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.

Fly tipping residents and traders who treat High Street ward like a dustbin have been warned they face huge fines and up to five years in prison when they are caught.

Efforts to clean up the Borough are being undermined by people dumping rubbish on our streets, and Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan has called for High Street residents’ help.

Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said:

“If you have any information about fly-tippers please let us know. Our local area is being plagued by illegal fly tipping”.

Residents can help dispose of their rubbish responsibly

• Every household can have three bulky waste collections every year. Just contact the Council to have your rubbish collected from your doorstep.

• Take your larger waste to a household recycling centre near you

• The Council can provide more black recycling boxes – go online to order them!

• Fly tipping is a crime – Report it!

You can contact the Council to report fly tipping or to find out how to dispose of your waste responsibly on 020 8496 3000.

Your Liberal Democrats 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”.

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”.

Last night Cabinet voted not to reopen the former St James Street Library in Coppermill Lane despite pleas from the Save Our Library campaign.

In anticipation of the Cabinet decision Liberal Democrat High Street Councillors have been in talks with a local scout group in Stephenson Road. The 7th Walthamstow Scout Group, for the past 40 years at Pathfinder Lodge, has hosted a variety of activities engaging local young people in scouting activates. Pathfinder Lodge has also been extensively used by local community groups and been available for use by the local community for residents meetings, children’s parties etc.

Local community groups such as older person’s social groups, a performing arts group and a Turkish language group have not been able to use the building because the roof has started to leak and the floor has been damaged.

The scout group have submitted a bid to the Walthamstow West Community Council, to be held on Monday 6th October at Walthamstow Academy, Billet Road, E17, for the High Street ward £10,000 ‘pot’ to carry out the repairs. A successful application will enable the Scout Group to welcome back the local groups who used the building prior to the roof leaking and work with local partners to market and promote the hall’s availability.

Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said: “We cannot afford to lose the last remaining community facility in the Coppermill Lane area so would urge as many High Street residents to attend the Community Council and support this bid. We have spoken to senior Council Officers who have said that if after a feasibility study was done on the building and work completed to make it fit for purpose and the possibility of a children’s library and access point explored, they would work with volunteers from the community to assist in the initial development, but that they had no money to fund any staff. Any resources would have to be in the form of a growth bid and this would only be in next year’s growth programme.”

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan will work with the scout group and local community to ensure the building and grounds are fit for purpose and once they are press Council Officers to submit a growth bid, for 2009/10, to help provide services such as a part-time children’s library and study area and library access point for older residents in Pathfinder Lodge.

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.

Local residents in High Street are being hit hard by rocketing costs for food, energy and fuel.  

It doesn’t matter how much you earn, all of us are paying more when we buy basic groceries, pay the gas bill or fill up the car. Hardest hit of all are those on fixed incomes – especially pensioners. 

High Street Cllr Johar Khan said, “Everyone I meet is worried about rising prices. There is also a lot of fear about job losses and the threat of repossessions as house prices fall. People want to see action from Gordon Brown, but nothing seems to be happening.” “Gordon Brown and Labour are simply out of touch with real life in High Street. It is time for a change.”

 Local Lib Dems are fighting for a better deal for local people hardest hit by rising prices. They want to see a big rise in the basic pension to make sure older people can afford to heat their homes properly this winter. 

Cllr Johar Khan added, “Pensioners have been let down by Conservative and now Labour Governments. We need to give older people a fair deal at last.” 

It’s official – Gordon Brown is the most unpopular Prime Minister since records began. 

 It’s not surprising given Labour’s record since he took over. Soaring prices of fuel, food and energy are hitting everyone hard. Violent crime continues to rise.  

Brown’s decision earlier this year to increase taxes on the least well off pensioners and families was a disgrace. 

More and more people are saying that it is time for a change. 

The Conservatives have no real ideas on how they will change Britain. Only Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats in High Street are fighting for a better future for local people.  

The Lib Dems are fighting for lower taxes for local families. They have real plans to tackle the rise of anti-social behaviour and violent crime. They will protect and improve vital local services like hospitals, schools and post offices.

Only the Liberal Democrats will put protecting the environment at the heart of government. 

The Mayor, Boris Johnson has set out his priorities for his first budget which he will present to the Assembly for approval in early 2009.However a meeting of the London Assembly’s Budget committee last week revealed that there were some dangerous holes in the guidance that that the Mayor has issued to the GLA and its Functional Bodies (Transport for London, the London Development Agency and the Metropolitan Police) in preparing their draft budgets for the financial year 2009/10. Consultation on the budgets will begin in the late Autumn.

As Mike Tuffrey told the Budget Committee: “The     Met Police have budgeted for an increase of 2.5% in police spending next year, just to cope with inflation. At a time of rising fuel costs and wage increases, this was always going to be a tough sum to achieve.

Now the Mayor has told the Met Police that they should only budget to spend an extra 1.75% in the next financial year. This means real cuts in spending on London’s police service next year.

I am always in favour of looking at ways of making efficiency savings, but the Mayor has failed to say how he can balance the books without job cuts. 80% of the policing budget for London is made up of staff costs.

“Boris Johnson should guarantee now that there will be no real cuts next year in the policing service Londoners receive.

“The Mayor’s budget guidance documents are available for download at http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/budget/0910budget.jsp  

Last week’s meeting of the London Assembly’s Audit Panel revealed that the former Tory Chair of the Assembly, and current Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Brian Coleman spent over £8000 on taxis in one year.

Caroline Pidgeon told the media: ” Tory Brian Coleman’s taxi expenses are extraordinary given that he also gets an all -zone Travelcard too.

At the meeting I asked that the rules be tightened so that Assembly Members don’t run up bills that, frankly, many hard pressed council taxpayers would find astonishing.”

GLA officers will now review and tighten the taxi policy.

`GAS PRICES UP 35%-ELECTRIC PRICES UP 30%’

When Lloyd George brought in the first Old Age Pension for over 70`s, in 1908, at five shillings a week, drunks and those with a prison record were not allowed a pension.

Only 1 in 4 people were able to claim a pension in 1908. In 2008, pensions should be an absolute human right for all.

Now in 2008 growing older into senior years should be something people look forward to, as a `golden time’.  But now in `Brown’s Britain’ there is a real prospect of `Fuel Poverty’ next winter, for many pensioners, unless they take action on the:

Ten Ways to Save Energy in the Home.

1.Turn the thermostat down to reduce room temperature by 1C that could cut the heating bill by 10% or £50 per year.

10.Do a Home Energy Check. This can save up to £270 a year on your household energy bills.

1NE Carers Service has now moved from 1 Beulah Road to:

10 The Broadway, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 0HL

 Tel: 020 8220 0132 

This essential service is for all those people who are being affected by someone else’s drinking or drug taking.

1NE also has a service for young people between the ages of 14-21 who are being affected by one or both parents abusive use of drink or drugs.

Please feel free to ring the above number if you think you need this service

Pictured Lib Dem Councillor Bob Belam with Michael Hayes National Express Environmental Champion at Chingford Station. 

This is the first paper recycling facility to be opened at a transport hub in the borough.National Express and the council are looking at ways of installing these facilities at main line stations across the borough. 

The council is talking to LU with a view to having recycling at all Underground stations by the end of the year. 

If you want something done it is the LIB DEMS who get it done