Barking – Gospel Oak Line: concern about freight trains

The Waltham Forest Guardian has reported that campaigners in Walthamstow living near the Line have grown increasingly concerned over a recent increase in the frequency, length and weight of the goods trains which travel along the track in the early hours.

Network Rail has finally agreed to investigate whether these freight trains are causing structural damage to their properties.

They have said that the investigation would last for a ‘decent amount of time’ and would include installation of monitoring equipment in several properties. No indication was given of a time span.

Network Rail admitted that the number of freight trains on the line may increase in late 2013, when the London Gateway ‘super port’ opens. The campaigners are demanding that monitoring should also cover this period.

This campaign has centred on Walthamstow, so far, however the Liberal Democrats would like to know how residents are affected as the freight trains go through Leyton and Leytonstone.

‘Plot’ to extend the temporary Olympic Parking Zone restrictions

 

Temporary Olympic CPZ sign

  

When the Council and the ODA decided to implement the temporary Olympic Controlled Parking Zone, it was clearly stated that it would be withdrawn on the 9th September following the closure of the Paralympic Games.  

The Council also stated that they would be undertaking a consultation with the residents to find out if, in the light of their experience during the Games, they wished to make the Controlled Parking Zone permanent.  

The Lib Dems have now discovered that the Council has already published a Traffic Order allowing them to extend the temporary provision for 18 months. It also states that the Council will be considering ‘in due course’ whether the provisions of the experimental orders should be continued in force indefinitely by means of permanent Orders.  

Liberal Democrats feel very strongly that there is no need for permanent parking restrictions in most of the roads in areas GO1 – GO10, as they do not have a history of parking problems.  

All residents are urged to send in written objections to both the temporary 18 month extension and the permanent CPZ to the Council at:  

Traffic Orders,

Environment and Regeneration,

London Borough of Waltham Forest,

Low Hall,

Argall Avenue, London, E10 7AS

quoting reference: Traffic Orders T20.

Closing date for objections: 8th February 2013  

  

Planning Update – 590-594 Leyton High Road

Vacant plot at the junction of Leyton High Road and Hainault Road

 

Planning Application 2011/0870

This application covered the erection of a 3-5 storey building, with office use on the ground floor and 23 residential units with three disabled parking spaces.

This latest planning application for this landmark site at the junction of Leyton High Road and Hainault Road was considered by the Planning Committee last night.

Councillor Bob Sullivan, who was a member of the committee is pleased to confirm that it was, once again, rejected.

Drapers Playing Field – What the Council plans!

Drapers Playing Field - before the Olympics took over!

Planning Application no. 2012/0482/LA

The planning application is due to be heard by the Planning Committee on 2nd. August.

PROPOSAL:

  • Post Olympic reinstatement as a ‘public park’

  • Provision of a junior-sized grass football pitch

  • Relocation of the synthetic turf pitch

  • Formation of play areas

  • Refurbishment of the Sport England pavilion

  • New pathways and landscaping

  • Provision of an Urban Beach

The adult grass football pitch is not to be restored, despite the Council’s own Playing Pitch Strategy accepting that there is a lack of such provision in the south of the borough and stating that all current facilities should be protected. The report to the Planning Committee states that ‘on consideration’ there are insufficient grounds to withhold consent.

Full details can be found on the Council’s website:

http://www1.walthamforest.gov.uk/moderngov/mgA.aspx?M=2809

Any comments should be sent to:

The Development Manager, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Sycamore House, Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, E17 4JF

590-594 Leyton High Road – Planning Application

Planning Application Number: 2011/0870

A developer has lodged another planning application for this landmark site at the junction of High Road Leyton and Hainault Road.

PROPOSAL:

  • Erection of a 3 – 5 storey building
  • 286 sqm. B1 office use on the ground floor
  • 23 residential units comprising 1 x 3 bedroom house, 3 x 4 bedroom house and 19 flats (9 x 1 bed and 10 x 2 bed)
  • 3 disabled parking spaces

The planning application is scheduled to be heard by the Planning Committee on 2nd. August

Full details can be found on the Council’s website:

http://www1.walthamforest.gov.uk/moderngov/mgA.aspx?M=2809

Any comments should be sent to:

The Development Manager, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Sycamore House, Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, E17 4JF

RESIDENTS DELIVER IVE FARM PETITION TO THE MAYOR

Bob Sullivan with local residents at Ive Farm talking to a Guardian reporter

 

Last week Leyton ward Councillor Bob Sullivan arranged for residents to present their petition to the Mayor.

 The Council is still negotiating turning Ive Farm Playing Field, which they have left derelict, into a campsite for the Olympics.

 Oliver Close, Villiers Close and Ive Farm Close residents whose homes back onto the site have objections and organised a protest on the field.

 Leyton Ward Councillor Bob Sullivan said:

“It’s now less than two months until the Olympics and the council still can’t give us a decision. This will cause untold disruption if it is allowed to happen and the council need to think again.

“I’m pleased that residents were able to deliver this petition to the Mayor. The council must now take this issue seriously and listen to residents’ concerns about posting a campsite at Ive Farm in a heavily residential area.”

