Plans to build a four storey block of 4 two bedroom flats adjacent to 35-42 Grosvenor Court has been received by the Council.  Grosvenor Court stands at the junction of Brewster Road and Vicarage Road.  It backs onto George Mitchell School.

Recently the garages adjacent to the block were damaged by a falling tree.  This may have influenced the owners of Grosvenor Court not to replace the garages but to build extra flats on the side of the Court.

I was one of those working in London when the IRA set off a car bomb in the early 1990s. The lorry in question was parked in the City for more than a day before it exploded. As a result of a series of attacks and threats of attacks in the early 1990s a ‘ring of steel’ was set up around the City of London to monitor vehicles going in and out.  Is this needed for the Olympics?

From this experience I believe there are some serious questions about security at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Parking restrictions will be in place to stop Olympic visitors parking in local roads and clogging them up for residents, but there are still potentially serious implications for security in the area outside the main Olympic Park, which aren’t being considered.

It is currently difficult to clamp or tow a vehicle with a foreign number plate because of difficulties over prosecution. So any suspicious vehicles in the area with a foreign number plate could simply be left where they are.

Similarly blue badge holders will be exempt from parking restrictions that require residents to be registered to park in the CPZs and require visitors to have appropriate visitor permits.

 “I believe these are potentially serious loopholes in Olympic security. I don’t want to be alarmist but this is a high profile event, with high level security including the placing of missile batteries on some buildings. Yet simple steps to monitor vehicles parking in the areas adjacent to the Olympic park do not seem to be being taken seriously.”

“We need a way to deal with foreign vehicles. Residents must have a way to report any suspicious vehicles on their road. Of course blue badge holders should have priority parking but that mustn’t mean relaxing security.” 

“I and most residents in Waltham Forest are looking forward to the Olympics but we and visitors to the games also need to know that our security is being taken seriously by the authorities. Something like a parking ‘ring of steel’ should be the least we expect for such a high profile event, not just to protect the Olympic Park but also the surrounding area.”

Last week I joined Riverley and Willowbrook Primary Schools’ joint street party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in Marsh Lane.  It was a fantastic event. 

There were two parties – one for the Infants and one for the Juniors.  All the children were resplendent in their colourful hats and outfits which they had made themselves.  The sight of the youngest children brought tears to my eyes as they paraded into Marsh Lane to collect their cakes, biscuits and drinks.  After finishing their food they were escorted back to their schools to make way for the juniors – taller and noisier than the Infants but enjoying themselves too.

The photographer from the local Guardian must have taken some fantastic photos of children really enjoying themselves. I hope some will appear in the next edition of the WF Guardian.  I have included a couple of photos that I took.

On Tuesday 8th May, Waltham Forest council’s Planning Committee approved planning application to demolish the much loved Greyhound stadium to make way for a housing development. The decision by the four Labour members was met with fierce opposition from the campaigners and the local residents Liberal Democrats and Tory Councillors opposed the plans).

Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats have written to London Mayor Boris Johnson, urging him to reject the application. Two local MP’s, are in favour of keeping the iconic dog track in the heart of Waltham Forest.

The Focus Team has again pressed the Council and Tesco to do something about the dangerous entrance and exit from the Tesco car park into Capworth Street.  This has been left to go on for too long.  The council has now promised to monitor the entrance/exit and come up with a cost effective solution.  I will keep you informed of developments.

Willowbrook School at the junction of Church Road with Marsh Lane has been consulting with parents and the public to turn it into an Academy.  Results of this will be reported in our next Focus.

Should the school be turned into an Academy School?