Waltham Forest News, Issue 131, January 26, 2015

7.3 MB·English

by  Waltham Forest London Borough Council

PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION
Your Council keeping residents informed
Issue 131 26 January 2015
www.walthamforest.gov.uk
COUNCIL PRIORITIES 2015-2018
Thanks to an overwhelming response from a huge number of residents, together we
have been able to set the Council’s priorities and commitments for the coming years.
This ensures that we focus on the services that matter most to you and your family.
More than 1,800 of you took part in our ‘We need to talk’ consultation, where we asked you to
have your say on our priorities and help us save £45million. These agreed priorities will guide
our work for the next three years, and we would like to say a big thank you to all of those who
took part and contributed to the decision.
As cuts to local government funding continue, we’ll need to carry on making difficult decisions
about how we can save more money. That is why your views are so important, as they help
us to understand what you want from your Council and the areas of work that we need to
Chris Robbins
prioritise. I know that together we can meet these challenges and make Waltham Forest an
even better place to live. Leader of Waltham Forest Council
-
Council priorities 2015 2018
Keep your neighbourhood clean and safe
Clean and safe
Help build a strong local economy and thriving town centres
Local
economy
Support affordable housing for everyone’s needs
Housing
Help all of our residents enjoy a good quality of life
Family
www.walthamforest.gov.uk/priorities
COUNCIL PRIORITIES 2015-2018 www.walthamforest.gov.uk/priorities COUNCIL PRIORITIES 2015-2018 www.walthamforest.gov.uk/priorities
HOW WILL WE DELIVER THE PRIORITIES?
Our priorities and commitments 2015 – 2018
We will keep your neighbourhood clean and safe by: Priority: Keep your neighbourhood
clean and safe
• providing neighbourhood officers who will work with the community to keep your streets clean.
• establishing an anti-social behaviour team to help keep our streets feeling safe.
• continuing to collect your bins every week, providing a free bulky waste service and prosecuting fly-tippers. Commitment: Providing neighbourhood officers who will
Clean and
• delivering an anti-gangs programme in partnership with the police to provide our young people and their work with the community to keep your streets clean.
safe families with a positive future.
Launching later this year, our team of Neighbourhood Officers will work with
ward councillors, communities and partners to help improve local residents’
We will help build a strong local economy and thriving town centres by: quality of life. Dealing with issues locally they will help ensure that the area
that you live is clean and tidy.
• supporting our schools and colleges to provide top quality education and training across the borough.
• working to improve our town centres so that they have the quality mix of shops and services that you want. Commitment: Establishing an anti-social behaviour team to
• actively promoting a borough wide ‘spend local’ campaign to keep wealth in our borough and support local help keep our streets feeling safe.
Local
businesses.
economy
• providing an investment fund for local businesses and services in our town centres. As part of the new Neighbourhood Team, our anti-social behaviour officers
will help put a stop to this issue. This includes everything from from fly-
tipping, graffiti, noise, nuisance and other offences.
Commitment: Delivering an anti-gangs programme in
We will support affordable housing for everyone’s needs by:
Commitment: Continuing to collect your bins every week, partnership with the police to provide our young people and
providing a free bulky waste service and prosecuting fly-tippers. their families with a positive future.
• delivering a private sector landlord licensing scheme which benefits tenants by improving standards and makes
the area better for those who live around them. We collect over 220,000 refuse and recyclying wheelie bins each week and Now in its fifth year, our ground-breaking Enough is Enough anti-gangs
• building new council homes for Waltham Forest residents in work. will continue to provide a free bulky waste service to all residents. The night- programme is in its second phase and will be completely reviewed and
• encouraging new houses to be built where they can deliver prosperous communities with access to the local time fly-tipping clearance service will also continue to run and issue penalty enhanced to ensure our financial investment continues to make our
notices or custodial sentences to those who litter. communities safer.
Housing services and infrastructure they need.
• building more specialist houses which allow older residents to stay in a home of their own with the support they
need to be independent.
Priority: Help build a strong local
economy and thriving town centres
We will help all of our residents enjoy a good quality of life by:
• freezing Council Tax until at least 2016 and continuing to fund the freedom pass scheme. Commitment: Supporting our schools and colleges to provide
• providing young and older residents with a range of activities and support such as free swimming, holiday top quality education and training across the borough.
clubs and Christmas lunches.
