The next meeting will be on Monday 11th July, starting at 7pm until 9pm at Buxton School Secondary Phase (formerly Tom Hood School) in Terling Close E.11
Come along and meet your councillors and hear what is going on in your ward.
Save Harrow Green Library
In order to save money our Labour run Waltham Forest Council is making changes to the library system.
This includes the closure of our local Harrow Green Library.
The council admits that, ‘here in the south of the borough, where deprivation is most concentrated, health, education attainment and housing standards are lower, libraries are a focus for communities that enhance people’s quality of life.’
Libraries alleviate the effects of deprivation.
The Library building is home to many local groups and activities, as well as the borrowing of books, access to the internet and for study and homework. 50% of the borrowers are children.
The council now has a 12 week consultation period ending on Friday 9 September.
Please help us to Save Harrow Green Library by signing the petition at:
http://ourcampaign.org.uk/HarrowGreenLibrary
You can also write to Councillor Geraldine Reardon (responsible for libraries) at The Town Hall, Walthamstow E17 6JF
Church Lane Car Park
A report into car park provision across the borough is to be considered by the Cabinet.The Church Lane car park is said to be only 43% used, but since there is no suitable on street parking in the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), the report recommends that the hours of operation and maximum stay times should be reviewed to encourage maximum usage. It is likely that charges will be reduced.
Games Area in the car park!!
Strangely, the report also recommends that a ‘multi utility’ area be included in the car park. FOCUS was shocked to discover that this is an area for basket ball, football etc. The FOCUS Team believes that such a move would not encourage more drivers to use the car park. In fact, it might have the opposite effect!
Additionally, a similar scheme has already been rejected when it was proposed at the Leytonstone Community Council.
Surely, it would be far better to locate this facility at the Pastures Youth Centre in Davies Lane.
Please let the FOCUS Team know your views.
You can also contact us via this website.
Harrow Green Library closure planned
The Cann Hall Focus Team was shocked to see that a report on the Library Service, due to be presented to the Cabinet on 14 June, includes the proposal to close both Harrow Green and South Chingford Libraries.
The report recommends that Leytonstone, Leyton, Walthamstow and North Chingford be designated Library Plus branches – open 7 days a week and offering some additional services that were previously available in the Waltham Forest Direct shops.
While Hale End, Higham Hill, Wood Street and Lea Bridge will become Library Local branches, open for 30 hours a week.
Providing that this report is agreed by the Cabinet there is expected to be a 12-week consultation period between June and September.
Whatever your views the Focus Team urges you to respond to the consultation to make sure that the Council has the fullest possible picture of the feelings of local residents.
It is understood that a further report, taking into account the consultation, will be submitted to the Cabinet in October.
Make your voice heard!
LABOUR COUNCIL’S DECEPTION!
The local Guardian newspaper has highlighted the amount of taxpayers’ money that the Labour Council is spending on campaign propaganda. Is this a smoke screen to hide their cuts to services?
In a poll by one national newspaper Waltham Forest was judged the highest spender on propaganda in the country.
The budget Councillor Bob Sullivan put forward on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group in opposition to the Labour budget showed many areas of savings including the saving of £250,000 by getting rid of the political campaigning and putting that money into respite care for children and families.
The reduction in respite care will cause much anxiety to the families who desperately need respite care for them and their children.
The Liberal Democrats were the only party to oppose the Labour budget – the Conservatives did not put forward any alternative budget, but spent time praising the Labour leader of the Council! So much for Tory opposition!
Trumpington Road Respite Care Centre
The council has decided to upgrade this centre and remodel it to provide both residential and short breaks residential care.
In future it will provide long term accommodation for 6 people in three self-contained units, and 4 respite beds in a fourth unit.
As MENCAP has pointed out this represents loss of nine places for overnight respite. Being as 76 families in Waltham Forest rely on this type of care, they claim it is a step too far.
If you are one of the families affected by this decision Focus would like to hear your views on this.
Once the works are completed the service will be ‘outsourced’ to a provider who has ‘an excellent track record’ in this field.
Cann Hall Road
Over recent months Cann Hall Road has been resurfaced, parking has been taken off the road, new street lighting and trees added. For many this has been a great improvement to the road and the local environment.
However, the ‘off-road’ parking has meant that pavements have been reduced and some people have complained about difficulties for pushchairs and wheelchair users because there is insufficient space.
Focus Team member, Adrian Trett welcomes your comments as previously local councillors had discussed this with the local Authority to ensure that path widths were not reduced in the process of creating ‘off-road’ parking.
Waltham Forest Direct Shops To Close
Liberal Democrat councillorsproposed an alternative budget which would have allowed all the Waltham Forest Direct Shops (WFD) to remain open. Regrettably it was not approved.
Now we learn that the Labour Cabinet has confirmed the closure of WFD shops in Leyton, Leytonstone and Chinfgord by the end of August.
It is understood that some services may be offered in local libraries – as yet no details are available.
The Walthamstow branch will remain open, as the Cabinet report says it is well-used, and is in the centre of the borough.
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