GEORGE TOMLINSON SCHOOL: PARENTS PETITION

George Tomlinson School

The Lime Academy Trust has been put into George Tomlinson Community School in Leytonstone, even though it isn’t an Academy. They are making profound, damaging changes to the  school.

The hard-working Governing Body were put in an impossible position and forced to resign. Since Lime have taken control of the school, there have been unexplained staff changes and disappearances, damaging changes to Special Educational Needs provision, sports coaching, and to Golden Time, which is the foundation of our school’s behaviour policy.

The parents of the school are unhappy with the way these changes are affecting their children, and are campaigning to preserve and stop the continual dismantling of the school.

In 2012 Ofsted found the school to be good with outstanding features. It is in a diverse area of East London. The school is still maintained by the Local Authority.

The petition is calling for the London Borough of Waltham Forest to remove the Lime Academy Trust Partnership from George Tomlinson School and to be replaced by a new Interim head teacher with no links to any Academy or Academy Trust until a permanent head teacher is in place.

Please sign our petition here

HIGH POLLUTION RATES RECORDED IN WALTHAM FOREST

High pollution rates recorded in Waltham Forest

Last year it was recorded that cancer causing nitrogen oxide dust particles in the air in Waltham Forest were at the highest levels since records began. Recent tests for nitrogen dioxide showed that Waltham Forest far exceeded EU recommendations. Results in October showed that Hoe Street was nearly double the EU limit. Sixty-five per cent of this pollution comes from traffic.

Focus says: We are waiting for the results of new tests planned for early this year. It will be interesting to see the results following the forced increase in traffic onto the borough’s main roads.

CANN HALL FOCUS NEWSLETTER 275

The latest issue of the Cann Hall FOCUS Newsletter is hot off the press and will be 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.

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

You can see as copy of FOCUS here: Cann Hall 275

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!

WATER LEAK: HOWARD ROAD/jnc HIGH ROAD

Thames Water has advised that, subject to there being no emergencies, work to repair this leak will commence on 16 October.

Residents will recall that it has been repaired fairly recently. Unfortunately it was more badly damaged than was anticipated, so that more extensive work will be necessary.

NEWSFLASH – The leak was repaired on 16 October, and final reinstatement of the location is being arranged.

NEWS UPDATE: 22 October reinstatement completed.

HARROW ROAD – ABANDONED CAR

Abandoned vehicle in Harrow Road, adjacent to Sauls Green

The Focus Team alerted the Council to the presence of this vehicle that appears to have been abandoned in Harrow Road, near Sauls Green. The front bumper is falling off, the tyres are deflating and there are a number of dents in the offside doors.

If you know any similar dumped cars in your area, please contact the Council, on Waltham Forest Direct, on (020) 8496 3000.

CANN HALL FOCUS NEWSLETTER 273

The latest issue of the Cann Hall FOCUS Newsletter is hot off the press and will be 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.

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

You can see as copy of FOCUS here: Cann Hall 273

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.