Tai Chi Harlow is holding a Seminar at the Latton Bush Centre on Saturday 29 October, to encourage local residents to improve their health, quality of life, and all-round well-being.

The seminar will run from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, and will cost only £2.50 to help cover expenses. Donations from the proceeds will be made to Climate Care to ensure that the event is carbon-neutral.

If you're coming along, says organiser Alan, wear loose clothing and flat-soled shoes. There will be a short intermission, so bring a light snack if you think you may become hungry.

Alan hopes to begin regular weekly classes at the Latton Bush Centre starting in November.

To book, or for more details, email Alan or call him on 07958 770131.

One of the pavements in Moorfield has been in a dire state for a little while, and as it hasn't been repaired it's got worse.

Residents Association chairman Derek Coles has emailed me pictures of the current state of the offending corner of the pavement, and I've rung the county council's highways department and passed them the photos.

I hear from the engineer today that a works order has been issued, so with any luck the pavement should be repaired soon.

Harlow Council has recently received a report it commissioned on emissions from the mobile phone masts at the Latton Bush Centre, following concerns expressed by a number of nearby residents. The report, produced by independent company Wiresoft, measures how strong the emissions are in Sakins Croft and The Readings, and compares this with a part of Harlow with no masts. The report also explains how the emissions compare with guidelines for public places set by an independent scientific body (the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, or ICNIRP).

Emissions from masts are measured in watts per metre squared (W/m2). The guideline for public places set by the ICNIRP is 4.6 W/m2. The highest level in Sakins Croft or The Readings is 0.001532 W/m2. The level in Moor Hall Road, Harlow - an area with no masts - is 0.000514 W/m2.

The report shows that Sakins Croft and The Readings experience a very slightly higher level of emissions compared to an area with no masts. But emissions would have to be 3,000 times stronger before they reached the guideline limit. The report states: "Since the ICNIRP guidelines provide for the full protection of all people at the maximum permitted values, it follows that no harm should result from the much lower values measured in the public areas of the building around this Base Station".

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for a response from O2 to my letters after the public meeting about the masts in December last year, which they have failed to answer despite several reminders. I'll continue to press for a reply.

I recently took the opportunity to discuss mobile phone masts with the Chief Executive of the Mobile Operators Association. The Association will shortly be writing to all councils - including Harlow - on behalf of all five mobile phone operating companies, with an invitation to discuss their future mast siting plans. I believe this is a helpful move towards more openness about the siting of masts, and I will be encouraging the Council to take advantage of this opportunity.

Harlow Council has received another planning application for Parnall House, opposite Stewards School.

The new application (reference HW/PL/05/00286) is for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a 46 bedroomed senior citizen's residential care home.

The application is available for public inspection from Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow, Essex CM20 1WG. The planning officer dealing with the application is Peter Mountsteven.

The Gateway Centre in Perry Road was officially opened today.

Located on the site of the former St Luke's church hall, the new building offers not only an OFSTED registered day nursery, after-school club and summer kids' club, but also training for voluntary groups, and conferencing facilities and rooms for hire with on-site catering.

The Centre, run by the Gateway Christian Fellowship, also has ambitious plans to extend its activities, including a luncheon club for older people in the Staple Tye area. It's great to have such an amazing new facility at the heart of our community.

For a long time the land immediately behind the bus shelter at Longbanks opposite Staple Tye library has been a real eyesore. I've raised the matter with engineers in the past, but without success. After a resident mentions it at our councillors' surgery on 3 September, and with the council's Our Town team in the Staple Tye area, it's too good an opportunity to miss, so I ask the council again whether something can be done.

Excellent news! Today the council team starts work; they'll be installing a railing along the top edge of the path to prevent cycle and pedestrian access. The slope will then be regraded using a mini digger, and the area will then be seeded. Hopefully, it'll look a little more attractive as a result.

Tonight the local Liberal Democrat team is out in Berecroft, making courtesy calls on local residents.

We get a very warm welcome, a number of issues to take up with the council and with the Ryelands Board - everything from trees to guttering - and several local residents offer to help deliver our regular FOCUS newsletter.

At eight fifteen, we head back to Su's house in the Briars, and a well-earned cup of coffee.

Harlow Council's Community Response Team is in Staple Tye for two weeks starting today. They can carry out small-scale repair jobs on the local street scene, such as re-laying paving, mending broken walls or cutting back overhanging greenery.

If there are any small repairs you think the Response Team should be doing to things for which the council is responsible in Staple Tye, phone Contact Harlow on 446655, or email your request to the team.