CANN HALL WARD FOCUS NEWSLETTER 292

The FOCUS Team – Mahmood Faiz, Liz Phillips and Rupert Alexander outside Fred Wigg Tower

The latest edition of the Cann Hall FOCUS Newsletter is with the printers and will be delivered across the ward by our volunteer helpers.

It leads on the news that a public meeting led to outrage when the Labour-led Council revealed that they are still pushing their intention to Transform both Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers by stripping both blocks back to shells and rebuilding.

Please contact Clyde Kitson on 8534 2947 if you would like to help deliver the FOCUS near your home. It is usually published about every six weeks and a round should take about 45 minutes. Thank you.

In the past year Lib Dem membership has soared to a record high. Please get in touch with our veteran local campaigner Clyde Kitson if you would like to join this growing movement.

You can access a copy of the FOCUS here: Cann Hall 292

CANN HALL FOCUS NEWSLETTER 289

Plans to replace Sansom Road Estate garage

The latest issue of the Cann Hall FOCUS Newsletter Is with the printers and will delivered across the ward free of charge by our team of volunteers.

This issue expands on the Council’s plan to demolish the Sansom Road Estate’s underground car park, and the rooftop play area. As you will see from the Newsletter the Council have put out conflicting stements concerning their plans. All residents are urged, whatever their views, to respond to the Council’s consultation document before 2nd October.

The FOCUS Team would like to hear from you if you would like to help deliver FOCUS near your home, and keep local people informed. A round usually takes about 45 minutes, every 6 – 8 weeks.

In the last year the Lib Dems have seen their membership soar as record numbers have joined the Party. Please get in touch with our veteran local campaigner Clyde Kitson if you would like to join this growing movement.

Please contact Clyde Kitson on (020) 8534 2947 if you would like to help, thank you.

You can see a copy of FOCUS here: Cann Hall 289

CANN HALL FOCUS NEWSLETTER 288

Sansom Road underground car park with play area above

The latest issue of the Cann Hall FOCUS Newsletter Is with the printers and will delivered across the ward free of charge by our team of volunteers.

This issue leads on the Council’s plan to demolish the Sansom Road Estate’s underground car park, and the rooftop play area. All residents are urged, whatever their views, to respond to the Council’s consultation document before 2nd October.

The FOCUS Team would like to hear from you if you would like to help deliver FOCUS near your home, and keep local people informed. A round usually takes about 45 minutes, every 6 – 8 weeks.

In the last year the Lib Dems have seen their membership soar as record numbers have joined the Party. Please get in touch with our veteran local campaigner Clyde Kitson if you would like to join this growing movement.

Please contact Clyde Kitson on (020) 8534 2947 if you would like to help, thank you.

You can see a copy of FOCUS here: Cann Hall 288

CANN HALL WARD FOCUS NEWSLETTER 287

The latest issue of the Cann Hall FOCUS Newsletter Is hot off the press and will delivered across the ward free of charge by our team of volunteers.

An impression of the refurbished Towers

This issue leads on the refurbishment plans for Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers in Montague Road, and features a petition calling on Waltham Forest Council to pledge that no cladding will be added to the building unless it is 100% non-flammable and meets the highest safety standards. Additionally a sprinkler system should be added to both towers and the link building.

The FOCUS Team would like to hear from you if you would like to help deliver FOCUS near your home, and keep local people informed. A round usually takes about 45 minutes, every 6 – 8 weeks.

In the last year the Lib Dems have seen their membership soar as record numbers have joined the Party. Please get in touch with our veteran local campaigner Clyde Kitson if you would like to join this growing movement.

Please contact Clyde Kitson on (020) 8534 2947 if you would like to help, thank you.

You can see a copy of FOCUS here: Cann Hall 287

TOWER BLOCK SAFETY FEARS

Lib Dem campaigner Bob Sullivan

Following the disaster in West London, former long-serving Liberal Democrat Councillor Bob Sullivan contacted the Council to confirm that they are preparing to look the tower and high rise blocks in Waltham Forest and review the planning permissions already given to developers.

This review should include checking the cladding, fascias and building materials used and planned to be used.

It would seem from discussions in the media that many tower blocks built, and being built, may have cladding and other materials that are not completely fire proof.

Waltham Forest Guardian reporter Tom Barnes followed up Bob Sullivan’s request with the following report on the online version of the Guardian:

TOWER BLOCK FEARS: Waltham Forest council won’t tell us if its flats have sprinklers after Grenfell Tower fire

Concerns have been raised over the safety of Waltham Forest’s high-rise buildings in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Campaigner Bob Sullivan is calling for a full review into fire safety at tower blocks in the borough after the blaze in west London last week, which is thought to have killed at least 79 people.