 

Night-time road closures along the A12 East Cross Route (Hackney – M11 Link Road) for resurfacing works

TfL News Release

Transport for London (TfL) has appointed Amey to carry out carriageway resurfacing works along A12 ‘Hackney to M11 link Road’, between Green Man Interchange and the Lea Interchange.

The works will bring benefits to all road users by renewing the existing road surface to help eliminate cracks and potholes. Once completed, these works will also reduce the need for future large scale maintenance of this carriageway.

The works are scheduled to start on Sunday 20 May 2012 through to Sunday 26 May 2012 or when works are completed.

Work will start at 21:30 through to 05:00 for the duration of the work, working only Sunday to Thursday’s only.

As with all works on the Transport for London Road Network, we must balance possible disruption to residents with disruption to traffic.

Working at night provides us with the best chance to complete these works as quickly as possible with as little disruption as possible.

The resurfacing works will be completed in four phases:

Phase one, starting on Sunday 20 May 2012

  • A full closure of the A12 southbound (on-slip road at the A12 Green Man interchange only) for carriageway resurfacing works. There will also be lane one and two closure of the A12 southbound carriageway between the Green Man interchange to Lea interchange for carriageway resurfacing works.

Phase two, starting on Monday 21 May and to Tuesday 22 May 2012

  • Lane one and two closure of the A12 southbound carriageway between the west side of the Green Man interchange to the Lea interchange for carriageway resurfacing works.

Phase three, starting on Wednesday 23 May

  • Lane two and three closure of the A12 southbound carriageway between the east side of the Green Man interchange underpass to Lea interchange for carriageway resurfacing works. The A12 southbound underpass will be closed, and will be carried out in conjunction with a scheduled TfL Structures Team closure, and require traffic to use the off-slip road to the Green Man roundabout, the south-eastern part of the Green Man Roundabout, and then the on-slip back onto the main A12.

Phase four, starting on Thursday 24 May and Sunday 27 May 2012

  • Lane two and three closure of the A12 southbound carriageway, between the west side of the Green Man interchange to Lea interchange for carriageway resurfacing works.

There are no residential premises with accesses on the section of the A12. Any noisy operations will be completed before Midnight to help minimise any inconvenience caused to local residents. However, operational requirements may require some noisy operations to continue beyond this time.

There are no bus routes that use this section of the A12. Coach services will not be affected as the main A12 remains open with a single lane.

Please note:If required diversion route information signs will be provided and placed along the traffic diversion routes during the works. When the A12 westbound on-slip is closed, traffic wishing to access the southbound A12 will be diverted to the A406 / A12 Redbridge Roundabout, and return on the southbound carriageway A12 thorough to the Green Man underpass.

TfL’s London Streets Traffic Control Centre (LSTCC) monitor London’s roads 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the responsibility of keeping London moving. The operators in the LSTCC will monitor this location during the works and if necessary remotely change the timing of our traffic signals to help ease congestion. TfL has worked closely with the London Borough of Waltham Forest of in order to reduce the impact of these works on road users, local people and businesses as far as possible.

I apologise in advance for any inconvenience that these essential works may cause. Should you require further information or an update during the delivery of these works, please contact our Streets Customer Services department on 0845 305 1234 or via our website at www.tfl.gov.uk/contact.

Cllr Bob Sullivan joins residents’ protests over Ive Farm Playing Field

Councillor Bob Sullivan (foreground left) with concerned residents

The Council is negotiating turning Ive Farm Playing Field, which they have left derelict, into a campsite for the Olympics.

Oliver Close, Villiers Close and Ive Farm Close residents whose homes back onto the site have objections and organised a protest on the field.Leyton Ward Councillor Bob Sullivan said: “The council is becoming like a secret society. Council officers can’t even tell me what the plans are – the Guardian is the only way of finding out what’s happening.”

Leyton Ward Councillor Bob Sullivan said:

“The Council is becoming like a secret society. Council officers can’t even tell me what the plans are – the local Guardian is the only way of finding out what’s happening.”

Ive Farm Playing Field

Ive Farm Sports Ground - left derelict by the Council

The Council is negotiating turning Ive Farm Playing Field, which they have left derelict, into a campsite for the Olympics.

Is the Council keeping local residents in the dark about this, hoping that they can sneak it through without proper consultation?

Oliver Close, Villiers Close and Ive Farm Close residents whose homes back onto the site will certainly have objections particularly if, like the site in Walthamstow, it has live entertainment and bars serving alcohol.

The Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Leyton Ward Councillor Bob Sullivan says:

“There must be proper consultation with local residents, If the Council forces this through all proceeds should go towards bringing the playing field back into use.”

Church Lane Car Park – UNDERUSED?

Church Lane Car Park - only two vacant disabled=

The report into Parking Provision across the Borough indicated that the Church Lane Car Park was underused, and recommended that measures be taken to improve occupancy. It seemed strange, at the time, that this report should also include the provision of a multi-use games area (MUGA). Surely not a practical way of improving use by drivers!

FOCUS Team campaigner Mahmood Faiz believes that ideally a town centre car park should not necessarily be full every day, as it is a facility to encourage motorists to patronise the smaller local shops that do not have off-street parking of their own.

The photograph was taken on a normal weekday morning, and shows just two disabled bays vacant – hardly underused!