Boris’s plans put pedestrians at risk!

Transport for London is proposing the removal of pedestrian crossings at two busy locations in Waltham Forest as part of Boris Johnson’s attempt to increase traffic speeds.§  Forest Road by Hill Crest Road (Hale End and Highams Park ward)§  Hatch Lane by Ashwood Road (Hatch Lane ward)The Forest Road proposals seem particularly odd as the crossing forms part of the roadworks currently being carried out along Forest Road towards the Waterworks roundabout.TfL is consulting London boroughs at the moment so there is still time to campaign and influence the decision.

London City Airport – Noise campaign update!

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Following residents protests and the Liberal Democrat led campaign about aircraft noise, Cllr Farooq Qureshi has been advised by the Town Hall that Waltham Forest has been granted membership of the London City Airport Consultative Committee. 

Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats and your local Focus teams say: “We hope that our membership will help us represent the concerns of our residents. Through this membership we should be able to make a case for our residents who have been adversely affected by the air noise pollution connected with London City Airport.”

Draper’s Field – Update

Drapers Field

As you may have read the Labour Cabinet has agreed in principle to close Drapers Field for 16 months from September 2011. The Guardian archives show that over £1.5 million was spent installing the all-weather pitch (the only one in the borough), and upgrading the other sports facilities.
The Council Leader is reported to have said: “We would be able, through the compensation package, to completely refurbish Draper’s Field … we could turn it into a very special park.”
Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats  believes that we should not be closing a valued sports facility, which is used by 100,000 people a year, including Norlington School, which uses it 4 days a week.
If you believe that, as an Olympic borough, we should be cherishing our sporting facilities. Please sign our on-line petition at:
http://ourcampaign.org.uk/DrapersField

Olympic facelift for High Road

Leyton Councillors meet to see proposals

You may have read the news a few months ago, that Leyton High Road and the Ruckholt Road area are due to be given a facelift thanks to the Olympics.

Cllrs Sullivan, Smith and Qureshi from Leyton ward were invited to a meeting recently; to take a look at the changes that are being proposed to parts of Leyton High Rd over the coming years as we build up to the Olympics.

Almost £5 million is set to be spent in the area. Changes that are being proposed include new seating areas, shop frontages and lighting along the High Rd, in particular.

Although they are in their initial stages and subject to a consultation (which I am told is going to take place very soon) , some of the planned changes will, transform the area and give it a much needed facelift. Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats have reservations, about a few proposed changes around the Leyton station area. The problems around Drapers Field and redevelopment are seperate from these proposals.

The officers concerned, visited the Leyton & Whipps Cross Community Council which took place last month and outlined initial plans to the members of the public who were in attendance.

Liberal Democrats raise concerns over Drapers Field

Cathall Focus Team at Drapers Field

Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats have expressed alarm at news that the Labour council is negotiating to exclude local people from popular sports facility, Drapers Field, during Olympic year – just a few months after pledging to protect Waltham Forest’s green spaces and leisure facilities.

The news has sparked anger among local Lib Dem campaigners who say the all-weather pitch and playing fields are used by over 9,000 people every month. Information obtained by local Lib Dems shows that Labour Council Leader Chris Robbins has negotiated to lease the playing fields to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for possible use as a VIP car park or other Olympic related uses. As a result local children and football clubs will have nowhere to play in Olympic year, while international athletes compete for medals just a few hundred yards away.

Local Lib Dem activist Joe Dyer said: “To allow Drapers Field to be given over to the ODA and turned into a car park would be a travesty for local clubs and schools. The Olympics should be used to encourage sport, not destroy it. Under Labour the Council is in danger of missing a huge opportunity. There are no other all-weather pitches in the immediate area. This could cause enormous disruption to users.”

Glyn Hopkin Development, Oliver Road news update

The plans for building flats and houses on the site of the Glyn Hopkin car showroom on the corner of Oliver Road and Ruckholt Road have been with the planning department for many months. The delay in getting the plans agreed maybe because of the many objections by local residents.

Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats and the Leyton Focus Team says: Lack of parking spaces in the plans have angered local residents, who find it virtually impossible to park in their roads. These plans will put even more cars onto their local roads.