In the House of Commons yesterday (Thursday, June 17), Harlow MP Robert Halfon highlighted Harlow's "gridlocked" roads and called for funding to give the town the road infrastructure it urgently needs. The town's transport issues have been high on Mr Halfon's agenda throughout his time as prospective MP, and now he is intensifying his campaign on the issue in a bid to bring much-needed road improvements to Harlow. Mr Halfon highlighted the fact that Harlow has just one entrance to a motorway, whereas similar towns, such as Welwyn Garden City and Basildon, have three or four. Speaking in the debate, Mr Halfon said traffic in Harlow is "gridlocked" with constituents "crying out for an extra junction on the M11". He asked: "With the road review under way, and when finances allow, will he (Transport Secretary Philip Hammond) give strong consideration to providing the road infrastructure that Harlow so desperately needs?" Mr Hammond replied that Mr Halfon was noted for working hard and campaigning on this issue however the Government's first priority must be tackling the country’s unsustainable level of debt. But there was a glimmer of hope, when Mr Hammond added that the Department "will be happy to consider proposals from local authorities and the Highways Agency for improvements, once the deficit has been eliminated".