Following a complaint by a resident of Macdonald Road claiming the road had not been swept for 4 weeks, your Focus Team arranged for Kier Street Services to do a thorough clean of both sides of the bridge.

When they left all the weeds had been removed and the street was in a class A condition.

It was clear however that the street had been swept in recent weeks.

On our regular ward walk on Saturday Cllrs John Macklin and Bob Belam came across this rubbish dumped under the arch at 31/44 Ashdown Court.

We asked officers to carry out an inspection to see who is responsible for the removal of rubbish, the purpose builds sheds and management of the site.

An inspector will be visiting today and will be liasing with colleagues in order to resolve this issue.

On our regular ward walk on Saturday Cllrs John Macklin and Bob Belam came across a gully that was blocked by concrete.

We have asked for it to be cleared.

An order went out this morning to have it inspected and cleaned.

Liberal Democrats working for you!

Following a complaint by a resident at our surgery on Saturday

we asked for action to be taken against this overloaded skip.

An order went out this morning to have it inspected and cleared and for action to be taken against the company for an unlicensed skip.

Liberal Democrats working for you!

Following a complaint by a resident at our surgery on Saturday we asked for these barriers to be removed.

An order went out this morning to have it inspected and the barriers removed.

We also asked for all other barriers left after utility works have been completed are inspected and that enforcement is taken against the companies involved.

We received notification today that of the 3 WF post offices still under review, Forest Road Post office has been saved from closure - one of only 7 in London.

Post Watch cite a major reason for retaining the service as being the numbers of elderly and vulnerable people living in the area, and levels of deprivation in the surrounding areas

While we are pleased that the Forest Road post office remains open we are disappointed that the one in Chingford Road looks like it will close

Walthamstow library was shut on Monday 23 June following a small fire that took place in the building early on Monday morning.

“The Council is working closely with the Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire.

“The library will be shut until it has been confirmed that there is no risk to members of the public. Work to rectify any damage will begin as soon as possible.

“We would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience this incident has caused and would like to thank them for their patience.”

While out delivering the latest Focus we spotted these overgrown hedges.

We have asked the Highways Maintenance department to ask residents to cut back this overhanging vegetation impacting upon the highway.

We would not like to see Enforcement action taken against these residents but it is unfair on other users of the highway.

We also came across this fridge sitting in the kerb.

We have asked for it to be removed.

To leave a fridge like this is a danger to children. We would hate to see a child injured from playing inside a dumped fridge.

You can get a free removal from the council by phoning 020 8496 3000.

It is great to see that someone has repaired the wall around the plantation on the corner of Rushbrook Crescent and Brettenham Road.

We requested this to be done some time ago.

It really look nice and adds to the area.

It is a shame that a contractor has left their barriers in amongst the bushes.

We have asked for them to be removed.

Kier Street Services are beginning to make an impact on our streets.

From the photo you can see an operative beginning to remove the detritus from the kerbs.

This should make all our streets look better.

 Cllr John Macklin and the offending car.

While delivering the latest Focus over the weekend in Brookscroft Road, your councillors spotted this burnt out vehicle.

We reported it on Monday and were pleased to see that by 3.30 p.m. it had been removed.

LIB DEMS working for you!

Samina Safdar has become the twentieth Liberal Democrat councillor in Waltham Forest after taking the vacant Forest ward seat in last night’s by-election. The full result was: 

SAMINA SAFDAR (LIB DEM) 977

Jawade Liaqat (Labour) 927 

Edwin Northover (Conservative) 507 

Mark Dawes (Green) 184 

Makola Mayambika (Left List) 56 

Turnout 32.33 per cent, 2,661 votes cast

Pictured Lib Dem Councillor Bob Belam with Michael Hayes National Express Environmental Champion at Chingford Station. 

This is the first paper recycling facility to be opened at a transport hub in the borough.National Express and the council are looking at ways of installing these facilities at main line stations across the borough. 

The council is talking to LU with a view to having recycling at all Underground stations by the end of the year. 

