Leytonstone’s Fire Station
The Fire Station in Leytonstone High Road has been closed, and the FOCUS Team understands that demolition is due to commence in December, with the new station scheduled for completion by the end of 2015.
The Fire Engine and crews are stationed temporarily at Leyton Fire Station.
Facade of the planned new building
Several residents raised concerns about the operation of the newly-erected lamp columns across Leytonstone.
They felt that they were failing to take into account the end of British Summer Time, and the earlier lighting up times.
The Lib Dem FOCUS Team contacted the Council, and have been advised that the Lighting Engineers have identified a problem, which they are working to correct.
FOCUS will keep you in touch with progess.
370-372 Grove Green Road
A planning application has been lodged to demolish the existing buildings on the corner of Scarborough Road, and erect a three storey building with commercial use on the ground floor and 8 residential units (2 x 2 bed live/work flats, 4 x 1 bed flats and 2 x 2 bed flats) plus car and cycle parking.
Comments on this application should be sent to:
Unlit ‘Give Way’ sign at the junction of Lister and Morningtton Roads
The FOCUS Team has alerted the Council to this unlit traffic sign at the junction with Lister Road and Mornington Road.
They are monitoring repairs.
A resident has advised that the light is out of action once again. The FOCUS Team has urged the Council to inverstigate.
Waltham Forest Councillors will no longer be the subject of checks to protect our vulnerable children and adults unless they meet them once a week or more than 3 days per month or between the hours of 2am and 6am.
All councillors are Corporate Parents to all of the children in Council care, so they should actively safeguard and protect those who are looked after. Abuse of children has now been shown to have taken place for many years in and out of Council homes across the country. It is important therefore that residents are confident that all of our all Councillors should have a criminal records check even if they never work with children or only do so rarely.
Councillors are people who can be trusted with our children.
Liberal Democrat campaigner Mahmood Faiz says, ‘All councillors therefore should be checked.’
620 High Road
In the face of strong opposition from local residents the Gambling Act Sub-Committee approved the gaming licence for the planning Paddy Power branch at 620 High Road Leytonstone.
As previously reported the Planning Officers, under new legislation, have already refused an planning application for change of use to a betting shop.
Residents have raised the strongest possible opposition to the continued, apparently, avaricious advance of betting offices across Waltham Forest.
The last ditch in this fight will be decided in Whitehall if Paddy Power, as suspected, appeals the decision of the Planning Officers.
Cavendish Drive – dying tree
The FOCUS Team has been advised that the tree opposite number 161 Cavendish Drive is dying, and has been scheduled for removal.
The Tree Officer has confirmed that it will be felled leaving a stump about 1m high so that it does not become a trip hazard.
The stump will then be ground out and the site will be prepared for a replacement tree, which will be planted during the new planting season which runs from November 2014 to March 2015.
Transport for London has recently outlined its vision for the future of the tube which, amongst other things, proposes changes to ticket offices.
As the statutory consumer body representing the interests of passengers in and around London, London Travel Watch wants to ensure that any changes to the way that London Underground operates are in the best overall interests of consumers.
To ensure that this happens, they have been running a six-week consultation on their website to give passengers the opportunity to review TfL’s planned ticket office changes so that they can tell us what tickets they buy, any difficulties they foresee and the mitigation measures they would like to see implemented at their local stations.
London Travel Watch will then feed back the survey results to TfL to give them a chance to make any amendments before the changes are introduced.
620 High Road Leytonstone – site of planned Paddy Power betting shop
This week the council’s Planning Officers, under new regulations, refused the Paddy Power application for change oof use to class A2 (betting Office) for the premises at 620 High Road Leytonstone.
The reasons for refusal included:
- The proposal would result in the clustering of betting shop uses within a limited section of Leytonstone High Road, which would detract from the retail appeal of the area and fail to contribute to the Council’s regeneration objectives for the area thus adversely impacting upon the retail vitality and viability of this are contrary to Policy CS14 of the adopted Waltham Forest Local Plan Core Strategy (2012) and Policy DM25 of the adopted Waltham Forest Development Management Policies (2013).
- The proposed change of use would result in a cluster of betting shops which may lead to anti-social behaviour issues and increased incidents of street crime within the locality which could effect the health and well-being of local residents, contrary to Policies CS13 and CS16 of the Local Care Plan Core Strategy and Policy DM25 of the Development Management Policies.
The FOCUS Team queried the approval of the subsidiary applications for a new shop front, air conditioing and aerials. It appears that planning law does not allow officers to link applications, each has to be treated as individual requests, and there were no reassons for refusal.
It now remains to be seen whether Paddy Power decide to appeal this ruling.
The Liberal Democrats will keep you informed of any developments.
Waltham Forest Councillors will no longer be the subject of checks to protect our vulnerable children and adults unless they meet them once a week or more than 3 days per month or between the hours of 2am and 6am.
All councillors are Corporate Parents to all of the children in Council care, so they should actively safeguard and protect those who are looked after. Abuse of children has now been shown to have taken place for many years in and out of Council homes across the country.
It is important therefore that residents are confident that all of our Councillors are people who can be trusted with our children.
Abuse of children has now been shown to have taken place for many years in and out of Council homes across the country.
It is important therefore that residents are confident that all of our Councillors are people who can be trusted with our children.
If you agree with our views on protecting our children click here to sign the petition.