Published June 19th, 2008
Kier Street Services
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.
Published June 6th, 2008
The Mayor’s Charities
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.
Published May 24th, 2008
LETTER TO THE GUARDIAN ON POST OFFICE CLOSURES
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
Published May 24th, 2008
DON’T DUMP IT GET A FREE COLLECTION
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.
Published May 24th, 2008
BT REPAIR THEIR SITE
Following reports from residents BT repaired this site in Brettenham Road
Published May 16th, 2008
Racist graffiti
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.
Over the course of Thursday 14th May, crews dealt with this graffiti at approximately 18 locations, in addition to dealing with other graffiti work. Unfortunately, we were not able to mobilise overtime resources at short notice and because removing graffiti is a specialist activity.
We are starting this morning with a list of 20 sites, some of which involve multiple items. We will have 2 Jet wash crews working in the Walthamstow area. We expect to receive and pass additional sitings to the crews over the course of the day.
This evening we expect to have at least 2 crews working overtime, in combination, catching up with normal day to day graffiti and with any racist graffiti which comes in today that is not dealt with in normal time. We also expect to field at least one crew over the weekend.
Through Gareth Jones and Sian Hasler, there have been discussions both with TJAG and the Police. We have asked that this be a particular area for attention across all shifts.
We do not know when this graffiti is being applied or whether one or more people are involved. However, if those involved are to be caught it may be that we can draw them back into re-graffiting the same sites, particularly if we can try and contain the activity to the Walthamstow area.
In order for us to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible, we need assistance from those reporting and those handling reports. We need precise locations. If we also know in advance what surface the graffiti is on, we can determine whether it requires a specialist jet wash crew to respond or whether we can deploy other resources to paint over. We also need the reports to get to us as quickly and directly as possible.
Members of the public should raise these items as service requests. Councillors are also recommended to raise as service requests, because our method of operation has been set up, and recently refined, to deal with service requests as quickly as possible. For internal purposes or outside normal hours, the following phone numbers apply:
7:00 - 5:00 Monday to Friday Street Cleaning Office 020 8496 2588/2593
Outside normal hours; Andy Lyon, Operations Manager 07896 509 291
Published May 12th, 2008
POT HOLES MONOUX GROVE
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
Published May 8th, 2008
LLOYD PARK LOTTERY SUCCESS
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 21st 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.
Published May 8th, 2008
CONSULTATION ON CPZ EXTENSION AGREED
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.
