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.

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.

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

LEYTON FOCUS NEWSLETTER 375

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 CPZ restrictions continue to spread across the ward. Veteran campaigner Bob Sullivan has raised his concerns about the possible effects of these .

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.

You can access a copy of the FOCUS here:Leyton 375

LEYTON WARD FOCUS NEWSLETTER 374

Willow Brook Primary School

The latest edition of the Leyton FOCUS Newsletter is being delivered across the ward by our volunteer helpers.

It leads on congratulations to Willowbrook Primary and George Mitchell Secondary, rated as OUTSTANDING in most recent Ofsted inspections. Also there is an update on The Davis Centre at 192 Vicarage Road, where the FOCUS Team has questioned the Council’s plan to cease using it for educational purposes. A further response for the Council is anticipated.

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.

You can access a copy of the FOCUS here: Leyton 374

LEYTON WARD FOCUS NEWSLETTER 373

Veteran Lib Dem campaigner Bob Sulivan outside Riverley School with the School Budgets petition

The latest edition of the Leyton FOCUS Newsletter is due from the printers this week, and will be delivered across the ward by our volunteer helpers.

It leads on the publication of the schedule of revised school budget cuts. While they are an improvement on the previous estimates they will continue to present problems for our local head teachers as they set their budgets for the coming year.

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.

You can access a copy of the FOCUS here: Leyton 373

LEYTON WARD NEWSLETTER 372

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

Artist impression of refurbished Fred Wigg & John Walsh Tower blocks in Leytonstone

It leads on the continuing campaign for fire safety measures in existing tower blocks and the enforcement of these precautions in all developments in all new developments.

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.

You can access a copy of the FOCUS here: Leyton 372

TOWER BLOCK SAFETY FEARS

Lib Dem campaigner Bob Sullivan

Following the disaster in West London, former long-serving Liberal Democrat Councillor Bob Sullivan contacted the Council to confirm that they are preparing to look the tower and high rise blocks in Waltham Forest and review the planning permissions already given to developers.

This review should include checking the cladding, fascias and building materials used and planned to be used.

It would seem from discussions in the media that many tower blocks built, and being built, may have cladding and other materials that are not completely fire proof.

Waltham Forest Guardian reporter Tom Barnes followed up Bob Sullivan’s request with the following report on the online version of the Guardian:

TOWER BLOCK FEARS: Waltham Forest council won’t tell us if its flats have sprinklers after Grenfell Tower fire

Concerns have been raised over the safety of Waltham Forest’s high-rise buildings in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Campaigner Bob Sullivan is calling for a full review into fire safety at tower blocks in the borough after the blaze in west London last week, which is thought to have killed at least 79 people.

The Liberal Democrat activist and former councillor wants a probe to ensure residents in council-owned and private blocks are not as risk, as well as reviews at towers currently under construction.

Mr Sullivan said:

It is imperative that the planning permission for new blocks being built is gone over again, we need to make sure.

I have not seen anyone mention sprinklers, you would have thought it would be 100 per cent certain we should have them now.

I would have thought nobody would move into any tower block now without asking questions, I certainly wouldn’t.

I am hoping the council decides to review tower block safety, I am very concerned about Waltham Forest and we should be on the forefront of this.

We need action to do something about every block above six or eight storeys, I would even class those types of buildings as a small tower blocks.

Although several council-owned towers, such as Redwood and Hornbeam Towers in Leytonstone, have been demolished in recent years, some, like John Walsh and Fred Wigg Towers, remain standing.

A host of plans for new high-rise blocks have also been approved, including a 16-storey block in Dunedin Road, Leyton, and four blocks between 10 and 16 flights in Wickford Way, Walthamstow.

Campaigner Bob Sullivan wants action to ensure tower block safety

The catastrophic fire at 24-storey Grenfell Tower, in North Kensington, broke out at around 1am last Wednesday (June 14) and is likely to become Britain’s deadliest blaze in more than a century.

