Cllr Johar Khan

PROMISES 

2004 - State of the art Library

2006 - Cinema, Retail & residential

2008 - Cinema, Hotel, Swimming Pool & residential?

After six years of inactivity and missing the property boom, it looks like residents and ward councillors will still be unclear as to what will happen with this key site and any development will not be completed before 2012.

In a recent council meeting it was announced that discussions with the Arcade developer would begin to ‘explore’ providing leisure facilities, including a swimming pool, on the derelict site.

High Street ward councillor Johar Khan said: “What does this say about the political management of this landmark at the heart of our borough? A landmark site, which has lain empty for the last six years following empty promises.” 

Ward colleague, Cllr James O’Rourke continued:

“Opportunities have been missed long before the recession came along.

Every time a resident or a visitor gets off a bus or train at Walthamstow Central, one of the first things they see is an enormous patch of empty land at the heart of our borough. This simply isn’t good enough.

The vacant Arcade site is a reminder of the ongoing failure to deliver these promises.

The message from residents – quite rightly – is that enough is enough.”

Not long ago we informed you of the Liberal Democrat initiative to set up a ‘Task group’ to tackle the myriad of issues faced by Walthamstow Town Centre from Anti Social Behaviour to Waste Management.

Two months on and we are delighted to announce the ‘Task group’ is having a positive effect upon the environment of Walthamstow Town Centre. In Storey Road, opposite the Chequers Pub, is a piece of land which, for the last two years, Liberal Democrat Councillors James O’Rourke and Johar Khan have campaigned to be cleared of rubbish and fly tipping and made safe.

Storey Road before                         Storey Road after

After extensive searches the land was found not to be registered. Last Friday (21st November) the land was completely cleaned up and made safe with new fencing erected.

“This is a triumph for the ‘Task Group’ which we set up. Such initiatives show that only with Liberal Democrat Councillors will such action be taken, particularly in High Street ward.” said Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan.

Another issue highlighted by the ‘Task Group’ was waste disposal from flats above shops in the High Street as residents do not have black bins and are having to store their waste in their homes. Residents in flats from Westbury Road up to Hoe Street will shortly be part of a pilot scheme where their waste will be collected daily, from a designated collection point, as part of the High Street clean up operation. If successful the pilot will be rolled out throughout the borough.

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan concluded “Storey Road and the flat pilot is only the start of the work. We will continue to ensure that the unique nature of High Street ward is served with Liberal Democrat initiatives and policies. “

Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce the launch of its borough wide website at www.walthamforestlibdems.org.uk, the first place for you to hear about the work being done by your local Lib Dems right across the borough. 

Please go along and check out all our latest news, photos and campaigns in Waltham Forest and see how YOUR Liberal Democrat Councillors are working for Waltham Forest on the Council.

Don’t worry though - you will still be getting your regular FOCUS leaflet delivered straight to your door! 

ONLY LIB DEMS WORK ALL YEAR ROUND FOR YOU

Your Liberal Democrat Focus Team are delighted that the Council has agreed to look at our plans for more resident involvement in the management of local arts, sports and cultural venues.

Because of the work of your Lib Dems, the Council will now look at introducing ‘Local Management Boards’, groups of High Street ward residents who would be given areas of responsibility in managing their local facilities.

Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said that the Council “have a responsibility to let their residents take part in the process of shaping local services.”

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan continued: “The future of our local cultural services, such as museums and libraries, is obviously one of great concern to many residents. We promised High Street ward residents we would work to get them more resident involvement, and we are delivering on that promise”.

The Council has agreed to introduce an Alcohol Restriction Zone (ARZ) as from the 10th November 2008. The ARZ is in response to public concern about anti-social  behaviour associated with street drinking in Walthamstow Town Centre and in particular in and around the Town Square.

The ARZ will provide a more consistent and longer-term solution to improve the quality for those who use the area, by giving the police powers to deal with anti-social drinking.

Welcoming the introduction of the ARZ Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said: “The ARZ will benefit our local community, businesses and visitors to Walthamstow by providing Police powers that they currently do not have, to tackle alcohol related crime and disorder and allow us to reclaim Walthamstow Town Centre. Children and families will be more inclined to use local facilities, such as the Town Centre Park and open space and it will undoubtedly improve the image of one of the gateways to Waltham Forest.”

Click on map to see larger version.

Liberal Democrat councillor John Beanse, who represented the Hale End and Highams Park ward, has died suddenly at the age of 61 after a short illness.

John Beanse lived in the Chingford area all his life and was educated at Sir George Monoux Grammar School, where he very recently attended a reunion of ‘Old Monovians’. He went on to study Modern Languages at Cambridge before training to be a teacher at Goldsmith’s College. He enjoyed a distinguished career as a languages teacher and taught in the local area.

John became an active member of the Liberal Party in 1974 and was a regular attendee and contributor at party conferences and events. He was also an accredited speaker for the Electoral Reform Society. Until recently he was the Chair of the Chingford and Woodford Green Liberal Democrats, where he stood as the parliamentary candidate in the General Elections of 2001 and 2005.

A hard-working community activist prior to his election to Waltham Forest Council in 2006, he served as a Governor of two local schools and was previously the Chair of the local Community Health Council.

As the editor of the popular local ‘Focus’ leaflets he used advice surgeries and his long-running ‘Chingford and Woodford Green Blogspot’ webpage to keep residents up-to-date with local news.

Cllr Beanse took a keen interest in health issues, and after his election in 2006 he served on the Council as the Vice Chair of the Health, Adults and Older People Overview and Scrutiny sub-committee.

Amongst his other Council commitments, he chaired the Council Joint Consultative Committee and also sat on the Performance Improvement Committee, the Teachers Joint Committee and the Waltham Forest Tenants Council.

In his spare time he enjoyed travel and walking holidays, and he regularly gave talks to various travel groups.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Waltham Forest Council, Cllr John Macklin, said that the news had come as “a huge shock to all of Cllr Beanse’s many friends and colleagues”.

Cllr Macklin continued:

“John was an incredibly hard-working and committed community activist both in his time as a councillor and as a lifelong local resident.

“He always had residents best interests at heart and his local knowledge and enormous abilities as a councillor will be hugely missed by the Liberal Democrats, Waltham Forest Council and the residents on whose behalf he worked so conscientiously”.