PRESS RELEASE – Waltham Forest Lib Dems slam Labour’s ‘APPRENTICE-STYLE BOARDROOM’

The total cost of the new refurbishments at Waltham Forest Town Hall has been uncovered by Lib Dem councillor for Cann Hall ward Liz Phillips. According to a written answer to Councillor Phillips, the cost of the new Town Hall reception area and what has been dubbed ‘The Boardroom’ by the council now totals £610,000.

Councillor Liz Phillips said:

“Whilst there was clearly some need for private meeting spaces for residents, these costs seem exorbitant to me.”

“This new boardroom looks like no more than a vanity project so Labour Cabinet members can sit there and pretend to be Alan Sugar.

“Labour claim that some of the costs will be paid for through renting it out but no doubt it will be Waltham Forest residents who pick up the lion’s share of the bill.

“Labour Cabinet members should reflect on whether that money could have been better spent on our young people, for example on ensuring that the council finally meet their apprenticeship targets for this Borough or keeping open Harrow Green library.”

 

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.

WESTFIELD – access restricted Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th August

Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th August

On these days all Olympic Park venues will be operational and a large increase in the number of Olympic Games visitors is expected.

To assist with the smooth running of the Games access to the Westfield Shopping Centre will be restricted from 10.30am until 5.00pm. Only the following will be allowed access:

  • Accredited personnel

  • Hospitality visitors

  • Games ticket holders

Outside these hours the shops will be open to all visitors until 11.00pm and restaurants and leisure until 12.30am.

590-594 High Road Leyton – 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

Barking – Gospel Oak Line – NEWSFLASH

The Barking – Gospel Oak User Group (BGOLUG) has learnt that the vital morning commuter train (07.59 from Woodgrange Park) put on last summer to relieve overcrowding is to be cancelled during the Olympic Games.

Richard Pout BGOLUG Secretary said:

“The withdrawal of this train will cause intolerable conditions for commuters trying to get to work in the morning, BGOLUG therefore has to advise passengers to use alternative public transport routes during the games”

“This cut together with the planned half-hourly service from 10 o’clock in the evening will help ensure ‘sardine’ conditions all day and night during the Olympics. Likewise, with a ban on engineering work during the Games, there is no reason why a Saturday service could not be operated on Sundays instead of the first trains being after the morning’s Olympic events have started.”

BGOLUG are calling on TfL to:

  • Reinstate the 07.59 Mondays – Fridays Woodgrange Park – Hampstead Heath train
  • Operate a 15 minute frequency service from start to finish of the service throughout the Games period
  • Start and finish Sunday operations at Saturday times and run 15 minutes throughout the day when Olympic events are scheduled

New Surgery – now weekly!

 The Service Station near Leyton Midland Road Overground Station

 

Following the successful launch of the new councillor surgery/advice centre at the M&S/BP Service Station the Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce that it will be held on Friday every week.

M&S/BP Service Station, Leyton High Road

junction of Fletcher Lane

Open every Friday for 1 hour from 7pm until 8pm.

As usual no appointments are necessary and all consultations are confidential.

New Councillor Surgery – M&S/BP Service Station – Leyton High Road

The M&S/BP Service Station near Leyton Midland Road Overground Station

The Liberal Democrat councillors are planning a new Councillor Surgery/Advice Centre based at the:

M&S Shop at the BP Service Station in Leyton High Road, at the junction with Fletcher Lane.

The first session will be on:

Friday 13th July

from 7.00pm to 8.30pm

Further sessions will be notified on the websites and in FOCUS Newsletters.

Brian Paddick expresses support for the Gospel Oak – Barking Line

Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London gave his whole hearted support to efforts to secure much needed investment by members of the Barking – Gospel Oak Line User Group (BGOLUG) when he travelled on the line recently.

Along with Lib Dem Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon AM, he joined morning commuters from Barking on Friday 23rd March to see how a recently added relief train had eased the overcrowding for part of the morning rush.