• supporting an extensive arts and events programme for everyone, via the Council and in the community. Our schools are now above national average in all key stages. By working
Family
with education providers we are investing in our schools and colleges to give
• maintaining high quality parks, green spaces and affordable, modern leisure centres.
our children and young people the skills required and the best chance for a
bright future.
Our core duty is to keep vulnerable adults and children safe and healthy, ensuring that
they have dignity and choice in their lives. This crosses all responsibilities and services.
Commitment: Working to improve our town centres so that
they have the quality mix of shops and services that you want.
Following projects such as The Scene in Walthamstow we have successfully
WE NEED secured £500,000 for a new programme of high street improvements in
South Leytonstone and £100,000 to help the Neighbourhood Forum in
Priority Percentage
Higham’s Park start an improvement programme.
of residents
TO TALK
who agreed Commitment: Actively promoting a borough wide ‘spend
local’ campaign to keep wealth in our borough and support
Keep your neighbourhood clean and safe 90 per cent local businesses. Commitment: Providing an investment fund for local
businesses and services in our town centres.
We asked you to tell us which
Help build a strong local economy and thriving town centres 79 per cent We’re continuing to encourage residents to spend locally on our high streets
services should be prioritised or and support local, independent shops and companies in the borough. Over As we continue to focus on helping to build a strong local economy and
reduced to help make savings, Support affordable housing for everyone’s needs 69 per cent the coming years we will continue to champion local spending and drive improving our town centres, we will look for funding channels to help local
economic growth in Waltham Forest through promoting local business. companies grow and thrive.
your view on our proposed
Help all of our residents enjoy a good quality of life 79 per cent
priorities and commitments, and
if there was anything else you Keep vulnerable adults and children safe and healthy,
85 per cent YOUR A number of you left comments expressing further support for the priorities and commitments, while others told
thought we should be doing. ensuring that they have dignity and choice in their lives
us about areas in which you thought there should be more focus, as well as some criticisms.
COMMENTS
Whilst we are unable to respond to each comment individually, your feedback and suggestions are valuable and
AND FEEDBACK
have been passed on to the appropriate departments for action. We thank you for your feedback.
PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION
Your Council keeping residents informed
Issue 131 26 January 2015
www.walthamforest.gov.uk
Turtle Bay heats up The Scene
Popular Caribbean restaurant
and bar now open in Waltham
Forest Spice up your life! The Turtle Bay opening draws crowds to
The Scene at Cleveland Place
Caribbean fl avours and cool Scene are already being marketed,
cocktails are now on the menu and another two restaurants are due
at The Scene at Cleveland Place, to open this year, so diners will be
with the arrival of new restaurant spoilt for choice.
Turtle Bay. The opening of The Scene
The restaurant celebrated its signifi es Waltham Forest Council’s
opening with a special launch event commitment to building thriving town
on Wednesday 14 January, giving centres across the borough, and
local residents the opportunity to providing the quality mix of shops
sample the authentic Caribbean and services that you want.
menu while enjoying some live
reggae music in the heart of Win!
Walthamstow. To celebrate the opening of the
Turtle Bay is the third restaurant new restaurant, Turtle Bay has
to open at The Scene, after Nando’s kindly offered fi ve lucky residents
and Pizza Express. The menu the chance to win a meal for two.
features favourite Caribbean dishes To enter, simply email your name,
like Jerk Chicken and Blue Mountain address including postcode and
Curry Goat, and cocktails like the a daytime telephone number to
Marley Mojito and Tobago Tea. The wfncompetitions@walthamforest.
Turtle Bay chain was founded in gov.uk. The competition closes at
2010, and now has 14 restaurants 12noon on Monday 9 February. The
across the UK, but no other in east prize is worth up to £50 per couple,
London. In fact, the Ealing branch but does not cover the cost of
is Turtle Bay’s only other London alcoholic beverages. The winners will
branch. be notifi ed by telephone or email.
The Scene has been a smash hit
More info
since opening last November. At the
heart of the complex is a state-of- For more information on Turtle
the-art cinema, which had been top Bay phone [phone], email
of residents’ wish lists for a number [email protected] or
of years. The 121 new homes at The visit www.turtlebay.co.uk.
