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 - closed 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.

CHURCH LANE CAR PARK

A Section 111 agreement covers off-site improvements at Marsh Lane and Abbotts Park. Also, at the last minute, the multi-utility games area (MUGA) in the Church Lane car park was included. The Liberal Democrats believe 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, which is a much more central location 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

Leyton Mills/ASDA security update

POLICE3Recently Liberal Democrat councillors attended the Leyton Mills Safer Business Panel. It was held at ASDA in Leyton Mills. Chaired by Police Sergeant Sarah Brewer with the Safer Neighbourhood Team, along with representatives of the shops and businesses in Leyton Mills.

It was noted that the problems with the DVD sellers and the gambling had virtually disappeared now that the Police are there every day. The DVD sellers are occasionally seen popping back to check if the police are still there, but the three-card trick people seem to have gone.

There were presentations about preventing crime in the area and discussion about the affects that the Olympic Park would make on the shopping area. It was agreed that it was important that all the shops and police shared information.

Councillor Bob Sullivan asked about why the boarded up shops that were next to ASDA and opposite TKMaxx had not been let or opened up. Apparently when they were built there was no space planned for air conditioning in the units and a total lack of a delivery area for the shops. Unless someone can come up with an innovative plan, then they will remain boarded up. What a waste!

There is another meeting scheduled for the Autumn. If there are any issues that you would like to bring to our attention about the Leyton Mills shopping area – don’t wait for the Autumn, please get in touch with your Focus Team.

We want our post box back!

Campaigner Neal Chubb urging the return of the post box in Francis RoadSome years ago, the Focus Team campaigned with residents unsuccessfully against the closure of the Post Office in Francis Road. Residents were furious that the closure was swiftly followed by the removal of the post box.

At the time the Focus Team were assured that a new one would be put outside George’s, further down the road.

Well! Where is it? Has our area been forgotten?

Francis Road has declined with retail shops and doctors surgeries closing. It is time to put a stop to it, so the Lib Dem Focus Team is pressing Royal Mail to put our post box back.

Managing the Cricket Ground

The historic pavilion at the Cricket Ground

The Charity Commission has ordered the Council to set up a Management Committee to run the Cricket Ground in Leyton High Road.

It will be made up of eight members – 4 from the Council, 2 from youth organisations and 2 local residents.

If you are a local resident, in Grove Green or Leyton wards, and would like to become a member of this Committee, please contact the Focus Team for further details.

Drapers Field – News Update!

Drapers Field - closed to the public until September 2013

We have manged to get a look at what the Council proposes 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:

To enlarge the Masterplann, click on this link – Drapers Field – masterplan

Latest News

The planning application by the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) to use Drapers Field is still to be submitted to Waltham Forest Council’s Planning Committee. News is that it will go to the Planning Committee on 2nd 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’.

The other not so good news – Councillor Bob Sullivan has been hearing, 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. He will update again when he receives any further news on this.

‘Save the Cheque’ campaign – SUCCESS

Local Lib Dem campaigners have welcomed news that the UK Payments Council has reversed its decision to scrap cheques.
The campaign to save the cheque was led by Lib Dem MPs and was backed by thousands of people across the UK.
We want to say a huge thank you to all the local people who signed the Lib Dem petition to save the cheque.

” Being able to pay by cheque is especially important for our small businesses, community groups and older people here in the area.
Cheques remain a popular way to pay for millions of people across the UK. Over a billion transactions were made by cheque last year alone.
“This is a great victory for people power and common sense, and proves that the banks cannot afford to ignore the views of their customers.”

Leyton High Road/corner of Hainault Road

Artist impression looking towards Bakers Arms

New plans to develop the corner of Leyton High Road and Hainault Road have been sent to the Council. The picture here shows the artist impression of the last plans that were refused by the Council.

The new plans are for the erection of a 3-5 storey building with an office use on the ground floor, and 23 residential units comprising 4×3 bed houses and 19 flats (8×1 bed, 10×2 bed,and 1×3 bed) with associated parking.

Grove Green FOCUS Newsletter

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