Cllr Johar Khan

STATEMENT FROM WALTHAM FOREST LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Cllr John Macklin
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Waltham Forest Council

Like the many residents who have written to us expressing their views on the closure, my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are enormously disappointed at the recent turn of events regarding the future of Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium.

The huge show of support from residents and punters alike demonstrates the obvious affection that local people have for the Stadium. A quick straw poll in a recent meeting suggests that you would struggle to find a local Liberal Democrat councillor who has not at one point enjoyed a visit to ‘The Stow’!

Farid Ahmed and myself recently met a team from Save Our Stow at the Town Hall to hear about their plans to keep the Stadium in business as a greyhound racing venue.

We are, of course, fully in support of their efforts to keep the Stadium as both a greyhound racing track and a sport and leisure venue. As we told the team from Save Our Stow, we believe that the stadium is an iconic London venue and, perhaps more importantly, an enormously valuable part of Waltham Forest’s evening economy.

The success of our leisure venues is an integral part of building a sustainable community in Waltham Forest and ensuring that we are attractive to both our residents and visitors. There is no long-term sustainability in forcing residents out of the borough to spend their leisure time.

I am more than happy to work with Save Our Stow as I believe that ambitious and enterprising local residents and groups deserve to have their ideas listened to and fully considered.

Farid Ahmed
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Walthamstow

What impressed me about the Save Our Stow proposals was the obvious research that had been undertaken into the viability of the business. A lot of work has gone into securing the means of funding to reopen the track and attracting additional investment to upgrade the facilities and establish Walthamstow as hub for the sport.

I discussed with Save Our Stow my disappointment that a new business model could not, apparently, be made to work by the previous owners in the way it has done at successful greyhound racing venues both in the UK and overseas, where the tracks still enjoy healthy support as family venues with a greater focus on hospitality and catering for parties and group events. It was very encouraging to hear their proposals to modernise and widen the appeal of the Stadium, adapting the facility into a modern leisure facility.

What Walthamstow absolutely cannot afford to have is yet another ‘land bank’ awaiting regeneration.

I am particularly interested in such a user group led bid for the track, as I have long believed that local leisure facilities are very often better run by those who use them and who have a locally based commitment to their ongoing success.

The immensely successful Liberal Democrat policy of community toilets has been backed by the Tory Mayor of London and Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea & Chairman of London Councils, who have suggested that the scheme be expanded to the Freedom Pass scheme to allow holders access to toilets in London bars, restaurants and shops, without the need to make a purchase.

A number of boroughs, including Waltham Forest, already run community toilet schemes for residents, visitors and tourists.  So successful has Waltham Forest been Hertsmere Borough Council asked us to help them set up their own scheme. Click here to find more information on Waltham Forest’s scheme.

Lib Dem Portfolio holder for Environment, Cllr Bob Belam said: “It is great to see other political parties follow in the Lib Dem wake with two key Tories in support  of community toilets and even the former Minister for Local Government, Phil Woolas, praising the first borough to operate such a scheme, Lib Dem Richmond-Upon-Thames, by backing the initiative when setting out his national strategy for public toilet provision in 2006.”

Under the schemes councils pay local businesses a small annual fee to allow public access to their toilets and are responsible for ensuring facilities are clean, safe and accessible. Participating premises display a sticker on their window to show they are part of the scheme.

High Street Councillors, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said: “Such schemes show that only Liberal Democrat Councils have the innovation to provide services to its local community.”

Waltham Forest celebrated the handover of the Paralympic Games from Beijing to London last Wednesday in Walthamstow Town Square. Hundreds of people packed the Town Square from midday to be entertained and participate in events surrounding the town centre screen.

Olympic triple jump silver medallist, Phillips Idowdu, also came along to help keep the crowds entertained along with music from local school children and performances from HeartnSoul and Estate of the Arts and Ladders.

The star turn was Leon Jackson winner of the X Factor who wowed the crowd with a live performance from 7pm.

