Press Release: Residents for Uttlesford initiate Town Hall Task Force at Saffron Walden Town Council

17th June 2015, Uttlesford: Residents for Uttlesford (R4U), the local advocacy group for towns and villages, has announced that it intends to put the Saffron Walden Town Hall back at the heart of the town and so has initiated a Town Hall Task Force at the Town Council to look at ways of maximising the current and future use of the building. They group has also announced that the Town Council has restored the previous Town Hall pricing policies.

Cllr Sharon Morris (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Sharon Morris, who is leading the newly-formed Town Hall Task Force, said “The Town Council has set up the Task Force to look at the current and future use of our Town Hall; it is important that it remains at the very centre of our town’s life and acts as a hub to bring people into Saffron Walden. Unfortunately earlier this year the previous Council made a number of changes which have threatened that and provoked widespread concern in the community. During the election we said that if we were elected we’d sort it out. That is now what we are doing.”

Cllr Morris continued “I’m happy to say that as a brand-new Council we’ve worked across party-lines to reverse the price increases that forced local groups out; we saved the Ladies Circle ‘Uncle Funk’ fundraising concert after it was cancelled by the Interim Town Clerk just before he left; and we’re also committed to fulfilling the previous administrations proposals to relocate the Town Council offices from Emson Close back into the Town Hall. It seems a poor use of taxpayers’ money to rent an office when we already own a fantastic and historic Town Hall. Rest assured, the Town Hall will remain at the core of our community.”

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. Formed in 2014 by a number of residents’ groups, the party believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties.

R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). It is the fastest growing local political movement in its district. In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In 2017 it solidified its position with a further by-election gain with 60% of the vote. In the May 2019 Local Elections R4U gained majority control of UDC winning two-thirds of the seats. The result delivered the biggest loss of seats by any UK Conservative controlled council in the UK.

R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for their area.

R4U also leads Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex. It is a minority party on Great Dunmow Town Council.

Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.

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