Libraries under threat!

The Liberal Democrats were shocked to see that a report on the Library Service was agreed by the Cabinet on 14 June, includes the proposal to close both Harrow Green and South Chingford Libraries.

The report recommended that Leytonstone, Leyton, Walthamstow and North Chingford be designated Library Plus branches – open 7 days a week and offering some additional services that were previously available in the Waltham Forest Direct shops.

While Hale End, Higham Hill, Wood Street and Lea Bridge will become Library Local branches, open for only 30 hours a week.

There will be a 12-week consultation period between June and September. There will be a further report to the cabinet in October, taking into account the consultation results.

Whatever your views we urge you to respond to the consultation so that the Council has the fullest possible picture of the feelings of local residents. 

The Councils consultation can be accessed by loggin on to:  http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/leisure/libraries/library-review.htm

FUNDAY – Saturday 25th June at BROOKS FARM

Brooks Farm which is next to Skeltons Lane Park Leyton E10 is having a Funday on Saturday 25th June.  Why not bring the family and children for a a chance to see the animals and enjoy the park and farm.

Bouncy Castle – Entertainer for the children and face painting along with refreshments and a free raffle.

Don’t miss out – see you Saturday 25th. 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Saturday 25th June – 11am to 4pm

Brooks Farm Skelton’s Lane Park E10 5BS

Come along and let us know what you would like to see on the farm!

Enjoy – Bouncy Castle…Stalls…Refreshments

Entertainer…Raffle…Face Painting

Drapers Field and Marsh Lane – post Olympics plans

Drapers Field - lost to the community for at least 16 months

Drapers Field

A planning application has finally been lodged with the Council for the temporary use of Drapers Field as a service centre/store for the Olympic Village.

The application number is: 2011/0623, and comments can be made online at the Waltham Forest website, or by post to the Planning Officers at the Town Hall.

Local residents have been very concerned about what the Labour Council has in mind for the reinstatement of this historic playing field when it is returned in 2013.

Kinnear Landscape Architects were commissioned to develop improvements, and their plans will be subject to a public consultation event to be held at Drapers Field on Tuesday 14 June, between 3 and 7 pm. Council officers and the design team will be present.

Don’t miss this opportunity of seeing what the Council has in mind, and making your views known.

Marsh Lane

Again, Kinnear Landscape Architects were commissioned to develop improvements, and their plans will be subject to a public consultation event to be held at Marsh Lane on Thursday 16 June, between 2 and 8 pm. Council officers and the design team will be present.

Don’t miss this opportunity of seeing what the Council has in mind, and making your views known.

Exhibition at Leyton Library

If you cannot attend either of these events you can see the proposals at Leyton Library from Friday 17 June until Monday 27 June.

A representative of Kinnear Landscape Architects will be present at the following times:

Drapers Field – 4-6pm on Thursday 23 June

Marsh Lane – 4-6pm on Wednesday 22 June

Parking nightmare for Leyton residents!

Parking in Leyton has reached a point where residents are unable to park in their road or, in some cases near their road.

Meanwhile the Labour Council continues to agree plans for multi flats that have little or no parking facilities.

Supposedly the Council has a policy of encouraging family housing, but the Council seems obsessed in agreeing to developers building more and more flats.  What hypocrisy! 

Currently more flats are being built opposite the Lion & Keys, corner of the High Road and Grange Park Road and even more being planned for the Glyn Hopkins Nissan car showrooms at the corner of Ruckholt Road and Oliver Road.

Residents of Leyton do not want more flats – they need family housing with adequate parking included in developments.  It is about time the Council listened to them!

Want to be part of the Cricket Ground managment committee?

The Charity Commission has ordered the Council to set up a management committee to run the Cricket Ground in Leyton High Road.  There will be 8 members 4 from the council, 2 from youth organisations and 2 local residents.  If you are a local resident and would like to become a member of the committee, contact me – Cllr. Bob Sullivan for details.

Residents pack the first meeting of Leyton Residents Ward Forum

Residents at the well-attended meetingPresentation by the Council on Olympic preparations

Over 60 Leyton residents packed the meeting room at the Score Complex on Oliver Road to attend our first Leyton Ward Residents’ Forum meeting on 19th May 2011. This was the first of such meetings following the Labour Councils scrapping of the Community Council meetings.

Items on the agenda included presentations from Council Officers regarding works in the area in preparation for the Olympics and from the local Safer Neighbourhood Team; further information on how to elect a representative from the area onto the Leyton Cricket Ground Management Committee; Suggestions on how to spend £10,000 in the area and an open Q & A session where you could ask your local councillors about anything you like! 

Local Councillors Winnie Smith, Bob Sullivan and Naheed Qureshi were delighted by the huge turnout (much higher than in other wards in the borough) and the positive response from Leyton residents.

Residents should note that we are in the process of collecting YOUR ideas on how to spend £10,000 in the area! If you think you have an idea on how the money can be spent to improve the area or the lives of those living in it and would like to let us know – please contact us immediately!! or collect some forms at Leyton Library and Seddon Centre Clyde Place/Beaumont Road.

We will be discussing this matter further and giving you the opportunity to comment on suggestions received at our next meeting in September!

Finally, if there is anything you would like to see on the agenda of our next meeting please let us know. These meetings are for your benefit and any input from you will be welcome!!

Click below if you want to see the minutes of the meeting –

 Leyton Ward Forum Minutes 19-5-11

Labour Councils deception!

The local Guardian newspaper has highlighted the amount of taxpayers’ money that the Labour Council is spending on campaign propaganda.  Is this a smoke screen to hide their cuts to services?

In a poll by one national newspaper Waltham Forest was judged the highest spender on propaganda in the country.

The budget I put forward on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group in opposition to the Labour budget showed many areas of savings including the saving of £250,000 by getting rid of the political campaigning and putting  that money into respite care for children and families.

The reduction in respite care will cause much anxiety to the families who desperately need respite care for them and their children.

The Liberal Democrats were the only party to oppose the Labour budget – the Conservatives did not put forward any alternative budget, but spent time praising the Labour leader of the Council!  So much for Tory opposition.

The Lord Clyde Pub – planning application

It looks like another pub will be closed down in our area.  A planning application has been received by the Council to turn The Lord Clyde Pub in Capworth Street into flats.  There will be a ground and first floor extension and construction of second floor with mansard roof.  The plans are to convert the Public House into 9 self-contained flats (4×1 bed, 5×2 bed) a bin and cycle store will be at the rear.  No parking provision I notice!

The plight of our Public Houses is dire.  Many have closed and many are looking to develop into accommodation.  We have lost many local pubs.  The list is long – The Hollybush, Wakefield Arms, The Four Finches, Oliver Twist, Lion and Keys, The Three Blackbirds, Beaumont Arms and the Bakers Arms. These are all in a stones throw of each other.  Have I missed some off? 

I noticed that the Coach and Horse in Leyton High Road is asking for community involvement to manage the pub.  I am not sure what that means but will try and find out.

Evolution Now

I was invited by two local university students, Nathaniel and Ismael, to talk to them about being a Councillor.  Both of them are involved in a youth organisation called Evolution Now.  The organisation website states their aim as Making Politics Fun and Exciting for Young People. I hope that they can succeed.  They interviewed me on camera.  I must say I need a bit of practice, as you can see for yourself, by clicking onto:   2011_04_01_archive.html  This will also introduce you to their website.