You’re Invited
Open Days 2015

Thursday 26 Marc h www.towntocountry.co.uk/gilwell
Thursday 25 June @GPconferences facebook.com/towntocountry
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News
2 PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION
Success for park tidy-up
n  Community Payback project helps
make Langthorne Park cleaner and
safer
n  Stolen handbag returned to owner
after being found during park
clean-up
baseball bats, one cricket bat, in 2015.
balaclavas, stolen computer games “Work like this is also a fantastic
and two handbags – one of which opportunity for offenders to see the
Offenders help cut back overgrown areas at Langthorne Park
they traced to its rightful owner, value in the work they do, and helps
as part of the Community Payback scheme
who had been the victim of a theft. them to build relationships with
Cllr Liaquat Ali MBE JP, Cabinet those who uphold the law, which is
Member for Community Safety an important part of rehabilitation.”
A victim of theft was reunited community payback day in park and cleared rubbish from the and Cohesion, told Waltham
More info
with her stolen handbag after a Langthorne Park, Leytonstone, was green space. It was part of the Forest News: “This day of action
joint project saw a park cleared arranged to help tidy up the area. Community Payback project, which responded to residents’ concerns For more information about
up. Council officers and police from is delivered by Serco in partnership about anti-social behaviour in the work of the Council’s
As part of the Council’s Waltham Forest Gangs Task Force with London Community Langthorne Park by making the community safety team visit
ongoing commitment to keep were joined by offenders completing Rehabilitation Company. area cleaner and more accessible – www.walthamforest.gov.uk/
neighbourhoods across the their community service as they While carrying out the work, and we intend to take part in similar community-safety or phone
borough clean and safe, a cut back overgrown areas of the they uncovered a large knife, two projects throughout Waltham Forest 020 8496 3000.
In my opinion Ntembe Suleyman
Resident
I moved to Waltham Forest concerning the maintenance of their wanted views from parents with performances by famous musicians It’s empowering to know you
about 12 years ago, but never properties. The difference of opinions children in year six on why they as part of the ‘Get together’ events can contribute to decision-making
got too involved in what went within the group was so varied, I was would choose a particular school programme. I found out about both by simply getting involved; be it a
on in the borough. But after the amazed. for their child. The idea was to share through Waltham Forest News. survey, opinion poll or consultation.
birth of my son, I soon became I soon started taking part in hopes and expectations we have A recent consultation I attended It is ‘good to be in the know’ even
interested in what the borough Council surveys, focus groups and for our children’s schools. It was a was about a new Council scheme if my opinion might not win out in
had to offer. I wanted the best opinion polls. Submitting my email valuable meeting for me as I got first- to help improve the well-being of some cases, at least I have been
for him. address to receive the Council hand information from other parents residents. We were all asked if it part of the process.
I also felt inspired to get e-newsletter helped to get involved who had children in the borough’s would be favourable and worthwhile, To find out more about
involved in the decisions that in all meetings concerning residents secondary schools. I have to admit and if the sample flyers would get the Council consultations, focus
affected residents’ lives. I recall the in the borough. Surprisingly, I found that I even changed my first choice message across. I gave my opinion groups and more email
introduction of controlled parking that it made a difference when I after listening to some of the other and heard what the others thought. [email protected].
in my area, and even though most got involved in surveys, and putting parents’ personal experiences.
Want to have your say?
of my neighbours were against the my opinion forward seemed to get I think that the Council has excelled
scheme, the Council seemed to results. in recent years. I appreciate being If you live or work in Waltham Forest, have something you’d like to get off
ignore our voices. Last year, I was invited to a able to have bulky waste collected your chest, and can do it in around 350 words; Waltham Forest News wants
My housing association invited me consultation about secondary for free whenever I need it, and to hear from you. Email [email protected] and tell
to join a consultation group, in 2009, schools in the borough. The Council have really enjoyed seeing the free us what you’d like to write about.
Waltham Forest News
Editor: Jenny England Advertising and promotional Their inclusion does not mean that
enquiries: the council endorses the company or
Waltham Forest News wants to
Liam Gannon, 020 8496 3000 (press 6) product being advertised.
hear from people in the local
[email protected]
community. If you have a story Waltham Forest News is produced using
that you’d like us to cover, email Waltham Forest Council does not trees from sustainable managed forests
walthamforestnews accept responsibility for the content where more trees are planted than
@walthamforest.gov.uk or phone of any non-council advertisements in felled. Please recycle Waltham Forest
020 8496 3000. Waltham Forest News. News when you have finished with it.