High Street Councillors, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan, said:  ”It was fabulous to see so many people, young and old, have such a great time. It showed how the square and screen can be used positively to benefit the community. However, we need more than just events around a screen. Significant commitment and investment is needed now to ensure Waltham Forest supports and develops our young Olympians in preparation for the 2012 Games.”

An employee of the Councils contractor, Verdant, was seriously attacked, Thursday night, whilst carrying out cleaning duties in Walthamstow High Street.

A car attempted to drive through as the market was being swept and the employee was attacked with an iron bar. The Police attended and the employee was taken to Whipp’s Cross Hospital with a suspected fractured skull; which was later confirmed.

Reports say the car was stolen and abandoned at the bottom of the High Street by the attacker.

High Street Ward Councillors, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said: “It is outrageous that such an attack can take place on someone who is simply doing their job. We hope the attacker is caught soon and punished appropriately. We are calling for a review of traffic management in the High Street as we aware of other incidents and indeed have witnessed incidents ourselves.”

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan have asked that their, and High Street residents’, best wishes for a speedy recovery are passed on to the employee and their family.

In the early hours of this morning a young 18 year old man tragically lost his life after having been stabbed in Walthamstow Town Square. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident and are now in custody.

Liberal Democrat Councillors for High Street ward, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan, voiced their dismay and sadness as yet another life has been lost to knife crime and wish to convey their sincerest condolences to the victims family and friends.

On the day when the celebrations of the Olympic handover from Beijing to London was to be shown on the screen in Walthamstow Town Centre hundreds of people were being turned away at the Police cordon.

The Children & Young People and Community Safety & Housing Scrutiny Committees, chaired by Lib Dem Cllrs James O’Rourke and Sean Meiszner, will be holding an extraordinary meeting in October and calling all relevant agencies to provide evidence as to how they are dealing with the serious issue of knife crime in Waltham Forest.

Note: The Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call the incident room on 8345 3715; or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Our plans for water: new consultation opens today 

Today marks the launch of our draft business plan for 2010 to 2015, and the publication of a summary of our proposals: ‘Our plans for water - what will you get and how much will it cost?’

What will you get?

We plan to:·    

v    Continue our Victorian Mains Replacement project to greatly reduce leakage

v    Introduce a programme of metering in areas where water supplies are under greatest pressure
  

v     Provide more advice and assistance to help customers use water wisely

v       Develop plans for and, if approved, start work to construct a new reservoir to safeguard water supplies

v     Greatly reduce sewage overflows into the Rivers Thames and Lee

v    Make sure our sewers and sewage works can serve our growing population

v    Greatly reduce the number of our customers’ homes threatened by sewer flooding

v    Improve 250km of rivers to meet new water quality standards

v    Cut our carbon emissions by 20%, and implement projects needed to meet the requirements of legislation

v    Provide more financial assistance to customers who have difficulty paying their bills to ensure our services are affordable

What will it cost?

Our  £6.5bn investment programme will lead to an average annual increase in our bills for water and wastewater services of 3%.  The total increase from 2010 to 2015 will be 16.2%.  This is an increase in real terms from £283 to £329.*

Let us know your views

Our proposals have  been  informed  by  our  biggest  ever  programme  of consultation,  and  I  am  confident  that we have put our customers at the heart  of  our  plans.   We are launching a 12-week online consultation to continue this dialogue, and I hope you will take this opportunity to let us
know your views.We  will  use  the results of the consultation to modify our plan before we submit  the  final  version  to  our  regulator Ofwat in April 2009.  Their review of our proposals will set price limits for 2010 to 2015.We look forward to receiving your comments.

Peter Antolik
Regulation and Strategy Director

v    Bill impacts are quoted at average 2007-2008 price levels.

 Please  click  http://www.thameswaterconsult.co.uk/  to  register  for  our consultation   or http://www.thameswater.co.uk/fiveyearplan  to  view  our
plans.