The Liberal Democrat activist and former councillor wants a probe to ensure residents in council-owned and private blocks are not as risk, as well as reviews at towers currently under construction.

Mr Sullivan said:

It is imperative that the planning permission for new blocks being built is gone over again, we need to make sure.

I have not seen anyone mention sprinklers, you would have thought it would be 100 per cent certain we should have them now.

I would have thought nobody would move into any tower block now without asking questions, I certainly wouldn’t.

I am hoping the council decides to review tower block safety, I am very concerned about Waltham Forest and we should be on the forefront of this.

We need action to do something about every block above six or eight storeys, I would even class those types of buildings as a small tower blocks.

Although several council-owned towers, such as Redwood and Hornbeam Towers in Leytonstone, have been demolished in recent years, some, like John Walsh and Fred Wigg Towers, remain standing.

A host of plans for new high-rise blocks have also been approved, including a 16-storey block in Dunedin Road, Leyton, and four blocks between 10 and 16 flights in Wickford Way, Walthamstow.

Campaigner Bob Sullivan wants action to ensure tower block safety

The catastrophic fire at 24-storey Grenfell Tower, in North Kensington, broke out at around 1am last Wednesday (June 14) and is likely to become Britain’s deadliest blaze in more than a century.

The speed at which the fire spread is believed to have aided by new cladding fitted to the building, while sprinklers had not been fitted inside the flats, despite calls from residents.

Waltham Forest council says no blocks in the borough use the same cladding as was installed at Grenfell and all high rise homes either have fire risk assessments in place or currently underway.

The local authority also confirmed sprinklers will be installed at the 10-storey Lea Bridge House hostel redevelopment in Leyton.

However, the council has not responded to requests by the Guardian to reveal how many of its blocks are fitted with sprinkler systems.

Council leader, Clare Coghill, said:

All of us were horrified to see the tragic events unfold at Grenfell Tower. Our thoughts and sympathies are with those affected by this terrible disaster. 

We understand that residents of Waltham Forest will be shocked following this incident, and concerned about the safety of their own homes and properties.

We want to let residents know that their safety is always our main concern.

We are looking at what further checks may be needed in the light of recent events.

We will work with the fire brigade and our colleagues across London to implement any changes recommended after this terrible fire.

 

Tom Barnes posted an update on 22nd June:

Waltham Forest council confirms no sprinkler systems have been fitted in any of its tower blocks

Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers

John Walsh and Fred Wigg Towers in Leytonstone are owned by Waltham Forest council

No council-owned tower blocks in Waltham Forest are currently fitted with sprinkler systems, it has been confirmed.

Concerns have been raised over safety at high-rise blocks in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington last week, which is now thought to have killed at least 79 people.

The speed at which the fire spread is believed to have aided by new cladding fitted to the building, while sprinklers had not been fitted inside the flats, despite calls from residents.

Do you live in one of the council blocks? Get in touch by e-mailing thomas.barnes@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 07795507440

Waltham Forest council has now confirmed to the Guardian none of its blocks are currently fitted with sprinkler systems.

However, the local authority said it planned to fit sprinklers in three towers used for sheltered accommodation.

A spokesman said:

Although none of our council blocks have sprinklers fitted, we have secured funding from the London Fire Brigade to install sprinklers in three sheltered blocks this year.

Although several council-owned towers, such as Redwood and Hornbeam Towers in Leytonstone, have been demolished in recent years, some, like John Walsh and Fred Wigg Towers, remain standing.

A host of plans for new high-rise blocks have also been approved, including a 16-storey block in Dunedin Road, Leyton, and four blocks between 10 and 16 flights in Wickford Way, Walthamstow.

The catastrophic fire at 24-storey Grenfell Tower is likely to become Britain’s deadliest blaze in more than a century

RESIDENTS PROTESTS IGNORED

Residents gathered outside the Town Hall to protest about road closures in the ‘Mini Holland’ scheme

Residents protest ignored!

The recent protest by over 1,200 residents against the road closures in Walthamstow and Leyton showed that the Council’s Mini Holland plans, including closing local roads, does not have the support of all residents despite the Council saying that they had.

Protesters not against the scheme or cyclists, but against road closures
The protesters went out of their way to say that they were not against the scheme or cyclists, but against the road closures. The Council’s plans have succeeded in causing division and anger across the Borough. The closing of roads has forced vehicles onto the already congested main roads like Lea Bridge, Hoe Street, and Leyton High Road and has resulted in a massive slow down of traffic, increased congestion and increased pollution.