Waltham Forest News is published fortnightly by London Borough of Waltham Forest with a print run of 110,000 copies delivered
to homes, organisations, businesses and bulk drops in the borough.
The official independently audited free letterbox delivery of Waltham Forest News is 97,479, ABC Regional Dec 2012 to Dec 2013
PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION IIssssuuee 113311 II 2266 JJaannuuaarryy 22001155 33
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Landlord must demolish
In brief
Safer Giving
illegal ‘bed in shed’
As part of a London-wide crackdown on
groups that mislead people into donating
money to bogus causes, Waltham Forest
A landlord who appealed to stop using the outbuilding with Waltham Forest Council’s the requirements and knock the Council is taking part in the Safer Giving
against an enforcement notice as residential accommodation, Core Planning Strategy. structure down. Cllr Clyde Loakes, campaign. Backed by the Metropolitan
that demanded her ‘bed in to remove all items linked to The Inspector also stated that Deputy Leader and Cabinet Police and the Charity Commission, Safer
shed’ outbuilding be torn down its residential use including the the ‘bed in shed’ would have an Member for Environment, said: Giving helps people check that charitable
was on the losing end of a bed, wardrobe and drawers, and unacceptable impact on both the “Let this be another in a series donations they make are for legitimate
national Planning Inspectorate demolish the outbuilding and occupiers of the house whose of warnings to rogue landlords causes. On Thursday 5 February, Council
decision earlier this week. remove all resulting material from garden the structure was built that you are wasting your money and police officers will be in town centre
Ms Abida Shafique, who owns the site. in, as well as people living in by trying to sidestep planning locations and transport hubs throughout
and lives at the property at 29 However Ms Shafique was not neighbouring properties. This was permission.” the borough to advise residents how
Liverpool Road, Leyton sought to prepared to accept the notice because the structure was built they can check the causes they support
dodge planning rules by erecting and appealed the decision to the so close to other properties, and are legal. Officers will also hand out
an unauthorised outbuilding used national Planning Inspectorate. In a the inspector believed that people More info leaflets, as well as checking that charity
for residential accommodation report dated 12 January 2015 the coming and going would cause For further information on getting collection tins conform to Charity
without planning permission. Inspector dismissed the appeal and noise disturbance. planning permission for any Commission guidelines.
On 4 December 2013, Council upheld the enforcement notice. He With the enforcement notice alterations to your property visit • To find out if a charity is legitimate
visit www.charitycommission.gov.uk.
officers issued an enforcement made a number of findings, chiefly upheld, Ms Shafique now has www.walthamforest.gov.uk/
Report bogus causes to Action Fraud
notice compelling Ms Shafique that the structure did not comply three months to comply with planning or phone [phone].
via www.actionfraud.police.uk or
phone [phone].
Temporary
New homes for Waltham
Accommodation
Residents are being asked to have their
say about proposed changes to the
Council’s policy on where homeless
Forest residents
households are placed in temporary
accommodation. The Council has a
was successful in bidding for statutory duty to house certain homeless
a £9.7million grant from the households, depending on individual
Greater London Authority and circumstances. The cost of this service
a £7million loan facility from the is rising rapidly, as the numbers of
Department for Communities and households becoming homeless has
Local Government (DCLG). The increased dramatically in recent years.
funding and borrowing will be used Rents charged by private landlords in
in conjunction with £3million of Waltham Forest are continuing to rise and
retained Right to Buy receipts. the supply of temporary accommodation
“At the same time as pushing is falling. This means that the Council
on with using the funding and is considering placing some homeless
borrowing arrangements to build households further away from the
these hundreds of new homes, we borough. Background information,
have also now agreed to prepare proposed changes and alternative ideas
proposals for a Special Purpose are available now on the Council website,
along with an online survey. The survey
Vehicle that will help us expand
will run until Sunday 15 February. You can
the scale of the new build housing
also phone to request a paper copy.
programme still further,” said Cllr
• Visit www.walthamforest.gov.uk/
Limbajee.
