SAVE OUR TREES

The Council made a great play when they were given Government money to turn the open land on the corner of Orient Way and Lea Bridge Road into a small green area (Pocket Park). In a complete about turn they are now planning to cut down all the trees and level the area to allow for 6 and 4 storey developments. This has sparked protest from local environmental groups.
Focus says: The Council continues to ignore local people. Previously just opposite to this ‘Pocket Park’, they allowed three large tower blocks to be built against local residents protests.
The Council has become a developers friend to the detriment of local people and loss of healthy trees and open green space.

Organ Donor Week – Words Save Lives

Words Save Lives

This Organ Donation Week runs between September 3rd and 9th and asks one simple thing of us – to talk to our families about organ donation, today.

Many people have never talked about organ donation with their families. That means lost opportunities for donations because families don’t know whether a loved one wants to be an organ donor or not. That family support is crucial to donations taking place.

If we can make more conversations about organ donations happen we can increase the number of transplants and save lives.

There’s no time like the present, talk about it today. Talking about your organ donation decisions makes it easier for your family to support your decision and for you to support theirs.

You could help someone waiting for that vital call, by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register and by telling your family.

Jo Adamou, whose daughter Cissy has had a heart and a kidney transplant says:

“You don’t realise the impact having a child or anyone you love waiting for a transplant can have on you and the difference an organ donation can make. It’s incredible that people donate, words cannot describe how grateful you feel.”

Millions of people are on the NHS Organ Donor Register already but only one in every hundred will die in circumstances where they could donate, so every donor is precious.

Words Save Lives. Let’s get talking about organ donation.

If you want to learn more or watch and share the brilliant NHS organ donation videos or social media graphics then follow this link.

CLYDE KITSON – veteran local campaigner

Clyde Kitson – campaigner for local people for many years

It is with great sorrow that we mourn the passing of Clyde Kitson, who lost his battle with cancer a few days ago..

Clyde was a Yorkshire man who moved to Waltham Forest over 40 years ago to pursue his career as a geography teacher. He never strayed far from education, serving as a governor of Buxton School for more than two decades.

Clyde was first elected as a Councillor for Cann Hall in 1982 and is credited with laying the foundations for the party’s future successes. He topped the polls on his first try and elected two other Liberal Councillors alongside him, turning a ward with a Labour majority of 712 into a ward with a Liberal majority of 213. An unprecedented turnaround and one which saw Cann Hall stay yellow for the next 36 years.

After serving as a Councillor for 20 years, sitting on a vast array of committees, Clyde retired from the Council in 2002. He never disengaged from local politics, serving as a governor of Buxton School and Chair of Governors for many years, he also served as Chair and Membership Officer of the local Liberal Democrats alongside a variety of other party roles. His most recent effort was to stand as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the local elections just a month ago.

Clyde’s rough northern charm and booming voice made him an instantly recognisable character at meetings, and although people might have found themselves locking horns with him on occasion he was universally respected. He was a man of great detail, often taking on tasks so monotonous they would drive anyone else to despair, and a great believer in knuckling down and getting on with the job. Because of this, he was often a driving force within the party; spurring us on to go the extra mile.

Clyde had Cann Hall in his blood and dedicated most of his time to trying to make Cann Hall a better place for the people who live there. Many residents know Clyde for his unrelenting work, and his stubbornness in not resting until a problem was solved. In ways big and small Clyde left Cann Hall a better place than he found it, and for that reason is an inspiration to all of us who want to see our communities flourish.

Clyde’s funeral has been arranged for Monday the 16th July at 2pm at the South Chapel at the City of London crematorium.

Flowers or donations to the Alzheimer society UK via William Denys Funeral Directors
159 Leytonstone Road
Stratford
London
E15 1LH

FAROOQ QURESHI

Farooq Qureshi

The Liberal Democrats are utterly devastated at the passing of former Waltham Forest Councillor Farooq Qureshi.

Farooq served as a Councillor for Forest ward from 2004 to 2014.

Many will remember him as their friendly and approachable local Councillor who was always happy to stop and chat, and to whom no problem was ever too small.

Farooq also served as Mayor of Waltham Forest from 2006 to 2007 and used the opportunity to raise funds to upport the cardiology unit at Whipps Cross Hospital amongst many other worthy causes.

To Farooq, being a Councillor was not a title. It was a commitment and one which he took very seriously, and with a genuine compassion for the people he represented. He carried out his role with humility and truly invested himself in those who had trusted him to be their Councillor.

Farooq’s achievements as a Councillor are far too numerous to list and many of them are small and personal because to Farooq being a Councillor was not about grand investments, or bids and schemes, it was about people and the little things we can all do every day to improve the lives of the people we share our community with.