If you want something done it is the LIB DEMS who get it done

New Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr. Sheila Smith-Pryor has announced that she is hoping to raise lots of money during her year of office to support two local good causes:

1. Branches is a day centre and night shelter for homeless people. It is situated in Forest Rd E17. The night shelter offers a hot evening meal a bed and breakfast . The day centre provides a midday meal. There are showers clothing and laundry facilities. Branches also assists people to move back into proper homes.

2. MSAction is based in Billet Rd E17. It offers high pressure oxygen therapy to people with M.S. It does not receive any funding from the NHS and charges £10 for an hours therapy.It is not a cure but can help to keep the disease at bay and improve the quality of life.There are only 4 such units in the country and we are fortunate to have one in our borough. It is also unique in that it is the only unit that treats children with Cerebral Palsy. Again it is not a cure but can improve the quality of their lives, which has a knock-on effect on the whole family.

Anyone wishing to donate can send a cheque [payable to The Mayor’s Charity] to the Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF.

On a regular ward walk your councillors spotted these barriers left by contractors.

The Focus Team have asked McNicholas to remove them as soon as possible.

LIB DEMS WORKING ALL YEAR ROUND

Your Focus Team have reported pot holes in

Northbank Road, Monoux Grove and Penrhyn Avenue

If you know where there are any others please let one of the team know.

LIB DEMS WORKING FOR YOU

On a regular ward walk your councillors spotted these garages at the rear of Cecil House had been broken into.

The Focus Team have asked Ascham homes to repair them as soon as possible.

Pictured Lib Dem Councillor Bob Belam with Michael Hayes National Express Environmental Champion at Chingford Station. 

This is the first paper recycling facility to be opened at a transport hub in the borough.National Express and the council are looking at ways of installing these facilities at main line stations across the borough. 

The council is talking to LU with a view to having recycling at all Underground stations by the end of the year. 

If you want something done it is the LIB DEMS who get it done

Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly had a very successful session at the first Mayor’s Question Time with Boris Johnson this week.Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Mike Tuffrey, convinced the Mayor to make all his appointments to City Hall accountable to the Assembly. This means that all the Mayor’s staff, including his advisers, can be called before the London Assembly for scrutiny. Mike Tuffrey also extracted pledges from Boris Johnson to make sure that the supposed ‘independent’ panel appointed by the Mayor to investigate grants awarded by the London Development Agency take account of, and use, all the work that the Assembly’s committee chaired by Liberal Democrat Dee Doocey had already carried out before the recent elections.At the same meeting Boris Johnson also agreed to seek an urgent meeting with the Department for Transport over funding for Phase 2 of the East London Line following questioning from Caroline Pidgeon - a point noted in Thursday’s Guardian!

Caroline also got Boris Johnson to admit that his plans for a new Routemaster bus are only an aspiration rather than a firm commitment.After the meeting Caroline Pidgeon commented, “The Routemaster bus was a central part of the Mayor’s election manifesto. But there are no clear plans on how he will design or pay for it. The Mayor’s new transport adviser, Kulveer Ranger, seems to think the new Routemaster may not be ‘hop-on, hop-off’. But Boris Johnson said it will be and will include the iconic platform. The Mayor’s office is sending out a confused message on his flagship policy.‘Londoners voted for Boris Johnson on his pledge to reintroduce the Routemaster. This is the first real test of Boris’ campaign manifesto and like him, it is turning out to be a little blurry round the edges. Boris Johnson said that his Routemaster bus is an aspiration and not a commitment. We can only hope that the Mayor’s next proposal has more substance.”

This week the Mayor appointed Tim Parker as First Deputy Mayor and Chief Executive of the Greater London Authority.  See http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=17034.  As news of the appointment broke, Mike Tuffrey commented that, “This week Boris Johnson told the London Assembly that he would chair Transport for London. In an apparent U-turn, he has now announced that Tim Parker will chair TfL and is inventing a new role at the GLA for him.“While we should all welcome the best brains from the private sector, we will be asking searching questions about Tim Parker’s suitability for the roles being created for him.” 

Whilst welcoming the decision to rethink the closure of the three threatened post offices in Walthamstow, it was a surprise to see Labour MP Neil Gerrard and ex-councillor Stella Creasey attempting to bask in the glory of this stay of execution (‘Stay of execution for at-risk post offices’ 15/5/08). 

