Could You be a ‘SNOW ANGEL’?

Waltham Forest, like many other Councils is planning for the coming winter and want residents to play a vital role in making sure that the borough can cope in the event of severe weather conditions.

Suitable precautions to deal with snow and ice are being put into place, but the Council is hoping that residents will agree to become “Snow Angels” and help clear their vulnerable neighbours’ drives and pathways of snow and ice.

The Snow Angel scheme was piloted last year amongst Council staff who live in the borough and who volunteered to grit and shovel snow from drives, pathways and pavements to keep the borough moving. This proved to be a huge success so now the Council has decided to roll the scheme out to the residents of Waltham Forest.

Volunteers will be provided with the following free equipment:

 1 x 20kg bag of grit

Hi-visibility jacket

Protective gloves

Snow scoop and shovel

If you are interested in becoming a “Snow Angel” please contact Amanda Karrinton on 0208 496 1296 or email on amanda.karrinton@walthamforest.gov.uk by 31st August 2011 and you will be provided with further information.

Waltham Forest Direct Shops axed – Update!

Leytonstone's Waltham Forest Direct Shop

The Council has announced the closure dates for three of the Waltham Forest Direct shops:

LEYTON – closes tomorrow Friday 12 August

CHINGFORD – closes Friday 26 August

LEYTONSTONE – closes Wednesday 31 August

The remaining branch in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, will be renamed: Customer Service Centre

The Waltham Forest Guardian reports that Unions have concerns that the buildings will remain empty, and be a ‘blight’ on our high streets. It is understood that the Council is working on alternative uses!!

It is surely inconceivable that any incoming tenant should receive financial support from the Council, after they have closed these shops to save money.

Lib Dem councillors reaction to violence following Town Hall briefing

Liberal Democrat councillors this afternoon attended a briefing by the police and council officers at Waltham Forest Town Hall about the recent disturbances.

Speaking after the briefing at Waltham Forest Town Hall –

Liberal Democrat councillor for High Street ward Mahmood Hussain said:

“I have spent much of the last two days talking to local shopkeepers and residents affected by the violence. Over 50 businesses have been affected in central Walthamstow. It is shocking to see so many people’s hard work destroyed. I have been impressed with how people are working together to put things right.”

Cllr Winnie Smith (Leyton ward) has also been talking to and visiting businesses and residents in Leyton.

Cllr Farooq Qureshi (Forest ward) added:

“These people don’t have a political message. Looting a Lidl and smashing restaurant windows is not going to sort out any of the problems that residents face. At the end of the day it is local people who will lose jobs and income as a result of this criminal behaviour.”

Cllr Liz Phillips (Cann Hall) said:

“The police have assured us that there will be more officers on duty tonight. The council has been working to remove debris and potential weapons from the street. It is important that parents know where their children are and that everyone take responsibility for calming the situation.”

Drapers Field – The Decision!

Drapers Field - to be shut for 2 years

At the Planning Committee meeting this week approval was granted to the ODA to use Drapers Field for 16 months from this September.

In January 2013 Drapers Field will return to the Council. The application included compensation which will be used under a Section 106 agreement to re-provide an upgraded full-size all weather pitch, plus a turfed junior football pitch. There will also be improvements to the Sport England pavilion. Since the Council has decided to carry out the restoration of Drapers Field themselves, it is reported that the Field should be reopened by September 2013.

A Section 111 agreement covers off-site improvements at Marsh Lane and Abbotts Park.

CHURCH LANE CAR PARK

Also, at the last minute, the multi-utility games area (MUGA) in the Church Lane car park was included. The FOCUS Team believes that this facility should not be unsupervised in the middle of the Shopping Centre, and would be better situated on the field next to the Pastures Centre in Davies Lane, a more central locations for residents in 3 wards, Cann Hall, Cathall and Leytonstone.

What do you think?

We would like to hear from you.

Planning Application – Norlington Road

Walbrook Works - planning application

An application (reference number 2011/0926) has been received by the Council for the redevelopment of land at the Walbrook Works, 66 Norlington Road.

It covers the demolition of the former factory, and the erection of 19 mews houses (5 x 2 bed, 8 x 3 bed and 6 x 4bed). It also includes the conversion of the Franklin Building fronting Norlington Road into 1 x 1 bed flat, studio on the first floor and a B1 grade business unit on the ground floor. The FOCUS Team understands that the proposal provides 21 parking spaces, including a loading bay. The plans have not, as yet, been uploaded on the Council’s website.

Any views on this application should be addressed to:

The Development Manager, Sycamore House, Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF

NEW redevelopment plans for Lion & Key pub

 

Lion & Key - 2010

Many of you who have noticed that development work is going on at the Lion & Key pub at the junction of Leyton High Road and Church Road.

Last year plans were received by the Council and agreed for the Lion & Key to be turned into a ‘support and living centre’ for adults with learning difficulties. This included 7 x 1 bed flats and 2 x 2 bed flats. The new plans received are the same, but to change the flats into 5 x 1 bed flats and 4 x 2 bed flats. Leyton Ward Councillor Bob Sullivan believes the ground floor will be a drop in centre.

As a locally listed building the facade i.e. the front of the building will remain and all the development will take place at the back.

Lion & Key on the right of the picture during reconstruction in the 1890sThe pub is regarded to be the oldest in Leyton and was possibly present in 1300, although the first documentary evidence is a possible record of 1579. It closed in 2009.

The picture at the top is the current Lion and Key building. The one to the right is the current building being built around the end of the 18 hundreds.

It is a pity that losing pubs is becoming a regular occurrence in our area.

LION & KEY – another local pub going!

 

Drapers Field – further update!

Council's proposal for Drapers Field

We have manged to get a look at what has been planned for Drapers Field.

The Masterplan (above) shows that the all weather pitch will be re-sited and there is inclusion of some beach volleyball play areas. Maybe the Council is thinking of re-applying for the £100,000 lottery money that it had to return last year when they made arrangements to give the site to the Olympic Authority for warehousing space for the Olympics.

Below is a closer look at the planned beach volleyball area:

The beach volleyball area

For a closer look click on this link to the Masterplan:

Drapers Field – masterplan

Grove Green Ward FOCUS

The latest issue of the Grove Green FOCUS is being delivered across the ward.

If you would like to help us by delivering FOCUS in a road near your home, we would be pleased to hear from you.

You can use the reply page on this website, or get in touch by calling 8556 8335.

You can access the FOCUS here: Grove Green 252

Drapers Field – update!

Drapers Field - lost to the community for at least 16 months

The planning application by the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) to use Drapers Fieldis is still to be submitted to Waltham Forest Council’s Planning Committee. News is that it will go to the Planning Committee in August. The information regarding how much compensation that the Council will get, through what is known as section 106 and section 111, has still to be finalised.

The money received will be used to improve Abbotts Park, Marsh Lane and of course Drapers Field.

The good news is that the money allocated to Drapers Field will be to re-instate the all-weather pitch and introduce new landscaping, access, and community sports facilities. This is good news, as previously there was no mention of the all-weather pitch, or sports facilities being replaced, only that Drapers would be turned into a ‘special park’.

Leyton Ward Councillor Bob Sullivan reports that other not so good news  is that the ODA want to chop down two mature trees so that they can get access to the field by their lorries. He has followed this up and it is being challenged by council officers in the tree department who feel that access can be achieved without chopping down the trees. Councillor Sullivan will update again when he receives any further news on this.