The Big 6 Launch!

Mahmood Faiz at the Big 6 launch

To celebrate the Games the Council is laying on 6 events across Waltham Forest. The events are:

  • Winter Wonderland – A seasonal experience featuring Santa and his reindeer and a 300 square metre ice rink to test your skating skills

  • New Year’s Fireworks – Two displays in the north and South of the borough

  • Party on the Pitch – A top pop event at Leyton Orient football stadium

  • Modern Symphony – A live concert in Walthamstow

  • 2012 Festival of Sports – A chance to try your hand at a series of sporting challenges

  • Forest Film Fest – A summer weekend of outdoor cinema screenings

Waltham Forest is going Digital – be prepared!

Television is going digital all over the United Kingdom, and soon the traditional TV signal will be switched off – if you don’t have digital TV by the time that happens, your TV screen will go blank!

In London the switchover dates are:

  • April 4th 2012 – BBC analogue channels are switched off

  • April 18th 2012 – all remaining analogue stations are swiched off.

Checkout all the latest information at www.digitaluk.co.uk and enter your postcode.

The BBC is running a Switchover Help Scheme to provide older and disabled people with everythong they need to switch their TV to digital. Who is eligible?

  • Anyone over 75
  • Anyone who has lived in a care home for six months or more
  • Anyone receiving either Disability Living, Constant Attendance or Mobility allowances
  • Anyone who is registered blind or partially sighted

The FOCUS Team says:

You may have friends or family or know of someone in your local community who will need help with the switchover. If so, please pass this information on to them.

Save Harrow Green Library – update!

Harrow Green Library to be axed by Labour Council

The Liberal Democrat petition to ‘Save Harrow Green Library’ of over 1000 signatures, has been handed to the Council. Along with another residents petition, the total signatures comes to over 4000.

These petitions indicate the overwhelming support by residents that they want to keep the Library open.

The Council’s consultation on the review of libraries has come to an end and will be reported to the Cabinet on the 11th of October.

Lib Dem councillors Liz Phillips and Bob Sullivan were members of a Scrutiny Panel that scrutinised the original Cabinet report.

The Panel noted that the Cabinet report left many questions unanswered and while it contained a great deal of information, it was not always the right information. They felt the report did not do a complete job.

The Panel identified 19 recomendations which will be given to the Cabinet in October. If implemented would support the expansive Library and Information Service, whilst negating the closure of any library.

Among the 19 panel recommendations to enable libraries to afford keeping open were:

  • Shelving Sunday opening and all libraries should be closed on Mondays.
  • Opening hours should be reviewed.
  • The charges for the use of libraries to be reviewed.
  • Consider locating staff from rental premises to space currently available in Harrow Green Library.
  • Review salaries and grading of staff and review library contracts e.g. cleaning services.

There were many other recommendations, which hopefully, will give the Cabinet reasons to save the libraries from closure.

Beaumont Day – A great day had by all!

Last Saturday London & Quadrant organised the Beaumont funday in Beaumont Road. Last year’s funday was so successful that it was decided to do it again this year.

They were assisted by local residents of Leyton Community Action, the Police and various groups including Councillors Bob Sullivan and Naheed Qureshi who set up their usual ‘Meet your local councillors’ stall. Unfortunately Councillor Winnie Smith, our colleague, was on holiday and could not be there. Well she missed a great day. The rain kept away. Which was a relief as the youngsters talent show and dress design shows went off without a hitch. Naheed ended up judging the youngsters fantastic performances.

A great day was had by all, but a big thank you must go to L&Qs Alkas, Richard, the caretakers and Linda and friends for organising the food. Well done!

 

Update – Glynn Hopkin Nissan site plans – Ruckholt Road

The Council’s Planning Committee on the 8th October is due to make a decision on the new plans to develop the Glynn Hopkin Nissan car site on the corner of Ruckholt Road and Oliver Road Leyton.

The plans are to erect a 3 to 6 storey development of 1000 square metres of artist studio space, 116 residential units (31 x 1 bed, 54 x 2 bed, 21 x 3 bed and 10 x x4 bed). There will be semi-basement parking for 53 cars.

The original plans for this site were refused by the Council. It will be interesting, if these new plans which have been slightly altered, will be accepted by the Committee.

Save Harrow Green Library – update!

Harrow Green Library - facing the axe!

Thanks to everyone whom has supported the petition to ‘Save Harrow Green Library’. So far, there are over 1,000 signatures with more being received daily. Others too having been collecting signatures.

Petition Closing Soon

The petition is due to be presented to the Mayor in a matter of days. If you would like to show your support please sign our on line petition now at:

http://ourcampaign.org.uk/HarrowGreenLibrary

Thank you

Flats for the Olympics?

A planning application lasting only for three years, has been submitted to the Council. It is a temporary conversion of the Technical Institute, part of the old Leyton Town Hall, entrance in Adelaide Road.

The plan is to convert the inside of the building into 32 residential units:

15 studio flats, 11 x 1 bed flats, 2 x 2 bed flats and 4 x 3 bed flats.

There is obviously going to be a demand for accommodation in Leyton that is near the Olympic Park. Councillor Bob Sullivan said that he would not be surprised if these flats were not snapped up soon after they are built. This is probably what the developers are also thinking.

What they are going to turn them into after three years is anyones guess?

But one thing whatever they do, there is no parking provision. Local residents already have a major problem in parking in the road and more flats without parking spaces, will only add to the problem.

Police stations – not open for business!

A couple of Thursdays ago a resident got mugged in the street.

His friend went to Leyton Police station but found the station closed. He went to Walthamstow and then to Chingford. They were also closed. This was between 9.00am and 10.30am!

He was told that Wanstead was closed and that the nearest Police station open was in Ilford.

The resident was astounded that he could not contact the police about the serious matter of a mugging.

Councillor Bob Sullivan contacted the Police and was told that the opening hours of some police stations in the borough have been temporarily altered in order to deploy as many police officers as possible onto the streets.

However, it seems that it is not ‘some’ but all of the police stations in Waltham Forest have had their opening hours reduced and temporarily closed. Councillor Sullivan  hopes that this is temporary measure and that the closures do not become the norm.

Primrose Road site – derelict for years!

Local residents have been concerned about the unfinished building in Primrose Road, just off of Grange Park Road, that has been left half built for years. Apparently plans were agreed in 2004 but were amended in 2009 for 10 one bed flats. The amended plans were refused in 2009. So it has been left.

The two agents for the scheme are no longer involved and the Council is trying to find out who owns the land. The Council say, that as the Local Planning Authority, there is little that the Council can do.

Councillor Bob Sullivan assumes that when the owner is found the Council could come to some agreement, but another block of 10 one bed flats is not what this area really needs.