The latest edition of the Grove Green FOCUS Newsletter has just gone to press.
It will be delivered to every household across the ward by our team of volunteers.
Please contact Bob Sullivan on 8556 8335 if you would like to help deliver the FOCUS near your home. It is usually published about every six weeks and a round should take about 45 minutes. Thank you.
You can access a copy of the FOCUS here: Grove Green 271
The Heathcote Arms public house
A report on the Waltham Forest Guardian’s website says that a local businessman has secured a three year lease to turn the Heathcote Arms into an independent public house.
Businessman Jason Verdi said,
I saw the lease was available and as a local man I saw the opportunity as it is such an important aspect of the community. I want to turn it into a family pub, with home-cooked food and free from the issues it used to have.
I am planning on getting it open as soon as possible, hopefully within two weeks.
We will see what we can do with it for a few years. I will certainly give it a go, but I could not leave it unused.
Carl Qulliam pictured outside Leyton Youth Centre (former County Cicket Ground) with former Lib Dem Council Group Leader Bob Sullivan
Carl Quilliam, the former Head of Office for the Lib Dems on Waltham Forest council, has this week been selected to stand in the Leyton and Wanstead constituency by the local Lib Dem party.
Carl is a former civil servant who worked in regeneration under the last Labour government. He supported the Liberal Democrat council group as their Head of Office from October 2011 until October 2013 and now works for a large London-based housing association.
On being selected Carl said:
It’s exciting to be selected to stand here in Leyton and Wanstead. The Lib Dems have been the main opposition to Ed Miliband’s Labour here for over 20 years. And locally we’ve been at the forefront of campaigns on housing, children’s services, school places and protecting our environment.
It’s great to finally see local schools expanding thanks to coalition funding and without another of Labour’s expensive PFI deals but we still need more places to meet the growing demand.
And we all know that we desperately need more affordable homes for local people, as well as more jobs and apprenticeships our young people.That’s why I will use this campaign to stand up for more local school places, more and better housing and tackling youth unemployment in the area.
Local Lib Dem activist Bob Sullivan said:
It is great to have Carl as our candidate, as the leader of the Lib Dem Group on the Council I spent two years working closely with him. He knows the people, knows the problems and knows the area. There is no doubt he will be the best person to represent our residents as an MP.
London City Airport
Waltham Forest E Guardian – 28 January 2015
An airport has refused to attend a public meeting as it plans to go ahead with flight path changes which campaigners claim will cause a “noise ghetto” for those living under it.
London City Airport is planning to implement new technology to enable a much narrower and concentrated corridor over Wanstead, Leytonstone and Leyton.
Campaign group HACAN East believes this will increase the noise level for people living in these areas and wants the plan scrapped.
The airport will submit its proposal to the Civil Aviation Authority by the end of February, and if the plan is passed, it could be implemented in early 2016.
In a letter to the airport from deputy leader of Waltham Forest council, Cllr Clyde Loakes, he requested a further public meeting on March 2.
He said:
“I remain concerned that a significant proportion of residents are still unaware of the introduction of the RNAV technology and the impact that this will have on the quality of life of those living under the flight paths.
“I think it would therefore be useful if residents were able to hear from you directly about the next steps that will be taken and how the technology will be rolled out.”
But in reply, Jeremy Probart of London City Airport, ruled out attending a public meeting in the near future.
He said:
“There is very little that we can add to this currently, and feel that a public meeting, such as the one you suggest, would actually be counter-productive.
“We know that some people are opposed to the proposals (and the objections received have been incorporated in the report to the CAA) and a meeting in March would not be able to offer anything in the way of further information, which may simply serve to inflame, rather than to assuage.
“Therefore we will respectfully decline the opportunity you have outlined. If such a meeting were to take place, it would make sense to hold it after the CAA’s decision on the proposals and slightly before the replicated flight paths take effect.”
To sign the petiton:
The Heathcote Arms
A petition has been launched to save the historic Heathcote Arms public house in Grove Green Road, at the junction with Richmond Road, from the developers.
It was sold in September to Equity Estates, however, no planning application has as yet been received by Waltham Forest Council’s Planning Department.
The petition has already gained over 880 signatures.
You can add your support here
The recently closed Police Station in Kirkdale Road
With the closure of Leytonstone Police Station there is now no police station in the south of the borough.
Following the closure the Police are providing a contact point at Tescos in Gainsborough Road. Officers are present every Wednesday and Thursday from 6 – 8pm. and on Saturday from 2 – 4pm.
The only other local contact point is The Police Base, 593 Lea Bridge Road, E10 6AF. It is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 7 – 8pm, and on Saturday from 2 – 3pm.
The Grove Green Neighbourhood Policing Team telephone number is (020) 8721 2640.
For non-emergency calls the Police ask you to dial 101. However, for emergencies call 999.
Waltham Forest Council is one of the few Councils, successful in their bid to Transport for London for ‘Mini Holland’ funds to radically improve cycling in the borough. One of the areas for improvement is Ruckholt Road.
At a consultation meeting in Leyton Library, Lib Dem Focus Team member, Bob Sullivan had a chance to discuss the plans with officers and residents. Overall the scheme looks innovative and will assist safer cycling in the area. Bob outlined many small changes that would improve the scheme for cyclists and residents. The main one was allowing a left turn from Oliver Road into Ruckholt Road. Blocking the left turn would only encourage vehicle rat running.
He also said that the present bus stop in Ruckholt Road by the library should not be moved to Warren Road. The area in Warren Road is constantly used by motorists to park and shop locally in the High Road.
He also felt that the two current CPZs need to be combined and the times of operation extended.
Bob says: My full list of comments and suggestions has been sent to the Council. This website will keep you informed of developments.
Focus has had a massive response to our petition to get all our elected councillors to have a CRB check (now called a Disclosure and Barring Service – DBS).
Councillors are Corporate Parents to all our children in care and DBS checks should be for all not just a few.
The FOCUS Team says: If you want to click here to sign the petition. You may also see the team in the High Street collecting more signatures.
Leyton Cricket Ground – new entrance
Thousands of pounds were spent on making a new entrance to the cricket ground off Leyton High Road well before the Olympics.
The Council made a big fuss about the improvements in the High Road, but three years on and the entrance has never been opened.
Lib Dems say: It is a scandal that having spent thousands in relocating the post-box, taking away the wall and spending thousands on a new smart entrance, it remains locked. The Lib Dems are determined to get it opened.