Labour’s apparent hand-brake turn in its support for the closures is certainly welcome, but will justifiably be seen by local people as an attempt to save face in Waltham Forest by distancing themselves from their national Labour colleagues mistakes. 

However it is difficult not to come to the conclusion that these voices of dissent against the closures would have been more effective if used where they would have been heard the loudest – in Mr Gerrard’s case, within the walls of Parliament. 

Just last year, Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard, alongside his neighbour Harry Cohen, voted AGAINST an opposition motion raised in Parliament which condemned the programme of closures and urged the Government to give our post offices greater freedom to develop their businesses. 

This mirrors the actions of local Labour councillors – including Ms Creasey - who were so quick to dismiss proposals by local Lib Dems that expressed grave concern at the Labour Government’s plans. 

Let’s make no mistake here – these are Labour closures being ‘opposed’ by Labour representatives because they know it affects their local electoral chances. 

Cllr John Macklin, Cllr Bob Belam, Cllr Bob Carey

Liberal Democrat Chapel End Councillors

Last night’s Annual Council meeting in the Walthamstow Assembly Hall saw Lib Dem Cllr Sheila Smith-Pryor invested as Mayor of Waltham Forest.

Cllr Smith-Pryor’s ward colleague in Hale End and Highams Park, Cllr John Beanse, made the speech proposing her for the position.

Cllr John Macklin Councillor for Chapel End and newly elected Leader of the Lib Dems seconded the proposition.

This sofa was dumped outside St Johns Church recycling centre in Chingford Road.

Don’t dump it. The Council gives three free collections a year for furniture and other bulky items.

Phone 020 8496 3000 and arrange a collection by appointment.

Following reports from residents BT repaired this site in Brettenham Road

On Wednesday 21^st May Cllr Bob Belam made a site visit to Kitchener Road park with officers from the Greenspace Department.

Following a petition and enquiries from residents who would like to see access to the park from Cheshire Close and play equipment for young children.

The officers have been asked to make enquiries and report back on the feasibility of both ideas.

Community Councils now have £10,000 to be spent each year on community based projects. This would seem like one of them.

 If you are interested in helping, please contact one of the Focus Team

The Focus Team complained that the grass in the Chapel End area had not been cut for some time.

This has now been rectified.

PRESS STATEMENT

Agreed Sale of Company’s Land 16 May 2008
The directors of Walthamstow Stadium Limited have agreed to the sale of the Company’s freehold property at Walthamstow Stadium to a development consortium led by Yoo Capital, London, and Quadrant Housing Association and K W Linfoot plc. Formal contracts have been exchanged and completion is expected on or before 1st September 2008. Racing will continue until the middle of August 2008.

Since the abolition of General Betting Duty in 2001, with the consequent loss of the unique advantage of tax-free betting only on-course, greyhound punters have been able to bet tax-free off-course, and with betting offices and exchanges open throughout the evening to accommodate them, attendances and betting turnover on-course have declined dramatically. Walthamstow’s totalisator turnover alone has fallen by some 35% during the period.

With all of the principle income streams in sharp decline, and general running costs rising relentlessly, the company’s operations have become unsustainable.

Staff and trainers have been notified and now enter a consultation period. It is hoped that all will find alternative positions after operations cease. From an animal welfare point of view, it is anticipated that most of the greyhounds currently racing at the Stadium will be accommodated at other racecourses. If, however, certain owners choose to retire their greyhounds, every effort will be made to support them in finding suitable homes.
For further information, please call:

Charles Chandler 01707 644288 

Below are the actions taken following a spate of racist graffiti. It is so offensive that we will not publish photo’s here.Your Lib Dem councillors are appalled by this action.

Over the last 2 days, there has been a rash of racist graffiti applied to a variety of surfaces, predominantly brickwork but also painted surfaces, footways and road ways. The slogan “Jihad is the only solution for Israel” seems to have been applied using a stencil. This means that the graffiti can be applied quickly and discretely.So far, the majority of locations have been in the Walthamstow area.

