Yesterday I was delighted to see a new homes cash boost for Harlow, as part of my continuing fight to get more housing money for our town.

Harlow Council is to receive £231,938 this year, thanks to the Government's New Homes Bonus.

The money, announced today by Housing Minister Grant Shapps, is the first allocation of the New Homes Bonus.

Over the last few months, I have continued to fight hard to get more housing money for Harlow people and have met with Local Government Minister Bob Neill on several occasions, to press the case for extra funding for the town.

The New Homes Bonus means that for each addition to the council's housing stock, including properties brought back into use, Harlow Council will receive extra funding for the council tax paid over the next six years.

This is great news, and will give Harlow the cash it needs to protect our parks, libraries, Sure Start centres and other Council services from cuts.

I especially hope that this will boost regeneration in the town centre.