SHOCK FOR SCHOOLS AND PARENTS

Local schools to lose millions as budgets slashed

Local Liberal Democrats are fighting against school funding cuts in Waltham Forest. Recent figures from the National Union of Teachers show that schools in Waltham Forest will lose £20,185,760 in real terms by 2020. This amounts to a loss of £538 a year for each child, – the equivalent to cutting 541 teachers from our local schools.

The teaching unions have compiled a list of anticipated budget reductions by 2019, access School Budget Reductions.

Veteran former Lib Dem councillor Clyde Kitson said,

This is crazy.  It is putting our children’s future at risk.  As a result of the Government cuts schools are having to consider drastic budget reductions such as reducing the number of teachers and, would you believe it, even introducing a four-day week.

Clyde and the local Lib Dems are calling on the Government to reverse these cuts to schools funding. The local Lib Dem Team are in contact with schools to better understand their funding problems and will be fighting hard for our local schools.

Please sign our petition here http://www.walthamforestlibdems.org/save_our_schools

CANN HALL FOCUS NEWSLETTER 284

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

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.

Since the Referendum the Liberal Democrats have enrolled over 19,000 new members nationwide. 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 284

ALICE THOMAS JOINS THE LIB DEM FOCUS TEAM

Veteran Liberal Democrat campaigner Clyde Kitson welcomed Alice Thomas to the FOCUS Team.

Clyde says:

Alice will be a strong additiion to the Cann Hall FOCUS Team, and will be proud to uphold its reputation of service and action built up over many years.

Alice says:

I moved to Cann Hall two years ago and found the community has the same funny, friendly, welcoming people she knew growing up in south east London – only with a lot more green space! I live in the Sansom and Acacia Estate, and love that I can roll out of bed on the weekend to go for a run straight onto Wanstead Flats.

I am a commercial solicitor and am used to working hard for my clients. Over the next two years I plan to show you that if you vote for me, and my FOCUS Team colleagues, for Waltham Forest Council in 2018, we will work hard for you and continue to keep in touch with our regular FOCUS Newsletter..

CANN HALL FOCUS NEWSLETTER 283

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

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.

Since the Referendum the Liberal Democrats have enrolled over 19,000 new members nationwide. 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-283

SAVE OUR LOCAL PHARMACIES

Save Our Local Pharmacies Campaign

Local pharmacies under threat from the latest Conservative cuts to the national health budget.
This Government’s real terms cash cuts to pharmacies across the UK could be about to take their toll. The Lib Dems don’t as yet know what pharmacy used by hundreds of local people is facing closure, cutting off lifeline services for many elderly and vulnerable residents.

Local Campaigner Liz Phillips says,

For many people the trip to get vital medicines from the pharmacy is long enough already.

Cutting money to local pharmacies is nothing more than robbing Peter to pay Paul. It will only increase the strain on hospitals and GP’s practices at a time when the NHS is already in enough trouble.

The £170million reduction in NHS funding for community pharmacies will put pharmacies across Waltham Forest out of business too.

Local community pharmacies are vital to keep older frail people independent. These people need to be at the heart of our community, on our high streets, with people. In the community rather than in our hospitals.

You can sign our petition here and join hundreds of local people who are already backing the campaign.

FIGHT TO RESTORE DILAPIDATED POST BOX

Rupert Alexander is asking the Royal Mail to paint the ageing post box on Crownfield Road.

Rupert Alexander is asking the Royal Mail to paint the ageing post box on Crownfield Road.

When Neighbourhood Watch member Rupert Alexander emailed the Royal Mail to get this “eyesore” postbox painted, he was told it would be sorted within 12 weeks.

That was in July.Since then, he has sent further requests to have the postbox in Crownfield Road, Stratford, repaired, only to be told the same thing and to see no action.

Local campaigner Rupert Alexander, who travels past the road every day, just wants the delivery service to take action said:

If that post box was in Buckingham Palace, there is no way the Royal Mail would have left it like that for years,

I feel like I’m getting no response after years of reporting it. It’s just an eyesore and it’s really degrading to the area.

It’s a busy road that lots of people use and it just looks bad.

The postbox has been attracting plenty of negative comments from locals and visitors saying it’s “ugly” and “downgrades” the road.

It’s something that has been grating on me for some time, as its in a prominent place and it needs to be restored to its former glory.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said:

Royal Mail’s postboxes are a great British icon, as well as a key element of Royal Mail’s business of connecting consumers, communities and companies.

We repaint and refurbish them on a regular basis and we also respond directly to reports by our staff and customers about individual boxes that require urgent attention.

I can confirm that postboxes in the E15 postcode area are in the repainting schedule for the 2016/17 financial year so this particular box should be repainted by the end of March.

Originally reported by the Newham Recorder

DUSTBIN COLLECTIONS OVER CHRISTMAS

Christmas service changes

The Council has advised that refuse/recycling collections will be one day later than usual for the week after Christmas.

Regular scheduled collection day Changed collection day
Monday 26 December Tuesday 27 December
Tuesday 27 December Wednesday 28 December
Wednesday 28 December Thursday 29 December
Thursday 29 December Friday 30 December
Friday 30 December Saturday 31 December

WILL WALTHAM FOREST TENANTS GET A REFUND OF THE WATER CHARGE?

In March of this year Southwark Council lost a High Court case on water charges which could affect councils all over London including Waltham Forest.  Councils collect payment for water and sewerage services from tenants on behalf of Thames Water and in return the councils receive a commission fee.

The High Court found Southwark Council should have passed on any savings to tenants, as they were technically reselling water services. Southwark has already announced that they have “decided not to appeal the decision,” and are refunding current and past tenants up to £700.

Waltham Forest should do the same.

Waltham Forest Council say they accept that “establishing the legality of a practice is a matter for the Courts”. Yet instead of refunding people straight away, they are still ganging up with other councils to hire “an external firm and a barrister” to give them legal advice on what to do.

The local Liberal Democrats believe that Waltham Forest Council should follow Southwark’s example and refund their tenants without further delay.

 

HOW HIGH CAN WE ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO BUILD?

Focus has previously reported on the massive high rise flat developments in Waltham Forest.

Forest Ward Focus Team members were with residents at the Planning Committee when the Council agreed the over development of buildings, of up to 18 storeys, in Lea Bridge Road.

Only recently Leyton Focus Team member Bob Sullivan and residents spoke against the 16 storey block at the end of Dunedin Road.

It appears that developers are having a field day as the Council continually agree the building of unaffordable multi high rise flats in the borough.

The latest plan submitted by the owners of the Mall shopping centre in Walthamstow is to build four blocks including one of 27 storeys!  Currently local residents have presented a 2,000 plus petition to the Council in protest against the plans. If you would like to support the local residents then contact ‘Save Walthamstow Town Centre’ on line: SAVE OUR TOWN CENTRE

Focus says:  In our experience the Labour Council never listens to residents and carries on agreeing the over development of every bit of land for multi high rise unaffordable flats.

CANN HALL FOCUS NEWSLETTER 282

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

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.

Since the Referendum the Liberal Democrats have enrolled over 19,000 new members nationwide. 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-282