Farooq has been a calming presence and a role model to many within the Liberal Democrats, and his absence will be sorely missed by those who were fortunate enough to experience his wisdom and good humour, and by those with problems big or small who found in Farooq a sympathetic ear and a man who would not stop until every avenue to solve their problem had been exhausted.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and worked with him.

Celebrating Carers Week (11 – 17 June)

Carers Week (11-17 June) is an annual awareness campaign to bring caring right out into the open – recognising and celebrating the contribution carers make to families and communities throughout the UK.

This Carers Week we want to draw attention to the brilliant local carers in our area who work tirelessley, often without recognition or support.

Across the UK right now are around 6.5 million carers, looking after elderly, disabled or unwell, family and friends. As our population ages and people live longer, more and more of us will find ourselves becoming carers for those close to us. Many people don’t identify themselves as carers, they feel they are just doing what anyone else would so they don’t always know what support is available to them!

This Carers Week, caring charities like Carers UK are coming together with local communities to make sure carers stay Healthy and Connected. Caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, enriching relationships and bringing satisfaction and wellbeing. However, the hours of care that the 6.5 million carers provide for ill, seriously ill or disabled loved ones often comes at a cost to their own health and wellbeing. All of us, wherever we live, whatever we do, have a part to play.

If you want to find out more, or help support carers week by running a local event then have a look at the links below.

If you’re reading this as a carer then thank you!

Check out Carers UK here.

Get involved with Carers Week to raise awareness for local carers here.

LEYTON WARD FOCUS 378 and 379

FOCUS 378 was delivered across the ward about a week ago by our team of volunteers.

FOCUS 379 is due from the printers by the weekend.

Please contact Bob Sullivan on 8556 8335, or by email bobsullivan@btinternet.com if you would like to help deliver the FOCUS newsletter near your home, each round takes about 45 minutes.

If you would like to help with local campaigning in the run up to the 3 May local Council elections, please contact Bob, who will be pleased to hear from you.

Access FOCUS 378 here: Leyton 378

Access FOCUS 379 here: Leyton 379

MS Awareness Week 23-29 April

23-29 April 2018 is MS week, which is a chance for us all to do our bit to raise awareness and money to make sure no one has to fight MS alone.

MS is a neurological life long condition which affects your brain, spinal chord and central nervous system. As a result MS can create many different symptoms, and is different for every patient.

Of the over 100,000 UK sufferers of MS almost three times as many are women than men. Typically people are diagnosed with the condition in their 20s and 30s.

If you want to learn more about MS click here.

If you want to get involved and be Bold In Blue to raise money and awareness click here.

School meals in line for Conservative cuts

Changes to Universal Credit mean nearly 1million poorer children will lose out on a free nutritious meal at lunch – costing parents £400 a year.

Free school meals were brought in as one of a series of new investments in our schools by the Liberal Democrats in the coalition. Now they are being cut by the Conservatives.

The policy has been a huge success, improving school outcomes for local children. In fact the policy has not just improved outcomes for the families and children that receive free dinners, but all across school classes. The free nutritional lunches have been linked with better concentration as well as better health. The policy also saves some of Britain’s poorer families over £400 each year.

Commenting Liberal Democrat schools spokesperson Layla Moran MP said, “Ensuring every child has a nutritious meal during the school day is incredibly important, helping to ensure they thrive at school and get the most from their lessons.”

These changes come in the wake of broken promises on free school breakfasts for every child. A promise that was popular and central to the Conservatives failed General Election gamble.

LEYTON FOCUS NEWSLETTER 377

Leyton Lib Dem FOCUS Team – Farooq Qureshi, Ed Bird & Bob Sullivan

The latest edition of the Leyton FOCUS Newsletter is hot off the press and will be delivered across the ward by our volunteer helpers.

It leads on the launch of the local election campaign, and introduces the Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team candidates fighting Leyton ward (see photograph above).

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.

In the past year Lib Dem membership has soared to a record high. Please get in touch with our veteran local campaigner Bob Sullivan if you would like to join this growing movement.

LEYTON WARD FOCUS NEWSLETTER 376

Artist impression of the planned tower blocks

The latest edition of the Leyton FOCUS Newsletter is with the printers and will be delivered across the ward by our volunteer helpers.

It leads on the news that the Labour-led Council has approved the plan for the development of the Walthamstow Town Square including the construction of a 29 storey tower block, with only 20% ‘affordable’ housing (far short of the Council’s 50% target), and no provision for social housing.

In the past year Lib Dem membership has soared to a record high. Please get in touch with our veteran local campaigner Bob Sullivan if you would like to join this growing movement.

You can access a copy of the FOCUS here: Leyton 376