Waltham Forest Council has plans to build thousands of high Central Government places temporary-accommodation or phone
quality new homes in the borough 020 8496 3000.
controls on the amount of money
Councils are permitted to use Marlowe Road
for house building and improving
A commitment to expand one of the capital’s most sought the borough. council housing. The Special Residents can find out more about the
the scale of Waltham Forest after areas with house prices “One of the key issues for us was Purpose Vehicle would allow the redevelopment of the Marlowe Road
Council’s housing programme rising more steeply here than to build homes that we can retain Council to build more homes and estate at a public meeting on Saturday
will see hundreds more homes anywhere else in London. The control over and ensure go to those retain greater control over the 7 February. The meeting will take place
built every year, as the Council Council is determined to take in need,” said Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, properties built by constructing from 2pm to 4pm at Woodside Primary
acts on its priority to provide advantage of all opportunities to Cabinet Member for Housing. them on land that it owns. Academy (Barratt Road, E17 3ND) and
more affordable homes. increase the supply of affordable “Other Councils have embarked gives local people the opportunity to find
Phase one of the programme will housing in the borough, not only on private sector house building out more about the redevelopment and
see 209 homes built, with phase to meet the needs of homeless programmes, but our scheme is ask questions. A presentation will take
two leading to another 226 homes households, but to also provide much more focused on finding More info place at 2.30pm and will explain how
built between 2015 and 2018, with affordable rent and low cost home homes for our residents who are For more information visit www. the Council is proposing to redevelop the
funding for these homes already ownership opportunities to retain currently struggling to find a place walthamforest.gov.uk/housing. estate.
secured and sites identified. existing residents and attract new to live.” Free internet access is available at • For more information phone [phone]
Waltham Forest has become economically active households to Earlier this year the Council all libraries in the borough. 3000. 3
Priorities
4 PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION
You talked; we
listened
Following on from last year’s ‘We need to talk’
consultation, Waltham Forest Council has set its
priorities until 2018 and is concentrating resources on
the services that residents say matter most to them
During October and November keep your streets clean. They will transport links and leisure facilities.
last year, residents were also address issues such as anti- In order to help older people to
encouraged to give their views social behaviour to help keep our stay independent and living in a
on the Council’s proposed streets feeling safe. home of their own, more specialist
priorities, how it spends its Your refuse and recycling will homes will be built, and residents
budget and what services be collected every week, the free given the level of support they
should be prioritised between bulky waste collection service will need.
now and 2018. continue and the Council will use
The ‘We need to talk’ campaign its full powers to prosecute fly- Help all of our residents
was a borough-wide consultation tippers. enjoy a good quality of
that used an online ‘budget Waltham Forest’s award-winning life
simulator’ tool. It also saw four anti-gangs programme, Enough To help residents in continuing
street stalls set up so that residents is Enough, will still be delivered tough times, the Council has
could talk to Council officers about in partnership with the police to pledged to freeze Council Tax until
their aspirations for the borough, continue to provide young people at least 2016 – the sixth year in
the services that matter most to with a positive future and an a row – and will continue to fund
them and their families, and have alternative to the gang lifestyle. the Freedom Pass for older and
their say about where the Council disabled residents.
invests money and where it needs Help build a strong We will also continue to provide
to save. Paper copies of the local economy and young people and older residents
consultation were also available thriving town centres with a range of activities and
at the borough’s libraries. The To help build a strong economy, support, including free swimming,
consultation was open to every the Council will support local holiday clubs and Christmas
resident living in Waltham Forest, schools and colleges to make sure lunches.
and more than 1,800 people took that they provide the top quality The Council’s free events
part. education and training our younger scheme and arts programme will
The Council wants to make sure residents need. continue so that residents of all
that every penny spent is prioritised The Council will work to secure ages can get together with friends,
on the services that matter most to investment for our town centres to family and neighbours and build
residents. Over the course of the help them flourish and thrive, and strong community links.
next three years, Waltham Forest offer the quality mix of shops and Finally, to help residents keep
must make savings of at least services that you want. fit and healthy and enjoy life the
£45million. This is in addition to the Residents will be actively Council will continue to invest in
£68million of savings already made encouraged to shop locally to help parks and green spaces, and state
since 2010. support independent retailers and of the art, modern leisure centres.