At Woodgrange Park, while waiting for the relief train Brian spoke with a member of the station staff and saw that the line through the station was already electrified, BGOLUG members explaining that the line was already electrified at both ends and in the middle, at South Tottenham, but needed around £30m to “fill in the gaps” and electrify it throughout.

Freedom of Information requests and answers to questions by Caroline Pidgeon show that following a break down in negotiations with the then Secretary of State, Labour’s Lord Adonis, soon after taking office, Mayor Boris Johnson has personally done nothing further to advance the case for electrification and has twice declined to travel on the line see the problems for himself.

Transport for London (TfL) have included the line’s electrification with 4-coach trains in recommendations to the Government for the next 5-year rail investment period which is to be announced by Secretary of State Justine Greening in around three months time.

The new London Gateway Port at Thameshaven will soon start to come on stream and is expected to generate 30 trains a day, most of which will use the Barking – Gospel Oak Line.

On Board the 07:59 Woodgrange Park to Hampstead Heath relief train, Brian and Caroline noted how the train, running 9 minutes behind the one they had left Barking on was soon standing room only.

Richard Pout, Secretary of the User Group explained

“Because London Overground has only 8 of these 2-coach diesel units, there are no more trains available to further boost peak services. Evening peak trains are now every bit as overcrowded as in the morning.”

At Blackhorse Road, BGOLUG’s Assistant Secretary, Glenn Wallis explained how the busy interchange with the Underground’s Victoria Line was about to get a ’make over’ from TfL. However, original proposals which included new shelters had now been scaled back to consist of new seating, new signs and a repaint. The existing, open shelters will remain and bicycle ramps, paid for by Waltham Forest Council are being removed from the station footbridge.

“This is the busiest intermediate station on the line,” said Glenn Wallis. “The many passengers waiting here deserve better, larger waiting shelters.”

At Harringay Green Lanes Caroline Pidgeon commented, “While there have been clear improvements in the service since I last travelled the line with User Group members in 2009 further improvements are still needed. Above all we must keep up the pressure to ensure that the line is finally electrified. This would deliver better services for passengers as well as making a useful contribution to reducing air pollution.”

Brian Paddick said,

“The Barking to Gospel Oak Line User Group has done a great job in campaigning for improvements in train services. This is an increasingly popular line and that must mean improvements to it have to continue.”

Tackling Youth Unemployment in Waltham Forest

On Monday 2 April 2012, the £1bn Youth Contract will start. The Youth Contract was announced last year by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg to tackle youth unemployment.

The Youth Contract aims to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

In Waltham Forest, 2,570 18 to 24-year olds are currently in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance and would stand to benefit from the Youth Contract.

The Youth Contract will provide at least 410,000 new work places for 18 to 24-year olds over the next three years. This includes 160,000 wage subsidies and 250,000 new work experience placements.

A new programme will help 16 and 17-year olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

This will help the most disengaged of the 8,000 in London get back to school or college, onto an apprenticeship or into a job with training.

In addition, there will be at least 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices in England.

Commenting, Cllr Winnie Smith, Lib Dem Deputy Leader said:

“In these tough times Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing and fighting to ensure we help those who need it most.

“Waltham Forest has had a problem with youth unemployment for a long time and it only got worse under the last Labour government. We have to make sure that the today’s young people don’t have a false start to their careers.

“In Waltham Forest we tried to get Labour to take the issue of jobs and youth unemployment seriously in our amendment to the council’s budget in March but they ignored it.”

“The Youth Contract will help those who need it most through advice, support, training and by giving people in Waltham Forest the experience they need to be successful in the work place.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I am proud that the Coalition Government is doing the right thing and working to prevent another lost generation.”

Commenting further, Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:

“Youth unemployment is a slow-burn social disaster and an economic waste.

“We can’t lose the skills and talent of our young people – right when we need them most. We need the next generation to help us build a new economy.

“The aim of the Youth Contract is to get every unemployed young person earning or learning again before long-term damage is done, giving them the skills for a lifetime of work.

“This is a £1bn package and it will get young people into proper, lasting jobs.”