Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats have succeeded in pressurising Labour to clear and level the former arcade site in preparation to open up part of the land to the public for future temporary use. Work will begin on 1st June.

The announcement was made in an email to High Street Lib Dem councillors from the new Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Robbins.

Last December Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan succeeded in amending a Council motion to examine useful ways in which the Arcade site land can be utilised in the short-term before the period of redevelopment begins.

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan said:

“Yet again it’s Liberal Democrat Councillors who are leading the way. The motion we successfully amended has clearly been the catalyst for this Labour U-turn. This is what our community has asked of us.”

“We have been informed that decisions have not yet been taken on temporary uses. Tell us what you think the land could be used for.”

High Street Liberal Democrats regularly walk around the ward to speak with residents, businesses and visitors and to identify issues requiring attention.

Of the many issues picked up on a recent ward walk Gilliards Mews merits special mention as an area constantly littered and flytipped.

Within a day of the Lib Dem Focus team reporting the mess Gilliards Mews was cleaned up.

Labour’s announcement of a multiplex cinema on the Arcade site, in 2006, dashed all hopes of the former EMD cinema ever being reopened as an entertainment facility.

Labour’s continued dithering has left us no closer to getting as cinema, whether within a multiplex or historic venue, in Waltham Forest.

Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan says: “The UCKG recently stated they would consider moving if an offer was made (WF Guardian). If there’s a viable option, similar to that of the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton and the Hackney Empire, the UCKG could relocate to a similar building such as the one in Buxton Road. If there is a viable proposal we are willing to consider it. Our door is open.”

Liberal Democrats have been proved right to vote against the latest ill conceived Labour proposal for the Arcade site following confirmation that the contract will have to be put out to tender again to satisfy European regulations.

For 8 years Labour has dithered between a Library, retail and residential buildings, a cinema, a cinema and hotel and now a cinema, hotel and swimming pool. We currently have a derelict boarded up site which now needs Council taxpayers to borrow £35 to £40 million to build, without any consultation, no financial appraisal and no feasibility study to show if the plans are viable. Even St Modwen, the council’s developer, has pulled out from funding it.

Lib Dem Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said: “The last 8 years has seen Labours regeneration plans in chaos and nothing more to show than a hole in the ground. In a recession we need to be realistic about what can be achieved. At the end of last year our Council motion to examine useful ways in which the Arcade site land can be utilised in the short-term was unanimously agreed. This is what our community has asked of us. Some use is better than no use at all.”