The next Leyton Residents Forum will be held at the Leyton Cricket Ground on the 7th September from 7.00pm till about 9.00pm.

My councillor colleagues Naheed Qureshi, Winnie Smith and I were overwhelmed by the amount of people who attended the Residents Forum we held at the Score Centre in May.  We intend to continue the format of reporting back about what is going on in our area.  The presentation on the Olympics went down well.  There was a lot of questions on this and of Police matters, which were answered by our local safer neighbourhood police.   Everyone seemed satisfied with the meeting. 

The September meeting will include voting on a resident to sit on the Cricket Ground management committee, an update on suggestions in spending the £10,000 budget, consultation on the Councils plan for local libraries, betting shop update, police report back and the usual residents’ forum for voicing you queries. 

Last night I attended the AGM of the Leyton Community Action (LCA) residents group AGM.  I have been associated with this group since it’s inception many years ago.  The group has been involved in setting up many local residents events and is programmed to continue more events in the next year.   One of it’s continuing events is the ever popular ‘Tea Dances’ at the Plum Tree Centre near Bakers Arms.

The new committee officers were unanamously voted for:  Chair – Kelly Salmon, Vice Chair – Levi Vigilant, Secretary – Kelly Eastmond-Jeffrey, and new Treasurer – Cassi Witham

New plans to develop the corner of Leyton High Road and Hainault Road have been sent to the Council.  The picture here shows the artist impression of the last plans that were refused by the Council.

The new plans are for the erection of a 3-5 storey building with an office use on the ground floor, and 23 residential units comprising 4×3 bed houses and 19 flats (8×1 bed, 10×2 bed,and 1×3 bed) with associated parking.

If you have not been contacted by the Council on these plans, then you can still send your comments to:

The Development Manager, Sycamore House, Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF 

The council admits that, ‘here in the south of the borough, where deprivation is most concentrated, health, education attainment and housing standards are lower, libraries are a focus for communities that enhance people’s quality of life.’   Libraries alleviate the effects of deprivation.         

Please help us to Save Harrow Green Library by signing the petition at:    

 http://ourcampaign.org.uk/HarrowGreenLibrary      

The Lord Clyde Pub is currently being changed to 9 self contained flats (see previous posting 23 May). Local residents were concerned that it would be turned into a block of flats.  I can now put residents concerns to rest, as the outside of the pub will stay and the flats will be built inside.

In an age when we are losing a lot of our old historic buildings to square blocks of flats, it is nice to know that the old Lord Clyde Public house, which has been there for years, will still look the same even though there won’t be any pints pulled there.

As a member of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, I visited the Olympic site to see around the new Velodrome and the works going on at the Eton Manor end of the Olympic Park.  Eton Manor is situated in Leyton, in fact it is in Leyton Ward.  The Velodrome has been finished and looks fantastic.  See the picture above to get some idea of the size and the beauty of a banked cycle track.  The banking is really steep.  So steep you probably would not be able to stand on it without falling off.  Seeing racing on TV does not do justice to the steep banking.   

Around the Velodrome and the Eton Manor site they are landscaping the area and building other cycle circuits for BMX, road racing and mountain biking.  When it is finished it will accommodate areas, not only for experienced cyclists but also for beginners.

I can see that this area and the Olympic Park will become, not just a fantastic venue for cyclists, but for people looking for a pleasent open area for children and families.  Particularly as it will be right on our doorstep.

The Mayor making his choices as to what should be on the farm

The Brooks Farm Funday held last Sunday, was a great success.  Over 500 children and families along with Mayor Councillor Geof Walker, turned up to look round the farm. 

The facepainting, raffle, childrens entertainer and animals along with the weather, made it a funday for all.  All those who turned up had a chance to indicate what they would like the farm to provide. A big thank you must go to year 3 of George Mitchell Primary school who made a brilliant scale model of the farm so that people could place their choices as to what they would like on the farm.

A small animals area for children was a popular choice along with a picnic area and butterfly garden.  There were lots of suggestions, all of which will be taken into account when discussing the future of the farm. 

A process of turning Brooks Farm into a Charitable Trust has begun.  If you are interested in being on the trustee board or just interested in supporting the farm, or need more information, then telephone me on 020 8556 8335.

Best Kept Front Garden Award competition for the Councils next Love your Borough Awards (2012) is now open – 
 
If you have a front garden that you are proud of, or know a neighbour who does, then why not enter and have a go at winning.
You can enter your own, or a neighbours, front garden or balcony.  
To apply please send a photo and address of the front garden or balcony you are entering to:
liza.sumpter@walthamforest.gov.uk   
Or you can apply online at

http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/environment/wipeitout/love-your-borough/lyb-awards/best-kept-front-garden-award.htm            

Closing date is 31st July 2011

Today I visited the White Water Rafting Centre at Waltham Cross.  This is a new centre built for the Olympics.  London School pupils including all the secondary schools of Waltham Forest were invited to send two or three 14/15 year olds to try out what it is like to go down the Olympic circuit in a raft.  I did not go on the raft but the kids from Waltham Forest did.  See the pictures above and below.  They had a fantastic time.  Anyone can try out the rafting but it may cost you up to £49.00.  Contact the Centre for details.

The White Water Centre was built on time and on budget.  It has been open for a few months and is already being used by the public and the British Olympic Team.

Looking at the kids enjoying themselves I am thinking of having a go myself!

Don’t forget the family funday at Brooks Farm/Skeltons Lane Park – this Saturday 25th June from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Fun for all the family – with free raffle, bouncy castle, face painting, childrens entertainer and refreshments.

See you there!