Congestion and pollution bad for all
All of this is detrimental to residents, cyclists, pedestrians and bus users. Focus Team member Bob Sullivan, who was in the Town Hall listening to the Mini Holland debate, was appalled by the Labour Council restricting residents from hearing the debate, as they only allowed 12 protesters in, although the chamber can hold over a hundred. He was shocked by the arrogant, illiberal attitude with which Labour Councillors treated residents’ concerns. They were not prepared to review the Mini Holland plans despite residents’ requests and their own Labour MP’s request.

Council continues to ignore residents
They are, in fact, going to ignore residents and continue to put in similar divisive plans across Leyton, Leytonstone and Chingford!

ANOTHER GARAGE FIRE!

Smoke belching out of fire in garage in an arch under the Gospel Oak – Barking Line

Another blazing inferno took hold in yet another of the garages in the railway arches on the 1st July.

Again this fire belched out acrid smoke and fumes for hours leading to the evacuation of residents in Montague, Harrow and Acacia Roads.

A full train was stuck on the Gospel Oak Line and children were running screaming from Acacia Park in fright as things exploded.

This is the second time in a year that a serious fire has started in the arches, leased out by Network Rail. All the areas around the fires are heavily populated.

This once again shows that Network Rail must re-evaluate the use of their arches and needs to impose stricter conditions on these garages.

Lib Dem campaigner Liz Phillips is contacting the Council asking that they speak to Network Rail about the use of their properties now and in the future. She reports that there are currently 10 car repairers in the arches between Harrow Road and Lansdowne Road.

PADDY POWER WINS APPEAL

Paddy Power appeal victory paves way for sixth bookies in high street despite public outcry

7:00am Thursday 23rd April 2015 – Waltham Forest E-Guardian

Paddy Power has won the right to open a sixth betting shop in a high street despite public opposition.

The company was successful in appealing against a decision by Waltham Forest council’s planning committee to deny a change of use at 620 High Road, Leytonstone.

Paddy Power was granted a premises licence in October despite more than 1,200 people signing a petition against the move.

Yesterday, a planning inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities, ruled in the betting giants favour in a move a council spokesman described as “another example of an inspector not supporting local concerns regarding the clustering of betting shops.”

The betting shop will operate under the condition that it will not be open to customers after 10pm on any day of the week and CCTV is installed to deter criminal activity.

The inspector approved the application despite it adding an ‘obvious’ third betting shop to the immediate vicinity.

Following the closure of Leytonstone police station, the inspector also heard local concerns that the police presence in the area had been reduced, but said “The Metropolitan Police’s crime prevention officer did not raise this as a concern when consulted.”

The inspector continued:

I do not consider that an additional betting office within the immediate area would result in a significant alteration to the balance [of being a retail-led high street], or result in a clustering effect that would be detrimental to the retail attraction of the immediate area or wider centre.

The appellant operates a chain of betting offices, and although the use would not make a large contribution to local regeneration or have a significantly positive effect in tackling social deprivation, its corporate responsibility policies are clear and links with the local community are encouraged.

The FOCUS Team says:

Local people will be wondering what is the point of the Council spending time and resources securing changes to planning regulations, if they are going to be over-ruled by inspectors who choose to ignore local opinion.

DEMOLITION NOTICE SERVED ON LANDMARK TOWERS

Fred Wigg & John Walsh Towers

Fred Wigg & John Walsh Towers – Montague Road

Waltham Forest E-Guardian – Thursday 2nd April 2015

A demolition notice has been served on two landmark Leytonstone towers.

Amid anger over the number of social housing units being axed from the re-build Ascham Homes has served initial notice on Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers.

The multi-storey towers which house hundreds of families in Montague Road are set to be stripped back to the bare structure and rebuilt around the outside in a regeneration bid, but they will not be torn down completely.

However, the number of social housing units will be stripped back from 234 to 160.

The notice, given by the council, outlines the plans to replace all flats from numbers one to 117.

It states the deadline is seven years from now: “The regeneration will replace existing Council homes with new, improved accommodation and the construction of a low rise infill block to provide up to 46 additional newly built flats.

“The Council intends to demolish the Relevant Properties before 8 the March 2022.”

Tens of millions of pounds will be spent on the project which will span six years.

Also, designs have revealed another building to be erected in the middle of the new towers.

Some of these new flats would be sold on the open market to raise £30million towards the project.

The public meeting heard from the former assistant director of housing for Hackney council, Peter O’Kane, who lives in Ferndale Road, Leytonstone.

Campaigners and objectors have called the plans ‘risky’ and have been heavily critical of the number of council houses being cut.