This weeks Letter

Dear Sir,
As a Harlow Councillor for the Staple Tye ward, the importance of being immediately accessible to local residents was sharply brought home to me by the fire in Berecroft last week.
I was hoping to work with Staple Tye’s Liberal Democrat councillors in dealing with the many problems the fire had caused, but was surprised to learn that one of them had upped sticks and relocated to the Ely in Cambridgeshire without even a bye your leave to the local residents who elected her.
Having left Harlow for good Councillor Lorna Spenceley is, I believe, now unable to give the residents of Staple Tye the support and advice they need.
I appreciate that the rules allow her to leave the area whilst still claiming her councillor’s allowance, and she may feel that she is able to deal with her case work via the trusty Blackberry, but how does she deal with face to face contact so necessary in situations like this fire, at just a moment’s notice?
On the Friday of the Berecroft fire she was publishing a comment on her Twitter page on how she had purchased a new piano, but there was nothing regarding what she might have done to help residents who were in serious need.
A year ago Kentish Town Liberal Democrat Councillor Philip Thompson also tried a similar stunt when he moved to Arizona in America, but continued to claim he could represent his constituents from there. He also continued to claim his Councillors allowances, but was forced to resign by pressure from residents. I very much hope Staple Tye residents will make it clear to Councillor Spenceley, also to her party Leader on Harlow Council, Councillor Chris Millington, and her eight other party colleagues, that it is not acceptable for her to remain as a Councillor now that she lives 60 miles away.
Yours faithfully

Cllr Lee Dangerfield
Staple Tye Ward