The new priorities were formally help keep wealth in our borough. Read on throughout this edition
agreed at a meeting of the of Waltham Forest News for further
Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 20 Support affordable examples of how the Council
January. Each of the four priorities housing for everyone’s is working to meet residents’
has a further four commitments needs priorities, including continuing to
which set out how the Council In order to crack down on fund the Freedom Pass, building
aims to meet each priority. rogue landlords, a private sector more Council homes to support
In each edition of Waltham landlord licensing scheme is being affordable housing for all and
Forest News this page will focus introduced which helps private working with partner organisations
on one of the Council’s four priority tenants and their neighbours by including the police and Border
areas and the ongoing work to improving housing standards. Agency to keep our borough safe.
make life better for everyone living The Council is embarking on a
and working in Waltham Forest. new homebuilding programme,
which will aim to help those
Keep your who are making a community
neighbourhood clean contribution by working,
and safe volunteering or training. More info
Keeping the borough’s streets clean and safe, protecting quality
The Council will keep the The Council will also encourage For more information visit family housing stock, hosting an annual programme of top-quality
borough clean by employing homebuilding in areas that have www.walthamforest.gov.uk/ free events for residents and helping create thriving town centres
neighbourhood officers who will the services needed to support weneedtotalk or phone [phone] are all ways in which the Council is working to meet residents’
work with the community to help new residents such as schools, 3000. priorities
PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION Issue 131 I 26 January 2015 5
www.walthamforest.gov.uk
What you say
Residents tell Waltham Forest News what they think about the Council’s work to meet priorities
Gary Nelson, Chingford Brendon O’Hanlon, Walthamstow Anna Priest, Walthamstow Noel Morson, Walthamstow
“The events programme is good, “I moved to Walthamstow a “I’m so impressed with the street “I have a neighbour who is older
but could be better in Chingford. year ago. I think the place looks cleaning and I feel 100 per cent than me and lives on his own, and
The Council should do more to great and my favourite place is safe in Walthamstow, even when I worry about him. I think having
make sure residents are aware Walthamstow Market. I really like I’m walking down the street alone more warden-controlled fl ats
of things like the Chingford Big small and regular events as I fi nd at night. It’s apparent that the would help older people to live
Weekender – I’d go, especially them useful and they help bring Council is doing a lot to boost independently but have access to
if I can take my son.” parents together. I go to the Dad’s town centres, but we don’t want the help and support they need.”
Club in Lloyd Park, which is great. them to become gentrifi ed, it’s
The Council should look at how good to see a mix of businesses.”
well subscribed things are before
deciding which things to cut.”
COUNCIL PRIORITIES 2015 – 2018
–
Our priorities 2015 2018
Keep your neighbourhood Support affordable housing
clean and safe for everyone’s needs
Clean and Housing
safe
Help build a strong local
Help all of our residents
economy and thriving town
enjoy a good quality of life
Local
economy centres Family
Environment
6 PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION
In brief
Waltham Forest Council
has been nominated for an
award for work to improve
the borough’s play areas
and parks
LGC Awards
2015
The Council team responsible for
overseeing wide-ranging improvements
to Waltham Forest’s parks and play
areas has been shortlisted for the Local
Government Chronicle (LGC) Team of
the Year award. In 2013-14 Waltham
Forest spent £1.9million refurbishing
23 of its 42 play areas. The team will
be interviewed by a judging panel on
Ian Ballard, left, is Waltham Forest’s one thousandth Snow Angel. He was presented with
Wednesday 28 January. They will then
his special hi-visibility vest by Cllr Clyde Loakes, Cabinet Member for Environment and
find out if they have won at the awards Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council
ceremony, which takes place in central
London on Wednesday 11 March. This
year, an additional £1million will be
spent to improve a further 12 play
One thousandth Snow Angel
areas and six open spaces throughout
the borough. Keep an eye out for more
information in future editions of Waltham
Forest News.
