The Leader of Harlow Council, Councillor Dan Swords, has just confirmed that the council has managed to stop the proposal to use Redstone House to house asylum seekers.
In a statement he has announced:
“This afternoon, I can confirm that we have managed to stop the government’s proposal to use Redstone House to house asylum seekers. We have just received confirmation that this will not go ahead.
“This is a huge victory for Harlow – and for every resident who stood with us to fight this wrong and reckless plan. From the moment this proposal was announced, I said clearly: we would do everything in our power to stop it – and we did.
“They have now listened. They have backed down. And we have won.
“And do not for a moment think that this was easy. We have worked around the clock to tackle this head on and to protect our town.
“The proposal was clear that they were seeking 204 beds for this site – not 3 as some are suggesting.
“This was never just about one building – it was about standing up for our Harlow.
“About keeping our residents safe. About protecting the future of our town centre. About ensuring that Harlow homes are for Harlow people.
“I want to thank every resident who backed us in this fight. Your support, your voice, and your pride in Harlow made all the difference.
“We’ve shown what happens when our community stands together. We’ve shown that Harlow will always fight for what’s right.
“This is a huge win for our town – and it means we can get on with the job of Building Harlow’s Future.”