The speed at which the fire spread is believed to have aided by new cladding fitted to the building, while sprinklers had not been fitted inside the flats, despite calls from residents.

Waltham Forest council says no blocks in the borough use the same cladding as was installed at Grenfell and all high rise homes either have fire risk assessments in place or currently underway.

The local authority also confirmed sprinklers will be installed at the 10-storey Lea Bridge House hostel redevelopment in Leyton.

However, the council has not responded to requests by the Guardian to reveal how many of its blocks are fitted with sprinkler systems.

Council leader, Clare Coghill, said:

All of us were horrified to see the tragic events unfold at Grenfell Tower. Our thoughts and sympathies are with those affected by this terrible disaster. 

We understand that residents of Waltham Forest will be shocked following this incident, and concerned about the safety of their own homes and properties.

We want to let residents know that their safety is always our main concern.

We are looking at what further checks may be needed in the light of recent events.

We will work with the fire brigade and our colleagues across London to implement any changes recommended after this terrible fire.

 

Tom Barnes posted an update on 22nd June:

Waltham Forest council confirms no sprinkler systems have been fitted in any of its tower blocks

Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers

John Walsh and Fred Wigg Towers in Leytonstone are owned by Waltham Forest council

No council-owned tower blocks in Waltham Forest are currently fitted with sprinkler systems, it has been confirmed.

Concerns have been raised over safety at high-rise blocks in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington last week, which is now thought to have killed at least 79 people.

The speed at which the fire spread is believed to have aided by new cladding fitted to the building, while sprinklers had not been fitted inside the flats, despite calls from residents.

Do you live in one of the council blocks? Get in touch by e-mailing thomas.barnes@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 07795507440

Waltham Forest council has now confirmed to the Guardian none of its blocks are currently fitted with sprinkler systems.

However, the local authority said it planned to fit sprinklers in three towers used for sheltered accommodation.

A spokesman said:

Although none of our council blocks have sprinklers fitted, we have secured funding from the London Fire Brigade to install sprinklers in three sheltered blocks this year.

Although several council-owned towers, such as Redwood and Hornbeam Towers in Leytonstone, have been demolished in recent years, some, like John Walsh and Fred Wigg Towers, remain standing.

A host of plans for new high-rise blocks have also been approved, including a 16-storey block in Dunedin Road, Leyton, and four blocks between 10 and 16 flights in Wickford Way, Walthamstow.

The catastrophic fire at 24-storey Grenfell Tower is likely to become Britain’s deadliest blaze in more than a century

DUSTBIN COLLECTIONS OVER CHRISTMAS

Christmas service changes

The Council has advised that refuse/recycling collections will be one day later than usual for the week after Christmas.

Regular scheduled collection day Changed collection day
Monday 26 December Tuesday 27 December
Tuesday 27 December Wednesday 28 December
Wednesday 28 December Thursday 29 December
Thursday 29 December Friday 30 December
Friday 30 December Saturday 31 December

VICARAGE ROAD CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE CONSULTATION

The Council is planning to distribute a Consutation Document to all residents on Saturday 3 December covering the proposed extension to the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

The roads included in this consultation are:

Ambleside Close                                      Keats Road

Bob Sullivan - veteran campaigner

Bob Sullivan – veteran campaigner

Ayerst Court                                             Kings Close

Beaumont Road                                       Lake Road

Burchell Road                                          Manor Road

Byron Road                                              Pardoe Road

Campion Road                                         Park Road

Capworth Street                                       Primrose Road

Church Road                                           Ryder Avenue

Clyde Place                                             Skeltons Lane

Farmer Road                                           Sophia Road

Grange Park Road                                  Vicarage Road

High Road Leyton                                   Tennyson Road

Hopkins Road

Bob Sullivan says:

All residents are encouraged to complete and return the consultation paper to the Council, whatever your views to ensure that your views are represented when proposals are finalised.

Please don’t miss the chance to have your say!

A plan of the proposed CPZ extension can be accessed here: CPZ Plan