• For more information visit
www.walthamforest.gov.uk/parks
or phone [phone]. n  Council’s volunteer scheme hits four-figure mark
n  Residents show community spirit in their droves
Recycle your
Every year, a team of gritters from Colworth Road, Leytonstone have convenient access. used extensively to promote the
are on hand to step in if it received a special high visibility Ian said: “I thought it would be a Snow Angels initiative.
food waste
snows to keep the borough’s vest with ‘1000th Snow Angel’ on good thing to do to put my name “Our thoughts go out to Bob’s
roads and pavements safe the back from Cllr Clyde Loakes, down and lend a hand as and family,” said Cllr Loakes. “I know he
To help residents recycle more of their
for residents. But an army of Deputy Leader and Cabinet when we get some snow. I mean was involved in running Cleveland
food waste this year, the Council will
volunteers are also ready and Member for Environment. it’s not like we get a lot, so given Park Residents’ Association and
send a free pack of kitchen caddy liners
waiting should Waltham Forest Cllr Loakes said: “It’s remarkable the Council is providing all the was the recipient of one of the
and a leaflet about food recycling to all
see a flurry of snow. and a real testament to the people equipment it didn’t seem like too Council’s ‘Love Your Borough’
residents by the end of February. All food
Waltham Forest’s Snow Angels of Waltham Forest that 1,000 much to ask. Awards in recognition of all his
waste, including fruit and veg peelings,
plate scrapings, tea bags and coffee scheme, established four years residents have now signed up to “I think it is important that hard work to keep the area looking
granules, stale bread and cakes, rice ago, enables residents to help be a part of this brilliant scheme. neighbourhoods and communities fantastic.
and pasta can go in your brown bin. To clear snow from residential streets “These volunteers can make take some responsibility for “I understand he generously gave
help make it easier to recycle, you can by providing volunteers with a a huge difference to their themselves and that we all pitch the prize vouchers he was awarded
ask the Council for a kitchen caddy, free kit containing a 20kg bag of neighbourhoods when snow falls. If in when we can. It’s good to do to the Cleveland Park Residents’
which you can keep in the kitchen to grit, a branded high visibility vest, you’re elderly, disabled or pregnant your bit and I particularly like Association, and that the gesture
store your food waste until you’re ready protective gloves and a snow icy pathways can present a real the fact that I will be helping my was typical of this great community
to transfer it to your brown wheelie bin scoop or shovel. hazard that may keep you locked neighbours in Colworth Road.” champion.”
for collection. Recycling your food waste The scheme is held up as one up inside for days on end for fear While the Council celebrated the
can help the Council to save money, as it of the most innovative and well- of falling.” 1000th Snow Angel receiving his
means there is less refuse sent to landfill received volunteer programmes As well as providing equipment kit, there was also some sadness More info
or for incineration. run by a Council anywhere in to Snow Angels, the Council has with the tragic news that veteran To find out more about
• If you do not have a kitchen London and it is making a real also greatly increased the number Snow Angel Bob Allan had passed winter planning visit www.
caddy, or brown wheelie bin, phone difference to residents. of grit bins it has deployed about away earlier this month. walthamforest.gov.uk/winter-
020 8496 3000 or email wfdirect@ Now the scheme can celebrate the borough, upping them from 97 Bob was one of the founding maint or to join the growing ranks
walthamforest.gov.uk to request one.
having reached a significant in 2009/10 to 176 today. It has also members of the scheme and of Snow Angels phone Street
For more information on recycling
milestone, with the one thousandth put them in strategic spots around the photos of him and children Services on 020 8496 3000 or
visit www.walthamforest.gov.uk/
resident signing up to be a part of the borough so that Council clearing the snow on Cleveland email environmental.services@
recycling.
the army of volunteers. Ian Ballard employees and Snow Angels alike Park Avenue, where he lived, were walthamforest.gov.uk.
PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION Issue 131 I 26 January 2015 7
www.walthamforest.gov.uk
Getting even tougher
In brief
on fly-tippers
n  Government following Waltham Forest Council lead on legislation
n  Powers to tackle fly-tippers to allow easier seizure of vehicles
Have your say on plans
to install natural play
order. This will be the first time we disposal of fly-tips and avoid having equipment at Hollow Ponds
have had this power and I believe to take expensive court action that
it will act as a real deterrent as may only result in a caution, leaving Hollow Ponds
well as a significant measure in us with a substantial bill to foot.”
the punishment of those people Recent figures released in relation As part of the Council’s commitment
who continue to dump rubbish in to the work of all London boroughs to provide high quality parks, residents
Waltham Forest.” regarding fly-tipping have shown are being asked for their views on new
In addition to the seizure of that Waltham Forest Council’s tough natural play equipment at Hollow Ponds,
vehicles, Cllr Loakes has also stance is having the desired effect. Leyton Flats. The £30,000 project funded
called on Government to allow local In 2013/14 the Council carried by Waltham Forest Council will see
Waltham Forest Council wants extra powers to
deal with fly-tippers who blight the borough authorities to introduce a Fixed out 17,176 separate actions for natural play equipment installed on three
Penalty Notice of £500 for low level, fly-tipping, the second highest of all sites around the edge of Hollow Ponds.
