely that officers will provide surgery
style sessions to individual residents or small groups. The centre
is not intended to replace any existing Council services. The
Council also intends to offer use of the centre to local community Police, to
allow them to hold local surgeries.
The open day will run over two
sessions, 12 - 2pm and 4 - 7pm, with Chair of the Housing Committee
Councillor Mark Wilkinson conducting an opening ceremony, with
Harlow Council's Head of Housing Andrew Murray. All residents are
welcome to attend the open day sessions and there will be
refreshments provided, as well as a prize draw and goodie bags for
children.
Cllr Wilkinson will be making a statement to
the press before cutting the ribbon on the
centre.
Ends
Note to editors:
You are invited to send a photographer to
the opening ceremony at 12pm on Monday 21st January
2008.
Further
Information
The property has been vacant since February
2002, due to the extent of refurbishment works required to bring it
back to a reasonable standard for habitation. As a result it had
been subject to the risk of potential vandalism and increasing
disrepair.
The property previously had security
shuttering to the external doors and windows, which is
aesthetically unpleasant to residents in surrounding properties, as
well as advertising that the property is empty.
The top floor of the property has been
completely blocked off, with the staircase being part removed to
facilitate disabled access. A unisex disabled WC has
been installed and internal doorways have been widened, to
allow for access by wheelchair users.