Liberal Democrats on Waltham Forest Council have elected Chapel End councillor John Macklin as their new leader at the local party’s Annual General Meeting last night. 

Cllr Macklin, who was elected to Waltham Forest Council in 2002, currently serves as the Cabinet portfolio holder for Service Modernisation.  He previously spent 13 years as a secondary school teacher in East London schools and now works at the as a senior university lecturer in Education. 

John Macklin replaces Cllr Keith Rayner in the role.  During Cllr Rayner’s tenure as party leader, the Liberal Democrats have gained the highest number of Councillors in the local party’s history, ousting the Conservatives as the second largest political group in Waltham Forest and becoming the only party to have councillors in Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton/Leytonstone. 

Cllr Macklin has promised that, under his leadership, the Liberal Democrats will be an “inclusive party who are ready to listen to residents and implement ambitious and forward-thinking ideas for the good of our borough”. 

Cllr John Macklin said: 

“I want to lead the Liberal Democrats in engaging those who believe that politics in Waltham Forest has nothing to do with them.  I will make it a priority to involve those residents who have skills to offer and imaginative ideas regarding the running of their local Council. 

“The Liberal Democrats will prove that, when working with the people they represent, local councillors can deliver meaningful change for our borough. 

“This is an exciting time for the Liberal Democrats.  We are in a perfect position to challenge for control of the Council and to build on the excellent work our councillors carry out for residents right across the borough. 

“I am determined that we will continue to be the party that delivers for the whole of Waltham Forest”. 

The Focus Team has today reported the large pot hole in Monoux Grove.

 If you know of others in your road please report to a member of the Focus Team

There are six Community Councils covering the Borough and each have an annual budget of £10,000 to spend in their local area. 

The area you live in comes under Walthamstow West. 

The Council are changing the budget so that each ward has £10,000 to spend. 

Your ward is Chapel End. 

Do you have any ideas on how this money should be spent within the community you live. 

Does your local park need improvement?. Does your local nursery need new equipment? 

Contact the Chapel End Focus Team

FREEPOST RLYG-BTER-YLJZ

92 Douglas Avenue Walthamstow E17 5BW

As part of the Local Safety Scheme for Fulbourne Road, the Council is planning to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers to reduce road casualties. There have been a total of 16 slight and serious accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles in the last 3 years. The scheme also aims to improve road safety for children who will be travelling to and from the new Frederick Bremer Secondary School, which is due to open in September. The Focus Team urge you to return the consultation documents.

The Borough’s most popular park will be transformed after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery earmarked £3.6 million to renovate it. The Lottery body announced today (May 5) that Waltham Forest Council is to receive £167,000, which will be used to develop its plans to restore Lloyd and Aveling Park to its former glory and create new 21^st Century facilities. The funding will be used to carry out extensive planting, restoration of the park and improvements to its layout. Existing facilities such as the Changing Room Gallery will be improved and a new bowls centre and skate park will be built.The new look park will celebrate the life and work of William Morris and attract new visitors to the Gallery bearing his name.The Council has a year to make a detailed application for the £3.6million funding with a final decision from the HLF expected in August 2009. The authority will also be investing £1million of its own money to support the transformation. 

This article appeared on the Waltham Forest Guardian web site today

WALTHAM FOREST: Three post offices axed
By Carl Brown
THREE Waltham Forest post offices will close but a decision on closing another three has been delayed, it has been announced.

Cllr John Macklin said ” I am sorry to see any Post Offices close, they are important services for everybody. I do hope that the further reveiw means the Post Offices in Chapel End remain open”

The council has agreed to consult residents on an extension to the current CPZ program.

Part of Chapel End ward will be consulted.

Farnan Avenue, Chandos Avenue, Kenilworth Avenue, which are all  heavily parked will be consulted ahead of the councils policy for its “Staff Travel Plan” implementation at the Town Hall.

 Chingford Road from Bell Corner to Omnibus Way will also be consulted.

Across from Chingford Road, Bedford Road, Dudley Road, Bromley Road in William Morris ward will also be consulted and will form one CPZ area.