You can get involved in the consultation
one-off offences of fly-tipping. the 32 London borough councils.
by completing an online questionnaire,
Central Government looks set battle against fly-tipping. “Seizing vehicles will help us However for the same period
and a public drop-in session will take
to bring in tougher laws on “We’ve been asking for these combat organised unlawful waste Waltham Forest places 19th among
place on Saturday 31 January between
fly-tipping, after calls made by changes for years and have been carriers – the rogue ‘white van man’ London boroughs for number of fly-
10am and 2pm at St John the Baptist
Waltham Forest Council. the leading voice on the subject,” – but we know that actually a great tipping incidents reported.
Church (Church Lane/High Road
The changes will make it easier said Cllr Clyde Loakes, Deputy many fly-tips are one-off spur of the
Leytonstone, E11 1HH). The consultation
for the Council to seize vehicles Leader and Cabinet Member for moment irresponsible decisions,”
ends on Monday 9 February.
from fly-tippers caught in the act – Environment. “The prospect of explained Cllr Loakes.
More info • To take part in the consultation
helping to keep your neighbourhood being able to seize vehicles more “For those people it will be much visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/
clean and safe. The Council is easily is good news. more beneficial to simply fine them To report fly-tipping phone eppingforestconsultations. Free
asking that Fixed Penalty Notices “In practice it will hopefully mean on the spot as a short sharp shock. 020 8496 3000 or visit www. internet access is available at all
are the next thing on the list for that we will be able to seize vehicles The fine will also allow us to cover walthamforest.gov.uk/flytipping libraries in the borough.
consideration as they continue their without the necessity of a court the cost of the collection and and fill in the online form.
Play Area improvements
12 Play Areas in Waltham Forest are being improved during 2015 under the Parks
and Play improvement programme.
The play areas to be improved are: The selection of the fi nal company will only take
Abbotts Park, Coppermill Park, Dames Road Play place once contractors have engaged residents
Area, Henry Reynolds Gardens, Highams Park, to fi nd out what they would like to see, use, play
Langthorne Park, Memorial Park, Pimp Hall Park, and value.
Queens Road Play Area, Priory Court Housing
Do you want to share your design ideas?
Estate Play Area, Stoneydown Park (U.7’s),
Come along and have your say at either of the
Vestry Road Play Area.
following drop in sessions.
The fi rst 3 play areas to be improved by the end
Saturday 31 January 2015
of July 2015 are:
10am–2pm St.John the Baptist Church,
Dames Road play area, Dames Road, E7 Church Lane/High Road, Leytonstone, E11 1HH
Langthorne Park, Birch Grove, E11
Meet the designers, comment on the initial designs
Henry Reynolds Gardens, Bush Road, E11
and fi nd out more about the Parks and Play 2015
A selection of Design and Build contractors have Improvements Programme.
been invited to submit conceptual designs for the
3 play areas.
If you have access requirements or would like more information please email
[email protected] or phone Ben Frearson on 020 8496 3000
www.walthamforest.gov.uk/parks
Advertising
8 PRIORITIES SPECIAL EDITION
Free Cycle Training for children and adults
16 – 20 February half term at Leyton Jubilee Park Pavilion, Seymour Road, E10 7LX
(next to Lammas School and Sports College)
Have a family fun day out this Two training sessions will be held
February half term while brushing up per day and can be done in groups
on your cycling skills. Our FREE cycle or individually. All sessions are
training is for anyone living, working delivered through our training partner,
or studying in the borough (age 7+). Cycle Confi dent, who also offer free
individual training sessions at a
Whether you are a complete novice
time and location to suit you.
or a budding Tour de France rider,
brushing up or learning new skills is To fi nd out more, and to register
always benefi cial. This training is also for your free training, visit
perfect if you’re new to cycling, www.cycleconfi dent.com/
looking to cycle to work, build your sponsors/waltham-forest or
confi dence, or simply want a fun day call 0203 031 6730.
out with the family.

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